Its been a beautiful day on the water. The wind has been consistent at 10-15kts, abaft the beam, so the boats been running flat(tish) and fast. After lagging my optimized performance projections, Im now ahead of the projected positions from yesterday and the day before.
So Ive been working away on board: * took a hot shower (well, more like a sponge bath) * sorted out three duffels of clothing, so I now have one duffel packed with my winter gear (Cabelas GuideWear snowsuit, gloves, mittens, wool socks, etc.), ready to come back to Maine with me. * stowed a bunch of other stuff (food, spare parts, etc.) where they belong. (Everything was secure from the start, just not in sensible placesso the frequently used stuff is ready to hand and Caribbean cruising stuff is out of the way.) * cleaned up on deck a bitflaked and stowed my storm jib, cleaned up lines, etc. But theres more to do when I get eager. * tried to resurrect my dead iPodI have ten audiobooks to listen to, but I think this Nano has given up the ghost. I may try to transfer the files to a different device tomorrow.
I saw some small whales yesterday, but cant say what kind. Im pretty poor at identification under the best of circumstances and yesterdays sightings were after sunset, so visibility was poor.
Im about 70nm north of Bermuda right now. Ordinarily, Id say I should be there (or near there) in 11-12 hours. But the latest forecast is for the wind to die and stay calm for 24+ hours. If that occurs, it could take me more than a day to go 70nm. Im optimistic, though. The wind was supposed to be light all afternoon today and its held up pretty well. Right now, I have 7.5kts directly abeam, which has me traveling a respectable 5.5kts toward Antigua. If this keeps up, Ill make good progress through this light wind zone.
Oh, and the propulsion mystery? Still unsolved. Im convincing myself that the prop has fallen off, and am waiting for the right conditions to confirm this. If so, I can get a replacement shipped to Antigua. If not…?
Good to hear you doing well. Sounds like you are going to sail past Bermuda and not it there to figure out the propulsion issue.
Hi Scott,
Tom and Jane here outside of Jolly Harbor enjoying a gorgeous sunset off the Hermitage Bay Resort ( with open wifi). Please understand that we are here and will do all possible (in daylight) to get you in and arrange services, should you decide to continue on. Pretty simple approach and a large anchoring field here. We’re happier here than Falmouth/English (we’ve done both multiple times and circumnavigated the island and much of Guadeloupe as well) but will do our best to assist if needed.
Glad to hear from you Scott. I have no idea, but reading your last 2 posts and the comments, I think of shear pins in outboard motors. Probably way off the mark.
I dove on the prop last time I was coming back from Bermuda. We got fishing line around it and when it got calm I said it was time. I had a pony scuba bottle which was good for 6 min. Enough time to cut the line off. Do you have a folding or pivoting prop? Maybe try full speed in rev to see if it will open. Good luck
A more simple thought with a sail drive and folding prop is that a line got wrapped around it motoring out of Blue Hill. I wonder it you ran it is reverse for a while you would unwrap the line enough to get a sense of what is going on by allowing the prop to open up slightly or all the way.
Scott –
I have a fair amount of contacts in Bermuda if you want to port in there and get the propulsion mystery solved. I’ve done a fair amount of offshore leadership work there. Let me know. Happy to make phone calls. Hate to see you not have the option of propulsion especially if you’d encounter strong waves. Let me know. Frank.