We had no word from Midwatch yesterday but I was
comfortable that all was well, it is not easy to do much when in such big seas.
I will admit, though, I was up this morning, a little past five, checking my
email. Lucky for me, two emails came in. I was glad to see that all is well and
hoping, for the Bobs sake, that they have a day or two to make some ground
east.
Meanwhile, we are down to less than 24 hours until
departure and still loads to do. As I am writing this we are travelling back
from Block Island following a wonderful visit with cruising friend Virginia. We
had a fantastic trip and really enjoyed Block Island. There was even a fiber
mill across the road from our Inn and we were able to take a tour. I was
realistic enough to realize that I will not have time to knit any time soon, so
I did not buy more yarn, but it was great fun to see all the fiber and the
machines that clean and color and make it into batts, cones, and skeins. There
is a small animal farm there and the kids were able to pet a kangaroo and get
really close to two huge camels.
The shops and restaurants were interesting without being
out-of-reach for the main stream and we ate more that we could conceivably fit
into our stomachs. Virginia showed us the channel to enter the Great Salt Pond
so that we will know where to come next year on our way north. We can’t wait! -Kim
Hi
Everyone,
Last
night after dealing with round one of the storm yesterday the wind died and we
motored (trying to ease the dreaded sail slap) until just before dawn when the
wind came back in from the south.
Grandpa got me up early so we could reef the main. Sure enough within a few hours we were in
lots of wind again. I decided to furl
the storm jib and Grandpa who had been standing on the cockpit ladder jumped
(without his jacket and harness) up to help.
He meant well but was holding the sheet so hard I could not furl. The noise was deafening and I was basically
screaming at Grandpa to let the line go so I could overcome the force of the
wind. The more I yelled the more he held. This was a low point for both of us. I yelled at him like one yells at a child who
is going to get hurt. You mean it to
protect but it comes out all wrong. We
both feel like crap about it.
Grandpa
went down below to rest and I sailed until the winds started reaching 30 kts
and called it quits and hove to. We both
rested down below and within a couple of hours the winds abated and the sun
came out. While enjoying some soup in
the cockpit the wind shifted dramatically so we started sailing again. At first we were saying we should add sail
and then we said we have just the right amount of sail and then we started
decreasing and then we were hove to for round three of this damn storm. In retrospect I think we had been in some
sort of eye of the hurricane remnant.
This third round is the most vicious and we have been lying in north
winds averaging 35 kts for hours and the seas are the worst of the trip so
far. At the peak the boat went spinning
out of control while we were down below.
We rushed out to deal with it amid screaming winds and violent
seas. The wheel had been lashed in the
hove-to position but somehow we had swung off the wind and jibed and were
rounding up on the other tack. As
quickly as I could I untied the rudder and tried to get us hove-to on the new
tack. The rudder felt strange to me and
I couldn't understand what had happened.
We assumed the steering had failed (one of my biggest fears). We pulled out the emergency tiller and tried
to steady things up as much as one could in these conditions. You don't know if it will keep
intensifying. The winds were well above
what was forecasted already. So we
retreated back down below again and tried to rest which was impossible because
we thought our steering was broken.
After a restless nap and hours of 35 kt winds the wind backed down into
the high 20's. I couldn't stand it
anymore so I went in the aft cabin and tore through all the bags and sails and
crap to pull up the mattress and check out the steering gear. I found nothing wrong. I came back out in the main cabin and had a
discussion with Grandpa about the situation.
We ran through theories and scenarios and options. We also noticed that we were not really
hove-to but were sailing forward at around 2.5 kts. Again this made us think we had a
problem. The wind was down to the mid
20's so we put on our suits and went out to play with the steering. We found that the emergency tiller could be
moved further to the lee and that the rudder seemed to respond. I even went out on the swim platform to try
and observe the rudder. Looking out
across the expanse of frothy/mountainous seas from "outside" the boat
is impossible to describe. We also found
that there is a fair bit of play in the tiller and so the wheel seems screwed
up but we think it is OK. In retrospect
my latest theory is that in the 35+ kt winds and huge steep waves and cut away
keel at the bow allowed the bow to get blown down a wave and the rudder lost
its grip. It went far enough that the
wind got control and we spun and jibed.
So the good news is we think the steering is OK but the bad news is that
we can't fully trust heaving-to in heavy weather. In the meantime we would like to sail but the
seas are so big we are afraid to try and come about so we are going to try and
be patient and let the seas diminish a bit.
In
the bigger picture we have lost lots of time between calms, storms, counter
currents, and repairs and this leg of the trip is really testing us. I am two days behind my most conservative
guesses for our progression since we left Flores. We also see another storm chasing us that
looks to be the biggest yet. I guess
this is just how it is going to be for us.
Early
this morning I was thinking about fear and storms. I think for me the scary part is not at the
peak but nearer the beginning when it is building but you don't know what it
will become. It is also the stage where
you are still sailing and trying to make progress but you know you will soon be
faced with the decision to reduce sail and the question of will you do it soon
enough and thoroughly enough etc. This
morning while up in the cockpit alone during this process of the storm building
I found myself shaking. The same thing
happens when I see a big fish so I think part of it is what happens when
adrenaline starts running in your veins and you have no outlet. You see that in hunting dogs that are just
about to be let loose...they quiver all over.
Of-course after the rush of adrenaline you become exhausted. As I am writing this the wind is once again
increasing back into the 30's and I am getting anxious about it and starting to
shake...damn it. Kim and I said part of
what this trip is for us is to get out of our comfort zone and learn to deal
with it....well I am way out of that zone at this moment.
Hopefully
this will pass soon and allow us to turn and continue on our way or at least in
a direction roughly towards Ireland.
Grandpa
made dinner...gruel (oatmeal) and coffee!
He is also doing the dishes. I
think I am learning how Kim must feel. I
am one lazy bastard when it comes to meals and dishes. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the
tree.
So,
here is our current position. (Actually losing ground now that we are on the
wrong tack while hove-to)
19:50
UTC
45
42 N
28
15 W
Wind
22-31 kts out of the Northwest
Hove
to on starboard tack
Seas...just
nasty...I can never estimate how big they are.
Hoping
for a better day tomorrow,
Bob
and Bob
*******************************
Good
morning,
Strong
squalls came in yesterday and I decided I didn't want to risk the equipment so
sorry I didn't make contact. We stayed
hove-to all night on the wrong tack and lost 25-30 miles over the past 24
hrs. We are sailing again this morning
and now worried about the next storm. I
will download a new chart shortly but it looks like we need to get ourselves north
again. This passage is turning into a
true war for us.
The
sun is out now and we are moving again so that is good.
Current
position:
8:11
UTC
45º
38’ N
28º
13’ W
Course
20 True
spd
6+ kts
Wind
15-20 from west northwest
Seas
10-15 feet estimate...large leftover crap from yesterday
Bob
and Bob
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