“The deadline’s Monday morning—you absolutely must be off the ocean by then!” explained Chris Parker, our weather router we depended upon to give us sage advice. “There is a nasty cold front tearing down the eastern seaboard that will create treacherous conditions. The wind battling the current will create destructive standing waves that could crush your boat.”
Green Turtle Cay stop to avoid storms
We had just left Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas, escaping the relentless thunder and lightning that had hammered the islands for 36 hours, leaving the air thick with the smell of salt and ozone. Our route to the Chesapeake Bay took us across the shallow, turquoise waters of the Little Bahama Bank, where we could see the colorful coral reefs and the occasional fish jumping out of the water, before we hit the powerful Gulf Stream current. A warm current, the Gulf Stream, pushed our boat to 10 knots on the GPS, flowing north at 3.5 knots. The light winds, barely a whisper against the hull, were not enough to propel us; we motored against them to meet the Monday morning deadline for leaving the ocean. Checking the map, we found a few places to duck into. Charleston was the furthest north. We set our sights on that shimmering city in the distance, our destination to shelter us from the approaching storm.
Sailing is an unpredictable endeavour; one moment the sun shines, the next a squall hits, testing your skills and nerve. At the mercy of capricious winds and relentless waves, unforeseen obstacles hamper the journey, each one a test of resilience. Much like sailing through a storm, life’s challenges can be overwhelming, but with resilience and a focus on the good things, you can weather any setback. Surrounded by an amazing, adaptable crew, the trip is effortlessly fun and happy, each member going with the flow.
According to my calculations, we’ll be in Charleston by 4 p.m. on Sunday, hopefully in time to catch the sunset over the harbour. However, there’s a day and a half until then—ample opportunity for unforeseen developments. But we are ready to face any challenge, no matter how daunting it may seem; we are prepared for whatever comes our way.
Heading west into the sunset
My novels
