![]() With the winds from the northwest at 25 knots, we tucked in another reef and set the storm jib before I laid down for a few hours of rest. On Day 2 around 11pm, the leading edge of the cold front was almost upon us. kept her feet throughout the crossing and maintained good way between 6 and 9 knots with a single reef in the mainsail. The waves moved in every conceivable direction in peaceful coexistence. Expecting a maelstrom, we found instead our Xanadu. Six to eight-foot wind waves from the northeast, north and northwest were mixing it up with a 10-foot swell rolling in from Tropical Storm Sean, which was still hibernating a couple hundred miles to our east. What we found 60 nm offshore were north winds at 11 to 15 knots and very confused seas. We needed to sail across with authority, doing no damage to boat or crew. As captain of a small boat with six gallons fuel capacity, neither scenario was appealing. Most Gulf Stream crossing stories tell of either a miserable, gut-wrenching experience or one of calm waters, no wind and lots of motoring. On Day 2 around 4am, we had been underway for 11 hours. THE IMPERFECT STORM Eggs preserved by parboiling for 9 seconds were used to improve many of our rice and pasta dishes This storm behind us had no name, but it was ours. But you have to admit-it is a rare occurrence that a sailor gets to choose and prepare for his own personal storm. Well, only if you consider a bully giving you a good whipping on demand as cooperation. It was a simple plan, and for once in my life it seemed the weather was going to cooperate. We would cross the Gulf Stream using the proverbial “calm before the storm,” endure the passing of the front and then go for easting as long as northerly winds prevailed. We decided to link our departure to a coming cold front, as this was the only weather event with northwest winds that we felt comfortable in predicting 36 hours in advance. To overcome this deadlock, we decided that a northwest wind and a northeast flowing current (90 degrees offset) would be acceptable as long as we were across the Gulf Stream before a north or northeast wind could develop and ruin our day. At the same time, to avoid dangerous counter-current wind effects and safely cross the Gulf Stream, they look for the south or southeast winds of summer. ![]() Normally, to reach southeast, sailors look for the north winds of winter. Calm before the storm – the seas on the trip ranged from 20 feet to flat as a mirror Custom watch seats and face protection greatly reduced back, arm and eye strain experienced on back to back watchesĭeparting the East Coast for the Caribbean presents the ultimate weather catch-22. Tyler and I both agreed: the conditions were perfect. ![]() To the northwest, a strong cold front was barreling toward us and sending her ominous warning. Before us to the southeast, Sirius the Dog Star looked down on forces we could not yet see, the Gulf Stream and Tropical Storm Sean, and beckoned to us. Fort Sumter, still guarding the channel entrance, was backlit to starboard by the last glow of a fading sunset. To port, we watched Sullivan’s Island glide by as we raised the jib and reached southeast out of Charleston Harbor toward open sea. A year of preparation came to an end and our adventure truly started. Later that evening on the north side of the harbor, the world started to turn under our hull. Figuring we must be pulling his leg, the man asked again, “So, where are you really going?” Chuckling, my best friend Tyler said, “No kidding mister-we’re off to the islands!” ![]() As the man watched, we pushed her off the trailer and extended her two outer hulls. Weighing in at only 2690 pounds empty, she is anything but the typical 40-foot cruiser you would expect to see departing for offshore sailing. “So, you’re going to the Turks and Caicos Islands, huh?” asked the man disbelievingly as he inspected the Linda O., our 2001 Corsair F-28 trimaran. The lunchtime office escapee had been enjoying a beautiful fall day at the Wahoo Cut Public Boat Ramp in Charleston, SC when he came upon two unlikely characters launching a very different looking boat. The awesome adventures of the Linda O (published July 2012)
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