life’s a breeze!

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Jenny

November 24 – 27, 2012

Over the next few days, the wind and waves continued to diminish. The days were sunny and beautiful as we continued to sail south.

By our third day at sea, we comfortably fell into our offshore routine. The first two days had been so exhausting with minimal sleep, so after a few good cat naps, and our bodies adjusted to the 4-hour watch cycle, we were ready for the long haul.

The autopilot was a huge contributing factor to the ease of this passage. We never knew just how good life could be with a working autopilot! For the first time since we’ve owned the boat, not only do we have an autopilot that works, but an autopilot that’s super strong to handle our boat in rough conditions. Thanks to input from the kids, I believe we have decided to name our Garmin class B drive “Max”.

Thanks to the autopilot, I would go ahead and eat breakfast while I was still on watch. By the time Wil came up for his watch, I’d already eaten, had my coffee, and brushed my teeth.

Every morning and afternoon, after I came off watch, I would do radio contacts and position reports. At 0830 and 1630, I would meet my dad and Wil’s stepdad on the ham frequencies, and occasionally report to Ship Track on the Maritime Mobile Net (14.300 MHz). The Maritime Mobile Net has always been great for relays and making sure we are okay. A great bunch of hams!

Immediately after ham contact, I would check and send email through Airmail by using the ham radio, as well as get weather reports.

At 0900, it was time for the Magellan Net on marine SSB. They would also take our position, and as always, it was fun to find out where the other sailors were located and what they were doing.

After all radio reporting was done, it was time to help the kids with their breakfasts, and as the seas were calm, get a little school work done.

When Wil wasn’t on watch, he could be found napping, doing small projects, or deep into a book.

Fishing lines stayed out for most of the passage (except during the Gulf Stream crossing and the day after), but we never caught anything until our last morning. We caught a small Mahi and half of a Spanish Mackerel. We’re still wondering who stole the other half!

Wildlife sightings were minimal on this trip. During the roughest part of the Gulf Stream crossing, I could make out dolphins swimming along side the boat in the moonlight. It was as though they were making everything alright, bringing a smile to my face amidst the rough seas.

We’d see occasional birds, both land and sea. One little bird landed onboard a few times, but it didn’t stay long. Off in the distance, we saw huge splashes from some type of large sea mammal, but we couldn’t make out what it was. When we got closer, it disappeared.

To pass some time, we had one game of “toss the shoe”. We needed to get a line over the starboard spreader, so we could have a way to raise our quarantine and courtesy flags. We tied a line to a water shoe and took turns seeing who could get the shoe over the spreader. I got the award for the worst throws, not only missing every time, but also having the shoe go over the life lines. Both kids did great, but Wil was the ultimate winner.

Some of the most enjoyable moments were our very first family sit-down dinners while underway. Again, thanks to the autopilot, we were able to have full sit-down meals in the main salon. Life had actually become normal!

Our original destination had been Harbour Island near Eleuthera. However, due to our speeds throughout the passage, we decided to consider a change of course. We needed to time our arrival for a daytime reef entrance. We chose Marsh Harbor in the Abacos for our new destination. With further diminishing winds and engines remaining off, under full main and Genaker, we let our speed slow to 3.5 knots. The longer we took, the less time we would have to sit outside the reef until sunrise. However, as our last evening at sea progressed, the winds picked up and we began moving along at over 7 knots. So much for trying to slow down!

At about 2300 hours and 10 miles from land, I attempted to heave to, something we’ve never done with this boat. At this point, the main was the only sail up, so I backed the wind in the sail and locked down the helm. It seemed to work . . . for about the first 10 minutes. Then, the boat ended up broadside to the wind and drifting sideways at about a knot and a half. Since conditions were calm, and we were in no danger of running into land, I let things be until sun up.

As the sun appeared on the horizon, without wanting to use the engines, I attempted to get the boat moving again. I’d crank the mainsail over and fall further off the wind. After a few tries, I finally succeeded and the boat was sailing toward the distant land in sight.

