Winds are very light, but they should fill in a little tonight, and we want to be out there when they do. The forecast for the week is much more variable than I had expected based on last week. Looks like a lot of tacking, going the wrong direction, and just bobbing like a cork. This may take awhile, but we’ll get there. NE to start, we’ll try to work up to 35N latitude. The normal trades are not quite in effect this week. Fortunately we’re well-provisioned and have lots of good company, audiobooks, etc.

I’ll be posting through kin via satellite like the trip from USVI, so keep checking back!!

Been working all day and had some problems and a lot of wasted time.

Problem 1: When putting new sheets on the Genoa sail, found torn stitching on the UV cover. Surely it will rip much more in the 1800nm to our next port. Sail loft can do it if I get it to them quickly.

Problem 2: Can’t get the sail down. Even tried to pull it down using the windlass. Risky, and ineffective. Fortunately with two strapping Danes they can hoist me up the mast quickly, so up the mast I go. The furling thingy at the top is seized. It won’t go up or down. That means if there is a problem at sea I can’t take the sail down without climbing the mast. Not desirable at sea! OK on a tallship, not on a little one that swings back and forth fast enough to beat you up in the rigging.

Problem 3: The bearings in the assembly don’t sound healthy. If they seize, can’t turn, and can’t lower sail, that could be pretty dangerous, so 2 options:

Option 1: Wait a week or 2, spending copious amounts of money getting parts here to repair or replace it.

Option 2: Sail on like nothing happened and use the hank-on sails I have. The new, slighly smaller genoa, the two spinnakers, old, beatup yankee jib if the winds pick up, and perhaps the tiny storm jib if I don’t want to heave-to above 40 kts.

Going with Option 2. Bummer to miss the roller furler, be we can sail a little old school.

Today I also tuned the standing rigging, which I had planned today. Late because of genoa, but got it done.

Assorted cleaning, organizing, minor repairs, etc. Didn’t get to everything I wanted, but good enough. Oh, yeah: cut my hair. You’ll see the results in later posts.  :}

Winds tomorrow are forecast very light so we will have time to work on other stuff then.

A lot of boats left today including a family of four aboard SV Blue Raven from New Zealand (gave us a lift in first rainy day) and many more tomorrow. Last night had a great little BBQ with a Danish family on SV Oasis with 4 kids and a 3rd adult crew. Very nice. Cruising about a year, homeschooling, the whole shebang.

We took a tour around the island of Bermuda yesterday, mainly to the “Big City” of Hamilton. We took a ferry to the west end of the island to the main Cruise ship terminal and checked that out, then another slow ferry to Hamilton proper. Lots of old forts, etc. Then the classic lighthouse, 2nd Cast Iron lighthouse built, etc. etc. Nice secluded beaches. Very picturesque.

6/6/15

0358 bermuda time we are all snug at anchor in St George’s harbour, Bermuda. Entered the channel about 0200 and cleared in customs, $35/person.

“No sir, no pets but my Great Danes.” That one is never getting old. I hate coming into an unknown harbor at night. Nice moon tonight, but the clouds don’t let much light thru. The boats anchored were like ghosts everywhere. Before leaving customs we were accosted by a very drunk and cheerful Frenchman trying to bum a cigarette. Don’t let that man near an open flame!

Very British harbour control on the radio. Must come to customs dock immediately. Clear, helpful and a fine “Welcome to Bermuda ” greeting after 37 questions.

Lat 32.380003 Lon -64.673317

6/3/15 – 12:37

Making great time, 6-7 knots most of day. If we keep this speed well make Bermuda Fri afternoon.

It’s a long channel in through the reefs. I doubt we’ll go in after dark so we may have to heave-to outside the entrance.

Wind 120 to 130, 13kts apparent.

Sails up are double reef mainsail, full genoa and full staysail. We’ve seen 2 buoys today. I don’t know what the depth is but must be several thousand ft.

Just fenders with writing on them. Did not look like government. I don’t know what to make of it! Rolly conditions, but the sailing is terrific.

Saw a small pod of dolphins yesterday that played in the bow wake for 15mins. First I’ve seen since I was in Trinidad, except for a few by a ship in St Thomas. Cool!

Anders and Simon are having a great time and love the Captains cooking! Simon wants more cane syrup for the Captains grog! Maybe 1 day of doldrums.

Lat 30.040998 Lon -63.441067

2 days of light winds making 2-3 kts, and the rest 5-6 kts. Had to go about 200nm east to find wind, so the 850nm trip became more like 1100nm, but sailing good.

The water towing generator is fantastic. After catching Sargassum at the start, and nothing when slow, it just sits on the stern spinning away keeping the batteries charged. I’m so glad I have it.

We are 150nm from Bermuda and already hearing them on VHF. That is very long range for VHF. We hear them guiding other boats in.

Lat 30.055462 Lon -63.44613

6/2/15, 10:00

We are making about 3 knots at 340 degrees nearly straight toward Bermuda. Winds are light but report is no wind to my west.

We are planning to go into Bermuda to top off water and fuel, though we have only motored about 5 hours, = about 4 gals. We motored slowly.

Today is beautiful, sunny, and calm. Set the asymmetrical spinnaker this morning and the ride is much better. Last night was very noisy from genoa flogging, and creaking from the boat, jars and cans knocking. Light winds and rocking seas are the worst next to big storms, Lee shores, dangerous shoals, etc.

Lat 25.401335 Lon -61.637613

6/1/15: We have been working our way northeast to find wind, but too slowly. The high-pressure zone caught up with us so we had lots of calm.

Today we had a number of light squalls, which brought enough wind to keep us moving. Although not very fast and not always quite the right direction, we are now slowly going north.

Bermuda or Azores, that is the question.  The first couple of days was beautiful sailing, but yesterday was very changeable.  We tried the spinnaker but there was not enough wind so we motored for 5 hours.

Now it’s just wet and roll and waiting for wind. About 9 flying fish on deck so far.  It was a beautiful sunset last night. No boats, but 5 ships within AIS  range.

Lat 24.56366 Lon -61.506207

5/29/15: 1930h.

Heading 30degT, 4.5kts, wind 90deg, 9kts apparent. Long easy swells 1-2m. Very smooth sailing and nice speed. We made 120nm in the first 24 hrs, and it is beautiful and sunny.

The crew is getting used to the boat and how to do things like clear the Sargassum off the water generator. It uses a 75ft rope with a prop at the end that makes electricity. Very hard to pull in at 6kts…much easier at 4.5kts!

Making our way easterly to catch the 15to20 kts winds in about 4 days.

Settling in nicely!

-Hoy

0500, Hoy going off watch, Simon coming on. N 19 20 W 64 35, course 011 deg True, 4.8kts SOG. Sky is lightening. Nice wind, smooth sailing. I hope the whole trip will be like this! Saw 2 ships and lightning in the distance.

Lat 18.772588 Lon -64.737862

Goldilocks is finally under way from USVI to Europe! Departed about 6pm past the west end of Jost van Dyke. Wind 10kts from ESE making 5.1kts

Lat 18.674043 Lon -64.751658