The Story Continues (Chapter can't remember.)
Ariel
Thu 3 Aug 2006 04:54
Hi Chris,Sarah,Evan,Dean,Jo,Van,Gran and Pa,
We left Rarotonga Harbour (attempted I should say)at around 2.30pm Saturday
8/7,but it was the most procrastinated departure we have had.I think it took
us better than two hours by the time we were finally in a state of order and
sailing off towards Niue.
We had two stern lines to bring aboard,four fenders,two anchors-one which
refused to come up and a dinghy with motor.I thought this would all be no
problem,so as soon as we looked half organised I headed out of the Harbour
into the sloppy sea-a mistake not likely to repeat.Storing all the gear took
quite a while and finding a new spot for the newly employed second anchor
took a while to sort out.Getting the dinghy on board proved to be real fun
and games in the sloppy sea and the wind blowing the inflatable
everywhere..So something that should have taken about an hour,turned into a
very uncomfortable 2.5 hours,with everyone worn out and Frank
seasick(another victim for Horizontal's trophy cabinet)-the start of a long
sustained disposition that continues on our way to Fiji as I start to update
this diary.
The sail to Niue took us five days but due to our after dark arrival my
first attempt at going into the "Harbour" and picking up a mooring was
aborted so we spent the night off shore.But more of that latter.
The trip to Niue was highlighted by no wind,a storm and Beveridge Reef,which
we should have stayed at in hind-sight.One of the last second decisions
pressured by schedule and the looming darkness,which I incorrectly thought
would beat us to the entrance.
Our second day out from Raro was welcomed with some freshening winds finally
after spending many hours motor/sailing in light conditions.And did we get
more than we bargained for!
Initially the breeze started off at about 15 knots which had us making very
good time.It slowly built to about 20 knots which required us to put one
reef(reduce) in the mainsail.The breeze was from the SE but a squall the
first of three or four came in from the SW.This caused the mainsail to gybe
from the starboard side of the boat to the port.only problem being we had a
preventer to stop such an eventuality.So here we are merrily sailing on our
course with the boom stuck on the wrong side of the boat and me not being
able to release the preventer (which was the boom vang re-located.)I wasn't
sure what the heck I could do,so I decided to go back to the cockpit and
grab a knife(which you should always carry,)so I could cut the preventer to
let the boom go across.Before the braincells could get the legs going the
tie holding the preventer snapped and the boom flung across to the other
side with no further damage.
This was not to last of course as the wind swung back again and we had to go
back onto a broad reach port side-so another (controlled) gybe.
The wind continued to strengthen during in the day so another reef was in
order and just as things seem to be settling down a little,we were all below
deck staying out of the cold wind and heavy rain coming from behind, which
made the cockpit area unpleasant,when the boat lurched to port as another SW
squall came through.This time a lot stronger.The boat rounded up with the
preventer stopping the boom coming across and completely stalled the boat,so
we had no steerage.As the braincells stalled also contemplating the
situation (should I put the motor on to get steerage?should I cut the
vang?)-this indecision was just what was need,before two neurons could
ignite a spark between themselves the boom-vang block broke and over the
boom went to port side again!Very fortunately it was just the block and not
the boom or gooseneck that broke.
I had Sebastian tie the boom-vang block back onto the mast and we were back
in order again keeping our record intact of at least one breakage per week.
The wind swung back again to the SE and started to strengthen and gave the
impression it would come in even harder so I decided to pull the mainsail
completely down and reef the genoa further-just in case.Not long after the
wind came up to about 35 knots and more rain,with gusts substantially
higher.The sea built up a bit with one particularly nasty wave that must
have had our name on it that came over the top of the cabin,knocking us
sideways and substantially on our ear.It wasn't that the sea was that big,so
it was a bet of a surprise,just one of those rogues that you hear about that
caught us at the wrong angle on the side.
The ride was uncomfortable,but this last wave initiated another change in
course, so we headed further off the breeze and away from our rhumb line to
gain a better angle to the waves and an easy motion and angle for the boat
with the wind.We ended up about a bit at right angles to the rhumb line,by
the time morning came with little wind and so another change in course back
towards Beveridge Reef on the way to Niue.
To be Continued next episode.
love bern