s/v Talmid NC to Bermuda
Captain’s Log
| Jul 19 | 08:58 | 2 hours motoring (fini) on the Cape Fear River. Cleared local shoaling, Bald Head and Shipping Channel. Now on a full sail reach. |
| 09:24 | NC coastline recedes. Emerald green Sea. 2 bars on LTE. Having last internet fix for awhile 😉 Will clear Frying Pan Shoals soon. | |
| 10:46 | Cool to see, from this perspective, a jet contrail from a route we fly from FL to Dixon NB by Wilmington NC. | |
| 11:59 | Layzing along on a broad run after turning the corner. 665 mm to go. Do I put on the gybe preventer or do I have lunch? Hmm, eat now. | |
| 14:15 | Departing the last shallow 45′ contour of the Frying Pan. Deeper water and the Gulf Stream beyond. Low clouds mark the current. | |
| 16:31 | As compared to big deck angles on all previous. Today the boat has been mostly flat. Some very mild rolling, natch. | |
| 16:41 | Big Dolphin just did a swim-by. Didn’t linger long enough for the photo op. Try again Other signs of life: the occasional Jelly Fish, | |
| 17:03 | Picked up a hiker. Smallest of birds. Must have jumped ship. Long narrow beak not equipped for fish. Is resting on a porthole sill. | |
| 18:55 | Sargasso colonies increase. Nice contrast against a very deep blue cobalt. The wind is blowing with the stream so wave action small. | |
| 20:53 | Crossing the shelf at this time. Depth goes from avg. 150′ to 900+ real quick. Depth Sounder maxed out so switched it off | |
| Jul 20 | 09:09 | Left the core current behind. It was tricky finding a crab angle so as not to be pushed North. Residual eddies going every which way |
| 11:21 | Sails would slat each time she rolled. Doused headsail. Most annoying ride quality. Need more wind to pin boat heel angle. Transderm. | |
| 14:55 | Ride Improved shortly after previous rant. Wind bump. Deep water. Bright clear day. | |
| 17:23 | Max Prop is freewheeling. Not supposed to. Speed penalty with Drag. Will dive on it in safe harbor. Meantime will leave trans in gear | |
| 17:41 | Beam on big swells that obscure horizon when down in the trough. Occasionally with luck of timing the boat surf rides briefly. Yehaw | |
| 21:24 | Westerly at night, so on a broad run with full main but only a small bit of jib exposed for some stability. Main blankets otherwise | |
| Jul 21 | 02:38 | Unchanged conditions thru the early morning darkness. Checking course, speed, wind and sail setting. Chart says water depth 17,000′ |
| 05:38 | Tropical air very humid. Good flow thru the open companion way but it’s making everything feel damp. | |
| 05:43 | Action is from behind. Qtr following seas have been building and overtaking. Canoe stern cleaves nicely but not without occnl spray. | |
| 07:26 | Watching a cumulonimbus passing me by. Closest, on the Radar scan was 3 miles to Starboard. Resuming normal nav. | |
| 12:10 | Mighty massive waves in sets coming through every few minutes. Impressive sight. | |
| 12:47 | ditto puffy white clouds marching by some of them gray with moisture but no sprinkles. Daydreaming | |
| 13:07 | Cockpit dry but power all around with geysers of spray. Only a matter of time a rogue smacks upside the hull and I get pooped upon:-) | |
| 16:16 | Inside the cabin is dry sanctuary and quiet. However, most seat cushions have flung themselves toward the center of the boat. Me too | |
| 20:45 | Best place to stand right now is on companionway steps sheltered by the Dodger. Spray across cockpit is a shock surprise | |
| 20:49 | When boat meets crest the breaking water up top is displaced by hull and spray is accelerated. Makes a wicked high pressure hissss | |
| 21:13 | Galley stove crashing hard against its gimbal stops. Had to lash it down | |
| Jul 22 | 05:39 | Good sailing all during the night and continues into a gray blue morning. Some low stratus. Wave height diminished, as forecast. |
| 16:39 | Rain showers all around bringing desired fresh water rinse off. 180 wind shift associated along with adjusting of sails. Back to it. | |
| 18:29 | The Dinghy jumped its mounts on deck. The safest way when hell breaks loose is to stop the boat. Turned off the route and Hove To | |
| Jul 23 | 09:07 | Put my Yellers on but the fast movers aft skirted 3 miles to the North. |
| 15:31 | This shower activity turns out to be harmless but I have to be man on deck just in case the wind does something fluky. Hasn’t so far. | |
| 19:33 | Entering Bermuda Territorial Water. Gave them my Lat/Lon for tracking. | |
| 20:52 | Land Ho! | |
| Jul 24 | 03:00 | St. George’s Harbor. On anchor safely. |
| 18:40 | Fixin’ to bust outa here tomorrow. I like St. George’s. Touristas go to Hamilton? Ate Indian, bought Scones. Looking ahead to NC | |
| Bermuda to Bermuda | A False Start | |
| Jul 25 | 14:52 | Sailing day rainy and wet. Discovered small pool on cabin sole which gets your attention Forgot to close leeward sink drain seacock |
| 19:12 | Hand steered 3 successive rain squalls out the backside of the weather to see sailors Red Sky. I’m delighted | |
| Jul 26 | 02:22 | Excessive spaghetti batch lasting noon and night but definitely not for breakfast. Ragu counts as a veg. Right? |
| 08:26 | A ship! on the horizon. The Lowlands Boreas — destination Becancour | |
| 15:14 | Drama on the High Sea! Discovered a problem with the Rig that should be seen to now rather than later. All safe. Not to be concerned | |
