Do you remember when you were a kid and someone would come up behind you and twist your arm up and behind your back until the pain was unbearable and you would call "Uncle"? Well, that pretty much sums up how we are feeling about heading South. After more than a few sails due windward in wind that was less than friendly, we have been considerably beaten up and disheartened. We sailed for 9 hours the other day, doing 8 different tacks and only made it 18 miles (from Long Island to Conception) by the grace of God....and we still weren't at our intended destination (Rum Cay). So, with many many mixed emotions about this decision, we have decided that sailing to windward isn't for us and that a trip down island is just not in the cards for us at this point. We have decided to keep the fun and enjoyment in sailing and head back North, along the East Coast where we can choose our winds or choose to go through the ICW if winds are not where we can use them to our benefit.
This has not been an easy decision, especially for me as I really had my heart set on making it down there to meet up with old friends. I have been less than dignified about accepting defeat, but even I have to admit that sailing downwind today was so much more enjoyable that our previous sails.
After speaking with several other boaters who were in the same predicament or who knew people who were having lots of trouble heading South this year, it did make us feel a bit better. It seems the winds are just very Easterly this year and are causing trouble for many sailors who want to travel down island.
Of course, as always, our plans are written in the sand at low tide. If a window opens up while we are sitting here licking our wounds, we may give it another go. But for now, we are happy to be in a safe anchorage and to travel with the winds instead of against them.
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