Trip to Europe (and back) begins

[dLj]

Cape Verde is the normal Birth area of African Monsoon Hurricanes.

This is the warmer water that [melts butter] and gives you the Westerlies winds.
_______

In email discussions, John laid out options for Dave on the LOW Pressure Cell in front of the Musetta and crew.

Dave said he had enough fuel to make it to the Antilles.

Expect a more Westerly turn in the next few days.

Jim...

I'm expecting that the winds will be curving bringing me more westerly. We are running wing on wing and have been for some time now. Running with the hydrovane wind vane, (her name is now HydroJane - relentless at steering...) we are curving with the prevailing winds. It's looking at this point that we can just ride them and they will take us right into the planned options mentioned. Of course we keep our eyes on the route and where it's leading, but so far so good....

dj

 

[dLj]

Current position at 1700 UTC
19 47.881 N
023 32.210 W

 

[kappykaplan]

Current position at 1700 UTC
19 47.881 N
023 32.210 W

Here's what that looks like:

 

[kappykaplan]

Here's their 2307UTC position - definitely heading west:

 

[kappykaplan]

Here's this morning's update:

 

[dLj]

Diving south again. Just got an updated route to avoid no winds....

Starlink is being very hard to connect - today it was over 2 hours to get connected. But hey, it did connect. Still pretty amazing.

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

Diving south again.

Here's this evening's update:

 

[Ward H]

@jssailem sent me a package of soft shackles before the trip. I've used them a lot. They are amazing! The more I use them, the more I find uses for them

A couple of winters ago John taught me how to make soft shackles. I made a bunch and have found several uses for them.
Back in October I asked John to give me a refresher course on making them. He kindly offered to make them for me.
I two specific uses for them come this spring. One will be to attach the Harken Air Blocks I use for my reefing lines to my main sail.
The other use will be attaching my lazy jacks to my stack pack. Lower cost and weight than metal shackles of some sort.
Thanks again John

 

[dLj]

A couple of winters ago John taught me how to make soft shackles. I made a bunch and have found several uses for them.
Back in October I asked John to give me a refresher course on making them. He kindly offered to make them for me.
I two specific uses for them come this spring. One will be to attach the Harken Air Blocks I use for my reefing lines to my main sail.
The other use will be attaching my lazy jacks to my stack pack. Lower cost and weight than metal shackles of some sort.
Thanks again John

I find they can be used for attachments in places that are difficult to find the right sized attachment. Given their strength, they can be used for structure.

They are what I'd call an essential tool in your tool box.

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

Here is this morning's update:

 

[dLj]

Here is this morning's update:
View attachment 221848

Current position:
17 46.658 N
026 44.301 W

dj

 

[dLj]

We did an assessment earlier today on food water and fuel to see if we should stop in Cabo Verde. Looks like we have plenty to just keep going. So we are sailing past and down into the trades - next landfall somewhere in the Caribbean...

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

Current position:
17 46.658 N
026 44.301 W

Here's what that looks like:

 

[JamesG161]

we should stop in Cabo Verde

The weather in front of you, for almost 4 days, will almost stop you anyways.

Jim...

PS: Close by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Novo,_Cape_Verde

 

[dLj]

The weather in front of you, for almost 4 days, will almost stop you anyways.

Jim...

PS: Close by https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porto_Novo,_Cape_Verde

Wind may well die down, but as i have a week or more of fuel to motor, I'll keep on keepin' on...

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

next landfall somewhere in the Caribbean...

 

[dLj]

View attachment 221851

Long way to go is right! Probably like 3 weeks - maybe a bit more. Depends upon the wind...

dj

 

[kappykaplan]

Long way to go is right! Probably like 3 weeks - maybe a bit more. Depends upon the wind...

Y'all will do just fine!

 

[Will Gilmore]

There are naturist beaches on the French side of Saint Martin. You might find that a great place to land after three or more weeks at sea. I mean, after three or more weeks of staring at nothing but, well, your crew... and my mermaid

-Will

 

[JamesG161]

Better yet is where Bogart falls in love with Bacall. On this island

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinique

In this great 1944 movie.



Jim...

PS: Becall's [aka Slim] famous quote
"You know you don't have to act with me, Steve [aka Bogart]. You don't have to say anything, and you don't have to do anything. Not a thing. Oh, maybe just whistle. You know how to whistle, don't you, Steve? You just put your lips together and... blow."