American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 359 Crossing the Gulf Stream

At seven o'clock in the morning, as the first rays of golden sunlight pierced the thin mist over the sea, the docks of Fort Lauderdale were still immersed in tranquility.

Lin Yu'an, carrying his tactical backpack that seemed out of place with the luxurious surroundings, arrived at the "Polaris" berth on time.

He did not board the ship immediately, but stood quietly on the dock like a commander about to take over the position, calmly scrutinizing the elegant and majestic white behemoth before him.

Last night's banquet, filled with secrets and emotional storms, left no trace on his face. He remained the focused, calm Captain Lin Yu'an, poised to face the challenge.

The hatch opened, and Raven appeared on the deck.

She had changed into a professional nautical outfit, the tight-fitting sun-protective clothing outlining her powerful physique.

Her shoulder-length short hair was slightly blown by the sea breeze, making her look more neat and dashing than before.

Upon seeing Lin Yu'an, her eyes flickered for a moment, but she quickly returned to normal, only failing to utter her habitual "Hey, monster."

"Good morning, Captain." She simply nodded, her voice calm and businesslike.

"Good morning, First Mate." Lin Yu'an responded just as politely, as if the profound conversation and hug on the beach the night before had never happened.

A peculiar understanding developed between the two, a tacit sense of distance.

Captain Mike was the last to emerge from the cabin, carrying a thick logbook and looking as serious as if he were on a military mission.

He glanced at his watch, then at the sky and the wind direction, and finally fixed his gaze on Lin Yu'an.

He said in an unprecedentedly solemn tone, "Captain, the North Star has completed its pre-departure inspection, and its fuel and fresh water tanks are full. All navigation equipment is in good condition."

"Now, I am officially handing over command of this ship to you."

"Thank you, Captain Mike." Lin Yu'an accepted the heavy responsibility without hesitation.

He leaped onto the ship, placed his backpack on the sofa in the salon, and then went straight to the cockpit, where he placed his hands firmly on the helm.

“Alright,” he turned to face his two crew members, “we will have one last voyage planning briefing before we untie the mooring lines.”

He took out his iPad, connected it to the ship's monitor, and the outrageously detailed voyage plan reappeared before everyone's eyes.

This time, it's no longer a drill, but an upcoming combat order.

"Our total voyage, starting from Fort Lauderdale, will traverse the entire Bahamas and reach the Turks and Caicos Islands, covering more than 1000 nautical miles and is expected to take fifteen days."

His voice was steady and clear, echoing on the dock in the early morning.

"According to the plan, we have divided the entire voyage into four main segments."

"First leg: Fort Lauderdale to Nassau. This is our goal for the next 72 hours, and also the first test of our team's cohesion."

"The total distance is about 180 nautical miles. We will be sailing at night, as well as one of the most challenging natural obstacles of the entire voyage, the Gulf Stream."

"Second leg: Nassau to Georgetown. We will enter the Exuma Islands chain, and the navigation mode will switch from deep-sea cruising to inter-island navigation."

"This will be a key test of our nearshore navigation and water reading capabilities."

"Third leg: Georgetown to Providenshire Island. This is the longest blue-water voyage, during which we will be away from land for three consecutive days."

"The potential risk is the tropical disturbance predicted in the weather model. We have three backup safe haven plans: A, B, and C."

"Fourth leg: Return. The specific route and time will depend on the latest weather forecast upon our arrival."

He closed the overview map and zoomed in on the first leg of their journey.

"Now, it's today's task." He pointed to the precisely calculated red flight path on the screen.

"We will depart from here and sail north at a heading of 335 for about two nautical miles, avoiding the shallow waters near the shore. Then we will turn to a heading of 095 and officially begin our crossing of the Gulf Stream."

"My calculated optimal crossing point is here, and I expect to reach the edge of the Great Bahamas Bank before sunset. Everyone, any questions?"

“No, Captain,” Mike and Raven answered in unison, their voices filled with the obedience of professional sailors.

“Very good.” Lin Yu’an nodded. “Raven, you’re in charge of the bow mooring lines. Captain Mike, you’re in charge of the stern. On my orders, we’re preparing to leave port.”

