Turned South, had nice 30 mile sail
Sowell Family's Travels on Gijima
Skipper: Tim Sowell Admiral Tracy Crew Sean & Alex
Wed 10 Feb 2010 03:39
After an ideal evening, at 2 am the westerly winds picked up to 25+ lucky we
were in a good anchorage this time, so we only had wind noise no fetch to
give us chop, so the boys and Tracy woke but went back to sleep. On one of
my checks (it is weird how you become attuned to noises or unusual noises
and wake up ) at 2.30 am I was checking and watched a neighbor drag out to
the channel, I surprised in this as this was good sand bottom and only 16
feet so he should have set. Well he picked up his anchor and decided to
leave, and I went back to bed (knowing my anchor was set as I had seen it
dig in).
Tracy and I rose to wind still blowing and a decision to continue north for
another 50 miles or say we have come far enough for this trip, and start
heading back at leisurely rate so the kids can have time on the beach, with
the wind and forecast we decided to go south, head back to Partida Island, a
30 mile run. The wind stayed up for the first 10 miles and then collapsed
and spent the next 2 hours switch between nothing and every direction, so we
were back to motor sailing. Arriving at the next bay down from Grande a very
deep gorge bay, with a nice set of beaches white sand at the end. We dropped
in 16 feet light green water, and proceeded to get to the beach on a still
afternoon, ideal for swimming and collecting fish skeletons. This island is
hard to beat each bay is different, each dramatic with the steep hills on
the side and clear water, with red rocks around it.
We continued to have issues with the auto pilot it works for hours then
looses it for a couple of minutes but causes a major directional shift, and
usually a 360, this started after Carbo, but it is rare but annoying, I have
been noticing the compass seems to become less accurate then we lose it, so
I spent time today and plan to spend time tomorrow focusing on diagnosing
the issue, I have two flux compasses and it does not seem to them, as it
happens with both, so now we start playing, I have a theory which we will
test tomorrow.
Our plan is to keep back tracking for another 2 days down to the Giggle
Marlin" where we will stop for a day and prepare for the crossing to main
land, this will be the first overnighter for the family so it is a bit of
deal.