12/2/24 Day 3
If speed were my wish, then it sure has been granted. Since late last night, we’ve been in big weather, with gusts up to the high 30s and averaging around 28 knots. For the entirety of my watch there was a squall system about 30 miles in diameter constantly developing over us, with lightning striking all around without pause, and some incredible thunder claps. As such, today has been the fastest day on Stardust yet, as we are consistently surfing at speeds around 15 knots, with 18 knots not uncommon either. As if that’s already not great enough, we hit a new boat speed record, 20.4 knots! Although the seas are a little uncomfortable, it’s still bearable and life is pretty good on board. We’re on track for an over-200 mile day.
12/4/24 Day 5
Today has been just about the most perfect day yet. With the wind finally blowing a steady 17-20 knots from the west, that meant perfect spinnaker conditions to propel us not only quickly, but comfortably straight towards our destination of Antigua. Although a small spinnaker made to handle windy conditions, it’s still our best option for going dead downwind (as opposed to jib and main) and the best part is there is nearly zero sail tending to do. No trimming and no worrying about a gust of wind shredding it apart, and it also helps with solar energy production as our mainsail isn’t up and covering half the solar panels. A consistent 8 knots of speed for half the day later and we are back to reefed main and jib for the night, as strong gusts and shifty winds brought by thunderstorms are forecast for early morning.
12/7/24 Day 8
Fish aplenty! Despite our slow day with wind only blowing about 8-12 knots, time flew by as I hooked mahi after mahi. Today’s total ended with 6 fish hooked and 4 fish landed, with specimens ranging from a juvenile three-pounder to what I estimate to be a 30 pound bull that unfortunately shook the hook loose, but not before spooling nearly all my line at max drag in a run that lasted several minutes. Mahi mahi are known for their head-shaking acrobatics, leaping out of the water as they fight on the other end of the line. By late afternoon, I ended up keeping and cleaning two fish, leaving us with a good five pounds of meat. Going slowly also allowed us to make water to top off our tanks, as after a week using ten percent per day we were running low while keeping an emergency allotment. Thankful for the chance of a second shower this passage as a result, and things are looking pretty positive. Due to weather, the destination has officially changed ten degrees more south to Barbados, home of every sailor’s beloved Mount Gay rum.
12/9/24 Day 10
Sitting watch this morning at 0430, I was amazed at just how hot it still was. Even 10 hours after sunset, the cabin was a sweltering 25 degrees and dictated keeping fans on to keep cool. Up to now, I have been wearing long sleeve shirts at night as things would reliably cool off after about 10 at night. We’re in better weather today than we were yesterday, which although forecasted, is much appreciated. Average speeds are moderate, with waves propelling us forward just as much as the wind almost dead downwind, and we’re on track for another 156-miler today.
12/11/24 Day 12
You can probably recall me wishing for more wind earlier, but I’m not sure I meant this. Today has definitely been the wildest day on board Stardust, as we’ve spent most of the day navigating a completely unforecasted storm system bringing winds in excess of 40 knots. Despite sailing with six reefs, three in the main and three in the jib, we still managed to surf at 23.6 knots (a new boat speed record!) and maintain an average speed in the high eights. It’s been raining a lot, too, which means being cooped up inside the saloon with the doors shut while we bounce around. Sleep is harder to come by with the constant feeling of being lifted off my bed by a crashing wave, and the extra mental tax of keeping an obsessive watch on the wind speeds and directions means exhaustion is the reality for the foreseeable future.
12/13/24 Day 14
We’re closing today on what just might be the best day sailing of this passage. Although not the fastest overall, much of today was spent reaching straight for Barbados, with a strong breeze and small seas that lent a wonderful floating sensation and boat speeds comfortably in the tens. No squalls hit us all day, and no emergency reefs made because of the wind. Early afternoon was spent sailing under our golden-yellow gennaker, before opting to switch to jib for cause of slightly increasing wind. Fishing activities have not yet resumed, although I stay hopeful for our last few days at sea as we plan on arriving Monday before dark with only 415 miles to go!