Our destination is Grenada, deep in the West Indies of the Caribbean Sea. Our entire rout from Tenerife to St Georges in Grenada is 2806 nautical miles (6000 feet in a nautical mile vs 5280 feet in a statute mile). We are sailing to a predetermined way point southwest of the Canary Islands and then we will turn west and sail direct to Grenada. As with the previous Trans-Atlantic Voyage, we are using Commanders Weather service to provide expert weather forecasts and routing guidance while at sea.
The first day at sea is always the hardest. It takes a while to get your "Sea Legs". Each crew has their own tried and true method or concoction to get these sea legs. I have never been sea sick, but I always take a pill the first 12 hours just to be safe. Today everyone seems to be just fine and adapting to the new watch schedule posted by the Captain. With a crew of 5, each taking a 3 hour stand on watch, we get the luxury of 3 hours on, then 9 hours off, 3 hours on, and then 12 hours off!!!. Every 5th day, a crew member is assigned galley duty and received of all watches for a 24 hour period.
The first day at sea we a played around with the new whisker pole and the dual head sails. There are many more lines coming to the cockpit than ever before. I decided to take it easy on the crew and boat for the 1st night and just fly the main and the staysail which is flying out to windward with a preventer line. We are moving along at about 6-7 knots in some very very rolling seas. I predict we will make Grenada in 16-17 days, putting us on land just before Xmas.
Stay tuned for more.
At 12/6/2011 08:46 UTC saling vessel JAY SEA DEE was at 27°03.09'N 017°44.45'W sailing at 6.7 knots on a course of 235T
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