By mid-morning, we had arrived in Marsh Harbor, ready for clearance into the Bahamas. Exitement and anxiety filled the air!

beautiful & warm sunny days

sunrise

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hesitation or commitment ~ a gulf stream crossing

Posted on December 3, 2012 by Jenny

November 23 – 24, 2012

~Part Two~

Night was upon us, with an almost full moon lighting the way, allowing us to see the waves of the Gulf Stream. We could only imagine what some of these monsters looked like in the daytime.

For the most part, the conditions on the Gulf Stream weren’t anything we hadn’t seen before. However, the completely opposite directions of the swell and waves at such heights was a new experience for us. At times, we couldn’t tell whether waves were coming or going. Waves of equal heights would be approaching the boat at the same time. One from the port, and one from the starboard. We would glide up and over the swell, just in time to rock up and over the wind wave. The boat handled it beautifully!

There was one most unique wave combination that stands out in my mind. Two opposite waves were approaching the boat at the same time. I had to look up towards their peaks in the moonlight. I’m guessing they were at least 12 feet or larger. It looked like they were going to reach the boat at the same time. I had no idea what would happen. Would we be squashed between two walls of water? Surprisingly, as the waves met, the boat gently lifted up towards the sky and back down again. It was a most incredible feeling!

The winds continued to be out of the southwest as we crossed the Gulf Stream, and blowing 20 to 25 knots. We were sailing with a double-reefed main and about half of the jib. In order to help us plow through the stream without wasting any time, we also had both engines running wide open.

I was on watch as we crossed the middle axis of the Gulf Stream, where we had our biggest waves and strongest wind gusts. As the bigger waves approached, I could hear the eerie howling of the wind in the distance. It reminded me of the sound of the wind from our Port Washington experience with wind gusts nearing 50 knots.

When the first wind gust hit the boat, I became completely over powered with weather helm. For the first time, I actually became a bit scared. I had been trying to hold the boat close to 180 degrees, but the wind pulled it towards 210 degrees, and I didn’t have the strength to pull it back. As soon as the wind released the boat, I was able to bang on the hatch where Wil was sleeping, and yell for help. He quickly arrived to the cockpit and we immediately furled in the jib a bit more. We waited for the next wind gust to see how the boat would handle. It was much better. I could breathe easy again.

It was on Wil’s watch when we took some major green water over the boat. One wave came over the boat from the bow, across the main salon, and all the way to the cockpit. Down below, while trying to get some off-watch sleep, I could hear the sound of the water rushing across the deck. I actually chuckled knowing that Wil had just been drenched. Poor guy.

Nothing like a dose of bumpy seas to let us know what needs fixing. As I was coming into the main salon, I noticed water all over the floor and on one wall. I stood there puzzled, wondering where it came from. I didn’t have to wonder for much longer. As the next wave slammed under the bridgedeck, sea water sprayed up through the floor grate. One latch for the port-side escape hatch had broken, and the hatch had come partially open, allowing water to spray into the main salon. We temporarily tied a line around the broken latch to the floor grate, holding the hatch a little more securely. Then, we covered the floor grate with a large towel, so the main salon would stay a little drier. Repair would have to wait until we were in a calm anchorage.

Another minor loss we suffered was that of a small hatch cover located near the big salon windows. We had left those covers on because they weren’t near the bow, and generally safe from water over the boat. However, Wil knows exactly which wave claimed about two-thirds of this hatch cover!

Even though we would have liked to have seen the waves in the daylight hours, it was good to have had the kids safely down in their bunks for the night. No one slept much, and Colin would keep asking if we were still in the Gulf Stream. The ride inside the boat really didn’t feel any differently from any other bumpy seas we’d had in the past. Therefore, the kids didn’t seem to be worried about the rough seas.

By sun up, the wind and waves had subsided a bit. The winds were out of the west at 15 to 25 knots, and the waves were 5 to 8 feet. They would continue to diminish throughout the day.

As conditions calmed, we began to relax, coming down from the adrenaline rush. We were exhausted, but we had a new sense of accomplishment and freedom. We had succeeded in crossing a bumpy Gulf Stream, and now we were free to sail south to warmer waters.

breakfast on the high seas

passing time

 

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hesitation or commitment ~ a gulf stream crossing

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Jenny

November 23, 2012

~Part One ~

One moment of indecision could quite possibly change an entire course. For us, it was a moment of commitment that took us across the treacherous waters of the Gulf Stream, and put us on a direct course for the Bahamas.

