Risque Business - The Breeze Builds

14:57.2N 34:42.29W

0315 GMT, Thursday 23rd Nov 2023

When we set off from Mindelo 31 hours after the rest of the fleet, we decided to stick close to the shortest route, the rhumb line, to Grenada as best we could. The light winds allowed us to fly the large spinnaker and we were able to stick with this plan pretty well. However 2 factors have made us reconsider: the winds have strengthened (at last) which means we can’t fly the spinny on a dead downwind course anymore and the forecast is showing a large hole (area of very light winds) developing to the north of the rhumb line early next week which we really don’t want to get caught in. As such we’re sailing 30 degrees from dead downwind on a more southerly course with the genoa and mainsail. The question is how far south do we go?? We’re about 75NM south of the rhumb line and with the wind being easterly a decision as to whether we keep heading WSW, or jibe over to a more WNW route probably needs to be taken soon.

The winds are a steady 15kts, still relatively light for the trade winds, but at least they are driving us forward again. From the various chat groups, other yachts further south are surrounded by electrical storms, heavy rain and some squalls, so we’re having a pretty good time compared to those guys.

The fishing department on board RB (Ed, Nick & Rich) were overheard muttering that they hadn’t even had a nibble for nearly 2 days. Lure changes didn’t make any difference and with the close proximity of a very large Japanese trawler, we decided that they had trawled or hoovered up all the fish in the area! We had just finished Patrick’s delicious handmade burgers (we all raised a glass to our missing crew mate) when one of the lines started screaming. A startled Ed jumped into action and during his fight, the other line screamed too. Nick started to haul in the other line. Ed and Rich landed a lovely Yellowfin Tuna and Nick hauled in a Wahoo. The moment Nick put his lure back in the water another Yellowfin Tuna decided his supper had arrived on aplate and took the lure. After a bit more of a fight, Nick got his second on deck, a nice large Tuna. So a Wahoo and 2 Yellowfins will keep this crew happy for the next few days. Think we’ll have to find some space in the freezer! We’ll get the scales out in the morning and let you know the weights of the haul in tomorrows exciting instalment of ‘life on board RB’.

So my 2 hour watch from 0200 to 0400 GMT is coming to a close and it’s time to wake up Ed. The skipper has just poked his head up as the sails are flogging a little with the waves, and after a chat, the decision was taken to jibe RB when Ed comes up at 0400. So unhitch the preventer (stops the boom crashing over if there was an accidental jibe), furl the genoa to allow it to pass thru the inner forestay, change course and gently jibe the main, reattach the preventer on the other side and finally unfurl the genoa. Our new course is about 310 deg and the sails are set fair. Once daylight comes, and if the wind keeps up above 15kts, we’ll try to goosewing with a poled out genoa. That would allow us to sail more directly downwind at a reasonable speed but significantly improve our VMG (velocity made good) towards Grenada

The moon is bright, but starting to drop low in the sky, so darkness will be all around again soon, with just Orion overhead watching over us. Have a good watch Ed, I’m off to my bunk!