Story - Still in Bermuda

Kalandia Web Diary
Bill Peach
Fri 20 May 2011 23:54

Still in Bermuda 20th May 2011

 

We are still in Bermuda although we should have left with the ARC Europe fleet on Wednesday.  It was disappointing to see them go without us.  We belatedly discovered three failed shrouds with several strands broken.  These were not evident at an earlier deck check en route which raises questions as to why several wires of three shrouds (which hold the mast up) should go so suddenly.  Bill thinks it wasn’t suddenly but that the strain on them during the crossing could have stretched them and revealed the breaks.  I feel lucky that we are safely in port and are able to deal with it.  I must say that Discovery Yachts have responded immediately and have got riggers in the UK to make up four replacements.  They are being shipped today but because of the weekend and the fact they have to transit through the US (goodness knows why the shippers can’t send direct to Bermuda) it means they won’t be here till Sunday, then we have to clear them out of customs Monday and with luck and no holdups along the way, the riggers Ocean Sails in St George can put them in place for us to leave on Tuesday night – almost one week behind the rest of the fleet.  We have people coming out to Azores to meet us but I am afraid there may be some hanging around.  I feel sure (although Dick is not) that we will be there in time for his return flight to UK which is on the same day our third lot of crew come out for the last leg.  At least Dick and Bill have hoisted the repaired genoa which is good news.

We also visited Bermuda Radio which monitors and handles all the shipping within a 50 mile radius and saw their set up there.  We were shown round by Aidan (with Danny on duty) who is an ex mariner and North Sea wind farm construction worker from Sunderland.  Aidan says this is by far the best gig he has had in his career.  Technology is a marvellous thing but Danny still gets out of his seat to look through the powerful telescope to check his sightings.  Danny came out 25 years ago and has developed a Bermudian accent.  There are six of them on rotation.  A programme for training up Bermudians for the job is now in place which involves mariner training. 

I have had time to visit Hamilton with neighbours Keith and Stella of the Oyster Ananda. Bermudan business suits for those want to get away from the chinos and blazer uniform is Bermudan shorts two inches above the knee – the colour way is, darker socks than the shorts, which can be any colour (red seems quite popular) and the shirt must be lighter than the shorts and a blazer over that.

I already said what a small world this is.  I met a sailor called John who was coming round looking for book swaps.  He runs a small chartering business in Croabh.  It being near Ardfern, he knew one of my old bosses who retired there. 

A Dutch boat called Fred looks like it heads the fleet.  You can view progress on the Tracker through this web site.

I am including photos of Bermudan a business suit and one of Paul who assists Steve Hollis of Ocean Sails.  Check out all the tin badges he has sewn onto his hat.  He is a character with a great sense of humour.

General info on St George for yachties.  Anchoring is free in the bay (the holding is good in sand) but you can moor up to the Dinghy and Sailing Club (just on your right once you come through the cut) for water and electricity or on the town quay but there is no water there.  You have to check in with customs and they are also situated by the town quay.  They are really welcoming.  Bermuda Radio will monitor your entrance and will talk you through if you are nervous about coming in at night.  They will most likely hail you at a distance of 20 miles or so but you should certainly be in radio contact with them before approaching the reefs which surround the island.

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