Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Faraway stays faraway while we go home....
The weather has decided for us. It's blowing and blowing and blowing and will not let up for another week. Our own time window is also becoming smaller and smaller so even if we did wait another week we would not be able to go further than Ocean World Marina in Puerto Plata, a large and beautiful marina from what we see in the brochure, but still far from our destination. South Side is small, the marina manager lives a boat away from us and will be able to keep an eye on Faraway. So having pondered all possible considerations, perused the weather forecasts very, very carefully, we bought our tickets and will be home on Wednesday night.
We'll spend the next two days getting ready and then we'll go...
We'll spend the next two days getting ready and then we'll go...
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Waiting for weather in South Side Marina, Turks and Caicos
When the tide was almost at it highest we came into South Side Marina, a marina we avoided last time because it's got a really tricky entrance, but the marina manager came out in his runabout and guided us in. It's a small marina and it's full. The manager and his wife were cruisers for six years and they know what it takes to make it really agreeable. The laundry room and the bathroom are small but clean, they have wi-fi and all at reasonable prices. They built a gazebo with armchairs and at 5 every afternoon they have a happy hour. She also drives cruisers to the supermarket which as we remembered, is really the best since Miami.
There are three other sailboats going to the DR and we will probable sail down together when we leave the marina tomorrow, on Tuesday we cross the banks and push on to the Dominican coast. We have a really short window before it starts blowing again.
After listening to the other cruiser's woes last night I started to feel maybe Faraway has been great. They've had fires and flooding, had to be towed into Nassau with all their electric systems down, had to get new (refurbished) engine in Annapolis, all sorts of mishaps which they also managed to fix underway. There is also a Dutch couple that have been cruising for 16 years on a 38 footer which they sailed from Holland.
So today was supermarket, laundry, resting. Tomorrow we start again...
There are three other sailboats going to the DR and we will probable sail down together when we leave the marina tomorrow, on Tuesday we cross the banks and push on to the Dominican coast. We have a really short window before it starts blowing again.
After listening to the other cruiser's woes last night I started to feel maybe Faraway has been great. They've had fires and flooding, had to be towed into Nassau with all their electric systems down, had to get new (refurbished) engine in Annapolis, all sorts of mishaps which they also managed to fix underway. There is also a Dutch couple that have been cruising for 16 years on a 38 footer which they sailed from Holland.
So today was supermarket, laundry, resting. Tomorrow we start again...
Fw: Phase 2 complete
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-----Original Message-----
From: estelaz@aol.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:47:12
To: Blog2<estelaz1.faraway@blogger.com>
Subject: Phase 2 complete
This little boat that could, has made it to Turks and Caicos. Not without giving us a few more headaches. Juan says it has pushed him to the limit. (Hopefully his limits are elastic because we still have two more phases, both hard DR and PR)
The passage was perfect. Juan spent two hours fixing the bathroom faucet while we were doing 4 knots under sail, not too fast but thoroughly enjoyable. Later in the day the winds died down so we turned on the engine and motorsailed at 7.5k.
When the sun set Juan decided to check the engine compartment and found the cover of the transmission fluid had opened and it was spewing out the fluid. So we killed the engine and let it cool. The grooves seemed to have melted so the cover did not stay in place. But after some TLC and more transmission fluid we were back in business. The water was completely flat and we both got to sleep - sometimes at the same time - but there was nothing in sight for miles. Except whales. I saw one to our port in the afternoon and then they kept popping in the radar.
We are now anchored in Sapodilla bay, there is no wind and it is hot, hot, hot.
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-----Original Message-----
From: estelaz@aol.com
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:47:12
To: Blog2<estelaz1.faraway@blogger.com>
Subject: Phase 2 complete
This little boat that could, has made it to Turks and Caicos. Not without giving us a few more headaches. Juan says it has pushed him to the limit. (Hopefully his limits are elastic because we still have two more phases, both hard DR and PR)
The passage was perfect. Juan spent two hours fixing the bathroom faucet while we were doing 4 knots under sail, not too fast but thoroughly enjoyable. Later in the day the winds died down so we turned on the engine and motorsailed at 7.5k.
