Antigua Inbound Day 9

Hi everyone,
At noon today we are at 14 17N 052 21W sailing at 5.5 knots on a beam reach under double-reefed main and  triple-furled yankee.  The wind is NE 15G24.  The seas are 1.5m with a 2m N swell. The air temperature is 24C, water 27C and above is overcast cumulus clouds.  Our noon to noon daily run was 100nm.  We have 567nm to go - 100nm closer to Antigua today.

Final 2021 Sunset

What a change a day makes!  Today we're out of the sunshine and under the rain clouds; out of the light winds into squally winds; out of smooth seas into lumpy seas; and out of 2021 and into 2022!  The remaining days of our passage look to be somewhat squally and damp.

Yesterday afternoon we had light rain showers with wind gusting to 24 knots.  By the early evening they'd passed, but by midnight they were back with heavier rain.  When that system passed we were left with no wind at all so motored for two hours until a saling breeze returned.

In the early hours of the morning the rain showers continued.  This morning they've lessened but the wind is now holding at 15G25, so still quite gusty.  We're starting to see a little blue in the sky occasionally.

Last night's SSB sked featured Lady of Lorien and Emma.  Emma had tried to clear in to Tobago but was told they can only do so in Trinidad, so they diverted towards Grenada.  Lady of Lorien has only a day to go to Grenada.  So tonight may be the last sked for this passage.

As the noon-to-noon and to-go distances show - no current today.  This is consistent with the GRIB files and we expect to get into positive current again in a day or so.  Explains the lumpy seas too.

Trust all's well where you are.