“Wait, Captain, there’s one last thing before we leave port.” Mike turned to Lin Yu’an, his expression becoming serious. “In Fort Lauderdale, there’s an old tradition among sailors.”

He turned and went into the cabin, and a moment later, he took out a bottle of aged rum that looked very old and even had some dried salt stains on it.

He unscrewed the antique wooden stopper, and a rich aroma of wine, carrying the scent of oak barrels, instantly filled the air.

"Before every important voyage, the captain would offer a small gift to the sea in order to pray for the protection of Poseidon, the god of the sea."

Raven, standing nearby, offered to explain: "It's a libation ceremony, a superstition of the old sailors, but we respect it."

"Rum is the blood of sailors. With our most precious thing, we express our awe to the capricious sea, praying for it to calm the storms and protect our voyage."

Mike walked to the ship's side and carefully poured a small glass of the golden liquor onto the North Star's teak deck, as if feeding his beloved horse.

Then, he raised the bottle towards the boundless sea and slowly poured out the remaining wine.

The golden liquid traced an arc in the sunlight before falling into the sea, creating ripples.

"May you protect our voyage, making it calm and smooth sailing," he prayed softly, in a voice only he could hear.

After the ceremony, the atmosphere on the ship became solemn yet full of anticipation.

With everything ready, Lin Yu'an stood behind the twin steering wheels of the Polaris.

He glanced at First Mate Raven beside him, then at Sailor Mike, who was in charge of untying the mooring lines, and calmly issued his first command as the true captain.

"Untie all mooring lines and prepare to depart."

"Aye, Captain!"

For the first time, Mike and Raven responded to their captain with the most formal sailor etiquette.

Lin Yu'an slowly pushed the throttle lever of the engine, and the 75-horsepower Yanmar diesel engine of the Polaris emitted a deep and powerful roar.

With the low roar of its engines, the massive Polaris slowly left its berth, where it had been moored for a long time, and gracefully glided into the main channel like a giant whale awakening.

His first voyage officially began.

As the ships sailed out of the breakwater and into the open sea, a force completely different from that inside the harbor instantly enveloped them.

The wind became strong and steady, and the waves began to surge rhythmically.

“Listen.” Captain Mike closed his eyes, his face showing an almost pious expression. “This is the sound, this is the true heartbeat of the sailboat.”

Lin Yu'an shut off the engine and, in the quiet of the night, gave the order to raise the sails.

Then, with the three working in perfect harmony, the huge mainsail and foresail were raised one after another, like the wings of a giant bird spreading out, and with a "whoosh" filled them with wind!
The North Star tilted sharply to one side, its bow cutting through the azure waters, leaving a white wake, and began to speed eastward with an elegant yet swift motion.

The first few hours of the voyage were pleasant. The sun was shining, the sea breeze was gentle, and under Lin Yu'an's control, the Polaris traced a perfect path across the azure sea.

Raven leaned against the steering wheel, her arms crossed over her chest, scrutinizing Lin Yu'an's every move like an examiner.

"How do you feel, Captain?" she asked with a slight smile. "She's got a lot more character than that little go-kart on the Wanderer, isn't she?"

Lin Yu'an's gaze did not leave the compass and sail in front of him, but the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "She is not like a go-kart, but more like a high-speed train running on the track."

“Every instruction needs to be anticipated in advance because of her enormous inertia, but once she gets into the zone, the stability and sense of power she exudes are unparalleled.”

Mike, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but laugh. He walked behind Lin Yu'an and patted him on the back as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.

"Lin, you're too tense! You're wrestling with her! Relax, don't treat her like a machine, treat her like your dance partner, and feel her rhythm."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu'an tried to relax his shoulders and shift his attention from the data to his physical sensations.

Feel the subtle vibrations of wind pressure transmitted to the hull through the sails and ropes, and feel the vibrant feedback of the rudder in the water.

Gradually, a silent connection seemed to form between him and the 45-foot behemoth.

“Much better.” Mike nodded in satisfaction. “Remember, the best captain doesn’t steer the ship with his eyes, he steers with his backside.” This crude yet wise remark made Raven burst out laughing. “Dad! You’re teaching me your old-fashioned ‘pirate philosophy’ again!”