When the sun set Juan decided to check the engine compartment and found the cover of the transmission fluid had opened and it was spewing out the fluid. So we killed the engine and let it cool. The grooves seemed to have melted so the cover did not stay in place. But after some TLC and more transmission fluid we were back in business. The water was completely flat and we both got to sleep - sometimes at the same time - but there was nothing in sight for miles. Except whales. I saw one to our port in the afternoon and then they kept popping in the radar.
We are now anchored in Sapodilla bay, there is no wind and it is hot, hot, hot.
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Saturday, January 23, 2010
Phase 2 complete
This little boat that could, has made it to Turks and Caicos. Not without giving us a few more headaches. Juan says it has pushed him to the limit. (Hopefully his limits are elastic because we still have two more phases, both hard DR and PR)
The passage was perfect. Juan spent two hours fixing the bathroom faucet while we were doing 4 knots under sail, not too fast but thoroughly enjoyable. Later in the day the winds died down so we turned on the engine and motorsailed at 7.5k.
When the sun set Juan decided to check the engine compartment and found the cover of the transmission fluid had opened and it was spewing out the fluid. So we killed the engine and let it cool. The grooves seemed to have melted so the cover did not stay in place. But after some TLC and more transmission fluid we were back in business. The water was completely flat and we both got to sleep - sometimes at the same time - but there was nothing in sight for miles. Except whales. I saw one to our port in the afternoon and then they kept popping in the radar.
We are now anchored in Sapodilla bay, there is no wind and it is hot, hot, hot.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
The passage was perfect. Juan spent two hours fixing the bathroom faucet while we were doing 4 knots under sail, not too fast but thoroughly enjoyable. Later in the day the winds died down so we turned on the engine and motorsailed at 7.5k.
When the sun set Juan decided to check the engine compartment and found the cover of the transmission fluid had opened and it was spewing out the fluid. So we killed the engine and let it cool. The grooves seemed to have melted so the cover did not stay in place. But after some TLC and more transmission fluid we were back in business. The water was completely flat and we both got to sleep - sometimes at the same time - but there was nothing in sight for miles. Except whales. I saw one to our port in the afternoon and then they kept popping in the radar.
We are now anchored in Sapodilla bay, there is no wind and it is hot, hot, hot.
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Friday, January 22, 2010
Oh what a night!
And what a morning. The wind clocked more to the South and our anchorage rolly as it was, protected us only from the East. As it veered not only did it leave us on a lee shore (if we dragged we would be pushed ashore with the obvious atrocious consequences) but the roll became unbearable, 3 foot waves. So we took off as fast as we could. Everything becomes difficult with that roll, getting the outboard, the dinghy, putting everything in place, but we did it.
No sooner had we cleared the tip of the reefs and started to turn we heard a loud bang. Juan went down and saw water in the bilge so he made me turn around.
Our water tank is made of metal and it sometimes makes loud bangs when the air pressure mounts (I won't get into the gory details) but it did it again as Juan was down so he started looking at the water line and found the bathroom faucet was leaking, well not just leaking and we had the water pressure pump on: because of the noise of the engine we did not notice the noise of the pump. It was like we had an open faucet into the bilge.
Once we discovered that I turned around once more, happy to leave the Crooked Islands behind.
The wind is coming from the SE,exactly on our heading, but it's no more than 10 to 12. The waves are 3 to 5, coming also from the SE. But we are moving, hoping that the wind will in fact clock to the West as forecast so that we can sail. If all goes well, tomorrow at this time we should be entering Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. Everybody please keep their fingers crossed.
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No sooner had we cleared the tip of the reefs and started to turn we heard a loud bang. Juan went down and saw water in the bilge so he made me turn around.
