Peristera - Tropical Low nr 28

This was not what my crew expected when they came onboard in Las Palmas. I had talked about downwind sailing, while air and water got warmer and warmer. I also described squalls, so they were prepared for sudden wind increase and heavy rain.
For a short period, I said. 20 minutes.
Not this. Not having rain for hours from a scary sky. Not needing to flee south when both wind and current come from south. Not getting mail from a younger brother asking: 2,8 knots? Can't you sail faster in a 47 feet boat???
We had started preparing for landfall. We wanted to arrive to St Lucia Sunday afternoon, and we put a "Bonus report" on the wall. On the Bonus report, we wrote how many miles, over or under, the average amount we needed to do, to be in Rodney Bay at 16 hours on Sunday.
The last row on the Bonus report says 17 miles plus.
The next day we went 60 miles south.
If I had not thrown the Bonus report in the garbage, I could have written "95 miles minus" on it.
We consider us now lucky if we arrive on Tuesday.
Some days ago, in a moment of clueless generosity, I offered to give some diesel to boats who needed it more. Haha. Luckily we were too far behind, so the diesel stayed with us. Now, with either wind in the nose, or dead calm, we need every drop ourselves.
We will not starve to death, even if we dont make it until Tuesday. We have beans, Pringles and chocolate, more than we can count.
Linda