Saturday 10/12/11 – What Trades? – 14:13.0N 59:25.7W

Chris Tibbs, our weather forecaster is a really impressive guy, who has written the RYA weather guides, has sailed the world’s oceans in racing yachts, and does the seminars for the ARC on weather. More than that, he is really good company, willing to share his experience with you and give you positive advice. We have greatly appreciated his input, and reckon that his routing was largely responsible for getting us back up with the fleet, despite leaving a day after everyone else. In short, we like him a lot….but not this morning!

We pick up his forecast at about 0900 UTC, and we are always on tenterhooks for the latest words of wisdom. Today’s epistle, however, concluded with the following:

“I have not seen the trades fail this badly (…) in the 8 years I have been involved with the ARC”.

Damn and blast! We had hoped for a bit of an up-lift in the wind, as the trough that has stalked us for the last few days was expected to move off a little which would allow the normal trade winds to re-assert themselves. Chris now does not expect this to happen till Monday, which puts our aspirations for a Sunday arrival well up the swanee.

We are surrounded by boats doing much the same as us – motoring very slowly in the hope of conserving enough fuel to negotiate an entry into the marina which is 150 miles away. Alternatively, they have exhausted their diesel reserves and are trying to sail in 2-4 knots of wind, which is frustratingly nigh impossible. We have had a go at both strategies on several occasions over the last couple of days, and doubtless more to follow….

Watergaw

 (Chris says we are better off than the old square riggers at least!)