Our water tank is made of metal and it sometimes makes loud bangs when the air pressure mounts (I won't get into the gory details) but it did it again as Juan was down so he started looking at the water line and found the bathroom faucet was leaking, well not just leaking and we had the water pressure pump on: because of the noise of the engine we did not notice the noise of the pump. It was like we had an open faucet into the bilge.
Once we discovered that I turned around once more, happy to leave the Crooked Islands behind.
The wind is coming from the SE,exactly on our heading, but it's no more than 10 to 12. The waves are 3 to 5, coming also from the SE. But we are moving, hoping that the wind will in fact clock to the West as forecast so that we can sail. If all goes well, tomorrow at this time we should be entering Providenciales in Turks and Caicos. Everybody please keep their fingers crossed.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010
The best laid plans...
When we left Georgetown we had a good weather window that would have put us in Turks and Caicos this afternoon with an overnight on Tuesday. But Tuesday Juan was tired and preferred to go into Rum Cay at night rather than sail all night. Yesterday, when the lady from one of the boats that was with us at Rum said she was going to Clarence Town to "wait for weather" because today it would be 17 knots on the nose all day with 5ft waves I was the one who said we should rethink our plans. And we did. We arrived at 4:30 at Pitts Towne in Acklins and spent the night facing a lovely beach on this island in the middle of nowhere.
Now we are going to go out and see what the ocean looks like. If it's bad we come back, if it's "doable" we will anchor in Atwood bay, the other end of Acklins and spend another quiet night: not a cruiser in sight.
As my friend Bosco used to say, to be continued...
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Now we are going to go out and see what the ocean looks like. If it's bad we come back, if it's "doable" we will anchor in Atwood bay, the other end of Acklins and spend another quiet night: not a cruiser in sight.
As my friend Bosco used to say, to be continued...
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Blind arrival, calm night
Another lovely, picture perfect passage, but that perfection comes with a price: very little wind and our little engine that still can (we hope) does not fly like Zingaro's so we made it into Rum Cay in the dark. I confess I was scared because I remembered it was a mine field of coral heads. But Juan trusted his way points and his instruments and we made it in. There were two sailboats already anchored. The night was perfect. Incredible skies with a sliver of a new moon.
At 7 we were again on our way. One of the other boats left with us but they are going to Clarence Town to wait for weather. They don't want to motor all the way. But they are going all the way to Grenada for the summer, so they are not in a hurry!
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At 7 we were again on our way. One of the other boats left with us but they are going to Clarence Town to wait for weather. They don't want to motor all the way. But they are going all the way to Grenada for the summer, so they are not in a hurry!
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Begin Phase 2
The trip to Georgetown was perfect. A beautiful day and very calm seas. Elizabeth harbour incredibly empty. I don't think there were 150 boats. I counted 84 on the stretch from Conch Cut to the marina. There was plenty of space to anchor everywhere, even in front os Volleyball Beach. Other anchorages before and after were plain empty.
Because we left two hours later than we had planned we made it at low tide and the entrance to the marina was painful. We kissed the bottom a couple of times but made it safely. We had time to get the package at the exuma market (thank you Joanna), print Sophia's ticket, buy a few groceries and fill the tanks with water and fuel.
At 6 this morning we met the taxi driver who took Sophia and was kind enough to call us on the radio to let us know she'd left safely.
We managed to find two alternator belts to have as spares, found Juan's Afrin at a drugstore (miles away) and at 10 we were under way. We are not sure yet what we'll do: an overnight if we feel up to it, if not we'll sleep at Calabash Bay in Long Island.
We were sad to see Sophia go but I think she was more than ready to go home and enjoy the comforts of home!
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Because we left two hours later than we had planned we made it at low tide and the entrance to the marina was painful. We kissed the bottom a couple of times but made it safely. We had time to get the package at the exuma market (thank you Joanna), print Sophia's ticket, buy a few groceries and fill the tanks with water and fuel.
At 6 this morning we met the taxi driver who took Sophia and was kind enough to call us on the radio to let us know she'd left safely.
