We left Charleston at 9am and headed out into the ocean.
getting ready to
leave charleston
The breakers were really rough just off shore and it took us a while to get
our sails set. Wind was 15g20 and seas were 6-8 feet. After several
failed attempts and turning around in circles a couple times we got
everything set and headed south. It remained rough and windy the
entire journey into Saint Mary's Georgia. Winds were difficult as we
were running with direct downwinds the entire time. I tried to get wing and wing
going to no avail as the seas were too rough, and the topping lift for the
pole broke. So that meant several long
tacks with broad reaches pinching as close to direct downwind as I dared.
We tried to stay close to the coast to keep the wind and waves to a managable
level as we were already tired from the trip to Charleston. After repeated
crash jibes and miserable attempt to make a jibe preventor I decided to sail
all night. Oh... did I mention the steering is still not functioning
correctly... Then on one trip to the fore deck I found the outboard motor
loose on it's block. Just a few more minutes and it would have been rolling
around the deck damaging stuff!!! I guess we forget to tighten it down, or
perhaps the continual rocking, waves, pounding loosened it. I'll have to
add that to my pre-sail checklist!
A bit on Jib preventers:If you put them too close to the mast then it's an
awful lot of stress on everything especially with over 600sq feet of sail.
Not to mention the boom it's self, but if you move them too far back the
stretch in the rope is enough that they just pull through and fold to the
other side anyway. We chose about 2/3 down the boom and tied to the midship
cleat. It worked but during an unintended jibe we nearly broke the rope and
I was afraid we were going to pull off the deck cleat. They are designed
for sideways movement not upwards. So we moved the line to a midship
fitting for jib sheets. That didn't work as well because the line was too
vertical and didn't keep it from moving. Still, it did prevent a crash
jibe. I think the horse with a boom brake is probably better but I wouldn't
want to to have to cross the lines all the time.
I have decided I like night sailing. You can feel the boat better when not
distracted by what you can see. I could almost sail with my eyes closed
just listening to the sound of the sails and feeling the boat's movements.
The nights are beautiful and lonely but then I like being alone and the stars
are simply amazing.
In the morning we were on our final leg to St. Marys and suddenly our friends
boat dropped off AIS and I realized I couldn't see their sails.
They had been within 2 miles. I decided to turn on the autopilot and of course
I couldn't turn past -8 AGAIN. We started making calls on the radio and
no one had seen them even the other two boats that were also near by.
All we knew was a short radio call saying they had lost all power.
So we called the coast guard to report a ship in distress and started
searching for them. Finally we did find them when we got close enough to
land to get a cell text message through. And we followed them into St. Marys.
Getting the main down in these conditions is miserable and took us nearly
30 minutes. The lines always tangle around the front of the mast with the
steaming light. The topping lift was tangled in the lazy jacks and the
spare halyard. Trying to untangle that mess with waves crashing over the
deck and the boat pitching 15-20 deg in every direction is not easy. And need
I remind you I can't turn port? ugh...
The sea should always be respected. We are very careful with jacklines and life vests as overboard in those
conditions would be very dangerous. I can't imagine doing things like
this without the big deck we have.
We keep the lazy jacks tight along the boom when we stow the sails and then
deploy them as we drop the sails. That way they don't get tangled in the
battons when you hoist the sail. But with everything flopping around
in the wind and waves I think the tangle and effort to deploy them is
worse than haveing a batton caught.
As we arrived in St. Marys inlet it was cold rainy and miserable with
breakers on the beam all the way down the entrance. It took us an hour
just get in. We motored to town and anchored in front of the town docks
with all the other cruisers and since our friends still don't have proper
power they are coming over for dinner and hot water if they want.
There were several cool boats there but our favorite was a
wooden 38ish foot double ender ketch with a hard dinghy. Amazing boat.
We will be staying here for Thanksgiving and to make repairs to my steering
and their electric. Oh and Hannah's new pump siphoned all the water back
into the main tanks... We will have to re-design the drinking water system.