This area off Rolleville is wide open, with swell and wind chop, so it
is rather active. It is sand bars with deeper fingers between them. I
threaded my way in between the sandbars as close to Rolleville as I
could get and still float, then grounded against a sandbar, dropped the
anchor, and reversed back into what I hoped woujld be deeper water (7'
deep instead of 6'deep) I missed just a little so I drifted back into
not so deep water and stayed grounded until late. I set another anchor
so that when the tide rose I would drift into deeper water. I think it
worked. It is 05:30, almost low tide, and I am still floating. I like it
better when she floats. I feel trapped when aground. Also the movement
is funny, jerky.
Now raining, 15 knots registering. Today will be an adventure.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
dispatch 27 Feb
Georgetown is about at the middle of Great Exuma Island, on Elizabeth
Harbour, a sheltered bay about 5 miles long and 1 mile wide. The bay
does not go all the way to the north end of Great Exuma Island. Coming
south from Staniel Cay, Black Point, etc. you can travel on the banks
(calm water 10 feet deep) behind the islands all the way down to the
north end of Great Exuma Island, then there is about 15 miles of sailing
on Exuma Sound, deep water (3000 feet deep) to enter the cut for
Elizabeth Harbour. The last cut to get out into the Sound is about 5
miles north of the end of the island. Rolleville, where the kiteboarding
lessons are, is at the north end of the island, so I did not go out
into the Sound, but continued south behind the islands. This was real
tricky. All the water was shallow, with just the guess of where deep
water was. Deep water? it was continuously showing 5 feet on the depth
meter. I run aground at when it reads 4.2 feet, so I had only inches
under the keel. I white-knuckled my way through the serpentine channel,
sometimes only a boat length from rocky ledges and cliffs, trying to
discern darker shades of light-green-shallow-water. It was good that the
weather was perfect and the sun was still high. I got to what is
considered an excellent anchorage, which was a fall back place to anchor
for the night, and continued on, trying to get as close to Rolleville
as I could. There was a place on the chart that showed shallower water
than the rest of the channel. I had 0.6 miles to go to get to deep
water. I was dead slow, moving about 2 knots. The meter read 4.3, 4.2,
4.1, and I smoothly came to a stop. I turned her around, powered back to
floating water, went a bit south and tried again. Slid to a stop. I
tried two bits north with the same results. This transparent water is
interesting. The keel sliding through the top inches of the sand leaves a
trail of, well it looks like dust. It reminded me of an airplane
leaving a contrail. After a few more tries I gave up and went back to
that perfect anchorage. I anchored in 4.5 feet of water about four boat
lengths from a rocky cliff maybe 50 feet high. That would give me
shelter from the 20 knot winds forecasted. I went swimming later on and
in the transparent water the boat looked suspended 4 inches off the
bottom. Gosh this is beautiful. After a wonderful shower, during rum on
the foredeck, I watched the tide rise on the cliff. I was trying to
cross the shallow area at low tide. I would try it again at high tide.
I have learned two things so far. At a cut, outgoing tidal current against an east wind creates what they call a "rage". That is dangerous. I also have learned to do the tricky stuff at high tide. Thank you for the Tides32 program. High tide today was at 10:36. At 10:00 I upped anchor, and uneventfully crossed the shallow area into deeper water. That was a great relief because I was boxed in. If I couldn't continue on I would have to backtrack many miles back through the tricky stuff in less than ideal conditions. Now to get to Rolleville I need to out a cut, go about 3 miles past an island, then a cut in at Rolleville. It is too shallow for me to go behind the island. So tomorrow I will try to time it to go out the first cut on the rising tide, and go in at Rolleville at high tide and find an anchorage. If I can not find a suitable anchorage I need to get back out and back here before the outgoing current starts. Stay tuned.
I made bread today, it is cooking now. I put the first sweet potato in the oven also to cook. This is my first try at cooking a sweet potato. Stay tuned. The bananas lasted a week. The carrots are still good but getting limp, and I cut the ends off where they were going bad. The apples are beginning to not have a crisp bite, and the oranges and grapefruits are doing just fine. I didn't think any of it would last this long. Fresh fruit here is dear. I gave a bag of oranges, apples, grapefruit and carrots to Vic and Gigi. That was better than any bottle of rum.
In 15 minutes the bread comes out of the oven. I don't want to eat too much because I am going for a swim in about an hour. I measured the water temp, 78 degrees, and there is no current. makes it really nice. Then to the foredeck to watch the tide rise.
All my love,
Bill
My goodness! That bread is good!
I have learned two things so far. At a cut, outgoing tidal current against an east wind creates what they call a "rage". That is dangerous. I also have learned to do the tricky stuff at high tide. Thank you for the Tides32 program. High tide today was at 10:36. At 10:00 I upped anchor, and uneventfully crossed the shallow area into deeper water. That was a great relief because I was boxed in. If I couldn't continue on I would have to backtrack many miles back through the tricky stuff in less than ideal conditions. Now to get to Rolleville I need to out a cut, go about 3 miles past an island, then a cut in at Rolleville. It is too shallow for me to go behind the island. So tomorrow I will try to time it to go out the first cut on the rising tide, and go in at Rolleville at high tide and find an anchorage. If I can not find a suitable anchorage I need to get back out and back here before the outgoing current starts. Stay tuned.