After a week of studying weather forecasts, the day after Thanksgiving was our time to set sail. There was going to be a small break in the north winds, making it possible to cross the Gulf Stream without the wind and current being against each other. However, it was such a small window that we needed Plans A, B and C for where and when it would be safe to cross the stream.

Friday morning, we rushed around completing all the last minute pre departure chores. Stowing new provisions, as well as putting away everything that had managed to come out during our weeks at anchor. A final grocery run. Final usage of a fast Internet system; posting a blog, writing email messages, and checking passageweather.com. Final phone calls were made to family with the last of the money on the prepaid cell phone. And then, in a split second, we decided to make the 11 o’clock bridge opening. It was 10:48 a.m.

After passing through the Beaufort drawbridge, we went to Beaufort Town Docks to top off the water and fuel tanks, dump the trash, and say good-bye to family.

While we were at the docks, another sailor asked us where we were headed. “Out” was our reply, and then “to the Bahamas.” So was he, but he was still trying to decide when. He too had been studying the possible weather window. He was also using Herb, a popular weather router for high seas sailors, and Herb had said that it was still a bit dicey for crossing the stream. The seas need time to settle after many days of north winds, and they weren’t settled yet. Therefore, this guy was going to wait until morning to depart. Something in our gut was telling us it was time to go.

Our excitement grew as we sailed out the Beaufort Inlet. We were off again, only this time we were on our way to warmer waters.

As we pulled away from land, the predicted north wind for the beginning of our journey was nowhere to be seen. The wind was out of the southwest at 10-15 knots. All previous plans went out the door.

We decided to sail directly towards the Gulf Stream to get a feel for the sea conditions. If we didn’t like how things were, then we would parallel the Gulf Stream until the seas settled.

As we sailed further out, we were feeling good about an immediate Gulf Stream crossing. However, we had weather reports coming in, showing about a 12 hour window with west winds, before returning to the north again for at least two more days. We assessed our speed and decided that we should go for it. Then, came some moments of indecision.

There were three other boats that had departed Beaufort around the same time, and Simon on Cat was one of them. After speaking with Simon over the VHF about our plans, the other two boats joined in with further weather input. One had sea state conditions from a buoy located in the middle of the Gulf Stream. Eleven-foot northeast swells with an 11 second period between them (not bad), and opposing 5-foot southwest waves with a 6 second period (not great). Put them together and you have some rough seas.

All three boats decided not to cross the Gulf Stream with those conditions. Knowing Simon’s boat, and the fact that he was sailing solo, he was making a wise choice. He was about an hour behind us, and cruising at a slower speed. He would be caught in the middle of the stream when the winds clocked back the north, making the seas even more dangerous.

My mind was racing. What if we were making the wrong choice? What if we get out there, and the winds change back to a northerly direction sooner, rather than later? We had the speed to get across, but what if something happened to slow us down? Surely, the seas would have time to settle some by the time we got to the middle of the stream, or would they? If we did get caught in the middle, we would only have to endure the roughness for no more than 5 hours, but what if something happened and we couldn’t get out?

The moment of decision was now. We only had a chance to make it across the Gulf Stream if we went without hesitation. Any hesitation would have us caught in the middle. With a firm and final decision, and trust in the boat’s capability, as well as our ability, we committed ourselves to a continued southeasterly course.

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family & friends

Posted on November 23, 2012 by Jenny

November 4 – 23, 2012

These past couple of weeks have continued to be a whirlwind of activity. Boat projects have been interspersed with special visits from family and friends. We wish there were more time to see everyone who is dear to us. Unfortunately, time is running out, and with the weather turning colder, we can’t possibly survive much longer without a heater onboard.

The list of last minute preparations is endless, and there’s no way all of them will be completed. We will just have to accept what’s done and move on. At this point in time, I will also have to skip discussing the finer details of an autopilot installation, or finding the proper water maker hoses.

