WEATHER WINDOW #1

We awoke at 2:30am on Fri. Dec. 20th to the sounds of voices and engines running as the Canadian Convoy prepared to leave. I counted seven boats slowly motoring in single file out of the harbour and onto the rippling ocean. It was a great night for a sail. The moon was almost full, the sky clear and visibility good for miles. I almost wished we were going with them and wondered if we were just being “wusses” until I remembered the forecast. We went back to bed.

About 4:30 the winds picked up and lines of small squalls slammed into the bay. We quickly rose, managing to close the cabin ports and hatch over our berth just in time. As rain pounded the roof and deck of our boat and the wind howled in the rigging, I thought of the little group of boats, two hours out into the Atlantic and probably just approaching the Gulf Stream. Would the squalls be hitting them too? What would the wind be doing to the waves? With strong south-westerlies pushing them towards the Bahamas, they would not have the option of turning back and would now be committed to crossing over.

I wondered if this was the predicted “front” which would bring 7’ waves into the Gulf Stream arriving earlier than expected and if they would find themselves trapped within it. Safe and comfortable in our cozy bed, I was relieved we had made the decision to “stay put” and wait for calmer conditions. Even if the Canadian Convoy was in fact safe hurtling towards Bahamian waters at break-neck speed under strong sou’west winds, I did not want to be sailing under such challenging conditions. And wet to boot! I remembered a similar sail, many years ago, when Vince and I set off with Peter Taylor in his boat to Niagara. With 20’ following seas and gale force winds, we had made the crossing in record time but it was a harrowing experience and I never want to endure such a frightening journey again.

The next morning we tuned in to NOAA and our weather guru Chris Parker. There was a small craft advisory warning for our area and squalls were forecast for coastal waters. Weather conditions had remained unchanged so at least the Canadians were not in immediate danger of being caught out in an early cold front and would be able to make the crossing—albeit an uncomfortable one—in relative safety. Despite these assurances, the coast guard was dispatched off the coast about 6:00am and we saw a rescue helicopter heading out that way too. We had no way of knowing if this was “routine” or if someone was actually in trouble.

Chris predicted calmer conditions to return to the area Tuesday through Thursday of the next week. And if nothing changes, that will be our next target date for departure.