The Last Half Mile

Evening came and at around midnight it looked like a big blow was going to hit. There was a flurry of activity to get the top sails stowed and the main and mizzen reefed. Just as everything was prepared, the storm cell never hit! Quite a blessing really as it’s never fun taking those hits in the middle of the night! 

At 3am our Distance To Destination was 1.34 miles.

As dawned came around, the Distance To Destination was 1.45 miles. Four hours of continuous sailing had relinquished distance and in all that time we had been sailing across the bay, tacking continuously. Horst had helmed the boat the whole night from the approach of the storm to the drifter we were now facing. He doesn’t give up, he won’t give in to the ship. That tenacity makes him the only master she can have!

As the heat intensified, the breeze simply disappeared. We were stuck, "nothing on the clock but the maker's name." Fleet Command wouldn't let us give up, so we tried everything to make headway, but to no avail.

Imagine the frustration of those early navigators faced with similar conditions. Did they drop anchor and wait patiently, or did they simply drift at the mercy of the currents? Their determination and resilience are a testament to their spirit.