I made bread today, it is cooking now. I put the first sweet potato in the oven also to cook. This is my first try at cooking a sweet potato. Stay tuned. The bananas lasted a week. The carrots are still good but getting limp, and I cut the ends off where they were going bad. The apples are beginning to not have a crisp bite, and the oranges and grapefruits are doing just fine. I didn't think any of it would last this long. Fresh fruit here is dear. I gave a bag of oranges, apples, grapefruit and carrots to Vic and Gigi. That was better than any bottle of rum.
In 15 minutes the bread comes out of the oven. I don't want to eat too much because I am going for a swim in about an hour. I measured the water temp, 78 degrees, and there is no current. makes it really nice. Then to the foredeck to watch the tide rise.
All my love,
Bill
My goodness! That bread is good!
Dispatch Sunday 26 Feb
Why George Town?
Many people have the dream of getting a sailboat and sailing off for The Great Adventure. The Bahamas is the natural place to go as it is only 45 nm from Florida, and it is really exotic. It is also modern with good drinking water, medical facilities, internet, etc. Did I say exotic? It is really exotic. So many boaters come here in the winter and go back to the US for the summer, when the wind doesn't blow as consistantly, and there is a concern about hurricanes. You can easily sail from anchorage to anchorage in a short sailing day, all the way from Marsh Harbour, Abaco, in the north, to George Town, Exuma, in the south. After George Town the islands are farther apart and harder to get to, so many boaters make Georgetown their southernmost destination. It also has a very large natural harbour, and the village has grown to service the boaters who visit. And visit they do. "Everybody" stops in George Town. This is a big weekend, with a big annual regatta, and from where I anchored I counted 250 sailboats that I can see. Other people say to double that number. And the place is not crowded or congested or dirty or noisy. It is a great place to come to. Some people prefer a more private, secluded location, but many thrive in the almost cruise ship atmosphere with activities: organized beach sports (beach golf this weekend), cookouts, covered dish dinners, community service outings, concerts,...going on almost every day, every evening. This is also the time for all the boaters when folks get together with their friends before everybody starts moving north to arrive back in the US in April and May.
I stayed one day before going north to meet friends from Little Washington, Vic & Gigi) at a place called Black Point Community, almost up to Staniel Cay. We had a really good short visit, and now I am back down to about 20 nm from George Town, at a place called Rolleville. Normandie located a fellow here who gives kiteboard lessons. Right now the weather is somewhat dirty, but when it clears up I am going to try to further develop my skills.
Now the dispatches will be infrequent. The interesting part was singlehanding down from North Carolina. Now it is just "Bill's vacation in the Bahamas". I will continue with regular Spot position updates, and send a dispatch only when something interesting happens.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
Many people have the dream of getting a sailboat and sailing off for The Great Adventure. The Bahamas is the natural place to go as it is only 45 nm from Florida, and it is really exotic. It is also modern with good drinking water, medical facilities, internet, etc. Did I say exotic? It is really exotic. So many boaters come here in the winter and go back to the US for the summer, when the wind doesn't blow as consistantly, and there is a concern about hurricanes. You can easily sail from anchorage to anchorage in a short sailing day, all the way from Marsh Harbour, Abaco, in the north, to George Town, Exuma, in the south. After George Town the islands are farther apart and harder to get to, so many boaters make Georgetown their southernmost destination. It also has a very large natural harbour, and the village has grown to service the boaters who visit. And visit they do. "Everybody" stops in George Town. This is a big weekend, with a big annual regatta, and from where I anchored I counted 250 sailboats that I can see. Other people say to double that number. And the place is not crowded or congested or dirty or noisy. It is a great place to come to. Some people prefer a more private, secluded location, but many thrive in the almost cruise ship atmosphere with activities: organized beach sports (beach golf this weekend), cookouts, covered dish dinners, community service outings, concerts,...going on almost every day, every evening. This is also the time for all the boaters when folks get together with their friends before everybody starts moving north to arrive back in the US in April and May.
I stayed one day before going north to meet friends from Little Washington, Vic & Gigi) at a place called Black Point Community, almost up to Staniel Cay. We had a really good short visit, and now I am back down to about 20 nm from George Town, at a place called Rolleville. Normandie located a fellow here who gives kiteboard lessons. Right now the weather is somewhat dirty, but when it clears up I am going to try to further develop my skills.
Now the dispatches will be infrequent. The interesting part was singlehanding down from North Carolina. Now it is just "Bill's vacation in the Bahamas". I will continue with regular Spot position updates, and send a dispatch only when something interesting happens.
Reef Early
Bill Doar
winlink 26 Feb
I wanted to try out the wetsuit and go swimming, look at the boat
bottom, anchor, etc. Just for curosity I dropped a theromoter in to
check the water temperature. What? 78 degrees! To heck with the wetsuit.
I got fins and a mask and jumped in. Bottom paint, Good anchor set,
good swim. It really felt good. This is a good place for swimming; no
current.
