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

Menu

American Spirit II - Day 11; Heading for the Nicaraguan Sand Shoals; Tuesday, January 14, 2014



For those that don't know, just because a sail boat moves thru the water at, say 8.5 knots as we did much of today; doesn't mean you're Speed Over Ground (SOG) is the same. Usually it's not. And for most of our trip around the world we will have a helping current, i.e., a current with us that helps us get to where we're going. It's not that way crossing the Caribbean Sea from the western tip of Cuba to Panama. We've had a head current against us as much as 2.5 knots, or as little as 1.2 knots. So when the boat is moving thru the water at 8.5 knots, we may only be making 6.0 knots toward our destination. Bummer. We knew this before we got to this point in our voyage as Joel downloaded the US Navy Current Charts from their web site. Where possible, we'll sail to a favorable current if it's not too far out of our way. For example, during the Colonial Days American ships would 'find' the Gulf Stream Current and ride it to England. A longer route than just sailing straight there, like the British did. But they could get to England in 4 weeks, versus 6 for the British. The American Whaler's learned this in practicing their trade.

We have a 20 mile opening between Alice Shoals and another one to the west of it, Serranilla Bank, that we must navigate thru safely. Even though we've been angling for this since passing Grand Cayman about 200 miles and over a day before, its not as easy as it might appear. Wind, current, boat, crew attention, fatigue, all influence a successful transit thru what will be perhaps the most hazardous part of our trip so far. The water depth goes from thousands of feet to 45 feet at Alice Shoal; and the other shoal is awash. Once we get thru this, which we hope to do by sun rise Wednesday; we have to be careful not to stray too far west of 180 degrees as two other shoals Serrana Bank and Rocador Bank; would then be in play, even though they're 130 plus miles south of Alice. Go figure. I wonder what the difference is between a 'bank' and a 'shoal?' I'll have to figure that one out and let you know in a later log.

Brian Fox


Previous | Next