The new Feelin´ Good a Southern Wind 82, arrived yesterday  to Antigua after a fast crossing.  They had good winds and averaged 9.7 knots with only 40 minutes of motoring.  Congratulations to a fast crossing!

Timing of the trade winds are the key to a fast crossing.  ARC starts in November.  It is in November the trades start to form.  If you are lucky you get trade winds.  Waiting to January normally means stronger and more stable trades.

Feelin´Good, SW 82 under Gennaker

If you have read our Blog from the beginning you might remember that I crossed the Atlantic with an HR 54, Feelin´ Good 2011.  That was a slow year with many engine hours.

Feelin´ Good, HR 54 under Gennaker in light winds, ARC 2011

In 2001 I did my first Atlantic crossing with Sophia Rose, an HR 46.  It was also a fast crossing with stable trade winds.  We averaged 7.2 knots and had no engine hours.

Sophia Rose, HR 46 under Spinnaker in the trades, ARC 2001

The new Feelin´ averaged 9.7 knots when the crossed from Cape Verde to Antigua.  Compared to our crossing 2001 it was a 2.6 knots difference.  It does not sound too much of a difference.  But over the 2600 Nm from Gran Canaria it means an extra 93 hours at sea. (Almost 4 days!)

Follow the Feelin´Good adventure around the world  here.