There is gusty wind, but if I place my back to it I think the foredeck will be just fine for the sunset.
There is gusty wind, but if I place my back to it I think the foredeck will be just fine for the sunset.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
winlink 25 Feb
Wonderful, beautiful, easy day motoring south. Gosh, it is beautiful.
Almost no wind. calm motoring. Then I tucked in at Adderson Cut, and did
the shallow water thing for about 5 miles. Shallow water- like 4.2 on
the depth meter when I go aground at 4.2. And yes, I did go aground a
few times. Spin her around, find deeper water, maybe 4.6, and keep
going. I did know that it was at spring low tide, and the water would
rise almost 4 feet with the tide. When I anchored the keel was aground.
Now it reads 5.2, or one foot under the keel.
Gosh, what a wonderful day.
Gosh, what a wonderful day.
Friday, February 24, 2012
winlink 1331
"I left Little Farmers Cay going west for 1.5 nm to get out past the
shallow water. There was a boat going north in front of me like Vic's,
with a big billowing genoa. When I turned north to head to Black Point
he was about .25 nm ahead of me. I poled out the genoa going straight
downwind. In 5 miles I have embarrassingly passed him until he is now on
my quarter. That's what a pole does.
This is a good setup."
note from Normandie: Bill is heading for a rendezvous with old friend Vic Copeland and Gigi on S/V Oconee. Vic's blog about Bahama cruising, and some of the best photos on the web are here: http://gigisislanddays.blogspot.com/ , don't miss his Picasa photo album link.
This is a good setup."
note from Normandie: Bill is heading for a rendezvous with old friend Vic Copeland and Gigi on S/V Oconee. Vic's blog about Bahama cruising, and some of the best photos on the web are here: http://gigisislanddays.blogspot.com/ , don't miss his Picasa photo album link.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
winlink 0644
The only thing I did yesterday was to pull in the poles, mainsail cover, and starting to sort stuff below. Sat on deck reading till dark. Surprisingly not too tired. Slept "normal", but stiff and sore this morning. I thiught that there would be more aftereffects. I feel pretty good.
Today I will build the dinghy and go ashore, check in, buy ice, a bolt for ProFurl (I have one onboard I can cut to length), and take stock of my situation.
Today I will build the dinghy and go ashore, check in, buy ice, a bolt for ProFurl (I have one onboard I can cut to length), and take stock of my situation.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
winlink 0845
I woke about an hour ago. Been drinking coffee. Just looked at the WPT
miles to go. 17 miles to go. Heavens, after all this, only 17 downwind
miles to go.
winlink 1600
Beautiful, wonderful, relaxing wing-n-wing since the windshift. From SSW
to N in 10 minutes!I am relaxed, smiling, even had a wonderful hot
cockpit shower! My first. Sure felt good. 92 nm to George Town.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Dispatch Mon 20 Feb 2012
Noon Position: L25^-00N, Lo075^-23'W, or about 20 nm off cat Island
The days have been overcast, cloudy, with some rain. And of course the S to SW wind which has been good for going south, but has been keeping me from getting into the islands. It seems like forever I have been either beating or close reaching into the wind and waves. "Bashing to windward" they call it. All the while the weather folks have been talking about a gentle cold front with north and northeast wind. I was expecting the wind to come more to the west last night, allowing me to sail closer to the islands, but not last night, not this morning.
I check around me, and I check the AIS ship location instrument, on a regular basis. About noon today I was bashing to windward, and The AIS alarmed on a ship which I had been tracking, indicating that it was four miles away. I routinely did my check, saw nothing, but the AIS showed a cruise ship, the "Extravagance of the Seas", or some such, only four miles away! I looked carefully in that direction, and there it was, a white ship in the mist and looking like a white cloud. It was really strange. Like a vision, or apparition. Not a ghost ship, but a spirit ship, and it was huge! The AIS had been showing that it would pass three miles away, so it wasn't even a close pass.
That AIS is wonderful. I can "see" other ships, and they can "see" me many miles away. It also shows information about the ship, and its closest point of approach. Really great.
I went about my business, which at the time was to go forward to check the ProFurl bolt, glancing up occasionally to look at the ship. Wow it is big. I went forward, tightened the bolt a half turn, and went back to the cockpit, glanced around, and the ship wasn't there! It had vanished. Where???... I looked around, and instead of being off my stbd beam, it was off my port bow. What??? Then I realized, that in the time it took me to go forward, tighten the bolt, and come aft, the wind had shifted from southwest to north! Windy and obediently steered the boat to follow the wind. That was a first for me.
And now I am beautifully sailing wing-n-wing, genoa poled out to port and the main boomed out to stbd, The wind is directly astern, and the sailing is easy. The sun even came out. I have about 45 nm to go to get to the pass south of Cat Island, then 50 nm to George Town. I think I will take a hot cockpit shower.
Reef Early
Bill Doar.
The days have been overcast, cloudy, with some rain. And of course the S to SW wind which has been good for going south, but has been keeping me from getting into the islands. It seems like forever I have been either beating or close reaching into the wind and waves. "Bashing to windward" they call it. All the while the weather folks have been talking about a gentle cold front with north and northeast wind. I was expecting the wind to come more to the west last night, allowing me to sail closer to the islands, but not last night, not this morning.
