06/16/2026
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ELISSA Captain's Log: 12 noon, Tuesday, June 16th, 2026
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A WIDE SPECTRUM OF CONDITIONS….
Yesterday afternoon, after sailing out of Fort Pierce, the breezes became light & variable. Even with 15 sails set, we had added the spanker; if not for the favorable currents of the Gulf Stream, our speed would have virtually fallen to zero. By 3 pm, ELISSA was consistently moving at less than 2kt SOG (see below for more on this).
We were on the verge of ‘throwing in the towel’ and starting the engine to keep moving, but we decided to show some patience and give it an extra 45 minutes. It was great that we did, because the wind slowly and steadily started to fill in, building in force and stabilizing its direction. By 4 pm, we had more than doubled our speed to 4.5kts. More wind = more speed. By 5 pm, the wind was now a steady 10-12kts, bringing ELISSA’s speed to 9.3kts, and then still more. By the time dinner was called at 6 pm, the wind was a steady 15kts, and we were really starting to gallop along at over 10, almost 11 knots.
But, there can be ‘too much of a good thing.' We had already planned to take in both our Royals, which we never have set at night. But, between National Weather Service warnings, watching squalls on the radar, and simply watching the gathering storm clouds, we had to shorten sail further. The photo posted here is of the oncoming dark skies and the almost-glowing Gulf Stream waters. Rain isn’t going to bother ELISSA, nor her crew, but with those squalls often come gusty, shifting, erratic, and even extreme winds. If and when something like that hits, we can instantly “take our foot off the gas."
So we prepared for the worst and began the reverse of what we did earlier in the day. As we sailed out of Fort Pierce, we added sail after sail after sail up to fourteen and then fifteen sails in those light winds, and now we had to reduce the amount of sail we were carrying. Off came the Royals and the Topgallants; the Maintop Staysail and the Jibs. And if you think that hauling all those lines to douse all those sails is a work-out -- remember that every sail we take in must be furled, so the crew had to scamper aloft (in some cases over 100’ up; and in all cases aboard a moving ship) to secure the sails. As the squalls got closer, the wind kept changing direction, veering 20 degrees, then 40, and more, and more, until we were sailing WAY off course as we handled sail and ran before the wind.
With the shifting winds and shortened sail plan, the steering was becoming more difficult, so we struck the Mizzen Staysail and Foresail to ease the “weather helm." With the ship sailing in trim, at 9 pm we were able to come about, “wearing-ship” back onto a northly course.
In the end, we did get rained on a bit, but we never did see any of the worst of the weather that came through our area. Probably the highest winds we experienced were about 25 knots. So in the end, you might think we didn’t really need to shorten sail. NOPE, not true.
When you’re at sea, especially on a traditionally rigged ship where sail handling is more complicated, it is imperative that we always prepare for the worst to keep ELISSA and her precious cargo, the crew, safe.
With the dawn of this morning, there are steady breezes, and no more threats of squalls (until this evening anyway), so we reset the Foresail, the Topgallants, the Jibs, and we press onwards with glorious sailing.
Regards,
Captain Andrew Ellers
--ALSO--
A note about our speed: We are always reporting our “speed over ground” (SOG) because that is what we use to navigate, and that will help you envision how quickly we are heading towards our destination. It differs from how fast we are moving through the water when currents are present. Over the past few days, we have DEFINITELY been in the presence of currents, the mighty Gulf Stream, and since it is heading in the same direction as ELISSA, it is VERY beneficial.
Right now we are sailing through the water at about 7.5 knots, but the water itself is moving in the same direction as us at about 2.5 knots, so those two factors combine to create our nearly 10 knots “speed over ground”. It’s kinda like we’re moving forward atop a huge, watery conveyor belt that is helping us along. It’s a lovely gift of +30 extra miles each day!
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POSITIONING
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ELISSA at 12 noon (EDT)
Distance Traveled: 1225nm
Position: 29deg 53' N x 79deg 29' W
Course: 020 M
Speed-Over-Ground: 9.6 kts.
Weather: Partly sunny; 12-15kt wind from the SW; seas 2-3’ from SW.
