Shorthand of the log from our trip of Cartagena to Jamaica starting the 9th of May 2006.
Day one, 9th of May 2006
We left the anchorage at 07.00. There was almost no wind and we had gearbox problems. We almost kissed Fujimo, but at the ultimate moment I got the engine in forward.
We took the exit at BocaGrande. The buoys nowadays have a light to help you to get through the underwater-fortifications of the Spaniards. (There are only two spots where you can pass this invisible wall underwater. One is marked.
Jojo, one of our friends was waving at the shore of Boca Grande. What a nice goodbye of Cartagena.
The winds were light, but we could do some North, the course we had to go to come to Port Antonio, Jamaica or Santiago de Cuba.
At 14.00 we had some squalls, no wind. Batteries fully charged.
During the night the wind changed so that we could only steer a course of 340 degrees.
We did almost 100 miles in 24 hours. Good.
Day two, 10th of May 2006
Course was around 340 degrees. Not completely good (North would be ideal) but who knows we get more luck in the coming days.
Seas are almost flat, so with these light winds even a beating course is still a nice sail.
We did 103 miles in 24 hours.
Day three, 11th of May 2006
Start of day at Lon/Lat 13 degrees 42 seconds North, 76 degrees 28 seconds West.
The setting screws of the roller furling are getting loose again. Also the forestay is still to slack. Have to repair that in the next port.
Course was from 330 degrees to 000 degrees. Winds were light. No swell.
We did 102 miles in 24 hours.
Day four, 12th of May 2006
Start of day at Lon/Lat 15 degrees 12 seconds North, 77 degrees 01 seconds West.
Course intended right now to pass Jamaica on the east is 10 degrees.
The beginning of the day winds from the NE so that we just could steer 320 degrees. At night the wind was more E and we could steer N and sometimes even better.
We did 85 miles in 24 hours.
Day five, 13th of May 2006
Start of day at Lon/Lat 16 degrees 29 seconds North, 77 degrees 31 seconds West.
Winds very light. Almost flat seas. Course most of the time NE (15 degrees) what is good. We had to motor for half an hour.
Distance today: 80 miles.
Day six, 14th of May 2006
Start of day at Lon/Lat 17 degrees 17 seconds North, 77 degrees 14 seconds West.
Winds getting a bit stronger from the NE. Later on during the morning still stronger from NE to E.
We decided to go for anchor and wait for the night wind to go direction E to Cape Morant. We anchored at Portland Cay, just west of Kingston.
We dropped th hook at 14.00 hours.
The log showed 509 miles since Cartagena.
Lot of reggea-music on the radio and BBC on the FM. We like that.
Winds only got stronger during the night, no windshift.
We decided to relax and have a nice dinner with wine. Later on it was 40 knots of wind from the East. We were happy that we didn’t leave and that the anchor hold. The night was pitch black but not much rain.
We stayed at anchor in Portland Cay for four days. The wind just would not turn around during the night and was a steady 20 to 30 knots from the East.
18th of May 2006
Finally no wind at sunset. It’s not good but better then before.
We started motoring hoping that at night we could sail. We did a low 2 knots on the engine. Against the current.
It got very hot inside due to the diesel engine.
During the night we could sail for a bit.
We arrived at Port Antonio at 15.00 the next day.
>From the Portland Cays to Port Antonio was 90 miles on the log.
Lat/Lon for Port Antonio: 18deg10sec N and 76deg27sec West.