“That’s called experience, sweetheart!” Mike retorted dismissively.

"Data can lie, but your body never will. You'll truly graduate when your ass can feel the slightest lateral movement of the stern."

Three hours passed quietly in this relaxed conversation. As the Florida coastline disappeared completely below the horizon, the ocean beneath our feet began to reveal its wilder side.

The color of the seawater changed abruptly from the turquoise of the nearshore waters to a deep, unfathomable, and even somewhat unsettling cobalt blue.

Raven glanced at the multi-function display and immediately reported, "The water temperature has jumped three degrees; we're in."

“That’s right.” Mike’s voice became serious. “Welcome to the Gulf Stream, the great river of the ocean.”

"It can carry you a hundred miles a day, but it can also knock you back to where you started with crashing waves when you're going against the wind. Lin, from now on, you need to be on your guard."

The powerful force of the Gulf Stream, like an invisible giant conveyor belt, began to push their 45-foot sailboats northward involuntarily.

The ship's GPS showed that their actual navigation path had an angle of more than 15 degrees with their heading!

"The bow is 15 degrees to port, the current is 3 knots and it's getting stronger!" Raven's voice was clear and calm as she continuously reported key data.

"Received." Lin Yu'an responded calmly and began to slowly turn the steering wheel.

He had to keep the bow of the ship at a huge angle opposite to the direction of the target at all times in order to counteract the powerful lateral force brought by the Gulf Stream.

It's like crossing a turbulent river; it requires a high level of skill and concentration.

He steered the ship steadily, his eyes fixed on the distant compass and the surging waves before him, his body swaying slightly with the rise and fall of the hull, as if he had become one with the ship.

"Stay calm," Mike whispered a reminder. "Don't fight it head-on. Feel its power, and then use it."

Raven, standing nearby, kept a close eye on the data stream on the multi-function display screen, constantly reporting precise speed, wind speed, and yaw angle to Lin Yu'an.

"Boat speed 7.2 knots, wind speed 18 knots, we are approaching the reverse vortex zone you planned!"

"Received." Lin Yu'an's gaze swept across the nautical chart, confirming the location.

Without the slightest hesitation, he decisively turned the steering wheel and steered the North Star into the area that seemed no different from its surroundings, but in fact the water flow was completely opposite to its direction.

The ship jolted violently, as if it had suddenly veered from a congested highway into a smooth, unobstructed fast lane!
The ground speed (SOG) on the GPS skyrocketed from 7 knots to 9.5 knots in just over ten seconds!
"Beautiful!" Captain Mike exclaimed sincerely, his eyes sharp as he kept a close eye on the changing sea conditions. "You really found it! We've entered the reverse eddy!"

Raven was also glued to the screen, quickly bringing up the detailed navigation data page with excitement and curiosity on her face.

“Incredible,” she looked up at Lin Yu’an, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Last night’s satellite cloud image showed only a slight temperature gradient change here. How did you determine that a stable vortex would definitely form here?”

This is a very technical question, showing that she has also studied meteorological data, but failed to reach such a precise conclusion.

While steadily steering the ship, Lin Yu'an calmly answered:

“You’re right, sea surface temperature alone is not enough to make a judgment. So I cross-referenced the data from the altimeter.”

"Due to the influence of the Coriolis force, the sea level in the center of the Gulf Stream is slightly higher than that on both sides."

"Last night's data showed a tiny indentation in the area, a typical sign of eddy formation."

He pulled up a 3D hydrological model on his iPad, which showed a clear, slowly rotating mass of cold water.

"The velocity of this eddy is about 1.2 knots, and the direction is 175 degrees, almost entirely southward. The average velocity of the Gulf Stream is 3 knots, and it flows northward."

"Our speed over water was 7 knots, but because of the need to counter the main current, our speed over land (SOG) is only 4 knots."

Mike immediately picked up where he left off, his eyes gleaming with the shrewd calculations of a seasoned captain:
"Now, with a 1.2-knot boost from the current, our speed of 7 knots above water has increased to over 8 knots above land! Our sailing efficiency has more than doubled!"

