Jan 3

Bonaire Lac Bay. NP EVO 6 7.0, iSonic 107, Drake 38. Wind: 17 - 20 knots

Fully to overpowered. Thought I might have gotten a PB on NM but turns out I missed my marker on the north side of the bay and came up short on distance. The speed chat numbers sounded good - a knot or two above my previous best. Oh well.

At this point on my experience curve, 25 knots in this type of chop is all I feel comfortable handling. Maybe that will change with more time on the iSonics.

Decrepit commented:

Interesting spot Barton, looks like with the right tide it could be a nice short speed course in that bottom corner?

I commented:

Hi Mike. I've spent time looking for a nice speed course, haven't really found one yet. The closest I've come is the short area just north-west of the launch site. Not sure which bottom corner you are referring to (left - South West, Right - South East)? The SW corner, south of where I blew the jibe in the track, is all in a wind shadow due to the mangrove trees and trees in the parking area. The total tidal change here is typically 30 cm or less so we don't get much benefit there. The SE corner, where I start my NM runs is relatively flat but the chop builds fairly quickly on the NM run and becomes annoying once one is in the deeper water. 

I'm sure that one could go much faster than I am here in the bay - it has to do with competence and 'fear factor'. 

Thanks for the question/suggestion and the interest.

The best 'speed courses' on Bonaire are on the leeward side of the island but that is also where the scuba divers are - just too dangerous, in my opinion, to be sailing there. A couple of extra knots isn't worth the risk of hitting someone in the water.