One of the many amazing things about sailing is all the different points of sail. From a dead run with the wind from right behind, broad reach the wind around hundred and fifty degrees from behind, beam reach the wind ninety degrees from the side, close reach up to sixty degrees, and close hauled up to forty degrees from the front. There is a perception that catamarans do not sail well to the wind, and it is partly true, some cats don't. The Maverick 440 is one of the exceptions.
We are currently sailing at around forty five degrees to the wind. True wind speed is fifteen knots, apparent wind eighteen knots, and our speed over ground between seven and eight knots. Truly exceptional for a cat without dagger boards. Retractable dagger boards are like blades that goes through the hull and they allow you to sail close to the wind. They take up a lot of interior space, and also cumbersome to deploy. If you want to see an example you can Google Katana catamarans. What helps us a lot on this particular Maverick is the X1 cross radial sails from North Sails. We have second reef in on the main sail, and first reef on the head sail.
We are now less than hundred and ten miles away from St.Lucia, but we won't be stopping there. We should reach St.Lucia before noon tomorrow. St.Thomas is only two days further down the line, and we plan to make a quick stop there to get some fresh provisions, and also to take a bit of a rest. Tomorrow will be a lunar eclipse, and how great it would be to see St.Lucia and the lunar eclipse on the same day.
All is well on SV Jubilee, and we will bid the Atlantic Ocean farewell as we sail into the Caribbean sea. Trust you had a great day, and catch up again tomorrow.
Paul
Sent from Iridium Mail & Web.
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