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Larry's LogWe started out motorsailing. It was a beautiful day, clear sky but light winds. Eventually I furled the jib and motored with a flat main to just dampen rolling. Since it was predicted to be light, I reduced the engine RPMs to conserve fuel. We couldn't carry enough diesel to go the entire way so I wanted to conserve at much as possible in case we needed to use it later when approaching St. Martin. The first problem was the aft head started leaking. Not a lot and fortunately "clean" water, but very annoying. I had rebuilt the head before we left for Bermuda and it seemed to be working OK on the way there and on Bermuda. Oh well, we can deal with it until St. Martin. At various times the wind would pick up a bit and I'd unfurl the jib but it wasn't doing much. Eventually we furled it again and left it that way for the next 24 hours. No-one is seasick yet, and we're in good spirits, glad to be on our way. When I checked in with Herb that afternoon, he confirmed what he had been saying for the last 2 days about the current good conditions only lasting through Wednesday. As I watched Bermuda disappear, I was sorry we hadn't seen much there, but hopefully on the way back. What we did see was really great and I enjoyed the people tremendously. The next day also saw light air, although it had clocked to the SSW. It increased briefly then died again and backed. And Mal-de-Mer started. Kirk was the first victim although I think Diane wasn't far behind. I was fine as was Harleigh. Fortunately, the watch schedule was set up to have 2 people on watch, at least until I get a more comfortable feeling about the crew's abilities. The autopilot was steering well in the light conditions and watches were generally easy. We had stopped motoring at 11am but it didn't last too long and we started up again. Luckily, the engine is working great (maybe I shouldn't jinx it), but Joe did good work and so far, no complaints. Joe was supposed to come on this passage, but had to back out at the last minute. Too bad, I know he would be a good shipmate. When I checked the water tanks, I was surprised that we had used a fair amount of water already, so I cautioned the crew about its usage. We only have so much, and since the watermaker wasn't working (yet), we needed to be frugal. They understood and our usage dropped to an acceptable level. Actually, we had about 1/4 tank left when we finally arrived, but I jump ahead. We also had used about 1/4 tank of fuel, which is one reason why I reduced our speed. Around this time, I started constructing a partial list of the things that should be done to prepare the boat for sea. I already had a list put together, but I wanted to get some things down on paper so I wouldn't have a chance of forgetting and some items are very specific to Destiny, but others are pretty general, so here it is:
Anyway, conditions were getting sloppy since there was little breeze but the sea state was left over from the last big blow that pushed past Bermuda. Herb had predicted light conditions, as he was certainly right. We didn't see many ships on the passage, but the second day we saw 2 within an hour. We also saw Bermuda Longtails the second day out at sea; beautiful white birds with long tails and black "eyebrows". They flew around the boat as if trying to land on the top of the mast, but they never did. We saw them several times throughout the passage. Since it was light and the conditions good, I put 2 of the gerry jugs of fuel into the main tank. To do this, I went on deck (tethered of course) undid the lashings and struggled with 45 pounds of diesel jug, half carrying, half dragging it back to the cockpit. Once there and safely on the bridgedeck, I got out my nifty siphon. This great little device lets you siphon liquids without having to suck on the end of the hose first. It lets me fill the tank without spilling a drop. I was also very careful not to get a dirt into the tank, since I started with a clean tank, I like to keep it that way. After the first jug was emptied and lashed back on deck, I did the second one. We still had 2 more full ones on deck and the tank gauge reads over 3/4 full. Since Kirk seems to be getting over his seasickness, and Diane is doing OK, and since the autopilot is working well, I decided to go to the original watch schedule in which there are 3 hours on, 3 off at night and 4 on, 4 off during the day, with 3 people sharing the schedule. I will remain on "call" and do the navigation, monitor the tank and battery levels, talk to Herb, etc. We dropped the main at 11:30 that day since it was just slatting anyway. The 3rd day out started the same. Motoring into a very light southwest breeze; not even the main was up since I didn't want to blow out a seam. I didn't think the chances were too likely, but the noise was very annoying, even more than the rolling without the steadying influence of the sail. I kept a close watch on the fuel gauge. It read just under half a tank. We occupied ourselves with watching the sea, reading and chatting, although everyone was getting tired and sleeping during most of their off watch. I was making good a course of southeast, about 165 to 170 degrees, to give us some room to go back west once the trades filled in. I didn't want to have to beat into a 20-25 knot southeasterly to get to St. Martin. Neither did I want to propose going to the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico to make the sailing a bit easier and less hard on the wind later in the trip. So I kept a fair amount of easting in my "pocket". |