@ Jolly Harbour Wednesday 16th
June 2015
With a reasonable forecast I left
Pamala's dock to clear customs and proceed to St Lucia.
When all that was seen to, and all
goodbyes said, I proceeded to sea. Modified engine driving at approx
3 to 4 knts, and passing the fairway buoy at 12 noon.
It was a very good sailing day, and if
all had have been good with GL I would have been doing 8+ knots. As
it was I was babying the boat, because of the bow planks with Main
and staysail only, and still doing 4 to 5 knts.
I made many checks around and all
seemed to be good until about 1800hrs Approx half way, when I noticed
the bilge pumps were working nearly none stop with a lot of water
coming in. I checked again and noticed water was pouring through the
bottom bow planks, a lot more than before. Putting my head over the
side I checked the planks, and to me they had all moved even further
away from the stem post. This was a bit alarming as I had still had
33 miles to go before reaching shelter behind Guadalupe, this being
the biggest gap between islands, and Atlantic Ocean not Caribbean
Sea. I was trying to keep the boat as upright as I could, easing the
main etc. but the pumps were taking longer and longer until I knew I
would have to use the engine emergency pump as well.
The engine started no problem and I
engaged the pump, this emptied the bilge quickly and as the engine
was only ticking over anyway I left it engaged, which kept the bilges
dry, even though more water was coming in.
Decision
Time.
Should
I turn round and head back to Jolly Harbour or continue. Turning
round would put the bow high and maybe less water would come in, but
could put more stress on the stem not having the planks fastened to
it, ie planks would move away even more! Or should I continue and
hope I can find somewhere to stop and maybe make a fix. I was now
over half way to possible shelter and night time had descended in a
dark murkey haze......I continued.
I
went even slower than before, engine running, charging and bilge pump
on, empty bilges and fully charged batteries, me scared half to death
in case something else happened, like a severe squall or something. I
was now pointing more into the wind and only heeling 10 to 15 deg,
leeway was a lot but that took my speed down to 3 knts prolonging my
agony, its then I noticed the running backstay was making a lot of
noise, the weather one under tension, the dam thing was moving in and
out of the deck, it had come loose as well, but course was good and
would see me behind Guadalupe about 0300 hrs. Thursday. I achieved
all that and when the wind died made for the anchorage at Deshies, I
was a long way offshore and it took another 4 hrs. to get there
arriving at 0600hrs. Very tied and hungry. The engine had been
running all that time since 1830hrs. Approx. the longest time its
ever ran in its life, the last 4 hours it was driving the boat as
well as no wind to help, and that with only 2 pistons in it, makes
you think that. I anchored and went to sleep. Woke up at 1000hrs.
Found I was the other side of the bay and had been dragging the
anchor, noticed some free mooring buoys, recovered anchor and picked
up a buoy. I went ashore and cleared customs had a coffee in a cafe,
got back to the boat and went to sleep again. Woke up at 1400hrs and
put GL into moored up mode, dingy lift, covers and awnings on, wind
generator deployed, solar cells out etc. and read a book until sleepy
then bed.
Friday
19th , survey of
boat to see what I can do with a temp repair here on a mooring. There
is no one to help here, a sleepy little holiday town. Formulated a
plan of action, and work to achieve. All has to be done in the dingy
lashed to the bow, even tested how to do that, went shopping, believe
it or not there is a Spar shop here, so got some supplies and back to
the boat to begin preparing tools needed for the plan.
More coming.
Roy
