Tortola to Bermuda
Tamarisk
Sun 14 May 2006 19:14
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We left Marina Cay at the North end of Tortola at
about 0945 on Thursday 4th May. The five-day forecast we'd bought from
Commander's Weather told us to expect light winds. The GPS told us Bermuda was
831 miles away. We managed to sail most of the first day, tacking a couple
of times to keep clear of Anegada, but were pushed West.
We adopted the same watch system as we used
crossing the Atlantic. After supper, all but Tim go to bed. Penny
does 0000 to 0300, Andy does 0300 and Tim comes back at 0600.
After much talk about Velocity Made Good and fuel
consumption, we decided it would be better to motor-sail direct. And that
was how we carried on for the next five days. In all, we motored for 144 hours.
Every morning we moved fuel from the jerry cans in the cockpit locker
to the main tank and put a mug-full of oil in the engine. Dan of Koshlong
had given us a couple of extra fuel cans before we left Road Town and they
made all the difference. We used 314 litres of diesel. We had 36 left.
We kept going partly because we wanted to get there
but also because there were more depressions coming off the US
coast. We didn't want to get caught a bit short of Bermuda by something
nasty because we'd decided to wallow about for a day or two on the way. As
planned, we talked by SSB to Koshlong, Regina, Wild Alliance and others every
morning. We also updated the diary and checked email via the Sat phone each
day. And, for the first time, got through to Herb for routing advice -
not that there was much to give on this trip. Koshlong had prepared
a 'passage bag' for the children with some sweets and a quiz to open each
day. Having scored pretty badly on their Canadian Quiz, we hit back with a very
cryptic British one sent by email.
We saw one or two other ships and knew (from
listening to Herb) that there were other yachts close by. On a couple of
nights we saw lightning in the distance but none came our way. It rained one
night but was generally dry. The nights got a lot colder as we came North. We've
had to get the duvets out from deep storage.
We caught a couple of barracuda, which we put back,
and then a big Dolphin Fish (no relation to the mammal) that must have been 25lb
and made very good eating. The children played happily together. They did a
little bit of school, watched DVDs and read to each other.
On Wednesday the wind went round to the South and
up to about 20 so we turned the engine off, got the pole out and put the
Hydrovane on. It was great, at times we were surfing down the waves at 9
knots. But it didn't last and the left-over swell gave us uncomfortable
last night.
Bermuda appeared as a few white buildings on the
horizon on Thursday morning. Gradually, it became a long, low fairly green
island, quite built up and neat. We called Bermuda Radio, as you have to,
and provided a whole slew of information about the boat. Regina had got in
on Monday and Leon gave us lots of useful information about getting into St
George's Harbour and booked us a place in Captain Smokes' Marina. As we
came in we saw Aromatic and Scampolo anchored in the harbour.
Now for the impressions of our crew...
Andy writes: Having landed in Antigua, Jack
and I caught a small twin engined Island hopper that would take us to the
BVIs. On route a strange sulphorus smell appeared in the cabin which
the stewardess assured us was caused by volcanic gas from the active volcano on
Montsterrat. After a couple of stops, we arrived at Beef Island at around
eight thirty in the evening. As we crossed the tarmac to the terminal we
were delighted to see a very tanned Tim, Anna and Eddie waving at
us through the window. After clearing customs we carried
our luggage to a small inflatable dingy and were soon crossing a star
lit bay to Tamarisk.
The next day was spent aclimatising. This envolved
swimming on the reef and a short visit to Virgin Gorda to see the famous
'Baths', a beach surrounded by a large group of smooth granite boulders.
The next day we were off. I was a little worried,
not so much about storms and sharks, but more that the threat that sea sickness
would spoil our enjoyment of the trip. Sure-a-enough ten or so hours later
Jack and I were feeling destinctly green and I began to 'feed carrots to
the fish'.
The next day the sickness had gone but all our
engery seemed to have left us and Jack and I spent most
of the day asleep. By day three things had improved considerabley
and both the tiredness and the nausea had began to disappear. Over the
following days we settled in to a rhythm of watches, washing up, reading and
listening intently to Herb's weather and routing advice. As
the days ticked by life slowed down and my stress levels dropped to an
all time low.
What supprised me most of all was the variety of
wildlife we saw in the ocean. Exotic tropics birds, flying fish,
tuna, jelly fish and even a medium sized shark passed by the
boat.
After seven days at sea we finally saw Bermuda and
knew the passage would soon be coming to an end. It was a great feeling to see
land again and I suppose was the climax to a fantastic journey.
Jack, Anna and Eddie were great and even Tim
and Penny behaved themselves most of the time. Now we are making the most of
Bermuda before Jack and I return to the UK on Monday
evening.
 Wild Alliance swing by to say 'good bye' in Marina
Cay
 Skipper and daughter contemplate a windless
ocean
 Andy and the Dolphin Fish
 The children pretend not to
be impressed
 Eddie, Jack and Anna have lunch, of baked
beans... dolphin fish for tea.
 Sailing at last - Andy at the helm
 Eddie and Jack sight land
 Entering St George's Harbour via the Town
Cut
 Andy and Tim with 'anchordrams'
 Brunch on Friday - spot the ones with
hangovers...
Jack adds: Dad got really DRUNK!!!! rum punches do
pack a punch
i had a nice time.
the voyage was long and boreing im glad to be
here.
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