“19/DEC/2018 06:00 EST
020° 20.806N, 082° 51.741W / Course: 119° @ 2.2 knots”Yellow Brick Tracker – https://my.yb.tl/seahorse/
The wind filled in with the sunrise. It was going to be a nice day for sailing.
or not.
Every sailor that has spent time on the water has waited for the god of the wind. They have prayed, and danced, and given gifts to assure that the wind comes and is fruitful in their voyage or race. Sailors have placed items on the backstay for good luck, or provided the lucky pair of boxers (never washed) to the wind gods.
We knew. We knew the wind would come.
More to the point, we knew the wind was not going to be with us. Cruisers like to plan voyages with the preferred wind direction from the place they are leaving. This direction of wind would provide the best and most comfortable ride. Or like my mother would remind me to “sail like the Irish”, with the wind behind you – no mom not this time.
As Seahorse slowly sailed through the glassy waters South of Cuba that morning , small puppy paws formed on the surface. Just a teaser of wind, and hints of what will come to be. The flat sea began to have a slight form to it. As the wind increased in speed it went to the preferred direction for this region. Which to give you a clue, it was NOT going to bless Seahorse with the right direction to sail like the Irish.
“19/Dec/2018 08:00 AM EST
020° 17.558N, 082° 47.261W / Course: 140° @ 3.9 knots “
Yellow Brick Tracker – https://my.yb.tl/seahorse/
With the wind direction building to the preferred direction of right where Seahorse was intending to go, we began a process called “tacking”. This sailing process involves sailing as close to the direction that you want to go – and then changing directions. The reason that you have to change direction is so that the wind can push the boat from the other side. For all of you soon to be America’s Cup fans out there, the final sailing path looks like a zig zag.
My mom was closely watching our travels around this globe via the Yellow Brick Tracker and she immediately called my brother to say that Seahorse had a problem. She told my brother that Seahorse was no longer going directly to Grand Cayman, but sailing back and forth. My brother, a long time Crescent sailor, explained to her the sad news.
The zig zag course is called tacking he told her. This is how sailboats have to sail when the wind is coming from the exact direction they want to go. We knew this before we started the voyage. The winds is the area south of Cuba come mostly from the East.
At this point you probably would say we were a glutton for punishment or sadistic. But a little on the back story and the goal.
Keywest is one of our favorite places on earth. As I tell this world adventure I am going to add more to the list of favorites Keywest has the feel of the Caribbean and the access to the mainland USA. We decided to say good bye to the USA at Keywest over Thanksgiving with mom and the Newman family.
Since Seahorse was in Keywest, the Captain had planned to sail to Isle de Mujeres in Mexico. I wanted to enjoy the Yucatan and explore the Mayan Pyramids. However, there were some “news worthy” events in Playa del Carmen, and the Captain changed plans to keep the boat and crew safe. He decided our first stop out of Keywest was going to be Grand Cayman. West out of Keywest and then east around Cuba to Grand Cayman.
Grand Cayman is another one of our favorite places on earth.
The diving is amazing. Also, as a bonus there is a abundance of goods brought in. Close to USA and still one flight from Michigan our home “port”.
When we had a change of plans – I immediately got Sami enrolled in SCUBA class at DIVETECH. Then, with our goal of amazing diving and Sami getting Scuba certification at DIVETECH, Seahorse Zig Zagged to the goal. All day long, Seahorse took long tacks toward the goal of Grand Cayman. Jeff came on watch at 9PM. The winds and waves kept building. By 1 AM he was beyond exhausted. I asked the Captain for a little direction on how things were going. He had gone through a number of squalls, and had furled the jib (the foresail). Using the main alone, Seahorse was still beating (close to the wind sailing) toward our destination.
It was after 2 AM, just me and the wind. The Captain was asleep and Sami was with him. I stood watch alone in the pilot house. Nicely protected from the elements – love you Isinglass. I saw the squalls all around in both the clouds and the radar. Each time the wind took the boat over 10 knots, I released the main sheet to de-power it. My goal was to keep the boat under 10 knots as we beat into the wind and the waves. The waves had climbed in intensity to over 16 feet. The spray crashed over the Seahorse’s pilot house roof. The pilot house’s roof is over 15 ft above the waterline. I was not afraid personally. Seahorse is a well build boat. BUT I was concerned as Admiral about the broken boat parts.
“20/Dec/2018 02:20 AM EST 019° 38.977N, 081° 41.256W / Course: 99° @ 7.6 knotsYellow Brick Tracker – https://my.yb.tl/seahorse/
There are no photos of this adventure – no video clips. But it happened – much to the dismay of the new generation. The only record is in our memory and the tracking device.
Sami slept through the night. Jeff came back on about 5 AM, and by 6 AM we were on the final approach to Grand Cayman. Seahorse was safely at the dock by 10 AM patiently waiting for customs.
Each country has a different process to check in. Seahorse was very familiar with the relaxed Bahamas technique, and overzealous British Virgin Islands hurdles. In the next four years Seahorse is going to master the customs techniques of many more countries.
I had already read about the process. Normally, all boats must go to Georgetown. This is on the east side of the island and is open to the Caribbean Sea. The swells can be detrimental and damaging to small boats. Seahorse had gotten special permission to check in a the Barcadere marina. The Barcadere Marina is far inside Grand Cayman. After more than an hour, but less than two, a couple of customs agents arrived. The crew of Seahorse had already had an early lunch and gotten started on our artistic endeavors.
Writing this after having travelled half the world, I look back at these polite customs ladies as a breath of fresh air. They did take the spear guns, but they also returned them as we left the island. Unlike other customs experiences.
SEAHORSE RECOMMENDATIONS
Warning this island is off the beaten path – cruising wise. The reason to come by private boat is to enjoy the diving. What you will find is an easy going island with expensive taste. We found the grocery stores had more than in Key West. Jeff, Captain and Chef, found venison loin. We had one of them as we crossed the equator
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