Back in February I saw a notice in the magazine Ocean Navigator, for Rally to the Cup. An organizer was gathering people who wanted to sail to Bermuda for the America's Cup competition. I looked at it wistfully, but when Normandie saw it she said, "You are already out of time getting ready. Don't pass up this opportunity." I had just about put Advent II in mothballs since spring last year, and there was alot to be done. The most important was to drop the mast and inspect the rigging. The rigging was not but about six years old but I had put about 10,000 ocean miles on it, and it was time for a going over.
I finally got enough things done and it was time to move the boat to Wilmington. I have done this trip many times. It is a special experience, and I really want to share it with others. This time I could share. John Black came down from Washington DC. Advent was tied up at the Washington (NC) waterfront, with toilet and shower privileges, so Joun spent the first night on the boat. To be honest, the trip down was rather tough. We hyad high winds. I saw 35kts ot one point.. And most of the time the wind was straight on the bow, making the boat sluggish and hard to steer. The wind blows the bow off first to the port, then to stbd. John wantede to drive the boat, so he got the hard part. After three hard days we made it to Wrightsville Beach, wher Normandie, Marjorie and Cotton were waiting for us. We bundled into thcar and went to a seafood restraunt to celebrate Cotton's birthday.
Then the frantic boat preparations began. It would have been a comfortable few days, but the primary manual b ilge pump was not working. A good . strong manual bilge pump is critical wequipment for ocean sailing. When the boat was built they started with the bilge pump, them built the rest of the boat around it. It took a full day to get it out, then two more days to repair it and re-install it. Three days behind schedule, and Son Will was to arrrive tomorrow, and we were to sail Sunday. Normandie, Will and I loaded many tru\ckloads of gear and provisions. Each load i thought that there woould not be enough space to stow it. Amazomgly, this morinig, after two more trips between the house and the boat, and Will and Normandie initionlizing the satellite comination gear, Advent II, Will and I were ready to sail.
Up anchor at straight up 1200, mnotored out Masonboro Inlet,and we were on the way to Bermuda and the America's Cup. Genoa out at the seab ouy. Sailing 110 degrees in light air on a close reach, just south of east. I want to approach Bermuda from the south, and with south wind and the Gulf Stream pushing us north, we were sailing into the wind. The new cruising trisail went up and the boat had more power. Good sailing. Wind picked up, then picked up more, and by 1800 the wind was 20-25 knots, with the boat on a close reach, bashing into the waves. Jerky, jerky, rolly, rolly, healed over with the lee gunnel awash, bashing into the waves. We were stowed, and the onbly problem we had was that the boat was healing so much to port the forward vanity sink was filling with sea water and overflowing into the boat. Noow it is the middle of the night and the wind has droppede to 15-20, and we are much more comfortable. For awhile it was very difficult to move around in the boat. The r'ambunctous movement meant we had to have four point contact (to feet on the floor and two hands hanging on). Will took the 2000-2400 watch, and while I was asleep he sailed into five ships all around us, but thanks to the Automatis Identification System (AIS) he knew the location, speed and track of them all, ande there was no problem. The wind had lessened but it is still very active on board. REally difficult typing and hard to read what I have written, so please make up fill in what doesn't make sense. In spite of the bouncy-bouncy we have been averaging 5.5 knots on a fair course to make southing. It is now after midnight and Will is asleep in the forward "cabin". All is well aboard Advent II.
This satellite communication system Normandie has been working with is called inReach. One of the features is that it puts down a trail to where we are. I think you can access it at http://delorme/adventtwo.(Normandie please correct the address for me. My piece of paper is stowed up front where Will is sleeping)
For now it is bouncy-bouncy under a nearly full moon, at 5.5 knots.
Bill Doar
s/v Advent II
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