ONE OF THE BIG SHIPS GOING BY
Total miles sailed so far=5,669 nm .(in miles-6523)
Miles sailed over past 3-days=424 nm (in miles-487)
Day-40.
24hr.Run=154 nm. Pos. Lat.30*08′ N. Long. 118* 45′ W.
Weather: Wind=15-35 kts. N. Seas=10-18 feet. Speed=7 kts.
Cabin temp.=64*. Bar=1016 mb. down 4-mb Course=130 T.
The Rest of the Story.
Today finds us in deteriorating conditions. The gale is moving upon us, approaching down the coast from California. The amazing thing is that I have listened to numerous May Days off the California coast and messages from US Coast Guard that Epirbs have been set off by various boats. Much of this is happening before the “Gale” reaches Sailors Run.
Today the “Gale” engulfs us. I’m running a reefed main and genoa about 50% rolled out and it has become to much. I scramble on deck and role the Genoa all the way in, so now we have just the main up and slip below to have my morning coffee. Soon I decide to have my shower a once every 5-days event. The main reason being that a large wave had broken over the stern of Sailors Run filling the cockpit and drenching me to the skin.
Once out of the shower the likes of which no human being would except ashore I feel refreshed and great. I sit with my coffee cup in hand and realize this is not working as I’m rounding up in the gusts of 35 knots and the staysail needs to go up to Give Sailors Run Balance. “Shit” I’m clean and dry and once again must venture top side. I strip to just my jockey shorts as I’m running out of dry alternative clothing and pop on my mustang suit.
Once on deck I hoist the stay sail increasing our speed to way to much, then drop the main all the way down. Now we have a manageable sail plan for the Gale Force conditions.
Once below I watch our boat speeds and even though we are hitting 11.5 kts surfing down the larger waves for the most part it looks do able. The really cool thing is after all this time out on deck I never got hosed down by a huge breaking wave, and many were lurking about.
Just Getting there El Jefe’.
Day-41.
24hr.Run=137 nm. Pos. Lat.28*40’N. Long. 116*55’W.
Weather: Wind= N.25-35 kts. Seas=10-18ft .Speed 6-kts
Course=124*T Cabin Temp at 7 am=62* Bar: 1015 mb. down 1 mb.
The Rest of the Story.
This day we sailed under stay sail alone for the entire day, and simply enjoyed a great sail in pretty heavy seas. Dinner was a tuna sandwich and I have found I prefer the Spam fried up with breakfast rather than for dinner. Nothing broke so little to report about on this day.
Just rolling down the Baja Coast El Jefe’.
Day-42.
24hr.Run: 133 nm. Pos. Lat.27*16’N Long.115*00′. N.
Weather=12-25 kts. From North. Seas=8-10 feet N. Speed =6kts
Course=127*T. Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*.Bar:1012 mb. Down 3 mb.
The Rest of the Story.
Today I switched up to the Genoa from the stay sail as winds were down a little and decided to leave the main down as I was sailing deep to maintain my course and the main would have blanked the Genoa setting into motion a bunch of uncomfortable sounds that make getting rest below tough.
I had been in my bunk about 1-hour when the AIS-Alarm went off. I struggled to escape my dream world for what ever was to come next.
I got up staggering around the cabin to get myself in front of the AIS. The alarm was a-bit more alarming than usually as I had two ships approaching from the South on my starboard side and three ships coming up astern from the North. The ship that triggered the alarm was 8-miles out doing 16 kts and appears that he will run me down. Fortunately, we are going the same direction so I still have 42-minutes to live.
I grab the VHF radio mike and hail the named vessel and after several minutes he answers. I say,that it looks like we are going to be passing very close,”Do you see me?” There is a pause and he comes back, Yes, I see you and will be passing on your starboard side. I question starboard side as I know there are already two ships there and they will be within three miles of me and there is nobody on my port side. Now, we have yet another pause, then at last he says “Oh” I see more clearly now I will pass you on the port side. I say,
“Thank you and I will maintain my course” as I have little choice being in the center of a BaHa Coast Sandwich. It all went down well and the 800 ft cargo vessel passed one mile to port of me.
These last miles seem to be proving to be very challenging.
Trying to just get in safely, El Jefe’.