Long passage ahead! Sailing Bohemia Ep.192

Sailing Bohemia Rushes for Weather Window – An Urgent Journey

Captain John and First Mate Sam, aboard Sailing Bohemia, have found themselves in an unusual predicament. With only 24 hours’ notice, they’ve been handed the perfect weather window to cross the Caribbean Sea – but it’s the longest passage they’ve undertaken in recent memory. With much to be done, including provisioning, preparing the boat and catching up with their buddy boat Salaa, let’s watch them as they rush to get underway!

The Surprise Weather Window

A month spent in Curau00e7ao has been wonderful for the Bohemia crew, but it’s time to leave. The boat is filthy from the dirty air of the city and the couple of weeks in the marina have meant there are jobs to do before they can head off on this challenging passage to Aruba. But what has caused their sudden departure? It turns out that this weather window opened up suddenly, mid-forecast.

Rushing to Prepare

Suddenly with only 30 hours until the passage begins, Sam and John work frantically. Provisions need to be sorted, fresh food needs to be bought and there’s a lot of last-minute cleaning and checking to do. But what comes next?

Engine-Powered Sailing

This journey is unusual because they expect it to be predominantly engine-powered rather than sail. Why? Because it’s a long 400-mile journey across the southern Caribbean, against strong, constant trade winds.

An Epic Passage

This is no short jaunt; they expect an epic eight-hour passage – their longest for five years. The stress of engine use adds to the tension, as sailing without wind leaves more room for things to go wrong.

Rush to Leave Curau00e7ao

There’s a real sense of urgency on the last day, as Sam and John try to enjoy their time in Curau00e7ao while they rush to leave. The heat is stifling; will it be better once they’re out at sea? With final preparations underway and a short window to squeeze everything into, there’s no time to lose!

Heading Off

The defensive wall outside of the city signals that it’s time to go – they’re out! With 10-12 knots of wind, they bear away and make a beautiful beam reach.

The Final Moments

And as they sail off into the sunset, they leave behind one of John’s favorite places in the world. But duty calls and there’s a special birthday coming up soon in Aruba for their little boy.

The Journey Ahead

The epic eight-hour passage across to Aruba lies ahead. With much discussion about the food they’re eating, the sailing conditions, and even their choice of wardrobe (check out those sailor shorts!), we join Sam and John as they prepare for this incredible journey.

A Special Thank You

The crew would like to thank their patrons – diligent diary followers! Plus, of course, there’s a call-out and thanks at the end from the first mate.