This is just an extract, read Anna’s full story including photos here: Atlantic Reflections Part 2:  St. Helena to Barbados

Sailing from St. Helena to Barbados

This morning we left the anchorage at St Helena for Barbados.  It’s around 3600 nautical miles, four weeks sailing non-stop over the Southern Atlantic. For the last half we will go closer to the coast of South America to catch the Guyana current.

The wind is low, 8-10 knot, almost enough to fill the Genoa on its pole. The speed is thereafter, 3-4 knots. It’s ok, we are not in hurry. The sun has just gone done. We turn on the top light, even though we have the feeling we will be very alone out here.

Patience

Every ocean has its challenges. On the Southern Atlantic it’s the little or lack of wind. We did 94 nm our first day, 1/38 of the total. At this point of our journey, we trust the pace, the yacht and ourselves. We will have some slow days before the wind picks up a little. Perfect for reading, writing, cooking, relaxing and reflecting. I have started reading a book about the narratives we are living in. What are they about? We have left the Baltic sailing for Ocean sailing, for example. As whom do we see ourselves in those stories? What new is on the way to emerge? Already this summer we are back in Europe, what then? Questions to reflect on when we pause and take a look. In every moment we can chose what story we want to live in.

Belonging

Where will our new belonging be? Now, as ocean sailors without a house on the earth, as my mother points out. Out here we belong, but how will it be when we are back in Europe with all its borders? The whole concept of belonging changed the day we took off for the world. Leaving my city of birth behind. We already have decided to not go back for living, only to visit. In early days of internet, I remember the discussion about meeting IRL, In Real Life, versus meeting at the internet.

The early adaptors though there was no difference. I talk to my mother more often now, then when I lived in Sweden. The only thing I know now, is that I need human connection and support wherever I am on earth. So far, people have received me. Thank you.

Meetings

We meet cargo ships, many are on the way to Singapore. It starts with seeing them on the plotter, usually one and a half hour or 30 nm away. The plotter indicates the distance between us, in this case it was 1,5 nm, 2 is normal, so I gave him a call on the VHF, just to check that he sees us on the AIS, on his plotter. This cargo, Hua Sheng Hai, on the way to CN TGX, is 751 x 108 ft. That’s quite big and even if they make 10 knots, we want distance in between. He doesn’t speak English very well, but I get confirmed that we meet Portside to Portside. Then we both know. That’s safety. I see him at 6 nm, and when he passes at 2.5 nm it looks like on the picture, taken with tele objective. It looks so far away!  Before I heard many rumors about cargos that run on autopilot, without someone on the watch out. It has never happened to us in five years. They have always responded and been very aware and helpful. And thankfully almost everyone uses AIS, even the fishing boats.

Anna Eriksson and Arthur Sundqvist
SY Vista
Amel Supermaramu 53 foot ketch.

Read Anna’s full story including photos here: Atlantic Reflections Part 2:  St. Helena to Barbados

Read Anna’s previous passage report: South Atlantic Reflections Part 1 – From Cape Town to St. Helena

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Follow Anna and Arthur’s adventures at: wavebywave.se

Other Articles by Anna on Noonsite:

• South Africa: Checking out of Cape Town (January 2024)
• INSIGHTS: Cruising with the Moon (April 2021)
• INSIGHTS: Pacific Reflections (October 2020)

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The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the view of Noonsite.com or World Cruising Club.

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