Bermuda
Calema
Sat 5 Apr 2003 21:59
We arrived in Bermuda on Wenesday afternoon which
was 9 days after leaving Anguilla - a trip which should have taken 7-8 days. We
were unfortunately delayed by about 40hrs by the sudden arrival of a cold front
when we only had 60 miles to run on Monday night. While running along
under jib alone in 25 knots of S wind, the wind suddenly increased to 40-45
knots and veered through 180 degrees to N with horizontal rain - a classic cold
front. We had been expecting it but were hoping it would be slightly less sudden
and after we had got in! With that sort of wind on the nose the only thing to do
was heave to (which meant putting up the main with 3 reefs and the storm jib -
we had to convince ourselves that increasing sail was really sensible). It was
pitch black of course and significantly bumpy and moist. The first job was
finding the oilskins which had not been seen since Portugal! Once hove to,
Calema settled down with the wind 70-80 degrees off the bow. Very little water
then came over the deck and a good nights kip was had by all.
The next morning saw a reduction in wind down to
30knots but with building seas from the N. Attempts a beating in to it were
fruitless so the more patient Teg made me see the sense in remaining hove to and
not losing ground (infact we lost 16 miles to leeward in the entire 26hrs hove
to). A good lunch and a bottle of wine seemed the only sensible option and
allowed the slothing genes to kick in for a bit longer. By late I was getting
stir crazy but the Bermuda forecast was for a reducing and backing wind the next
day. Infact by 2200 that night the wind had reduced significantly and we were
able to motor sail on course until the wind finally backed and enabled us to
sail the last 20 miles on a cracking reach into St Georges.
How do you like the colour of our storm
sail?
We have now moved to Hamilton from St Georges and
are enjoying the luxuries of being tied up at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club which
is right in the middle of town. Had a great sushi night on Thursday and were
royally entertained by the Kempes last night. Maybr it will be marmite sarnies
tonight - maybe. The hospitality is tremendous and the service and facilities
(and cost) a complete contrast to everything we have experienced in the
Carribean. We manged a day on a moped today and have not got gravel rash to show
for it.
We plan to stay here until Monday then head back to
St Georges to clear customs and head out for the Azores on
Tuesday.