On the morning of the 24th we checked out of St. Lucia, topped off the diesel and set off for Antigua, 194 nautical miles. For this post we will list some observations rather than write a narrative:
PredictWind weather service does not appear to forecast the leeward side of big islands. We had to motor in the lee of all islands because of no wind. If Renegade was equipped with oxygen masks they would have dropped from the ceiling each time we got behind an island. The lesson here is you can save some fuel money if you go on the windward side in multi-island Caribbean hops if the wind and waves are reasonable.
There she blows. We saw two whales shooting water out of their blowholes in front of us just north of Martinique. We prepared to make an evasive turn, but they showed their tails as they took a deep dive and never reappeared.
Prepare meals and snacks prior to departure. Preparing meals underway seems to promote sea-sickness and on this trip Amy felt great. Amy prepared an assortment of tasty items prior to departure. Staying healthy allowed her to stand a night watch.
Beware of cruise ships at night. Large cargo ships transiting island passes make obvious maneuvers or change speed to avoid vessels under sail. Cruise ships, particularly the smaller ones, are navigating familiar home waters and tend to get close to you. This can be a better stimulant than caffeine at night.
If you cannot make your desired course don’t tack. From Guadeloupe to Antigua the wind backed toward the North and we were heading more toward Montserrat. Midway through the leg we got a 30+ degree lift and made our destination. The same thing happened a while back from St. Martin to Antigua. No worries mon, your in the Caribbean.
Cruising sailboats should be able to go to windward. Once again, we found ourselves in an unforecasted beat. With waves in a longer interval at 1.5 meters and in daylight we kept her powered up and made good time. Cruising catamarans can manage these angles using an engine, so if you get a cat make sure it has a decent diesel tankage.
Whats coming up next? We are looking at spending some time in beautiful Barbuda.