I check around me, and I check the AIS ship location instrument, on a regular basis. About noon today I was bashing to windward, and The AIS alarmed on a ship which I had been tracking, indicating that it was four miles away. I routinely did my check, saw nothing, but the AIS showed a cruise ship, the "Extravagance of the Seas", or some such, only four miles away! I looked carefully in that direction, and there it was, a white ship in the mist and looking like a white cloud. It was really strange. Like a vision, or apparition. Not a ghost ship, but a spirit ship, and it was huge! The AIS had been showing that it would pass three miles away, so it wasn't even a close pass.
That AIS is wonderful. I can "see" other ships, and they can "see" me many miles away. It also shows information about the ship, and its closest point of approach. Really great.
I went about my business, which at the time was to go forward to check the ProFurl bolt, glancing up occasionally to look at the ship. Wow it is big. I went forward, tightened the bolt a half turn, and went back to the cockpit, glanced around, and the ship wasn't there! It had vanished. Where???... I looked around, and instead of being off my stbd beam, it was off my port bow. What??? Then I realized, that in the time it took me to go forward, tighten the bolt, and come aft, the wind had shifted from southwest to north! Windy and obediently steered the boat to follow the wind. That was a first for me.
And now I am beautifully sailing wing-n-wing, genoa poled out to port and the main boomed out to stbd, The wind is directly astern, and the sailing is easy. The sun even came out. I have about 45 nm to go to get to the pass south of Cat Island, then 50 nm to George Town. I think I will take a hot cockpit shower.
Reef Early
Bill Doar.
Dispatch Sun 19 Feb 2012
Noon Position L26^-31'N, Lo076^-04'W, or about 55 nm east of Marsh Harbour
I have been fussing with sails all day.
I was able to sail west for about 10 hours before the south wind shifted back to the south west. I did get about 50 nm closer to the islands during that time. But now I am again trying to sail into the wind as I work my way down the islands. To make matters uncomfortable there has been strong wind today. For awhile during the week a gale was forecasted, but that has reduced to just strong wind. But the find makes the ocean very bumpy, and it is hard to write. At some time the wind will be such that I can make it into the islands, where I can anchor and just wait for wind that will take me where I want to go. (It's really bumpy...)
We are posting these dispatches in a blog, with some of the messages I have sent to Normandie, lots of pictures of other passages, and a link to my satellite position reports which are shown on a map, so what I am doing will make more sense. No, maybe what I am doing doesn't make sense. Oh well...
Anyway, go and see what it looks like. This is new this week. Of course I haven't seen it yet. Somebody let me know if you can find it OK. The way to get to it is to Google on: Adventtwo.blogspot.com
Too bumpy. Gotta stop
I did Reef Early,
Bill Doar
I have been fussing with sails all day.
I was able to sail west for about 10 hours before the south wind shifted back to the south west. I did get about 50 nm closer to the islands during that time. But now I am again trying to sail into the wind as I work my way down the islands. To make matters uncomfortable there has been strong wind today. For awhile during the week a gale was forecasted, but that has reduced to just strong wind. But the find makes the ocean very bumpy, and it is hard to write. At some time the wind will be such that I can make it into the islands, where I can anchor and just wait for wind that will take me where I want to go. (It's really bumpy...)
We are posting these dispatches in a blog, with some of the messages I have sent to Normandie, lots of pictures of other passages, and a link to my satellite position reports which are shown on a map, so what I am doing will make more sense. No, maybe what I am doing doesn't make sense. Oh well...
Anyway, go and see what it looks like. This is new this week. Of course I haven't seen it yet. Somebody let me know if you can find it OK. The way to get to it is to Google on: Adventtwo.blogspot.com
Too bumpy. Gotta stop
I did Reef Early,
Bill Doar
winlink 0804
"Wind the same as yesterday, SSW, except down to 12 kts. I made good
progress down the islands. When the veering wind comes, looks like Cat
Island/Conception this evening, and on to Georgetown overnight"
Sunday, February 19, 2012
1704 via winlink: " Just another day on the bounding main, trying to get upwind in 15 - 20
kts. But you would be proud of me for not trying too hard, a close reach
not beating. Still it is bumpy, really bumpy, and I am not sailing to
where I want to go. My goal is the pass between Eleuthera (I hope I
don't have to spell that very much) and Cat Island, 100nm @ 180^, or Cat
Island and San Salvador, 150nm @ 155^. I will stop in San Salvador and
wait. If these don't work out I will sail as far down as San Salvador,
then back up as far as Eleuthera, and back, etc. until good wind. At
some time there will be a cold front and the wind will go north for
awhile. That might be Tuesday, but this weather changes so much it has
probably changed, and saildocs (gribs, written forecasts) is down so I
have to go to weatherfax to find out what is going on. This afternoon I
don't care. The wind is supposed to clock overnight. Just maybe it will
be enough for me to close on the islands.
I am well and happy, and half way finished with "HMS Surprise" for the manyith time."
