Day Four: A Big Jump to Eleuthera

Today's leg was a much bigger bite.  Our planned distance was about 90 miles, and the wind was forecast to freshen further and bring, perhaps, a little weather with it.  We brought the anchor up after coffee but before breakfast, retraced our way out to open water, and set our sails again, this time with a reef in the main.

Once again, with wind just aft of the beam, Quantum Leap took off eagerly.  As the day progressed, however, the clouds knit themselves together, the wind crept up to the high 20s, and we took some headsail in.  Still the ride was pleasant, and a lot of reading got done.

Don was at the helm as the rain blew through, and we all smiled at him encouragingly from the protection of the salon where lunch was just on the table!  He kept trying to tell me it was my watch.  I thought he was joking, but actually, the trip was long enough that we had reverted to last year's watch schedule....and he wasn't joking.  But he WAS already wet, so I let him finish the squall out. ;-)

We approached Rock Sound, Eleuthera (3) in late afternoon.  It was our originally planned stopping place, but Tom calculated we could push on to Governor's Harbor (4) and arrive before dark.  Tom's calculations were spot on and we dropped the hook just as dark was settling in.  Three meals underway and a rousing sail.  It's like none of us had ever been away!