Trade Winds

The jump off the East Coast U.S. across the Gulf Stream and through The Bahamas chain of islands is a good training ground for the trade winds. The Bahamas gets you 3 days of calm and then 4 days of 20 to 25 knt winds with the wind clocking like, well... clockwork. A voice in my head says, "Head south young man"! The Caribbean is calling. 

We'll enjoy 20 to 25 knots every day and then as we do our "easting" through the northern part of the Caribbean, we'll really know we're sailing. We're soon to find out about sailing the Trades. We have read the book "The Gentleman's Guide to Passages South" and have been duly warned.

If we get bored with monotonous easterlies, we can spice up our lives with some "cape effect" sailing, which is sure to provide an opportunity to drop into the washing machine. Waves bob and skip as the wind tries to counter all our tacking efforts, trying to make forward progress towards the next island. The wind will persist in all directions to come at us straight on our nose. Then to top it all off, why not throw in a little treat; an early morning squall with a 30 knot gust or two. We are learning fast about the Trades. What we wouldn't do for a wind-less day.

Easting in the Trades can be a challenge. So what is there to like about the Trades? "Like" being a relative term.

• Mosquitoes get blown all the way to Mexico.
• After a day in the sun the gentle gale blowing across the deck helps soothe the sunburn.
• The wind chop gently rocks you into an afternoon siesta and suddenly builds to wake you for dinner.
• The bbq grill stays clean due to the fact the wind blows out the flame before you get a chance to land the chops.
• The wind generator keeps those batteries topped up.
• You can hone your sailing techniques by tacking endlessly to windward.
• Wind and waves create humorours moments getting in and out of the dinghy.
• Guaranteed dinghy butt (as in wet duds) with every outing - the signature of a real cruiser.