Sunday’s Bacon & Eggs at 2 am
- Ingrid Molitor
- Jan 18
- 2 min read
Saturday drifted by in a search for wind. We made almost no progress, trapped in a classic Gulf doldrum, one of those slow swirling patterns the southern Gulf is known for. Before you even get there, you cross the Gulf Stream, which begins in part right here in the Gulf of America before sweeping around Florida and racing up the East Coast all the way toward Scotland. I’ve included a picture of it for reference.
Inside the Gulf itself, the current runs about 3 knots in a wide clockwise loop. It’s no small force, and if you enter it at the wrong angle, it can turn a passage into a test of patience. Plotting a smart course means understanding exactly where that stream sits and how it will push you.
Day faded into night, and night quietly became early Sunday morning. A new day, and with it, new wind. There’s a particular kind of joy in sailing under a moonless sky with flat seas and a steady 10 to 12 knots on the beam. The boat moves exactly where you want her to go. Sailors know how rare that alignment is, it feels like a gift.
And then Peter, in true Peter fashion, elevates the moment. At 2 AM, he fires up the stove and cooks bacon and eggs. Who does that? A legend, that’s who. So there we were, perfect wind, a sky full of stars bright enough to read by, calm seas, Hazel humming along, and a plate of hot bacon and eggs in hand. Thank you, Lord.
We’re bracing for a strong front expected around 7 AM. We’ll be ready, reefed down early, watching the sky, respecting the forecast of 35 to 38 knots. Change keeps us sharp. I’ve attached the wind prediction images so you can see what’s coming.
A fun fact for you:
www.marinetraffic.com There is a small fee to track
Is there any way that blog readers can track Hazel's location?
Chris D.
Is there any way that blog readers can track Hazel's location?
Chris D.