We managed to find two alternator belts to have as spares, found Juan's Afrin at a drugstore (miles away) and at 10 we were under way. We are not sure yet what we'll do: an overnight if we feel up to it, if not we'll sleep at Calabash Bay in Long Island.
We were sad to see Sophia go but I think she was more than ready to go home and enjoy the comforts of home!
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Monday, January 18, 2010
Oh! The joys of boating!
I have not been mentioning the small gremlins in the boat probably because I have been too consummed by feeling sorry for myself to give them the time of day, and probably because we have been making short moves between islands so they did not really matter. But the alternator belt has been needing adjustments every morning, the fridge stopped working but all it needed was a new fuse, and the chart plotter refused to give us a fix for a while: apparently the nima cable.
But this morning as we were getting ready to leave before seven, with a perfect day to be out in the ocean, the alternator belt wheezed again and there was no more tightening Juan could do. So he took it apart, inverted something or other to ensure the arm was level, swore several times in several languages, lost screws and o rings, sweated his soul out and fixed it.
So now we are in the Exuma sound headed to George Town to Sophia's great relief since she is taking the plane tomorrow.
She has been telling us repeatedly "this is too stressful! Why do you do it?" Answers accepted, I am afraid today even I had to wonder
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But this morning as we were getting ready to leave before seven, with a perfect day to be out in the ocean, the alternator belt wheezed again and there was no more tightening Juan could do. So he took it apart, inverted something or other to ensure the arm was level, swore several times in several languages, lost screws and o rings, sweated his soul out and fixed it.
So now we are in the Exuma sound headed to George Town to Sophia's great relief since she is taking the plane tomorrow.
She has been telling us repeatedly "this is too stressful! Why do you do it?" Answers accepted, I am afraid today even I had to wonder
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Sunday, January 17, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Cold and warmer
I have not been able to get rid of the cold I caught crossing to Highbourne. When we went Warderick wells I did not go hiking and I did not go swimming. (Sophia had a ball) we then moved to Staniel and I did not get to go to Thunderball cave. I did get however a wet ride into town to go the clinic. For 42 dollars the nurse saw me and gave me some cough syrup, antibiotics and eardrops. Just Sophia's co-payment is the same price they charge for the visit: 30 dollars.
But today, I went with them to the cave and as always it was a blast. Sophia was fascinated. I already feel better.
It's been very windy but the anchorage in front of Big Major is good. It's blowing from the East. Not too crowded, actually in general pretty empty. Many empty mooring balls in the park. We'll see in Georgetown. Tomorrow we move to Black Point to do laundry and then down to Little Farmer's to exit into the sound from there on Monday morning. Sophia leaves on Tuesday and we will miss her terribly!
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But today, I went with them to the cave and as always it was a blast. Sophia was fascinated. I already feel better.
It's been very windy but the anchorage in front of Big Major is good. It's blowing from the East. Not too crowded, actually in general pretty empty. Many empty mooring balls in the park. We'll see in Georgetown. Tomorrow we move to Black Point to do laundry and then down to Little Farmer's to exit into the sound from there on Monday morning. Sophia leaves on Tuesday and we will miss her terribly!
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Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Getting warmer
It's stopped blowing from the North so our temperatures have improved, not vastly, but improved. I caught a cold on the trip from Nassau and have been staying in the boat while Juan and Sophia went hiking yesterday and swimming today. I am saving myself for Thunderball Cay!
We leave today in a little while
We leave today in a little while
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Leaving Shroud Cay
Since the winds did not really abate we decided to take a mooring in Shroud hoping it would be more comfortable but we forgot about the swell that comes in through the cut to the ocean and which does not come from the same direction as the wind. So we rolled and rolled. Sophia says she's going to buy herself a crib when she gets home and have art rock her or else she won't be able to sleep. We did the ride through Shroud in the dinghy and it was as beautiful as ever. Only ten to fifteen degrees cooler than it should have been so we only looked at the water!
