Dirona has arrived into Charleston after 2,933 nm, 19-night passage directly from Horta. We added 500nm to our trip, avoiding the worst of the first named storm of the season, Ana. We got our first COVID-19 vaccinations within two hours of arrival and have been enjoying accepting dozens of Amazon packages.

The first and third weeks of the passage were enjoyable and comfortable with light winds, calm seas and great speed. In the middle, we had two weather systems to contend with, including Ana. We’d planned our route through the Azores High, south of the near-steady procession of intense low pressure systems flowing eastward from the US Atlantic coast. This strategy was successful in keeping us out of dangerous weather, but did add hundreds of miles to the trip compared to a great circle route.

It’s great to be home. We plan to spend a couple of months here in Charleston, including a trip back to Seattle for the first time since Feb/2020 and then will cruise northwards along the US east coast. I’ve attached a photograph of us in Charleston courtesy of Nordhavn 41-11 owners Pierce and Janet Guyer.