The next few adventures at sea

Ppariso
Thu 11 Oct 2007 13:13
So, in the end we did leave Palma that evening, and just before we
left we realized we had sustained a bit more damage to the boat than
previous thought - no port van light!! Hmmm, seems it went missing.
So off to the marina office to put in a damage claim and voila, two
new nav lights - result.

So, out we go (Liz doing her skippering passage) and in complete
command of our pilotage out .. Quickly we discovered the starboard nav
light isnt working!! Tim up front trying to sort it out .. sun down
and well, you get the picture.

All sorted, sails up and we are off again straight to Malta!! There
are a few sginificant things from this leg:

FIrst, shipping. Doing a Channel crossing in nothing!! Loads of
room and no traffic compared to what we have seen. Liz and I were
all tucked up in our bunks, happily sleeping away, when Liz hears (and
it sinks in) there might be a problem as she is awoken to hearing Tim
(skipper) saying to a member of crew - the collison flare, the white
flare by the nav station!!! WHAT?! Liz out of bed, grab the flare,
up the companionway to see a very large container ship literally
sideways behind us (trying to complete an avoidance turn) about 200m
(yes meters) off!! Rather close I would say - See the whites of their
eyes!!

At one point during the day, we had a smaller container ship holding
slighty more boat speed that us, creeping up on us from our starboard
side, over many miles (and hours). As he got closer, we determined
that within the next mile or so, he would in fact hit us.

So, on the radio I go, hailing the container ship approximate
location, asking what his interntions are?! I was very polite and
proper. Promise. NO response, A second call .. then finally, he
responded. He was nice, a bit cross at being disturbed but nice.
Our dialogue as follows: Ship to me: What is your final
destination? And what are your intentions? My response: We are
headed for Malta, steering a course if 110 degress, and we have no
intention of altering our course. Ship to me: Oh, well then I will
come to port, you go slightly to starboard and cross my bow?! WHAT?
Me to ship: Do you have enough room for that? (He was about 600m off
our starboard aft quater). So, popped my head up asking if Tim was
okay with that .. clearly he wasnt but it was that, do a quick jibe
(and the preventor was on), or be run over. So, ship came to port, we
went to starboard and crossed his bow!! job done!

Next was the evening of the storm - we had been chasing storms all day
and had managed to miss them, but this one - NO! full on, 40 knots
plus and shipping traffic all around, all desperate to get away from
the little sail boat trucking along. Liz and I did a 13 hours stint
on deck!! That was after being up most of the day not napping during
out off watch time. At one point in the evening, we had 15 ships
within a 10 mile radius!! busy!!

Liz took a massive dunking at 4am on one watch!! She up on bow (having
jkust gotten on deck for her watch start), TIm driving and managing to
find every possible wave to drive straight through - needless to say
Liz was a wee bit cross with Tim by the time she got to the back of
the boat!! So glad I was sleeping for that one!

Oh, and lastly it should be mentioned that quite early into this leg,
the entire port side pulpit stanshion sheered offf!! Nice, the entire
port side guard rail was compromised!! Fantastic!!

So, we are now in Malta, safe and sound and effecting repairs! The
entrance to the harbour is dramatic! The place is buried in history.
Our berth over looks the water way and the old city. Gorgeous! We
are land based for the next week - doing two coastal races and a
training day with Middle Sea Race starting wek next.

Will send the next installment soon.