32 23N 64 41W

Osprey
John Bowering
Sat 10 Nov 2007 12:06
Saturday 10th November

Apologies to everyone for the delay in updating the web page and thanks to
all those who have phoned, sent emails or contacted the Bermudan and US
authorities to check on our well being. All the messages were received and
Skips message to Bermuda radio had them chasing us for contact early Friday
morning.

There is no doubt that whilst we were always safe, we had some difficulties
with the passage of the first front. Prior to its arrival we checked the
boat thoroughly and rigged the storm jib on the cutter stay. We also
switched to our full fuel tank so there was no possibilities of fuel
airlocks during its passage. We then continued under about 45% mainsail and
30 % genoa with the storm jib sitting in its ready position. The front
arrived with alarming suddenness and we went from cruising at 6 knots to
hurtling along at 11.5 in the blink of an eye and the seas built rapidly. We
then found that we could not reef the main and unknown to us at the time the
foil on the main reefing gear had fractured. We decided to retain the genoa
also to keep some balance in the boat and of course the storm jib on the
cutter stay. Osprey was badly overpowered for the conditions and at one
point we were traveling at 12.2 knots in 48 knots of wind with gust in
excess of 50 knots. Osprey is a wonderful rough weather boat and sat on the
starboard tack with the lee rail just buried and romped through it.
Nevertheless with the excess sail we were nervous that we might get knocked
down by stray gust from the wrong direction and we both stayed on top of
situation as best we could. Darkness was in some respects a blessing as
although the seas can be heard they cannot be seen. Mostly we were on manual
steering as the loads on the autopilot were very high. Jonathan is an
excellent helmsman and with here long keel and Brewer bite Osprey is very
stable to steer. There was a point where we realized that even if we wanted
too we could not get the genoa off the boat in the current wind conditions
without luffing and risking a broach - so it stayed with us throughout. At
dawn the following morning the seas were truly awesome but the front passed
through shortly afterwards and dropped to a steady 25 - 30 knots when we
were able to resume our true course for Bermuda. One of the for'd dorades
had leaked quit badly through the blank and air vents so we had some wet
cushions in the saloon. Similarly the dorade in the main head had also
leaked but not as badly. At about 0830 we tried the autopilot again even
though the loads were still quit high and the control arm to the rudder
stock snapped. Tells something of the pressure as this arm is a casting six
inches long and 2 inches thick - it connects he autopilot ram to the rudder
stock. We were now going to be on manual steering until we got to Bermuda
and decided to work two hours on and two hour off. We both slept in the
cockpit whilst off watch so as to be available to assist the helmsman.
Jonathan as ever continued to produce food even though the galley was by now
looking like a battlefield.

The wind and seas dropped and we managed to get the main reefed by turning
the upper and unbroken section of the foil by hand and then preceded under
genoa and storm jib. The wind stayed at 20 to 25 knots but progressively
moved to the north so we were able to get on a run for St George. Boat speed
held up at 9 knots and we were now romping along albeit with progressively
tired crew on the wheel. A minor front was due through at 1600 with 20-25
knot wind forecast. This turned out to be an understatement as by 1900 we
were in 45 plus knot winds again and with a large following seas. We removed
the storm jib which is not much use on a run and continued under our ever
faithful genoa reefed to about 35%. We were again in the 12 knots speed
bracket. We had several discussions about whether this sail would hold up
under the pressure but it performed faultlessly throughout. We recoded 54
knots of wind on the navionics.

At dawn the sees were again awesome and we guessed they were in the 25 to
thirty foot bracket and were surfing down them with great acceleration. By
lunchtime the seas were spreading our and starting to break and managing the
helm when footing off, though not difficult, required a lot of concentration
and the crew were tiring. Forecast was good with the wind remaining north to
north east and dropping to 20 - 25 knots. This proved correct and although
the seas remained high the wind was dropping progressively. One of the most
fascinating (unnerving) aspects of big following seas is the sound of them
approaching - its just like an express train coming up on you - then you are
in a high speed lift followed by a surf down the front of the wave.

We decided to stay well clear of Bermuda until dawn as Bermuda is a
notoriously difficult approach and surrounded by reefs on the north and
north east quadrants. The wind continued to ease and about 0400 we started
the engine to motorsail for the St George channel and get in as soon as
possible after daylight. We arrived off Bermuda at 0700 to find Bermuda
radio chasing us as a result of Skips message. We also found that a number
of yachts had been in trouble. Jent turned right before the front and
bypassed Bermuda heading direct for Antigua. Lions Whelp had had a rough
time of it also and had been on our port quarter all the time though well
out of site and radio. She had come close in during the night and was 30
minutes ahead of us at the customs berth in St George. Our Chart plotters
had given up the ghost during the night which as they are a brand new
installation was very annoying. We used hand held GPS for position as we
approached the St George channel and the entry into the sheltered deep green
waters of St George channel was absolutely stunning. Lions Whelp was on the
customs berth and gave us a great cheer as we pulled in and Bermuda Radio
chattered away as if we were old friends. They are a very efficient and busy
service.

We cleared customs with no difficulty and PYS, god bless them, had arranged
for their local engineer to be on hand and spares were already in the air to
fix our autopilot, plotters and furling main sail. Osprey was inundated with
visitors through the day and we were glad to finally get to bed early.
Jonathan at the time of writing has been asleep for 14 hours!!

We will post some photo's over the weekend.