23 March 2011
Well, all things come in threes and yesterday was no exception. We entered our third and final Atlantic weather system. Neptune and his partners in crime were having one last fling with us before we were spat out of the ocean. The day had started well enough with good sailing, the wind coming dead astern, perfect for poling out the genoa. We were on the final countdown to Grenada. How is it that the last 100nm seem to take forever?
By midday the all too familiar gathering storm clouds on the horizon heralded the onset of a squall. But this was no ordinary squall it was another depression. We entered unwillingly into its beckoning arms. Down came the torrents of rain and out came the cockpit curtain from the locker. Our bright yellow fluttering flag did a complete turnabout as a wind shift to south had us scrambling to change the sails over to the other side. South? Where on earth did that come from? There was no mention of south in our grib file or WARC forecast.
Night closed in, our world became enveloped in a dismal gloom and the moon stayed stubbornly behind a curtain of cloud. Just off the northern tip of Tobago all hell broke loose. A strong current opposing a rising head wind and a transit across the deep contour, to shallower depths was to blame and we bounced around in this maelstrom of water for the next half hour. Then spat out we were. Neptune had had his bit of fun with us. It disappeared as quickly as it has come to leave us with a sloppy sea and another 180 degree shift of wind, back to the prevailing north east.
The anticipation of landfall was too much for my over active brain and I could not sleep. Even Voyageur seemed all fired up. She knew she was on the last lap and she powered along on a flat sea. As we sped along the south coast the lushness of the island is the first thing that strikes you and how lovely to see mountains. It has been a while. Our breakfast was washed down with a rum punch (I suspect the first of many), presented on the dock by our minders Paul and Suzana. Basia have increased their engine revs but the convoy bringing her home will be another three more days at sea. Let's hope the gods that be will look more kindly upon them......
Susan Mackay