| December 2, 2003 Monday, November 17, we departed Cartagena for Florida. After pulling up the anchor, we headed out the Boca Grande (small craft) entrance passing between the two Boca Grande channel markers around noon. Our sail to Florida was to be through the Yucatan Channel, the same route used by Spain�s Fleet of Galleons during the 17th and 18th centuries. The first leg of our passage was from Cartagena to the eastern end of New Bank (N15*55�; W78*34�). Our plan was to stay east of the many reefs that dominated the western part of the Caribbean. The first 1-� days we had winds NNE 20-25 knots and seas 6-8 feet. As we were sailing to windward, we took quite a bit of spray and water over the decks. Sailing to weather also required certain muscles, and the first day we definitely were not in condition. By early Tuesday evening the seas finally mellowed and the winds died down to NNE 12-15 knots. Now KUHELA, under beautiful clear skies, was gliding peacefully through the water. What a contrast to just 24 hours earlier! Early Wednesday afternoon the wind shifted to the N, but the perfect sailing conditions continued with a favorable � knot current. Then in the evening we became caught in a westerly current of 1-� knots and ended up losing most of the easting gained since departing Cartagena. At 5 a.m. Thursday, after a few hours of wind shifts and rain, we came about as the current was setting us too far to the west. It was important to come back east so as to clear the banks. At 9 a.m., taking advantage of the light winds and calm seas, we started motoring straight north, directly into the wind. Just before noon, with the winds finally coming around from the NE, we started sailing. Throughout the afternoon and evening we either sailed or motorsailed depending upon the conditions. We passed the light off New Bank around 10 p.m. The second leg of our passage was from New Bank to Cabo San Antonio off the western tip of Cuba. No sooner had we cleared the bank Thursday evening than the weather changed. The winds increased to 20-22 knots, seas built to 6 feet, and we were hit with torrential rainstorms early Friday morning. For three days, Friday through Sunday, we sailed with these winds and with seas caused by opposing wind and current. This made for very uncomfortable conditions, especially on Friday, when the wind shifted to the NNW and we pounded into the waves. It was like riding a �bucking horse.� Luckily Saturday, with the wind shifting back to the NE, the ride became more comfortable. Now we were sliding between the waves, with only a rare wave hitting the side of the boat. Early Sunday morning we passed Grand Cayman and the illumination from the island could be seen off our starboard side. Our biggest weather concern during the entire passage was the Yucatan Channel. At this time of year cold fronts came down on a regular basis out of Texas into the Gulf of Mexico. When this happened steep seas were created in the channel from opposing wind and current. The best time to travel through the Yucatan Channel was just after one cold front passed and before the next cold front occurred. This allowed for a three to four day sailing window. Looking at our weather information, the optimal time for us to pass through the Yucatan Channel was no later than sunrise Tuesday morning. |
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