We are planning to sail out the Beaufort Inlet tomorrow afternoon. Our possible destination is Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. The passage could take 5 to 7 days depending on what Mother Nature has in store for us.

As we celebrated this Thanksgiving Day, we also recognized it as our last day in the U.S. before heading out on our journey to explore the world. A Thanksgiving in reverse, so to speak. Tomorrow is the beginning of the next phase of our adventures.

treated to 3 nights at the dock, so we could plug in for heat

exploring Carrot Island with family

on a hunt for wild ponies

soon to be sailing out Beaufort Inlet!

determined to find wild ponies

looking at Beaufort from Carrot Island

an owl on Carrot Island

going through necklace inventory

making the gravy

porpoises on Taylor Creek

visiting with friends

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cold & rainy . . . need warmth

Posted on November 18, 2012 by Jenny

November 6, 2012

The thermometer inside the boat read 45 degrees F as I forced myself to get out from under the covers. The cold air cut through every layer of clothing on my body. It was time to get the stove cranking.

Coffee was first on the list. However, I was out of ground coffee and needed AC power to run the grinder. After venturing outside, and into the starboard engine room to turn on the inverter, I was finally able to get coffee grounds into the percolator.

There were two ripe bananas sitting on the counter, just waiting to go into a loaf of banana bread. The entire family had been begging for weeks to have some homemade banana bread. Now was that time.

With coffee on the stove, and banana bread in the oven, the cabin warmed to 52 degrees F. The brief rays of sunshine faded behind a gray cloud cover, and eventually the rain drops began to fall.

Not only was water falling from the sky on the outside, but also on the inside. As the cabin became warmer than the outside temperatures, condensation was collecting on every surface that bordered the cold air outside. Eventually, water drops fell throughout the inside of the boat. On the salon tables. On the galley counter. At the navigation table. On our bunks.

Warmth. We need warmth. Our bodies need warmth. The boat needs warmth and fresh air. The desire to open the hatches and ports, and feel a warm breeze across the cabins, is great.

In about 2 weeks we should have this warmth. Sunshine on our faces without multiple layers of clothing. Who knows? Maybe it will be too hot, and then we’ll complain of the heat! Too hot? Well, then we’ll just go for a swim.

watching a movie & drinking hot chocolate

writing a blog post

a Star Wars ship made of Legos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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repairs, projects & weather . . . oh my

Posted on November 16, 2012 by Jenny

October 25 – November 2, 2012

The next 10 ten days spent at Jarrett Bay was a whirlwind of activity. From rudder repairs and overdue projects to Halloween and Hurricane Sandy, we were kept busy for the entire time the boat was out of the water. And of course, we had to keep school going, as well.

It took some brainstorming along with Bircher Machine Shop to come up with a solution for our rudder bearing issue, and in the end, we were quite pleased with the result. Bircher manufactured two rudder bearings that will also act as the housings. They are made to of an acetyl material to correct specifications, so they won’t expand and seize on the rudder post when they enter the water. They are also about an inch longer for additional support.

To allow for the rudder bearings to be installed with proper epoxy curing time, Bircher also machined a mock rudder post that we could use to place the bearings in their proper positions. Once the epoxy cured, the mock post could be removed. When it was time to lift the boat for launching, all we had to do was insert the rudders and re-attach the steering quadrant. It all worked perfectly!

removing the old fridge insulation

Addition of insulation to our refrigerator was another major project. Along with some generous help from friends, the refrigerator was disconnected and relocated to the cockpit. The old, flimsy insulation was removed, and Wil added about 2 inches of new pink, closed-cell insulation, finishing it with a radiant barrier around the outside. He also drilled holes in the door, injecting 3 cans of non-deforming spray insulation, and then sealing off the holes with caulk.

surprising that the fridge stayed cold at all!

a well insulated fridge

Other projects completed during the week: new zincs on the props and shafts, new welds on the steering quadrants for the new autopilot, placed new transmission seal on starboard engine (and broke motor mount in the process), installed a new speed transducer, and repainted the bottom where paint was missing.