I am well and happy, and half way finished with "HMS Surprise" for the manyith time."
Dispatch Sat 18Feb2012
Noon Position: L26^-58'N, Lo075^-26'W, or about 80 nm east and a little north of Marsh Harbour, The Abacos, The Bahamas.
Yesterday, after I fixed the ProFurler, my sailing speed was 5.7 kts, and TRK 160^. Ever since then the TRK has been the same (astounding!) and the speed slowly decreasing, until now I am going 3.5 kts. I don't mind going slowly if the sea is calm, which it is, and Wendy can steer. In fact, it has been a wonderful day. After the sun was up I got some really good sleep, and then felt so good I did some much needed cleaning. The boat has not been properly cleaned since some serious maintenance and there was grime everywhere. It really is nice not having rust dust on everything I touch. Much more is needed, but this much makes me happy. An added surprise that also made me happy is that while cleaning and sorting I found a loaf of bread which I had forgotten about. So far supper has been rice-n-stuff. Some bread is a welcome change.
The Bahamas Islands go down in a south east direction at about 150^. That is the direction I want to go, down the Bahamas at 150^. On a close reach I think I can tack through 120^, which means as the wind changes I could go as far east as 90^ before I come about on to the other tack, which would give me a new course of 210^. I do want to go west, but not until I get somewhat south of my first entrance, which is still Marsh Harbour. My plan is to continue to try to work my way in the 150^ direction until the backing wind pushes me over to 90^. Then tack and go west, and see where I get to. Probably not farther south because tomorrow's wind is forecasted to be from the south, which means I can go basically east or west. I don't want to go more east, so I go west. If I am still north of Marsh Harbour I will go east and west in the south wind for a few days until the next front brings northerly wind. Stay tuned.
Sailing 160^ at 3 kts. Sea calm. Very comfortable.
Reef Early,
Bill Doar
Yesterday, after I fixed the ProFurler, my sailing speed was 5.7 kts, and TRK 160^. Ever since then the TRK has been the same (astounding!) and the speed slowly decreasing, until now I am going 3.5 kts. I don't mind going slowly if the sea is calm, which it is, and Wendy can steer. In fact, it has been a wonderful day. After the sun was up I got some really good sleep, and then felt so good I did some much needed cleaning. The boat has not been properly cleaned since some serious maintenance and there was grime everywhere. It really is nice not having rust dust on everything I touch. Much more is needed, but this much makes me happy. An added surprise that also made me happy is that while cleaning and sorting I found a loaf of bread which I had forgotten about. So far supper has been rice-n-stuff. Some bread is a welcome change.
The Bahamas Islands go down in a south east direction at about 150^. That is the direction I want to go, down the Bahamas at 150^. On a close reach I think I can tack through 120^, which means as the wind changes I could go as far east as 90^ before I come about on to the other tack, which would give me a new course of 210^. I do want to go west, but not until I get somewhat south of my first entrance, which is still Marsh Harbour. My plan is to continue to try to work my way in the 150^ direction until the backing wind pushes me over to 90^. Then tack and go west, and see where I get to. Probably not farther south because tomorrow's wind is forecasted to be from the south, which means I can go basically east or west. I don't want to go more east, so I go west. If I am still north of Marsh Harbour I will go east and west in the south wind for a few days until the next front brings northerly wind. Stay tuned.
Sailing 160^ at 3 kts. Sea calm. Very comfortable.
Reef Early,
Bill Doar
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Sailmail 1338: "That wind was a fluke. (I keep wanting to think that phrase was funny)
Before I could get suited up the breeze came back and now I am back to
Trk 160 at, wow, 4.5 kts. Besides, in my mind I had 150 as where I
wanted to tack. I am glad I didn't. On a close reach I think I can tack through 120^, or 60^ on either side
of 150^ which means as the wind changes I could go as far east as 90 before I come about on to the other tack, which would give me
a new course of 150+60, or 210^.The forecast is for backing winds (counterclockwise) so my present
course will change from 160^ to 150^ to 140^, etc. My plan is to
continue to try to work my way in the 150^ direction until the backing
wind pushes me over to 90^. Then tack and go west, and see where I get
to. If I am still north of Marsh Harbour
I will go east and west in the south wind for a few days until the next
front brings northerly wind. Stay tuned."
Normandie's note: these posts are sent via the winlink.org global radio email system. Bill sends a shortwave message and volunteer radio operators transfer the message to the web. The commercial version is sailmail, so I should be using the term winlink.
Normandie's note: these posts are sent via the winlink.org global radio email system. Bill sends a shortwave message and volunteer radio operators transfer the message to the web. The commercial version is sailmail, so I should be using the term winlink.
Sailmail 1240: "This morning, for the first time, I went back to sleep, for more
than an hour, or maybe two. I feel great. TRK 135, S less than 3.
Smooth, calm, I think I needed this. I an sorting, finding, and, most of
all, cleaning. Scrubbing. It makes me feel good. I am late writing this
because I was having such a good time, singing.
