31 October St Eustatia

Three and a half days of sailing hard on the wind and we have arrived in the Dutch island of St Eustatia, more often known as Statia.

Using the south east wind created by hurricane Melissa as it swung over Jamaica and turned north we were able to lay a course for Antigua but only after spending the first 12 hours heading due north for Nova Scotia in easterly winds. Once the winds clocked we were able to head towards the north east Caribbean. As the days passed the wind became lighter (as hurricane Melissa moved away) until finally at 10pm on the last night we had to put the motor on. With a 1 knot west setting current, light winds and less south in those winds the best sailing angle we were making was due north to Anguilla.

Three and a half days since leaving Curacao we’d covered 500nm and arrived in St Eustacia. Just in time because tomorrow the wind is forecast to reach 20 knots out of the east and our destination is Antigua 40nm ESE from here. We’ll rest, wait for the wind to drop and / or a favourable change of direction before completing our journey.