Week one of our crossing

Myths of crossing to the Marquesas

Myth 1: The winds will be from the south east and you will never have to change your sails for days on end. You will also be at your fastest point of sail and sail at your top speed.
Actuality: The winds are from the east south east and will not allow you to sail in the optimum direction. You need to set a spinnaker each day to head west as you are sailing too far south. That is of course if actuality 3 is not occurring and you can't set the spinnaker and so you sail south for another day. The winds are behind you--not your fastest point of sail.

Myth 2: The currents will be in your favour and quickly take you where you want to go
Actuality: The currents are in various directions and can be against you, taking you back from whence you came.

Myth 3: The weather is settled and the seas are steady once ‘the season” has commenced—April.
Actuality: Squalls can still happen and seas can be confused and rock and roll you in all directions.

Myth 4: Seasoned sailors do not get seasick.
Actuality: Many cruisers we know never get over it—especially in the actuality of myth 3--why do they continue to sail??? Luckily neither of us do.

Myth 5: Single sideband radios are obsolete.
Actuality: It is nice to talk to others who are ahead of you by a few days and find out what you may expect—forewarned is forearmed--also that other voice is very comforting and to know you are not all alone out here.

Myth 6: Grib files will tell you what the weather is going to be.
Actuality: The weather seems not to pay attention to them.

Myth 7: Catamarans are not as safe as monohulls.
Actuality: They are equally as safe and far more comfortable when coping with actuality 3.

We have 2000 miles to go---our position is S 05degrees 43 minutes and W105 degrees and 07 minutes and all is well.