Yesterday when I did my last post, our plan was to continue north and take our lumps in the building NE/E winds. However, yesterday afternoon I received a note from Chris Parker in response to a question from me that was in essence, “there has to be a better way”.
He suggested that we head east for about 24 to 36 hours and wait for the strong winds to shift from NE to a more easterly direction, a better angle for us. Head farther west than we had planned and then turn north toward the Gulf Stream, behind the front where the winds would be less.
Additionally, he suggested we head due east toward Bermuda, staying south of the front, so that when we finally turned to the west and entered the strong easterlies we would have a better angle, with the wind aft of the beam.
What a simple and great idea? Why didn’t I think of that? We immediately headed east. Unfortunately, the wind totally died overnight so the boat rolled and slatted in an alarming way.
But, rolling or not, I took time to admire the stars. The Milky Way was clearer than I have ever seen it.
And night gave way to dawn bringing lovely shades of purple and red.
Up came the sun. 
It’s 10:00 on Thursday morning and we have turned north toward home again.
As we approach the front we have a very light SW wind. You can clearly see the dark line of the front out in the distance. All of a sudden the wind did an abrupt 180-degree shift, in literally a few minutes, a shift that was faster than I have ever experienced. 
I’d love to share the weather routing information that we prepared based on Chris’s recommendations but can’t find a way to download the images from my iPad. I guess I will have to show it later.
For now, light wind from the NE but in a few hours, as we cross the front, it will quickly build to 25kts+.
If things work out as Chris is forecasting, this won’t be a bad ride after all. Fingers crossed.
While I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch. After a decade of working with Chris, once again, he came through.
I do so hate bashing to weather. Perhaps this won’t be so bad after all.
Fingers crossed.
Thanks Chris.
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