Yacht Wishing For The Moon

On Saturday morning at 0930 we let go lines in the Fort Lois Marina, Marigot Bay, St. Martin under grey and showery skies. The weather had been quite showery for the last couple of days and it looked like more to come, but we were all willing to get going. Karel and and his son Miles aboard as crew.

Up went the mainsail with 2 reefs and the No2 Yankee, and it was a close-hauled start to clear the eastern end of Anguila, which we managed just in one tack into increasing seas and wind. 3rd reef in the main and set the staysail, and we make a northerly coarse close reaching at 7 to 8 knots towards Bermuda. Both crew soon laid out with seasickness, and I have a bad stomach from eating a dodgy piece of chicken. Saturday night a large rip in the mainsail reduces us to the 4th reef, but under the conditions it is no bad thing. Not really a fun start, but we are going well.

Heavy rain and big seas and lots of solid water on deck until Monday, when the first sun we have seen since leaving peeks out. Monday night the crew keep dinner down for the fist time since leaving, and the seas and wind are kinder but we are still going well now close hauled.

Tried to send and receive emails and blog entries but there was something wrong with the transmitter, and in the bad weather there was no opportunity to seek out the fault. But today Tuesday 13th the sun is out, the wind is fair and the seas low enough to open some hatches and get aired out. Took out the antenna tuner and found some water inside and some corroded connections, so after a little work with the soldering iron it is all back together and we are again in communication. Very satisfying! Forecast looks to be for light winds going light Northerly for the next few days. Will keep blogging our progress.