can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Trillium - Log 3-A Potpourri of Weather



The S/V Trillium crew was anxious to set sail as we left the dock at Nanny Cay. The excitment was dampen when we got into Sir Francis Drake Channel and saw the lack of wind and rain drops! At the last minutes before the Start, the crew decided to put up the Gennaker. It was probably quite funny for the Committe Boat to watch as we worked furiously to get it up. At least it is a beautiful sight when the blue and white sail is up.

We tried to sail out of the channel. After two hours where we hadn't even gone more that two knots or made it to the end of Tortola, I asked the Captain if we could put up the Iron Genny. Trillium is a heavy boat and doesn't really move until at least 10-12 knots of wind. So we logged our engine hours and motored out of the channel and past Jost Van Dyke. So the weather story begins with NO WIND.

We put up the main and the head sail and started moving along nicely. Then we came upon the biggest rainstorm - complete thunder- in which I have never sailed. The wind picked up and we were flying along. Oops! We need to bring in the light air gennaler. So Dennis and Thom went to the foredeck to handle the nasty task in the rain. Weather Story: GOOD WIND, BAD RAIN!

As soon as we sailed out of the storm, the wind dropped back to 3 knots.The sun came out and it was a perfect day - for power boating! Time to fire up the Iron Genny again. At least we had dinner without bouncing around. Fried chicken, baked beans and potato salad: A real picnic. Weather Story: CONFUSED!

Just as twilight was setting in the winds came up with a little rain. But now we we are flying along at 9 knots with the wind at 16 knots! That is really good for us. Hopefully it will stay this way all night and we can make headway. We just passed Surprise and Brizo is just ahead. Field Trip and Escapade are off our port stern. There is another boat further back but it must not have AIS so I don't know who it is. There should be two more of our fleet somewhere out here.




Previous | Next