Day 4 - St. Augustine to Bermuda

5/11/2008 1200 UTC
Position: 31 deg. 8.9' N, 72 deg. 31.2' W
Heading: 85 deg. M
COG: 90 deg. M

Winds: W 15-20 kt
Seas: 8-10 ft. swells from the West

Temp: 80 deg.
BP: 1010 mb

Notes:

Today we tore the boat apart again. Problems with the electrical charging system, but we think we have it figured out. It's a sailboat, so we don't need power, but creature comforts like refrigeration, autopilot and radar are appreciated.

In the afternoon, we launched the cruising chute. 7 knots, surfing to 9-10 in 8 foot seas. We pulled the chute when we saw squalls approaching from the west, double-reefed the main, furled half the genny, and waited. The squall passed mostly to the north; we saw winds around 20 knots, but we escaped the brunt of it.

We had dinner, Scott made a pork stew in the pressure cooker that was phenomenal. He was pissed that we all polluted it with hot sauce. Brownies for dessert. Scott has cooked every meal. No one is complaining.

After dinner, we spotted another squall approaching from the west. Wiley and I geared up in our foulies, furled half the genoa and double-reefed the main. Soon, there was lightning to the north, west and south, rain coming down hard. Visibility reduced to 500 yards, it felt like a movie set, no concept of scale on the 10 foot waves we were riding.

But, the gale winds never materialized. 15 knots gusting 20. We were under-canvassed for the squall, so we let more sail out. Wiley and I were disappointed given our preparation. We needn't have been.

An hour later, while sharing the last can of beer, we got knocked down by a 30 knot gust, full genoa, single reef on the main. Didn't see it coming. We were taken up, and were rolled by a following wave. Spreaders in the water, gear crashing in the cabin, the last drops of beer spilled in the cockpit. We muscled in the headsail and double-reefed the main. An ominous cluster of blue and white balloons shot past our bow, skipping over the sea at 20 knots. Children on a cruise line somewhere were likely frightened and upset.

Later we let out five feet of headsail, and sailed that way through the night. Winds were steady 20-30 knots, gusts over 35. Our speed hit 13 knots at one point. The waves kept getting bigger. Barometer has been falling rapidly.

During my night shift, I saw flying fish skipping across the stern light.

It has been a great trip so far. We're averaging over 6 knots, should have strong and favorable winds all the way to Bermuda by Wednesday.

Day 3 - St. Augustine to Bermuda

5/10/2008 1200 UTC
Position: 30 deg. xx N, 74 deg. xx W
Heading: 88 deg. M
COG: 93 deg. M

Winds: WSW 15 kt
Seas: 8-10 ft. swells from the West

Temp: 79 deg.
BP: 1016 mb

Notes:

Friday night we were flying! 15-20 kt winds, broad reach, surfing big swells. We hit 12 knots on several occasions surfing down the backs of large waves. Dinner was outstanding, we baked the wahoo, roasted potatoes, corn, mixed greens. Took showers, spirits were high, the diesel mess forgotten. It felt like a carnival cruise. Saturday, we spent the day trying to diagnose issues with the desalinater. The pump is de-priming as the through-hull fitting comes out of the water in swells. We'll have to deal with it in Bermuda for the crossing to the Azores, but we have plenty of fresh water to reach Bermuda.

I've never been in a boat this far from land before. The water is this saphire blue, unlike any blue I've seen in nature. We haven't seen another vessel since we crossed the gulf stream.

The auto-pilot has been solid. We've been wing-on-wing all day doing seven knots, surfing 9 knots down the swells. The auto-pilot has only gybed once. Very grateful not to have to hand-steer to maintain this course.

We've had incredibly favorable conditions so far, making great time to Bermuda. Hoping Tomorrow doesn't involve tearing the boat apart again.

Day 2 - St. Augustine to Bermuda

5/9/2008 1200 UTC
Position: 30 deg 25.3" N, 77 deg 33.3" W
Heading: 85 deg.
COG: 90 deg.

Winds: SSW 15kt
Seas: 8-10 ft swells from the south
Current: ?

Temp: 80 deg, sunny
BP: 1017 mb

Notes:

Thursday night, Scott challenged a couple of warships for right of way. At one point, warship
94 requested we state our intentions immediately. Or else implied. Later, we encounter
another Navy vessel that was on collision course but unresponsive to radio. The captain
finally stated we could hold our course after we tacked. Scott was audibly upset.
Later that evening, we were hit by a gale. One rogue wave crashed over the stern, dousing
Kelly and Wiley and leaving standing water in the cockpit. Double-reef on the main, very
little headsail. The night watch was tough, as Kelly, Wiley and I had stayed up until 5am
getting the boat ready. Scott was rested and aware.

Friday, fair sailing, we're surfing waves all day, averaging 7 or 8 knots.

Dealt with a leaky jerrycan of diesel. Cleanup took 2 hours, emptying and scrubbing of
everything in the lazarette. Everyone is anxious to get the boat situated so we can spend more
time sailing than working. But, the sailing has been pretty ideal.

Figured out our comm. problems with satellite e-mail and weather. Tech support is pretty poor
in the middle of the atlantic.

There is a cold front passing well north of us, we believe it shouldn't affect us dramatically,
but we're expecting strong winds.

