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.
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