We got a mooring assignment in Warderick Wells so that's where we are headed. The temperature is a couple of degrees warmer, I am keeping my fingers crossed! I am hoping that at least when we get to Staniel we'll be able to take Sophia snorkeling!
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We got a mooring assignment in Warderick Wells so that's where we are headed. The temperature is a couple of degrees warmer, I am keeping my fingers crossed! I am hoping that at least when we get to Staniel we'll be able to take Sophia snorkeling!
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Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Monday, January 11, 2010
5 hours of waves and high winds
Cay where we hope to give the dinghy some exercise.
Next stop: allen cay
The wind was as strong as forecast if not more. We had a lousy night. Everything creaked and moaned. I was afraid the lines would tear the cleats off the deck! Yesterday we walked around town and were sorry for the tourists in the cruise ships that were wearing shorts and skimpy tops shivering and trying to pretend they were in paradise.
Then we took Sophia to see Atlantis and at least walked indoors!
We left the dock at 10;30, most of the other boats had left but we found a nice French Canadian gentlemen who helped us with the lines. It's still blowing 18 to 20 and the tide is low. It's supposed to die down later today so hopefully we' ll have a good three or four days before the next front.
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Then we took Sophia to see Atlantis and at least walked indoors!
We left the dock at 10;30, most of the other boats had left but we found a nice French Canadian gentlemen who helped us with the lines. It's still blowing 18 to 20 and the tide is low. It's supposed to die down later today so hopefully we' ll have a good three or four days before the next front.
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Sunday, January 10, 2010
Waiting out the storm in Nassau
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Saturday, January 9, 2010
What a difference!
Sophia and I are sitting at the Starbucks in Nassau having cappuccinos and using the internet in shorts, t-shirts, hats and sunglasses! oh bliss! What a difference form freezing in Miami (and they are freezing today).
Crossing all the way to Nassau was the best idea. After the rolly beginning, when the brass lamp over the dining table fell, fortunately not over Sophia who was moaning on the settee, but on the other side, everything was smooth. Our only problem was the navigation light (red and green housing with one lamp) refused to come on so we had to improvise with a strong flashlight inside it and lots of tape. The problem was the batteries went dead every two hours but it coincided with the change of watch.
Nassau harbour was not as full as we expected, we arrived in the marina at 3:30 but many boats arrived after that. We had never done customs and immigration in Nassau and it was fine, they came to our boat and in an hour we were legal: we took down our quarantine yellow flag and hoisted our battered Bahamian flag. We definitely need a new one! Sophia rushed to the bathrooms to shower and was sadly disappointed, water came out from only one of the holes in the shower head. A single trickle. She complained to the marina to no avail. They offered a security guard at the door of the men's bathroom where water poured from two of the holes! The shower aboard Faraway, although not as comfortable as Zingaro's, had to do.
Laundry this morning was the same ordeal. Plus we had to fight 57 French Canadian ladies for the machines. Montreal must be empty this weekend, they are all here!!!
While we enjoy the coffee and the internet, Juan is trying to find the reason why the navigation lights are not working by investigating the long line of cables from the panel to the front of the boat. We are more than thankful that was the only event. The engine purred all the way, we gave it a quart of oil today as reward. That is all it consumed! We are keeping our fingers crossed. We might still make it to Brazil!!!
Crossing all the way to Nassau was the best idea. After the rolly beginning, when the brass lamp over the dining table fell, fortunately not over Sophia who was moaning on the settee, but on the other side, everything was smooth. Our only problem was the navigation light (red and green housing with one lamp) refused to come on so we had to improvise with a strong flashlight inside it and lots of tape. The problem was the batteries went dead every two hours but it coincided with the change of watch.