“Absolutely correct.” Lin Yu’an nodded and smiled at Raven.

"First mate, please calculate how long it would take us to cross this eddy zone, which is about ten nautical miles in diameter, at our current speed."

Raven typed a few keys on the nautical computer almost without thinking and immediately gave the answer.

“大约1小时15分钟。而如果我们继续在主流中航行，以4节的对地速度计算，则需要2小时30分钟。”

She looked up at Lin Yu'an and said sincerely, "We saved more than an hour of flight time."

"More importantly, we avoided the steep triangular waves that the Gulf Stream mainstream can generate when sailing against the wind, which greatly improved sailing comfort and safety."

As Raven gave her report, she quietly watched the man's focused profile.

She was still amazed by Lin Yu'an's strength, not because of how quickly he learned, but because of his way of seeing the world.

He can accurately identify the underlying patterns and optimal solutions from what ordinary people perceive as chaos and disorder.

It's a talent, a fascinating, even... something to aspire to.

Finally, after nearly three hours of battling the mighty Gulf Stream, the Polaris, under Lin Yu'an's skillful control, successfully traversed the core of the Gulf Stream.

These three hours were a severe test for everyone on board.

For the first hour or so, they were rowing against the current in a strong mainstream, their boat being relentlessly pushed northward, and each correction of course consumed a tremendous amount of energy.

For the next hour or so, they traveled at high speed through the reverse eddy that Lin Yu'an had found, requiring them to be highly focused in order to cope with the ever-changing hydrological conditions.

As the last ripples from the Gulf Stream were left behind at the stern, the hull suddenly felt lighter, and the constant tension of fighting against a powerful force began to ease.

After successfully navigating the core of the Gulf Stream, the Polaris entered a completely new sea area.

The tension of battling the powerful ocean current gradually dissipated, replaced by an unparalleled smoothness and tranquility.

The color of the seawater gradually transitioned from an awe-inspiring cobalt blue to a clear and bright sapphire blue.

"We're out." Captain Mike breathed a sigh of relief, his whole body relaxing. He took three bottles of chilled soda water from the cooler and handed them to Lin Yu'an and Ruiwen.

"Well done, Captain. You've conquered the Gulf Stream in the smartest way. Now, enjoy our well-deserved reward."

Lin Yu'an took the soda water and tilted his head back to drink a large gulp. The cool liquid slid down his throat, washing away the fatigue from his long period of concentration.

He glanced at the stable heading on the autopilot and said to Raven, "First Mate, you'll take over for a while. I need to rest my eyes."

“No problem.” Raven easily took control of the steering wheel.

The afternoon sun was no longer so scorching, but became warm and gentle. The North Star entered the most pleasant cruising period of this voyage.

Lin Yu'an didn't go to rest. Instead, he sat with Mike on the teak bench in the cockpit, enjoying the sea breeze and chatting about ocean voyages.

Mike, like a seasoned elder who had opened his mouth, began to impart to Lin Yu'an experiences that could not be learned from books.

"See that cloud?" he pointed to a solitary cumulus cloud on the horizon. "In tropical waters, there are usually independent wind fields and rainfall beneath these clouds."

"If you want to speed up, try getting close to it and using its momentum. But if you want to get a good night's sleep, it's best to go around it."

Lin Yu'an listened attentively and memorized these valuable experiences.

Meanwhile, Raven effortlessly steered the ship while playing her favorite rock music through a Bluetooth speaker.

The powerful rhythm mixed with the sound of the waves did not sound noisy at all; instead, it added a touch of freedom and unbridled color to this vast blue world.

The voyage is no longer a stressful mission, but more like a mobile sea sightseeing tour.

They saw schools of flying fish leaping out of the waves in front of the ship like startled silver arrows.

They also encountered a curious family of dolphins who played and guided them from the bow of the boat.

Around four o'clock in the afternoon, as Mike was explaining how to judge the weather in the distance by the shape of the surge, Raven suddenly shouted excitedly:

"Look! Ten o'clock on the port side!"

(End of this chapter)