My plan: The wind is forecasted to back. My TRK now is 135. This has happened since the last time I looked! I will tack, and sail west with the south wind. I am a few hours behing already. Having fun cleaning. "Ready About!"
My plan: The wind is forecasted to back. My TRK now is 135. This has happened since the last time I looked! I will tack, and sail west with the south wind. I am a few hours behing already. Having fun cleaning. "Ready About!"
Friday, February 17, 2012
Dispatch Fri 17 Feb
Noon Position: L28^-45'N, Lo 076^-08'W, or about 230 nm east of Cape Canaveral
The Abacos are the northernmost of the Bahamas Islands, and I have been told the most "American". They would be the first I got to, and have been looking forward to going for the first time. People talk about Marsh Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Hopetown. I want to know what it was all about. Maybe on the return trip. I went quite a distance east to get out of the Gulf Stream and have been cheating towards the west so I would come down on the Abacos. Last night the wind shifted to the south west, exactly where I want to go. I tried all last night, but can not go into the wind enough to get west enough to get to the Abacos. I will keep going south. Sooner or later the wind will cooperate and I will pull in. My next real destination is in the Exumas where I hope to do some kiteboarding. I need to practice some before Normandie gets down. If conditions had been better I would have made landfall tomorrow. Now it will be several more days.
Today started sailing hard on the wind trying to make it to Marsh Harbour. Then I saw rain clouds approaching and thought I should get the big mainsail down and the smaller trisail up. There may be wind in those clouds. In the spirit of "The time to reef is the first time you think about it", I got the sail change made just in time for the rain to start, and the wind to stop. For the next several hours it rained, and the sails flopped and banged. I had the sails tight, and was motoring, but still every wave made the sails whamp back and forth. The reason I leave the sails up when I motor is that the sails dampen the rolling of the boat. I roll in part of the genoa so it doesn't chaff on the rigging. Motoring on a lumpy ocean, even with sails up, is uncomfortable. After a few hours the wind came back, and a beautiful 15 knot wind it was. I was no longer trying to get to Marsh Harbour, so I stopped beating into the wind, eased off the sails, and it was good sailing. The seas were large enough to be a factor but there was enough power in the wind to keep the sails full. It was nice.
This boat gets most of its drive from the genoa, the big sail in front. Boats went from smaller jibs to the larger genoas when roller furlers were developed. By pulling a rope in the cockpit these contraptions roll the sail around the bowstay. When the wind blows hard I pull the rope and the ProFurl winds up some of the sail. It is an important piece of gear. I was enjoying the beautiful sailing this afternoon, when I noticed some important pieces of this important piece of gear was missing. What was missing was one of two brackets that guide the rope onto a drum, and also holds the unit from twisting. The unit will work with only one bracket, but not well and not for long. OK Bill, what are you going to do now?
I very gingerly rolled up the genoa, maybe for the last time. I said out loud, and I said it over and over again. "When something goes wrong, it starts a chain of events that result in something bad happening," "My job is not to fix the ProFurl, it is to not get hurt. I don't really need the ProFurl. I really do need to not get hurt." I said it over and over, out loud, during the process. Fortunately all the parts fell into the boat. I added to the mantra "and it will be real nice if I don't drop anything overboard in the process." The good thing about the ProFurl is that it is fixable. When the bearings go bad just go to the industrial supply house buy new bearings and install them. Which is what I did a few months ago. In the reassembly process I apparently did not properly lock one of the bolts, and it fell out, with possible inconvenient results. But I found the bolt and all the parts. I hove to, and clinging tenaciously to the bow while it plunged up and down maybe 10 feet, and the sideways to the wind boat rolled 30 degrees every five seconds, reinstalled the parts, all the while repeating, "Your job is not to fix the ProFurl. It is to not get hurt." After an hour of very careful crawling, bracing and hanging on, everything was back together. After saying a prayer of thanks, I let out the genoa, and have been sailing nicely since. Things don't always work out. Today they did.
Reef Early, and check that bolt twice a day until I get a longer bolt so I can put a lock nut on the back side.
Bill Doar
The Abacos are the northernmost of the Bahamas Islands, and I have been told the most "American". They would be the first I got to, and have been looking forward to going for the first time. People talk about Marsh Harbour, Green Turtle Cay, Hopetown. I want to know what it was all about. Maybe on the return trip. I went quite a distance east to get out of the Gulf Stream and have been cheating towards the west so I would come down on the Abacos. Last night the wind shifted to the south west, exactly where I want to go. I tried all last night, but can not go into the wind enough to get west enough to get to the Abacos. I will keep going south. Sooner or later the wind will cooperate and I will pull in. My next real destination is in the Exumas where I hope to do some kiteboarding. I need to practice some before Normandie gets down. If conditions had been better I would have made landfall tomorrow. Now it will be several more days.