Nassau harbour was not as full as we expected, we arrived in the marina at 3:30 but many boats arrived after that. We had never done customs and immigration in Nassau and it was fine, they came to our boat and in an hour we were legal: we took down our quarantine yellow flag and hoisted our battered Bahamian flag. We definitely need a new one! Sophia rushed to the bathrooms to shower and was sadly disappointed, water came out from only one of the holes in the shower head. A single trickle. She complained to the marina to no avail. They offered a security guard at the door of the men's bathroom where water poured from two of the holes! The shower aboard Faraway, although not as comfortable as Zingaro's, had to do.
Laundry this morning was the same ordeal. Plus we had to fight 57 French Canadian ladies for the machines. Montreal must be empty this weekend, they are all here!!!
While we enjoy the coffee and the internet, Juan is trying to find the reason why the navigation lights are not working by investigating the long line of cables from the panel to the front of the boat. We are more than thankful that was the only event. The engine purred all the way, we gave it a quart of oil today as reward. That is all it consumed! We are keeping our fingers crossed. We might still make it to Brazil!!!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Nassau here we come...
We left the Governor's cut at 11 and a couple of miles into the ocean it was very rolly. 4 to 6 ft waves from the side. Sophia got very dizzy and felt miserable. We had a moment of doubt because we feared the waves would be worse once we got to the Gulf Stream. But as is always the case we went on. And it was good we did because the wind died even more, clocked to the east and the seas flattened.
We reached Bimimi and North Rock at 8, so no light thanks to Fedex (ship UPS), but the banks were flat, flat, flat. We had a peaceful night, Sophia slept and Juan and I took turns keeping watch. With the sunrise we entered the tongue of the ocean, also flat. As I write we are passing the Berries on starboard and are heading to Nassau. Sophia is taking navigation lessons from Dad.
The morning is glorious and it will be mid 70s! I can hardly believe it!
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We reached Bimimi and North Rock at 8, so no light thanks to Fedex (ship UPS), but the banks were flat, flat, flat. We had a peaceful night, Sophia slept and Juan and I took turns keeping watch. With the sunrise we entered the tongue of the ocean, also flat. As I write we are passing the Berries on starboard and are heading to Nassau. Sophia is taking navigation lessons from Dad.
The morning is glorious and it will be mid 70s! I can hardly believe it!
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Thursday, January 7, 2010
Off we go
At seven Juan was standing at the marina office waiting for the packages for which our heroes, joanna and marcos, paid double the overnight fee so that they arrived before 8:30. Leaving earlier meant we could go into Bimini with daylight if we changed our minds about doing an overnight on the banks. Fedex did not arrive until 10 (which was the time it would have arrived without the expedited fee). So we untied from the docks and are now heading to miami beach marina to get fuel and out the governor's cut. The paln is to cross to North rock and go on to Nassau. We already made a reservation at the Nassau Boat Haven because the weekend will be very windy (up to 30kts) and we don't have to fend off boats at Nassau harbour like the last time! There is a very, very light breeze so hopefully the crossing should be good. I am more nervous about the crossing because we have Sophia with us, but she isn't. She's happy that we are finally on our way.
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Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Cold and undocumented!
As we were filling in the form to get the Custom's decal, Juan started looking for the boat's documents and Oh Surprise! we did not find them! All we had was a copy of the insurance policy. We turned the boat upside down and nothing. So we asked poor Joanna to go to Annapolis, look through our files and scan some of the documents and send them via UPS same day today. We also asked Marcos to go to Annapolis to get a copy of the Maryland Natural Resources document, which he has done and send them same day to us. They are both our heroes!
We will wait for the documents to arrive and leave tomorrow probably at midday, go through North Rock instead of Cat Cay and continue on to Chubb. But since all our plans have been thwarted so far, we will see what happens.
The alternator has a new harness and regulator and it looks fine. I hope all the gremlins got frozen in this weather and will leave us alone.
Temperatures in Miami have reached record lows.
We will wait for the documents to arrive and leave tomorrow probably at midday, go through North Rock instead of Cat Cay and continue on to Chubb. But since all our plans have been thwarted so far, we will see what happens.