As it was for many, Hurricane Sandy was a surprise visit for us, and we were quite thankful to be in the boatyard during the storm. We were in a good spot for the tropical storm force winds and rain that lasted for nearly 3 days. However, while we were sitting on blocks and stands, we happened to be broadside to the strongest winds. The boat would shake and rattle, but she stood strong. For the duration of the storm, we’d periodically check the stands to make sure they were secure. At one point, Wil discovered that the rear stands weren’t even holding the boat. The ground was so saturated, and with all of our shaking in the wind, the stands sank into the ground, leaving at least an inch between the stands and the boat. Good thing we were checking!

surfer enjoying the hurricane swell

Sandy's waves at Atlantic Beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

impressive spray from the wind

sadly, the result for some

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time was also taken out for some Halloween fun. Using what we had onboard, Colin was able to throw a costume together the night before. Justine’s final costume decision came just 2 hours prior to trick-or-treating.When it was time for the big outing, we picked up our friends from Patronus, who had only arrived in Morehead a couple of hours before. We went to a nearby neighborhood where we all enjoyed free hot dogs, cookies and cupcakes, and a trick-or-treating hayride. Afterwards, we dropped by a good friend’s house for a variety of chilies and other goodies.

black ops soldier & a witch

 

fun on the hayride

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After 10 days spent at Jarrett Bay, it was time to splash into the water again. We said many good-byes (and see-you-laters), and quickly had one last job done. An electrician came aboard to test for any electrolysis issues. He could only find a small, occasional spike in voltage from the port engine alternator. This alternator was a replacement for the one that had previously put out 16 volts. The bulk of the electrolysis problem had probably been the result of the high voltage output. However, the current spike could also cause a problem. Therefore, a plan was made to get both alternators repaired in the near future.

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damage unveiled

Posted on November 14, 2012 by Jenny

October 24, 2012

Our haul out at Jarrett Bay finally revealed the whale damage to our rudder. Fortunately, it was nothing serious and a fairly easy fix.

While the boat was still in the travel lift slings, we shook the rudders and were amazed at how much play was in the port rudder. Then, we disassembled the steering quadrant and dropped both rudders to the ground before setting the boat down onto blocks.

Even though we had run aground in the sand at Cape Lookout, it was quite obvious what paint was missing due to the whale hit. When we hit what we assume was a whale, the entire port side of the boat had lifted out of the water as it bounced across the hard mass under the water. When we ran aground, the rudders never touched the sand. We are missing a bit of paint from the starboard keel, but we are missing paint AND barnacles from the port keel. The entire bottom edge of the port keel is wiped clean of all barnacles. The front corner of the port rudder is missing paint and barrier coat, all the way to the fiberglass.

The wobble in the port rudder was answered when we removed the rudder housing and bearing. The bearing was 1 mm out of whack. This may not sound like much, but the bearing needs to have a firm fit around the rudder post. Otherwise, any motion in the rudder will be enhanced, potentially causing further damage. We think that when the rudder took the jolt that it did, the rudder post was pushed hard against the bearing, creating the gap between the bearing and the rudder post.

front corner of port rudder that hit the whale

rudder missing paint & barrier coat

we joke about a whale with blue racing stripes!

All of these issues are minor compared to how badly things could have been. We had fears of finding a bent rudder post with further damage up inside the boat, but all else on the port side was in good shape. However, we did find a few couple of other unrelated issues.
When we dropped the starboard rudder, the entire rudder housing and bearing came out with the post. The bearing had seized itself to the rudder post, and it was nearly impossible to remove. Wil had to melt the bearing in order to get it off. We think the bearing was made of a Delrin-like material that is known for expanding when it gets wet. Therefore, the moment the boat was lowered into the water back in June, the bearing seized itself onto the rudder post.
At the same time, we found putty-like pieces falling out from around the rudder post. It seems that for whatever reason, the two part West System epoxy that had been used to put the new housing in place had not cured properly. Therefore, a cavity was being worn away from the rudder post just inside the hull.
After discovering our electrolysis issue back in August, we finally got to have a good look at our zincs. After only 4 months, we are amazed at the amount of corrosion. Thank goodness it was only the zincs!
At the end of the day, we knew we had made the right decision to haul out.

prop zinc not fairing so well ~ 4 months old

shaft zinc not fairing so well either

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return to jarrett bay

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Jenny

October 23, 2012

In preparation for our haul out at Jarrett Bay, Wil spent a full day running around town, collecting parts for the upcoming work. I spent my day with schooling the kids. Actually, Justine has become quite independent with her studies, so it’s rare when she needs me now. However, Colin still needs quite a bit of coaching, so most school days can be all-consuming for me.

