There’s a narrow gap in the mountains between Mexico and Central America above southern Mexico’s Gulf of Tehuantepec. When high pressure builds in the Gulf of Mexico, air funnels through this gap and creates a tongue of strong wind on the Pacific side. These strong gap winds are known locally as Tehuantepecers, or T-peckers for those folks who don’t like a lot of letters in a row.
We caught the tail end of one of these T-peckers last night. Winds and waves rose steadily throughout the evening, and even though we are 350 miles offshore we still saw 20 knots with large, disorganized, lumpy seas created by the 45 knot winds closer to shore.
Madrone is happy to continue charging upwind in those conditions – her crew not so much. So we shortened sail, turned a bit more downwind, and hung on in the rolly, uncomfortable ride. By morning, the winds have fallen back to the same gentle conditions we’ve had since we left.
Another gap wind event is forecast a day from now. As long as our current breeze holds we should be well positioned to have the stronger winds spit us out the far side of the T-pecker zone.
At least that’s the plan! In the meantime, the crew is drying out. All’s well onboard.
Day Four: 130nm
11 34.5N 97 52.7W