| 15:17 | There is always breakage on a trip like this. Demanding conditions. I carry spares and tools as needed. | |
| 15:22 | But sometimes it’s beyond scope. Experts in Bermuda will put things right so that’s the plan. | |
| 15:23 | It’s like Groundhog Day (the movie). Back to Bermuda! | |
| 20:01 | On deck, twilight, sea calm. Life isn’t a bowl of cherries. However full disclose. I am eating some Washington St. cherries rightnow | |
| Jul 27 | 13:43 | Nice little Thundershower welcome at the gate. Decided to delay slightly to allow passage. All clear now in the entry channel. |
| 14:24 | In harbor. Customs Dock next. We will just pretend the last 3 days never happened;-) | |
| Bermuda to NC | Returning (part 2) | |
| Aug 5 | 18:00 | Bermuda is below the horizon now but for awhile I could still make out the gleaming white hulls of cruise ships on the West End. |
| 18:03 | Sailing close hauled on port tack. Winds 10. Few clouds around. Seas 2′. Hatches open. | |
| Aug 6 | 05:59 | Very early hours brought rain squalls w/ distant lightning all quads. Shortened sail as the wind pipes up as you might imagine. |
| 11:50 | Sunshine finally. Wind shifted South which allows a beam reach point of sail. Basically the deck stays flatter. Less exertion. | |
| 15:53 | The wind is now < 10. Team Talmid expects the wind to be light overnight a change of pace from the last 12 hrs of [storm] endurance | |
| 19:15 | Oh glorious sunset. Didn’t get one yesterday because of clouds. Wind 5 and wrong direction. Battery charging soon so will run diesel. | |
| Aug 7 | 03:58 | Peaceful night exception: lone Cell with LTCG upon arrival. Played dodgem as much as that’s possible at 4 kits. Cleared by 1 mile. |
| 08:15 | Clear sky. Actual smooth sailing. (ignore cliche). Breeze came with sunup. Cook today’s main meal now while on a relatively even keel | |
| Aug 8 | 10:42 | Seems like the day begins with a squall at 03:30 Must jump to and manage sails and steering. Wind waves persist. |
| 10:44 | The least little task such as teeth brushing requires serious effort. Something’s just get postponed. | |
| 10:47 | Big deck angle and lee rail down. Scupper in the water frequent — and that’s with double reefed mainsail. Heavy spray. | |
| 10:50 | Respite. Came through that last band of weather for a glimmer of sunshine. It was hands on but now Talmid is managing on her own. Ahh | |
| Aug 9 | 07:17 | No progress last 12 hrs. Minor breakages required McGiver fixes. Fatigue in the end and decided to heave to. Wind died in the night |
| 07:19 | Took care of loose ends after resting this morning and now back underway. Time for breakfast | |
| 09:35 | Two ships in as many hours. The latest an 800′ tanker, the Nevskiy Prospect, heading for Freeport. Cleared 14 miles astern. | |
| 10:16 | This is more like it. Wind shifted in the early hrs. NNW 5-10. Sea 1-2′. Beam reaching AND in the right direction. Having peace. | |
| 11:29 | Becoming adept at reaching in arms length and blind to locate and withdraw the dip stick. Plus reinsert without losing it into bilge. | |
| 20:05 | Inside the USA’s Exclusive Economic Zone. Approx. 200 nm to the Frying Pan Shoals. Gotta time this so as not to arrive at midnight. | |
| Aug 10 | 08:15 | Very light wind in the night and continuing. Enough to keep steerage but not click off the miles. This helps with a daylight arrival. |
| 08:28 | Now the trick is to allow for the affect of the Gulf Current. Team Talmid predicts the NE core band @ 2.5 knots in a day’s time. | |
| 08:30 | I know that there is a formula calculation for wind/current drift. Don’t want to undershoot or overshoot for that matter. | |
| 17:34 | Wind variable mostly calm. Sea flat and glass mirror like at times. Looks like a lake environment except for the sets of lazy swells. | |
| 17:38 | Motoring SW to take adv. of .8 knot current eddy (thanks Team Talmid) and position for SW wind expected tomorrow. See how it playsout | |
| Aug 11 | 05:55 | Last full day at sea. Will wait for sunrise to see the wind stabilize and then change course to suit. Slow but steady motoring. |
| 09:14 | The VHF crackles to life. An early sign of return to the continent | |
| 11:42 | 95 nm course made good in last 24 hours | |
| 14:52 | In the Gulf Stream crossing. Wind and Current aligned so not too bad of a ride. | |
| 20:33 | Took in some more headsail before light lost. 20 knots expected and the lee rail was frequently dipping. | |
| 20:35 | Gulf Stream surface air temps warm. No on deck sweatshirt needed tonight | |
| 22:54 | Cleared a NY bound tanker by .8 nm. Exciting because I crossed his path in front with 2 options. Turn away or full speed ahead! | |
| Aug 12 | 07:16 | That line of thunderstorms, as anticipated finally made the scene. Tacked away as they drew close but did not completely escape rain. |
| 07:22 | So, last night you could say was dodge and cover | |
| 07:24 | Breakfast time while waiting for a wind. | |
| 15:29 | Now inside the USA’s Contiguous Zone | |
| 19:36 | Crossing the 12 mile Territorial Limit. Yellow Q flag hoisted. | |
| 22:24 | land [clearing throat] LAND HO | |
| Aug 13 | 01:19 | In the Southport Channel. Won’t be long now |
| 02:24 | Talmid is in her berth, secure. I’m headed for my bunk, safe. |