The alternator has a new harness and regulator and it looks fine. I hope all the gremlins got frozen in this weather and will leave us alone.
Temperatures in Miami have reached record lows.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Tow Boat UsTo the rescue
Yesterday was our last day at the marina so today, as soon as it was a little bit warmer we left our slip. We took with us Fernando, Blue Phoenix's crew member who was left behind. We were going to get diesel at Crandon Marina, and then sail on to No Name Harbor where we will wait for the weather. On Thursday we may have a small window (hatch rather) to cross to the Bahamas.
It was really windy and when we got to Crandon they had no diesel, so we did not have to embarrass ourselves trying to tie to the fuel dock.
As we turned around and started motoring out in the channel, Sophia who was sitting at the companion way, said there was a really bad smell. When Juan opened the engine he found the alternator cables melting and full of sparks, luckily no flames yet. He shut down the engine and all the electronics, opened a sliver of the genoa and started back towards Rickenbacker.
They left me at the helm and went down to look at the damage. I was supposed to get to the next red marker, which I did and then although I did warn them I had reached it, they were too busy to listen to me. I had no chartplotter and no depth sounder, and sure enough went aground, really bad. The wind and waves were pushing us towards the shallows so no amount of sail would get us out. So I did what I do best, I called tow boat us. As I was talking to the attendant, a gust of wind blew my membership card away. Thankfully I had already given her my membership number so I asked her to repeat it back to me and to please mail some replacements.
Tow boat US arrived and pulled out us, not without difficulty, Far Away is heavy. Once freed, they took the alternator off the engine and we motored back to the marina. Docking was another adventure, the wind was really strong and it was a struggle, I dropped the pole in the water but we recovered it (definitely not my day).
Juan ordered the harness and asked that it be delivered next day.
PS: As I was posting this Juan went into the marina office and collected the package!! The weather is still disgusting we'll see what happens.
It was really windy and when we got to Crandon they had no diesel, so we did not have to embarrass ourselves trying to tie to the fuel dock.
As we turned around and started motoring out in the channel, Sophia who was sitting at the companion way, said there was a really bad smell. When Juan opened the engine he found the alternator cables melting and full of sparks, luckily no flames yet. He shut down the engine and all the electronics, opened a sliver of the genoa and started back towards Rickenbacker.
They left me at the helm and went down to look at the damage. I was supposed to get to the next red marker, which I did and then although I did warn them I had reached it, they were too busy to listen to me. I had no chartplotter and no depth sounder, and sure enough went aground, really bad. The wind and waves were pushing us towards the shallows so no amount of sail would get us out. So I did what I do best, I called tow boat us. As I was talking to the attendant, a gust of wind blew my membership card away. Thankfully I had already given her my membership number so I asked her to repeat it back to me and to please mail some replacements.
Tow boat US arrived and pulled out us, not without difficulty, Far Away is heavy. Once freed, they took the alternator off the engine and we motored back to the marina. Docking was another adventure, the wind was really strong and it was a struggle, I dropped the pole in the water but we recovered it (definitely not my day).
Juan ordered the harness and asked that it be delivered next day.
PS: As I was posting this Juan went into the marina office and collected the package!! The weather is still disgusting we'll see what happens.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Stuck in Key Biscayne
Faraway has two new winches, three new injectors, a new belt (and two spares) for the autopilot, and the alternator has been fixed. All of this was ready by the afternoon of December 31st. The two days when the weather was perfect for crossing were the 30th and the 31st and we missed them. after that it's been very windy and cool, even tied at the marina the boat rolls and shakes all night.
Our one month contract expires today so tomorrow morning we are moving to No Name Harbor to wait for a weather window that could arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. We shall see. In the meantime we have been going for walks and having wonderful meals.
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Our one month contract expires today so tomorrow morning we are moving to No Name Harbor to wait for a weather window that could arrive on Wednesday or Thursday. We shall see. In the meantime we have been going for walks and having wonderful meals.
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Saturday, January 2, 2010
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