Big Swell

You may have seen in the news that there is a big Nor’easter off the coast of New England. Well, it is big enough to affect the Caribbean 1,600 miles away too.

After celebrating Laura’s birthday yesterday at an incredible resort on the north-eastern tip of Virgin Gorda, we overnighted in their marina. Today we needed to get back to Tortola so that Dora and Larry can get off the boat tomorrow morning in time to start their journey home.

Unfortunately, the Nor’easter has been pumping 10-12 foot waves south for several days and they were just starting to reach the BVIs. Shortly after we set sail in the morning, dark clouds, rain and big waves started pounding the boat. Driving a 45 foot boat into 10 foot waves in 20-25 knot winds is not dangerous but it is exhausting and pretty uncomfortable. We hammered our way north west for about 2 hours before we had made enough progress to turn south west without being broad side to the waves (which would be dangerous). By the time we made the turn, Larry and I were soaked to the bone, the boat had gotten a really good shake down, and the girls were ragged.

Once we were heading with the swell instead of into it, things calmed down a lot. The rain passed, the swells quit pounding on the bow and the contents of Peace Out quit being scrambled like eggs in an omelet.

We decided to anchor back at Trellis Bay in the lee of Scrub and Guana Islands. You could (and still can) see the waves smashing through the gaps between these islands to the north of the harbour. When they hit the rocky coast, they explode 50+ feet into the air like a bomb dropped into the water.

If it sounds harrowing, it was for the crew but I found the whole day to be a ton of fun and a great experience piloting a boat this big through waves that big.

Having said that, we plan to hole up in Trellis Bay for a couple of days until the swell passes.

Enormous waves.

(me after we were safely into Trellis Bay)

(Artwork above by Fiona)