So we’re heading to the Bahamas we think, or so we’ve planned. Apparently Mother Nature has some other plans for us. There is no weather window.

Crossing to the Bahamas needs a winds that’s SE – SW. We wait. And wait. And wait some more.

The weather forecast says the wind should clock south in four days. We stock the galley and wait. The weather forecast changes. The wind is going north again. We eat the provisions, we go daysailing just to remind ourselves that we are a sailboat. In three days the wind will clock south. We stock the galley and wait. The wind goes south for about 10 minutes at 3 am one night and it proceeds to clock northwest at 20 knots.

Are we desperate enough to cross the gulf stream in a norther? Are you insane? NOAA is giving reports of waves 10 – 14 feet in the stream. Not this sailorgirl.

And so goes the season. After three weeks it looks like there might be a two day window. We plan to stage from Miami south to Angelfish Creek on the first day. This not only will give us a better angle across the stream, but that one day will give the stream time to settle down.

The day dawns sunny and blue. Wind is slightly stronger than forecast but it is an ESE as they said. Of course our heading down to Angelfish is ESE. A whole day of beating to weather. No problem, we’re going to the Bahamas.

At 5 am the alarm goes off and we lie in bed and listen. Very quiet. Why so quiet? There’s NO wind. Not even a whisper. As we lie there we contemplate motoring all the way across the stream, 60 miles. It can be done. We’re going to the Bahamas.

Emerging outside shows a windless sea, dead flat, dead calm. Large fluffy clouds pepper the sky, they’re a lovely mustard grey colour. Not a bird can be heard. We listen to the forecast, the front is moving in fast, we have maybe 12 hours. Judging by the wierd light and eerie clouds, it’s going to be here sooner than that. There’s not even a discussion between us, it’s back to bed and pass on this crossing. We’re not going to the Bahamas today.

Maybe next week. Maybe next month. Maybe next season.