The Atlantic high has elongated due to weather along the US coast, both North and in the Gulf of Mexico, and as we begin to reach latitudes of the southern Bahamas, we find ourselves in very light light and variable southwest winds as our 3rd day aboard begins. Fully under motor now in these light stern breezes, fishing off the stern is focusing crew rather than the trim of Sails. Doldrums is a good name for these conditions as it reflects not just sea and wind conditions, but conditions aboard. Without sails to trim the many long, and now quiet, hours aboard has everyone a little restless and bored with so many days in front of us. Untethered can move quickly under motor reaching 9knts thru the water at 2,100rpm, and she can run at this level nearly forever with the main diesel engine at ~175 degrees. With a hull designed to sail, Untethered moves well under motor and at these speeds she burns less than 3 gallons per hour. We have two fuel tanks aboard with a combined capacity of 350 gallons which gives us a 120 hour range of ~1,100nm. For these long passages we also carry jerry cans with another 40 gallons as an emergency store, adding 12 hours, or 100nm to our range. This means we cannot make the full trip under motor and need wind and sail for at least 48 hours collectively to make landfall in Annapolis. We seem to have a persistent adverse ocean current as we move north and this is slowing our progress and our absolute speed over ground is averaging less than 8knts, which only means more hours and fuel.
As hours under motor pass each of us starts to look at fuel and rough calculations, with nothing else to take our attention. So, fishing poles are pulled from stowage along with reels and lures in the hopes of Ceviche and Fish Tacos for lunch or dinner. We seem successful at hooking seagrass (sargassum) for most of the morning. In these flat water conditions these grasses float in large offshore islands that we push thru frequently, with little sign of the Mahi Mahi we are trolling for. As the afternoon hours slowly unwind the quiet of the day is interrupted with bent poles and the exclamation of “fish on” but hopes are quickly extinguished as we find Barracuda on the hook twice. Not the delicacy intended for an evening meal. Ocean passages always bring a range of skills and experience in the crew aboard, and for this passage we have Cajun cooking along with sailing skills and experience. A focus on fishing turns to chopping and peeling as thoughts of a fish dinner turn to Shrimp amd Sausage Gumbo and the smell of Cajun roux fills the boat. A great diversion on such a slow day and now anticipation for the evening Gumbo becomes the sole focus of attention. The calm seas allow the Saloon dining table to be set with china for the evening meal and as we eat most of the discussion is now on the weather and routing options ahead of us as low pressure systems build along the east coast. It seems we will once again need to thread the needle of storm systems as we approach the coast and the decision is made to alter course to the west as we clear the Bahamas tomorrow. This will mean another 200nm added to the route, but will give us flexibility in dealing with the developing weather.