Background about the Passage to Bermuda.

If you’re not already aware, Bermuda (BDA) is in the middle of the Atlantic. Crazy tiny little island all by its lonesome surrounded by ocean that’s 5,000 meters/ 16,400 feet deep, that’s about 3 miles deep!

Passage departing from Newport RI, Moorehead City, NC, and FL are about equidistant to BDA (NC being just slightly shorter). From NC it’s 630 nautical miles, that’s 725 statute miles, which is about the same as Boston to Cincinnati, OH/ Boston to Myrtle Beach, SC/ Boston to just past Quebec (as the crow flies).  In planning an off coast passage you double check safety measures and the backups are in working order. The basic list consists of: communications, autopilot, GPS, bilge pump (and secondary bilge pump!), safety (liferaft/ditchbag/EPIRB/fire extinguisher/pfd/jacklines), medical, rigging, steering, sails, hull, electrical, plumbing.

The planning of the passage logistically requires obsession of the marine weather forecast. We use www.PassageWeather.com . We were constantly updating the newest GFS weather model (as opposed to the European model ECMWF) and analyzing low pressure systems moving in conjunction with high pressure systems and how that will affect the wind, waves, and cloud cover.

We thought through water, fuel, food, and propane consumption. And we researched the Gulf Stream where it was how it moves, and what to look for in crossing it. The Gulf Stream is a fast warm ocean current (about 80 degrees!) that starts from FL and curves toward Newfoundland then off to sea. Its 45 nautical miles off the coast of NC and is 60 nautical miles wide where we crossed and adds about 2-3 knot push to the boat. The Gulf Stream moves more like a river and ungulates. You can track the movement by geothermal readings updated by NOAA (http://www.opc.ncep.noaa.gov/newNCOM/NCOM_GulfStream_currents.shtml ). Cape Hatteras is about 35 degrees N Latitude.

Below is our weather passage in GRIB file format which allows us to analyze weather patterns. The wind direction is coming FROM the long stem points with the”windbarbs” on the windward side. The number of windbarbs indicate the wind strength. One barb is equal to 10 knots and half a barb 5 knots. Also, keep in mind these GRIB files are in UTC (Universal Time) as opposed to EST (Eastern Standard which is 5 hours behind).

We were crossing the gulf stream in the first 24 hours so it’s important to cross while there are no strong to mild Northerly winds.

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Tues7AMTues4PM

Wed1AMWed10AM

Wed 1 PM EST 20 knots half way there

Wed 1 PM EST 20 knots half way there

Wed 7 PM EST. Wed night we had sustained 25 knot winds gusts up to 32. By far the scariest of the nights.

Wed 7 PM EST. Wed night we had sustained 25 knot winds gusts up to 32. By far the scariest of the nights.

Thur 7 AM A cold front creating some bumpy seas and squalls

Thur 7 AM A cold front creating some bumpy seas and squalls

Thur 1 PM EST Strong low pressure system that we're running from to avoid squalls

Thur 1 PM EST Strong low pressure system that we’re running from to avoid squalls

Arrival! Friday 4 PM Atlantic Time (3 EST)

Arrival! Friday 4 PM Atlantic Time (3 EST)

We arrived Fri but this image begins to show you why we were aiming to get in before Sat. The wind changes to 20 knots WNW, directly on our nose. Wind on our nose means we'd be forced to turn left or right of Bermuda until the wind changed direction. But the wind was supposed to increase from the WNW for Sat & Sun.

We arrived Fri but this image begins to show you why we were aiming to get in before Sat. The wind changes to 20 knots ENE, directly on our nose. Wind on our nose means we’d be forced to turn left or right of Bermuda until the wind changed direction. But the wind was supposed to increase from the WNW for Sat & Sun.