We did make it the edge of the storm and rode a broad reach (90 degrees) for the whole day. The ride was rough with 6’ – 8’ swells. We were able to ride rather fast, all of 7nts. The decision to leave early on Saturday is looking very good from a weather standpoint. Along with the front for the storm came cooler temperatures! No short sleeves for now!
We have made contact with 2 or 3 other boats regularly that are taking a similar course. Yonder, a 50 footer from Canada, has been tracking along with us about 6 miles to the west. We talk with her captain often. Two Canoes, a catamaran is gaining on us, catamarans are inheritantly faster than monohulls with much less wetted surface.
The rough seas have very fun to experience. The feeling of power is quite majestic. Our boat, big as it is, feels small and insignificant in the swelling waves. A big difference between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Michigan I am experiencing is the difference between waves on both. When Lake Michigan gets rough, it is a choppy rough with the waves having no decernible pattern. On the Atlantic Ocean, the waves swell and build with space between them. This can be very soothing especially at night to sleep. That said when you add the current of the ocean to the wave pattern you can get every now and then a really big wave with a corresponding relay big trough to unsettle everything. Today we ate lunch inside because it was rough, but by dinner time it had settled down enough to eat in th cockpit once again.
A little shout out to Emily, Happy Birthday, Emily! Incidentally, I left my glass on the deck last night, it’s encrusted in salt, perfect for margaritas for your birthday.