Today started sailing hard on the wind trying to make it to Marsh Harbour. Then I saw rain clouds approaching and thought I should get the big mainsail down and the smaller trisail up. There may be wind in those clouds. In the spirit of "The time to reef is the first time you think about it", I got the sail change made just in time for the rain to start, and the wind to stop. For the next several hours it rained, and the sails flopped and banged. I had the sails tight, and was motoring, but still every wave made the sails whamp back and forth. The reason I leave the sails up when I motor is that the sails dampen the rolling of the boat. I roll in part of the genoa so it doesn't chaff on the rigging. Motoring on a lumpy ocean, even with sails up, is uncomfortable. After a few hours the wind came back, and a beautiful 15 knot wind it was. I was no longer trying to get to Marsh Harbour, so I stopped beating into the wind, eased off the sails, and it was good sailing. The seas were large enough to be a factor but there was enough power in the wind to keep the sails full. It was nice.
This boat gets most of its drive from the genoa, the big sail in front. Boats went from smaller jibs to the larger genoas when roller furlers were developed. By pulling a rope in the cockpit these contraptions roll the sail around the bowstay. When the wind blows hard I pull the rope and the ProFurl winds up some of the sail. It is an important piece of gear. I was enjoying the beautiful sailing this afternoon, when I noticed some important pieces of this important piece of gear was missing. What was missing was one of two brackets that guide the rope onto a drum, and also holds the unit from twisting. The unit will work with only one bracket, but not well and not for long. OK Bill, what are you going to do now?
I very gingerly rolled up the genoa, maybe for the last time. I said out loud, and I said it over and over again. "When something goes wrong, it starts a chain of events that result in something bad happening," "My job is not to fix the ProFurl, it is to not get hurt. I don't really need the ProFurl. I really do need to not get hurt." I said it over and over, out loud, during the process. Fortunately all the parts fell into the boat. I added to the mantra "and it will be real nice if I don't drop anything overboard in the process." The good thing about the ProFurl is that it is fixable. When the bearings go bad just go to the industrial supply house buy new bearings and install them. Which is what I did a few months ago. In the reassembly process I apparently did not properly lock one of the bolts, and it fell out, with possible inconvenient results. But I found the bolt and all the parts. I hove to, and clinging tenaciously to the bow while it plunged up and down maybe 10 feet, and the sideways to the wind boat rolled 30 degrees every five seconds, reinstalled the parts, all the while repeating, "Your job is not to fix the ProFurl. It is to not get hurt." After an hour of very careful crawling, bracing and hanging on, everything was back together. After saying a prayer of thanks, I let out the genoa, and have been sailing nicely since. Things don't always work out. Today they did.
Reef Early, and check that bolt twice a day until I get a longer bolt so I can put a lock nut on the back side.
Bill Doar
Dispatch 16FEB2012
Noon Position: L 30^-10'N, Lo 076^-31'W, or about 250 nm east of Jacksonville, Fla.
I didn't really properly describe conditions yesterday. I said the rain and wind had passed. Well, not really. All around me were squalls which I had to deal with all day. Part of the time the sky was blue with no wind. Then a squall would come with wind and rain, then it would clear up again. And all the time the ocean was really bumpy. Actually it was a rather rigorous day. Then, about 16:00 things settled down. The ocean was settling down, and a breeze picked up. By 18:00 I was sailing beautifully. The wind was from slightly abaft the beam at only about 8 kts, but Advent II loved it. And the ocean continued to settle. All night long, and all of today the boat has been making excellent speed, in absolute comfort. Calm seas, with the boat almost level, and a beautiful day. Just some juggling now and then to remind me that I was still sailing. After some really tough, frustrating sailing, this has been the kind of day I wish you could experience. It has been absolutely wonderful. And in the process made 115 nm. Excellent.
Sailing is so peaceful.....
I didn't really properly describe conditions yesterday. I said the rain and wind had passed. Well, not really. All around me were squalls which I had to deal with all day. Part of the time the sky was blue with no wind. Then a squall would come with wind and rain, then it would clear up again. And all the time the ocean was really bumpy. Actually it was a rather rigorous day. Then, about 16:00 things settled down. The ocean was settling down, and a breeze picked up. By 18:00 I was sailing beautifully. The wind was from slightly abaft the beam at only about 8 kts, but Advent II loved it. And the ocean continued to settle. All night long, and all of today the boat has been making excellent speed, in absolute comfort. Calm seas, with the boat almost level, and a beautiful day. Just some juggling now and then to remind me that I was still sailing. After some really tough, frustrating sailing, this has been the kind of day I wish you could experience. It has been absolutely wonderful. And in the process made 115 nm. Excellent.
Sailing is so peaceful.....
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sailmail 1743: "Today has been excellent sailing. First the wind was on the port
quarter for a broad reach, then it slowly clocked around to the south
west. Unfortunately that is exactly where I want to go. So now I am on a
comfortable stbd beat tracking about 140^, and will probably miss the
islands. I have been hoping I could get in before a blow forecasted for
Sunday. I'll just try to position myself to go in when the wind is
right.
A beautiful evening, especially compared to the ITCZ I went through yesterday.
Now to go topside to watch the sunset. "
A beautiful evening, especially compared to the ITCZ I went through yesterday.
