As we follow the progress of the Salty Dawg Rally to the Caribbean fleet that is now out in the Atlantic and heading for either the Bahamas or Antigua on the PredictWind tracker, we’re reminded what it’s like to be at sea on a sound vessel with a good crew. After two or three days, everyone has settled into the watch routine, got their sea legs and got used to shortened sleeps. The sound of wind and water are all around and everyone is attuned to the sky, clouds, sea state and looking for omens of weather changes. Life revolves around watchkeeping, meals, communications and sleep and often the crew all gathers in the cockpit at sunset for a gam and perhaps a sundowner. Once you have settled into the routine and found that balance of activity and sleep, you can carry on for days and weeks. Time seems to slip away and all that matters is keeping the boat happy and the crew safe and well fed. Through the round the clock routine, most of us reply on the autopilot or windvane to steer and here balance is essential. If the sails are trimmed wrong, if you have a lot of weather or lee helm, the steering devices will struggle and the boat will sail badly and slowly. But find that balance of trim that provides a neutral or very slight weather helm, and the boat will sit up, move through the water sweetly and quickly, and the autopilot or windvane will do their jobs effortlessly and never need a nap or a meal. Yes, good passagemaking is all about attaining that special balance that you rarely encounter on shore.
Check out the PredictWind tracker for the rally here.