By 5 o’clock that afternoon, we picked up anchor and headed up the waterway to Jarrett Bay. The water was calm and the sunset was beautiful. Dolphins escorted us all the way to the dock! As I was trying to focus on docking the boat, I kept hearing the blow hole from the dolphin behind us.

dolphins led the way to Jarrett Bay

this one followed us all the way to the dock!

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tip of the month ~ water conservation

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Justine

October 10-19, 2012

Life on a Boat: Tips on Conserving Water ~ by Justine

“When you do the dishes don’t forget to use the saltwater pump!” Ever heard your mother say that? Unless you live on a sailboat you probably haven’t. Because of the limited amount of water on my family’s boat, using saltwater to do the dishes is one of the many things I have to remember. Luckily, I’m getting the hang of conserving water. The thing is, do you? Even if you don’t live on a boat conserving water is a good thing. For boaters it means having water longer and for other people it means saving money. It is also better for the environment to conserve water. Why don’t you try to conserve water too?

The number one rule in water conservation is “Do not leave the water running!” An example of doing this when washing your hands is to rinse them and then turn the water off to soap them. Complete the process by turning the water back on to rinse the soap off and you’re done. Simple right? You would be surprised on how much water you could save just by turning the water off when you soap your hands.

When you brush your teeth, you could take water conservation a step further. First, fill a cup up with water. Next, dip your toothbrush in the cup. If you do that it is impossible to lose any water. Then, once you’ve brushed your teeth, use the faucet to rinse off the toothbrush and use the water in the cup to rinse out your mouth. If you were to use that process (if you didn’t leave the faucet on) you would only have to turn the water on to fill up the cup and rinse off the toothbrush. Again, this is a simple way to save money, water, and the environment.

Doing the dishes is a little more complicated. All of the following steps can only be used if you live on a sailboat, because in order to save water while doing the dishes on a boat requires the use of a saltwater pump. Using a foot pedal, you use the saltwater pump to…well… pump saltwater into the sink. The first step in doing the dishes is to let the dishes soak in saltwater in the sink. Next, you take a sponge or rag and soap them. Then you rinse them in saltwater. Finally, before you let the dishes dry, you rinse them in freshwater. It takes a lot more water to rinse the soap off the dishes than it does to rinse saltwater off them, so that’s why you use saltwater to get the soap off and freshwater to get the saltwater off. In the end little freshwater should have been used.

Did you know that if every time you were to take a shower you turned the water off when it was time to use shampoo, conditioner, and soap you could save $150 (if you have to pay water bills) and 3,200 gallons of water a year? Boaters need those extra gallons and some regular home owners could use that excess cash. The first step in doing this is, when you get in the shower, to turn the water on and get your body wet. Then, turn the water back off and shampoo your hair. After that, turn the water on again and rinse the shampoo out. Do the same thing with conditioner, though it’s best not to use it at all. If you live on a boat, rinsing the conditioner out takes too much extra water to use all the time. The next step is to turn the water off once again and soap your body. Lastly, you finish by rinsing the soap off, but you probably already know that. Keep following these steps and you could save 3,200 gallons of water a year.

Water is essential for people to survive. We need it to bath, drink, cook, and do so many other things. The problem is boat owners have a limited supply of it and it can be costly to use for some home owners who have to pay their water bills. By following these simple steps you could save so much water, money, and the environment. Think green!

Note from Mom: With these water conservation methods, 200 gallons of water lasts our family for 24 days. That’s just over 2 gallons/person per day. Quite impressive!

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about a flower in new jersey

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Jenny

Read Justine’s descriptive essay about a flower she found at Liberty State Park in New Jersey.

A New Jersey Zinnia and an Old Shot Glass

 

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