Gulf Stream update # 4

Not much change in the GS routing.  Looks like there are still two options with the first being the most desirable - Essentially South from Beufort to approx 32N/077.4W and then find a fast heading to approx 33N/076W so we don't buck the current and then south to Abaco once we are out of the GS's strength.

This route gives us a good heading in the prevailing SE winds or westerlies and it appears that there is a southbound eddy that will give us a little kick.

The other route is more down the coast and crossing abeam of Charleston - the only advantage to this route is if there are questionable weather issues and it allows duck-in options.

Weather wise, it appears that some of the classic characteristics of autumn weather trends are starting to kick in - there will be a big High coming down through the lakes and slowly drift to the east.  This will bring stronger winds out in the NE area as a low passes up by Nova Scotia and northerlies off Hatteras - for our route this would bring a nice fair breeze - although a bit on the lighter side.

It's still too early to worry about weather right now, but we are continuing to watch the currents and infact there are some anomilies in the predictions which locates the GS in different areas on our route and also locates some eddies in different parts of our route but more importantly our speed through the water vs. speed over ground differential will give us the real story.
 

Solomon's Island

We visited Solomon's Island from 8/17 to 8/24 and stayed at the Solomon's Island Yacht Club. It was about 50 nm from Annapolis where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Patuxent River.  We averaged +/- 6 knots and it took about 6 hours going and 7 hours coming back against the current. There was no wind in either direction.  The forecast for the week was hot and humid. The SIYC was very accommodating.  It was clear the day we departed but it rained on and off the first 2 days we were there. The weather cleared on the 3rd day and it became sunny, hot and continued humid for the remainder of the trip. We visited the Calvert Marine Museum, Oyster Packing House and the U of M Marine Biological Laboratory. The Island is known for it's Tiki Bar which supposedly attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually. We also made a trip to the local WM about 1-1/2 miles away and had lunch at The Captains Table. We were invited to attend a Taco dinner at the yacht club and had dinner at DiGiovanni's, The Striped Rock, The Dry Dock Restaurant at Zahnisers Marina, Solomons Pier and the Belle Maison Bistro at the Blue Heron Inn during our stay.  Across from the Island is the Patuxent Naval Air Station where jet fighters took off and landed regularly throughout the day. Solomon's Island brought  back some old  memories.  It was our first unscheduled stop after leaving Reedville, Va. with the first Mai Toi in 2000 in route to Guilford, CT.

 

 

 

 

Gulf Stream update

There are two possible routes as of today.  The first route is approx 500 nm and is the preferred route if the winds are right.
The alternative route adds 110 nm, in case we get southerlies or southeasterlies early in the trip. The alternative route will give us a better sailing angle or if we get north to northeasterlies early in the trip, in which case it is desirable to stay out of the stream until they shifted.
Both routes provide about 50-65 nm free miles from the current.
The Rhumb line (about 460 nm) adds 50-65 nm through the water.  IE: GS routing optimization gives a 100-130 nm difference,  about a day of sailing.

Inner Harbor

A little side trip to the Baltimore Inner Harbor this past Labor Day weekend with good friends Pete & Joyce Arentzen.  We went to the National Aquarium and had dinner at the Rusty Scupper on Saturday and saw the Izod Indy Car Series Baltimore Grand Prix and met the winning driver Simon Pagenaud at Fogo do Chao Sunday night. We stayed right downtown at the BMC Inner Harbor Marina. The boat performed exceptionally well although we only had 5-10 knots of wind. Nevertheless it was a beautiful weekend, sunny and very warm. Now to begin final preparations for the Bahamas trip.