Sailing to Portland text

Sailing to Maine!

We left Martha’s Vineyard and set sail. It was a good day. We are still having electrical problems so we motored a few long hours so we were sure we charged the batteries correctly to float charge and bulk and absorption charge. Then we started sailing along the coast of Cape Cod on the east side.  It was so calm we actually stopped sailing and was coasting along with the current we made 2 nm north, then the current changed and we went 2 nm smiles south.  I used to like the clanging buoys until we were along side of a clanging buoy for hours.  It reminds me of church bells.

I already reported about the Whales! How wonderful that I did pray we would see whales and not only did we see whales but the wind died down and we got to hang out with them for hours and hours!  The last 2 whales were so cute breeching and playing etc… Then once the whales started heading back out the wind picked up again. 

We had such a tail wind that we decided to just run the jib alone a new configuation to us this year.  As we were lowering the main the clew gave loose and pop out came the sail from the boom.  Now I know. During the day there was a new funny sound that I had not heard before… it sounded like a swing set.  Squeek one way then squeak the other way back.  I asked Ben about it and he said he had heard it too but it was the boom plate.  I never checked it out.  Not more than ½ hour later out came the clew.  This was another successful fixing story.  We bent it back, preplaced the pin and it was fixed! 

That swing set sound was this connector… for some reason it was bent and the pin holding it in was rubbing.  It is amazing all the things that can go wrong on a boat!  I remember Dick and Anne on their boat in Deltaville.  When I would walk by Dick was always looking at the boat at every little pin, joint, valve, sheet, etc… you name it.  I asked him how we knows what to look for.  He replied you just keeping looking and you’re bound to find something before it breaks.  I’ve been starting to do that more and more each day.  In and out of the kayak I look at the safety line connectors. Today I noticed that the bungee (oh hey we found the perfect bungie at the hardware store for our Cape horn!) anyway there are other small bungies on the cape horn and they look like they were going to fall off.  We got back and sure enough I was going to take them off and they crumbled in my hands.  I did it! I avoided a lost part or a broken autohelm at the wrong time.

Last year we learned so much and this year we are learning even more.  I like how we are gradually learning what we need to know. We are learning better anchoring. We are learning currents and tides! We are learning about maintenance! (never ending job) how to sail at night…

Sailing at night is fun when the winds are 5-20 knots.  I’m not a big fan of over 20 knot winds.  The seas I don’t mind although it is erie to see bigger waves than your boat and higher than your head standing looking out form the boat!. I’m glad we did not get the rain they were saying.  We did get dark clouds last night so sailing in dark dark is not fun!!!  I also don’t like the big boats at night that don’t see you!!! OK so last night I hail this boat.  He sees me and is going to go to my bow to cross.  OH my!!!  I thought we was going to hit us.  It is so dark it is hard to judge distances!! He was coming and coming (oh this year I’m learning the light patterns better too of vessels in motion – red – green – white – white on top – on the back – etc…) I had to wake up BEN!!! The guy missed us but it sure looked bad and I pulled the boat into wind to slow it down and stay in one place as he went past.  Funny a little while later another woman boater was on her shift and I heard her hail the same boat.

Sleeping is another challenge during over nights.  We split the shifts in 4 hours.  But who can fall asleep on demand except for Ben. So it takes me a while to get to sleep and then the seas were rough that with all the noise who can sleep.  It really takes 3 days to get into the swing cuz after that you are so exhausted that when it is time to sleep you sleep.  Also if you need a longer sleep in the day the other person can give that to you. 

Eating on your 4 hour evening shifts are good otherwise you get even more tired! At night if it is too windy for the cape horn or too dangerous to hook it up.  I muscle the wheel for hours it is so tiring! But it keeps you awake that is for sure! Although If the wind is on your tail and you have a jib even in 26 gusts of wind the boat sailed great and I did not have to correct much.  Well define “much”.  I’m tired and sore today but it is a good sore and tired.

Going into rain at night is scary if you ask me.  It was dark and no comfy stars and moon to help your loneliness! Just dark. Just dark and cruising ships and cargo ships to look at.  I’m sure I’ll get better at rain and heavier winds.  I’m good up to 28 knots, and now that does not seem too bad.

 more on Maine in Portland later

we will island hop for the next few days not sure if cell phone coverage is in casco bay.

sweet dreams

Pam