I have been working hard to get Pandora ready for the run to Antigua as part of the Salty Dawg Rally to the Caribbean for months now, always thinking that I would be heading to Hampton for the departure, as has been the case for years now. This year’s rally is a big one, with 96 boats heading south, mostly from Hampton, with about 15 from Newport.
As of a month ago, I realized that I was not going to be able to make it to Hampton, due to some mechanical issues with Pandora, discussed in prior posts, and decided, somewhat reluctantly I’ll admit, that I’d be heading out directly from Essex CT, on the CT River.
I say “reluctantly” as I, and many others, view a departure from the NE US as potentially more difficult than from Hampton, near the mouth of the Chesapeake, as more difficult, primarily as it takes a lot longer to get to the south side of the Gulf Stream from here than from farther south.
The Caribbean cruising legend and author Don Street, once said that leaving from Newport in November to head to the Caribbean was like “playing Russian roulette” given the uncertainty of the weather that time of year so while I have considered departing from here in the past, I have always headed south to Hampton or left earlier in the season. This years departure for Antigua will be my first from the area.
On Monday evening we had our first long range weather briefing with Chris Parker who painted a somewhat bleak picture of what the run would be like, regardless of the choice of departure point.
The problem is that the trade winds are expected to be elevated, making for a very sporty trip, south of Bermuda. Normally the departure from Hampton is easier than from New England but this year it looks like the New England run might be easier. But “easier” is only in comparison to Hampton and while I am encouraged, it is still uncertain and subject to change. Not the least of it is the continued presence of hurricane Tammy, who is churning her way northward as I write this.
However, I may have to leave a few days early to avoid what will be very strong northerly winds beginning on Tuesday and filling south the next day.
This is what the weather looks like today, 4 days from our estimated departure. You can see that hurricane Tammy is churning her way northward. The line from Essex represents the course to Bermuda, where I am likely to stop for a few days. Note that “red” in the following slides are strong winds, think 20-30kts and higher, and blue, no wind.
If you look forward to Saturday morning, when we are currently considering beginning the run, there is very little wind suggesting that we will be motoring much of 650 miles to Bermuda. However, at that time Tammy will be right over Bermuda. Not good to be heading south when she is moving north.
The current forecast suggests that we must arrive in Bermuda by late on Tuesday in order to get ahead of some very strong northerly winds. These winds are expected to fill in on Wednesday but of course that is a week out so the forecast could very well change but right now it looks like “threading the needle”.
I would very much like to leave on Sunday or later to give Tammy a chance to GO AWAY, but we will have to see how things develop over the next few days on the weather front. The reason, although not the only one, is that October 28th is the date of Brenda’s and my first date, a walk in the woods, if you are curious, way back in 1972, 50 years ago.
For the last dozen or so years, with only one exception during the pandemic, Brenda and I have NOT been together on that date, and I was so hoping that I would be this year.
However, it’s a long way to Antigua and I really want to do whatever I can to make it a safe and easy run. Fortunately Brenda understands that too.
And, speaking of 50 years ago. I took this photo when we became engaged. Who’da guessed she’d stay with me…
And while I soak myself in nostalgia, I have this photo on my phone as the background image. It was taken aboard the Bluenose II schooner in Lunenburg NS when Brenda and I vacationed there. That was right after we were married and before we even had our first boat. It’s one of my favorite photos of her. What a babe! Oh yeah, she knitted that sweater. It’s still in our “hope chest”, I believe. BTW, she still knits like a fiend…
So, will I be home for that special day? Who knows, and one can hope that I will get some good news at our next weather briefing and will be able to be home on the anniversary of our first date 50 years ago Saturday.
After a decade of running north and south each season, like a migrating bird, our plan is to take Pandora to Trinidad next spring to have some work done on her decks. It will be a big job but would be even more crazy expensive if we were to have the work done here in the US. I have friends that have been keeping their boats in Trinidad for years and rave about the quality of the work. The group that I hope will do some fiber glassing and paint call themselves “Perfect Finish”. From what I have heard, it’s not just a name. More to come on that.
Keeping Pandora south next summer will come as a welcome break from the seasonal anxiety about weather and of course, missing out on our “special day”.
Our next weather briefing is Thursday afternoon. Perhaps the news will be good for me and Brenda. And, of course, a good passage south to Antigua.