IT'S WARM !!!!!!!

We made it!!!! We're in Clearwater after a brisk but fairly easy crossing.

We left Saturday morning at around 7:15 as planned. Temps were in the low 40's but winds were calm (starting out). We had studied the weather very closely on the numerous weather sites that we use and that have proven (fairly) accurate. The clear consensus of all the sites was:

Saturday, winds starting from the northeast at 10 to 15 kts moving around to the east and dropping at mid-day to 5 to 10; further moderating to 0 to 5 that night and all day Sunday. This meant that we would motor sail then just motor most of the way across the passage on mostly flat seas---not too thrilling but easy (and quite acceptable to Diane). As we motor without stressing the diesel at around 5.5 kts this meant we should make the 160 mile passage in about 29 hours. We planned our departure so that we would be sure to arrive after daybreak ("Never enter a strange harbor in the dark")

NOT!!!

While the winds were fairly calm when we left they had built to 10 to 13 by mid day and to 15 to 17 by mid afternon. The seas had a definite roll to them with waves out of the northeast at 2 to 3 feet. But they were confused--while the swells were coming out of the northeast in a steady pattern they were all boiled up for some reason adding a definite and somewhat uncomfortable chop. By that evening/ sunset the wind was up to a steady 17 to 20, the seas were up to 4 and 5 feet with an occasional roller that would toss us sideways and rock the boat pretty good from side to side. Fortunately (and with good planning) the wind and seas were mostly behind us so it was mostly comfortable although stressful not knowing whether the weather would build anymore. (Fortunately it didn't) Not one of the weather sites we use had predicted this kind of weather. It was supposed to be calm, flat and boring. This sail was anything but boring. The great thing about it was that we sailed with reefed mainsail and roller furled jib at over 7 knots. Once we got accustomed to the unexpected conditions it was a fabulous sail.

Once again, Diane surprised mostly herself. Because from time to time we would get broadsided by a broaching wave we decided to steer manually because the autohelm was just working too hard. Diane took the toughest-- by far-- shift from about 5:30 to around 8:30 that night and steered a perfect steady course. By the time I took over from her the seas had moderated a bit and I was able to put "Auto" back to work. Diane and Joe went to get some rest and left me on watch. Because I was on autohelm (automatic steering) I was able to hunker down behind the dodger (windshield) and stay out of the chilly wind. Temps by this time were in the 50's-even that night--getting better. While I was on watch until around midnight thirty the wind and seas continued to drop until I had several hours of winds in the 12/13 range with 2 foot seas. I rested and relaxed---far from the steady 3 hour steering effort Diane had experienced--and occasionally heard the sounds of whales calling to each other off to port. It was a very spiritual experience. I was in sailor's heaven!

Around 12:30 Joe relieved me and after brewing up a pot of strong coffee for him I went forward to the V-berth to join Diane in what I hoped would be a few hours of rest during these calmer conditions. NOT!!! In the V-berth you hear every clang, creak, whisp, whirr, pound, crash, squeak, bump (Did I mention clunk?)----It's noisy!!!
Diane was asleep---I didn't know how, but she was. Finally, by scrunching myself into a ball in the corner I was able to catch a few hours of shut-eye, only to be awakened by increasing noise and boat motion. While I had thought with conditions subsiding during my watch that this trend would continue on into the subsequent watches. NOT!!! The winds had built back up to 17 to 20 and 5 and 6 foot seas. Once again we were clipping along at 71/2 knots. By this time all three of us were up and enjoying each other's company on deck. It had started to get chilly again so we were bundled up pretty good under blankets in addition to the 3 or 4 layers of clothes including thermal undies.
By this time we realized that at the rate we were traveling we would be arriving in less than 24 hours and probably before day break, so we actually slowed the boat down by further reducing sail. Whoodathunk??
We arrived at the first sight of the tall buildings on shore shortly after day break and as the conditions then decided to moderate we had a very pleasant --and warm-- sail into the channel and arrived here at the Clearwater Yacht Club at around 11:15. In the process of getting our dock lines secured, etc. I shed my flannel lined rain slicker, my sweatshirt, my long undies top and was eventually down to shirt sleeves. The weather was beautiful--70 degrees, very little wind. We celebrated our arrival and safe passage with a prayer and mimosas. We even enjoyed the yacht club Sunday brunch at around 12:30 (Very expensive--$5.99 each) Life is indeed good!!!!