Sapadillo Bay, Caicos

We woke in time to listen to the weather again this morning.  I don’t know why we bother because it never seems to be as forecasted.  This morning, the winds were to be from the SE at 15 knots.  By 2pm, they will have shifted to the south at 17knots, gusting to 22 knots.  Well, I’m sitting here in the cockpit, updating this log at 10am and the winds are topping out in the mid 30’s … steady in high 20’s.  Again … nothing like forecasted.

I’ve had a little anxiety today.  We have two major crossings before we are in the “real” Caribbean.  First, we have to cross the Caicos bank (about 44 miles).  This will bring us to the Turk Channel, a deepwater channel that runs between Caicos and Grand Turk.  Our plans are to continue straight off the banks, across the Turks Channel, and to Big Sand Cay (just south of Grand Turk) – total about 66 miles.  From there we will grab a nap and wait for the time to head south to Luperon, Dominican Republic.  This is about an 80 mile stretch of very open, deep ocean that can get very nasty.  Once we hit the coast of the DR, I will feel better.  BUT … the second major crossing is only shortly down the way from this one.  We will work our way along the coast of DR to the northeast point before crossing the Mona Passage to the southwest coast of Puerto Rico.  This also is supposed to be a tricky passage due to winds, seas and currents.  Once in Puerto Rico, it is basically island-hopping down the chain, without too much drama (I hope)!

I think my anxiety comes from too much conflicting information.  I know we need the appropriate weather window.  Okay, so what is that?  It really depends on the speed of your boat and how quickly you can maneuver the routes.  Again, in that book “Passages South”, he gives conflicting information.  Trying to decipher his writing is a task in itself.  Then there’s the weather itself.  We listen to the forecast and think we have the “window” open and then something like today happens when it’s forecasted one thing and reality is grossly different.  What if the rest of the forecast is the same and our “window” doesn’t really exist???  URGH!!!  I will just feel so much better when we’re finally south of all this and I can relax!

We were going to try to get to shore and send this update but, considering the weather today, it didn’t happen.  We will have to wait until the D.R. to send it. 

Larry is listening to the Offshore forecast as I write this.  We are trying to get confirmation that tomorrow is a “good” window and we’ll cross the banks headed for Big Sand Cay in Grand Turk and then, after a brief nap, off to Luperon.