Sailing at last
16 August 2013 | 45 miles from Newport Oregon
Pete
Awoke this morning at 0900 after getting 6 hrs of sleep after my watch and an uneventful night of motor sailing through the fog. The fog had come and gone through the night and it was back again. On the list of projects today, lets see, make the storm jib sheets, transfer fuel from jerry jugs to tank, check oil, and a few other things. But oh wait. The discharge hose on the head is plugged. Aaack! So I spent the subsequent 6 hours tracing the plug, and then clearing the hose, then cleaning up, and finally, by unanimous vote of the crew, used a few gallons of our water to get a shower. After motoring for the past day and a half, the water was smoking hot, and it felt very, very good. Rachelle made bruninner (some mix of breakfast/lunch/dinner) and I finally got some coffee at 4pm. Am still finishing it now.
After finishing our meal, the wind filled in from the S to SE (45 degree oscillations) and was enough to sail with. Given our current position and the time of day, we will have to slow down a bit, or sail some circles to kill time until daylight to cross the bar at Newport. So we put up sails, and are finally sailing.
In Newport, we will refuel and depending on the forecast, hold and wait, which would allow us to spend some time with Rachelle's parents and siblings, or turn right around and head back out in order to catch the breeze. Wind is forecasted to begin filling from the N, which should then build and send us on our way with wind up to 30 kts a bit further offshore than we intend to be.
Rachelle is currently on the helm for her watch, Eric is sacked out to get a nap as his watch is up next, although Eric and Scott took all the watches today while I fixed the head and Rachelle acted as my lovely assistant, and then did cleanup while I showered. But we'll be back on watches tonight. Scott is keeping Rachelle company in the cockpit. I am getting ready to nap myself.
Pete