| A true ocean passage is the ultimate sailing | | | | only. 08:20: day is gorgeous. Coffee is made and |
| experience. A passage brings together all the | | | | wind at 12 knots on the beam, boat speed 5.6 |
| elements of sailing - preparation, planning, boat | | | | knots. Fishing lines in the water and morning sun |
| handling, weather analysis - the ultimate challenge, | | | | shots complete with sextant. Sea is flat. 13:00: |
| but also the ultimate in fun. | | | | Captain Alex makes homemade calzones for lunch |
| This diary documents a 1000 nautical mile passage | | | | - fantastic!! Nothing like gourmet food at sea. |
| sailed in May 1006 from St Thomas, USVI to | | | | Fishing lines out of water, no luck today. 17:00: |
| Georgetown, Bermuda. | | | | saw freighter on the horizon - first boat we've |
| Day One - St Thomas, USVI. Great to be back in | | | | seen out here. Tracked the freighter on radar and |
| the Caribbean! Very sunny and hot, summer here | | | | practiced radar navigation. |
| already. Boat check day - lots to do. Bought final | | | | Day Four - 305: miles covered first two days, |
| few tools on our offshore list, replaced a few | | | | progress is great. Nice sunny day, sea is such a |
| small things that built up over the season. Fluids | | | | beautiful blue color. Homemade muffins and fresh |
| and filters changed on the engine. Time for full | | | | coffee for breakfast, might actually gain weight |
| boat check. Captain up the mast, everything looks | | | | on this trip we're eating so well. 16:00: getting daily |
| great. Sea berths installed. All major systems | | | | weather briefings, very accurate thus far. Bad |
| A-OK. | | | | weather up north, but won't affect us. 19:00: pork |
| Day Two - Completed provisioning list and | | | | chops and apple sauce for dinner. Wayne got |
| provisioned boat for trip. Received ocean current | | | | some great sunset photos! |
| charts from our service and plotted the course all | | | | Day Five - 01:00: shooting star! Seems so close, |
| the way to Bermuda - faster to sail 30 miles | | | | difficult to believe. 14:00 freighter nearby, we |
| west and pick up favorable current than to follow | | | | have nice conversation on the phone and wave |
| rhumb line. Got weather forecast from our | | | | as we go by. They seem happy to have a |
| service and had weather briefing with Captain and | | | | conversation with someone nearby. Freighter is |
| crew - looks like favorable winds develop soon. | | | | dead in the water and making repairs, we ask |
| Crew briefing is complete. Final double check of | | | | them if they want a tow - good laugh for |
| the boat, everything looks good. 15:15: off the | | | | everyone. 18:00: picking up and so is boat speed. |
| dock and to the fuel dock for final topping of fuel | | | | Fresh made cornbread with dinner, tastes like |
| and water tanks. 15:35: off the dock and away | | | | home. 23:00: Wind up to 30 knots now and seas |
| we go! Wind is light, almost calm and we are | | | | 6-8 feet. This boat loves it like this! We're still |
| motoring but it feels great to be on the way. | | | | sailing flat and making great progress - lots of fun. |
| 18:00: sails up and motor sailing. | | | | About 400 miles offshore now. Everyone is |
| Day Three 02:00: late night watch. Wind has | | | | catching up reading on off shifts and very relaxed. |
| picked up as forecast and now under sail power | | | | |