Now to go topside to watch the sunset. "
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
15Feb2012 noon position: L31^-54'N, Lo076^-16'W, or about 250nm east of Savannah
The morning I left it was 26^ in Wilmington. When I got to the boat I started the cabin heater, and in a few hours the temperature was comfortable. It is a pressurized kerosene Force 10 heater, and when needed it really does the job. I ran it all the first day and the first night. It sure was good to be able to go below and be warm. When the weather gets cold, a boat is really cold. I carried all the warm clothes I have, coats, several sets of extreme cold weather long underware, insulated vests, two pairs of boots, hats, gloves. When I set off I was wearing two layers of pants and five layers of shirts. I was not cold, especially because of the nice warm cabin. Sometime during the night I got to the warm Gulf Stream. By morning I was sheading shirts and had the heater turned down to low. Now, I am down to my summer uniform, boxer shorts and a short sleeve shirt, and I have a sail bag full of cold weather clothes, plus boots, that I have to carry for the next two months. But I was warm that first night!
Yesterday was all about the Gulf Stream. At times I was going through the water at 6 kts, and only making 2.5 kts by the GPS. I felt that I had to get through, because it gets dangerous in the Gulf Stream in certain weather conditions. So with no wind I motored hard. It is not pleasant motoring in open ocean. each wave slows the boat, and there are no sails to dampen the boat's motion. So the motor is roaring and the boat pitching around. Finally, my midnight log entry says,"Sailing at last." So I started sailing, and making some headway. Slowly at first, then good sailing, then really good sailing, then the radar alarmed on an approaching storm. Reluctantly I partially furled the genoa, and finished just as it started raining. The more I use the radar the better I like it. That rain was the start of a blistering frontal passage. Lots of wind and lots of rain. The waves were spectacular. The boat pitched and twisted and plunged and leaped into the air, to come back down with awesome impacts. It sure is nice to sail a steel boat. By daylight the wind and rain had passed, but the waves remained, and it was really uncomfortable. I'll say again, the wind had passed. All day long I have been motoring through disturbed seas. And once again, no wind, no sails to dampen the motion. This is really tiring, and I am making very slow progress. The first day I made 85 nautical miles, the second 62nm. That is probably my slowest noon-to-noon ever. Hopefully today will be better. It may be quite bouncy, but I seem to be averaging a little better than 3 kts, which will put me in the 80's again. My "budget" is 100 nm a day. And the next real wind that is forecasted is from the south. But I am out of the Gulf Stream, and sooner or later I will get the wind I need. And this beats motoring down the waterway for two weeks. It is almost 16:00, there is about 8 knots of wind I can use, the boat speed with motor is 4.3 kts, and the seas are gradually subsiding. It this holds I will have an easy night.
Reef Early,
Bill Doar
The morning I left it was 26^ in Wilmington. When I got to the boat I started the cabin heater, and in a few hours the temperature was comfortable. It is a pressurized kerosene Force 10 heater, and when needed it really does the job. I ran it all the first day and the first night. It sure was good to be able to go below and be warm. When the weather gets cold, a boat is really cold. I carried all the warm clothes I have, coats, several sets of extreme cold weather long underware, insulated vests, two pairs of boots, hats, gloves. When I set off I was wearing two layers of pants and five layers of shirts. I was not cold, especially because of the nice warm cabin. Sometime during the night I got to the warm Gulf Stream. By morning I was sheading shirts and had the heater turned down to low. Now, I am down to my summer uniform, boxer shorts and a short sleeve shirt, and I have a sail bag full of cold weather clothes, plus boots, that I have to carry for the next two months. But I was warm that first night!
Yesterday was all about the Gulf Stream. At times I was going through the water at 6 kts, and only making 2.5 kts by the GPS. I felt that I had to get through, because it gets dangerous in the Gulf Stream in certain weather conditions. So with no wind I motored hard. It is not pleasant motoring in open ocean. each wave slows the boat, and there are no sails to dampen the boat's motion. So the motor is roaring and the boat pitching around. Finally, my midnight log entry says,"Sailing at last." So I started sailing, and making some headway. Slowly at first, then good sailing, then really good sailing, then the radar alarmed on an approaching storm. Reluctantly I partially furled the genoa, and finished just as it started raining. The more I use the radar the better I like it. That rain was the start of a blistering frontal passage. Lots of wind and lots of rain. The waves were spectacular. The boat pitched and twisted and plunged and leaped into the air, to come back down with awesome impacts. It sure is nice to sail a steel boat. By daylight the wind and rain had passed, but the waves remained, and it was really uncomfortable. I'll say again, the wind had passed. All day long I have been motoring through disturbed seas. And once again, no wind, no sails to dampen the motion. This is really tiring, and I am making very slow progress. The first day I made 85 nautical miles, the second 62nm. That is probably my slowest noon-to-noon ever. Hopefully today will be better. It may be quite bouncy, but I seem to be averaging a little better than 3 kts, which will put me in the 80's again. My "budget" is 100 nm a day. And the next real wind that is forecasted is from the south. But I am out of the Gulf Stream, and sooner or later I will get the wind I need. And this beats motoring down the waterway for two weeks. It is almost 16:00, there is about 8 knots of wind I can use, the boat speed with motor is 4.3 kts, and the seas are gradually subsiding. It this holds I will have an easy night.
Reef Early,
Bill Doar
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)