Day 1 - St. Augustine to Bermuda

5/8/2008 1200 UTC
Position: 29 deg 58.17' N, 80 deg 42.3'W
Heading: 85 M
COG: 82 M

Winds: S 15kt
Seas: 5 ft, stacked, confused (gulf stream)
Current: est. 4kt N

temp: 75F
BP: 1019.5 mb

Notes:

After 6 frantic days in St. Augustine completing last-minute projects, we cast off at 1050 Eastern for an 1100 bridge opening. The race committee allowed a self-start at 1200, as only two boats were leaving from St. Augustine, with the remainder of the fleet leaving from Antigua. The Lost Unicorn had a faster start, because they crossed the line east of the official mark. We didn't protest.

The winds were southerly and moderate, allowing for a fast reach to the gulf stream. Within an hour, Kelly had caught a fish: a 30 lb wahoo. Although we were trolling a line, we hadn't really thought through our approach to landing and killing one. It was a bloody affair. I think we'll make less of a mess with the next one.

After two hours, the Lost Unicorn was no longer visible behind us.

What's Been Happening?

Thought I’d fill you all in on what’s been happening these last couple weeks. The guys have been far too busy to keep up with the blog.

Wiley, Jack, Rachel, Kelly & Scott took off from our house on Treasure Island at 7pm Saturday April 26. (Rachel is the good looking one – she only made it as far as the fuel dock!)

Since there were so many new systems on the boat and this was the first shakedown cruise, it was no surprise that a lot of things shook out. While they were still close enough to get some of the land crew down there, they put in at Marco Island to regroup. Michael and Ronnie drove down to help them out.

After sailing only two days on the boat the crew recognized the need for organization and off-loaded a number of things that no longer seemed so critical given the space constraints of a 34 foot boat with 4 people. They removed everything from the boat and reloaded it, documenting where everything was stowed. This turned out to be the first of many such exercises that continued whenever they touched land.

Michael & Ronnie helped deal with the issues and then returned to Treasure Island. Jack also left at that time. The crew did one more repacking and then they shoved off for the Keys.

They stopped in the Keys at Sombrero Reef for a leisurely lunch and an afternoon of snorkeling. See Kelly’s great movies.

Then they headed to St. Augustine. Those who watched their progress on the satellite tracking site could see that the going was tough. The wind was on the nose and the waves were against them so even motoring was slow. Those of us who were meeting them in St. Augustine decided that there was no hurry to get there, they would be lucky to get in before Saturday evening.

They surprised us and got there at noon Saturday May 3rd. This was the same day that Eric was arriving from Portland to join the crew. I drove up with Ronnie. Wiley’s mom, Susan, and his sister Allie, and his grandmother “Grammy” and Nancy, her friend from Wisconsin, were all there to say good-bye, as were Jan and Rachel. Wiley gets the prize for having the biggest fan club (they must like him)! Michael and his family drove up to mix a little family vacation with helping Scott handle some last minute electronic issues. I had fun with Michelle and the boys, playing miniature golf and eating ice cream.

Michael reviewed all the systems with Eric who was assigned the job of Ship’s Engineer. Kelly was named Chief Navigator and Wiley is the Sailing Master, he rules the sails, the winches, and the foredeck. (I won't mention going up the mast, since his mother might be reading this!)

Kelly parents, Jim & Liz arrived Sunday afternoon from Virginia and stayed until Severance left, which was invaluable since they did a lot of running around picking up supplies and provisioning. Scott is not shy about putting anyone to work and they are good workers. Good job on the drogue cones, Liz.

The crew finished up a number of projects in St Augustine including an unplanned install of a new water heater. Anyone who knows Scott knows that he thrives under pressure. (Anyone who knows me knows that I do not. I'm glad I was on the other side of the state.) Along with all the projects, they unloaded and repacked the ship several more times.

Wed. May 7, the day before leaving, a friend of ours from Michigan, Jim Sexton, flew down to say good bye. Jim and his wife Pat are planning on meeting Scott in Greece in the fall. Friends Mark & Susan Okkerse also drove down from Jeckell Island to see them off. Wed night while Eric & Kelly were installing a new water heater, Scott, Wiley, Jim, Mark, & Susan went to the Yacht Club reception for the ARC boats. There were only two boats leaving from St. Augustine, so it was a small reception. The mayor of St. Augustine gave a welcoming speech, which was a nice touch. As usual, the Severance crew was the last to leave the party.

Next day no one on the dock believed that they would make it by the 1:00 starting time. The boat was once again completely unloaded and spread over the dock. Eric & Kelly had finished installing the water heater at 4am Thursday morning. Somehow they got the boat repacked and off the dock and barely made the noon bridge opening.

I got one phone call before they were out of cell phone range. Now I’m watching the dots move as you all are. They obviously have had very favorable winds, plus a little help from the Gulf Stream because they are moving faster than the boat is capable of.

When they left they had still not worked out the satellite internet piece, but I am happy to say that tonight at 5pm est I received my first email communication from the satellite system, so all is well with the world.

Stay tuned and perhaps next time you will hear directly from them.

Barracuda

By popular demand I am adding another video from the snorkeling trip. Kelly was underwater and Wiley was chumming the fish with Sugar Pops. Apparently they like junk food! Does Kelly seem a little nervous about that barracuda that is watching over his shoulder?

Snorkeling in the Florida Keys

Check out this video from the trip to St. Augustine. Photography by Kelly.