Monday, May 31, 2021

The Journey from Panama: Chapter Five, North from Navassa

 6 hours late, still low on fuel and having no autopilot and no windlass to assist in anchoring and we took off from Navassa. We knew we didn't have enough fuel to make it to Turks and Caicos so we weighed our options. The winds were still whipping down the channel between Haiti and Cuba, the same channel that we were trying to go up. We were determined to sail as much as we possibly could to save what fuel we had so our route was aiming us much further west into Cuba than we wanted. For hours I was watching Navassa recede into the distance, unfortunately it was remaining on our stern when I was hoping that we would be passing it on the starboard (right) side. If Navassa was on the starboard that would mean that we were making progress up the channel, in the direction that we wanted, but alas that was not to be.

Monday, May 24, 2021

The Journey from Panama: Chapter 4, Six Hours to Raise an Anchor?

Navassa Island- where to go when you really  want to get away from it all!

Navassa Island as seen from the Space Station

Wednesday, May 12, 2021

The Journey from Panama: Chapter Two, Morant Cays, Jamaica

Click here for Chapter One if you missed it.

Hand steering. No other thoughts or activities. Hand steering, through the night, through the day and through the night again. The first night was not too bad, energy-wise, but by the second night we were both feeling the effects of sleep deprivation. Cruising couples usually come up with their own schedules of how to share the time at the wheel at night. For us the schedule is often sleep driven. Bob will go down early (9 PM ish) and sleep for 4 or 5 hours. Then when he comes up I get to go to sleep. I can hang on longer because I know that when it is my turn to sleep I get to sleep as long as I want. 

Saturday, May 8, 2021

The Journey from Panama: Chapter one, Departure

 It should only take 6 days. The weather, wind and waves should all be mild. It should be a relatively easy passage.

Lies, all lies!

Passing through "The Parking Lot" at the entrance to the Panama Canal. Apparent Wind speed, 14 knots, True wind speed (not taking in the speed of the boat) 7.8 knots,  depth 139 feet, 612 miles to go at 7.3 knots. All our clothespins clipped below the plotter.

Monday, May 3, 2021

The Mighty Jungle Part 2

 The upside of not escaping Panama has been the chance for more jungle walks. 

So join me on my walks and I will share some of the things I have seen.