Yacht Piquet

It certainly feels good to be here once again and does not seem to have changed too much. The seas between Barbados and here were the worst of the trip with a very large cross swell. Things came loose that had not moved in the previous 20 days. Sleep was impossible.

Our stay in Barbados was interesting. The first 2 days were spent at the marina in Port St Charles where we became part of the ambiance for the very expensive resort.  I was able to negotiate a price for "cash" with the dock master and we did avail ourselves of their maintenance man in helping to fix the refrigeration.  The crimped hose that was leaking eventually gave way and we lost all the gas in one large swoop. 

We moved to Bridgetown and anchored in Carlisle Bay.  I had some names so hailed a taxi after leaving the dinghy in the Fisherman's Harbor.  My ride turned into a rental for half a day.  The first place had gone, the second did not do refrigeration parts, the third only hydraulics, the fourth was out on a job.  He eventually returned and was successful in reproducing the hose and crimped joint.  The Port St Charles man had sold me some gas so we were back in business.  It is now working marginally OK and we were able to save all the food in the freezer. I did get a tour of the Bridgetown "other end".

On Friday we visited the Barbados Coast Guard to make inquiries regarding First Light that had shown up on the East Coast of Barbados and was wrecked.  The report said that it had broken in two.  Andy had requested that we try to recover the life raft and possibly some other items that were recovered by the police.  That was frustrating experience and wasted a couple of hours.  They obviously knew little and we later found out had not been too responsive.  We then went grocery shopping and vegged out.  I am still sleeping in 4 hour periods .

On Saturday we hired a car for three days, one day costing what we had paid for a week in Lanzarote.  Everything in Barbados is very expensive, even for the locals.  The aim was to talk to the police sergeant in charge of First Lights equipment.  A meeting was arranged and we set off across the island.   We eventually found the location of the wreck.  It was a very sad site with Andy and Jill's personal effects spread over a kilometer of the beach.  The boat was a total wreck having split in two at the mast bulkhead.  The deck had come away from the hull.  The only salvageable part was the mast and its fittings. Some locals were already there when we arrived with tractors and were obviously going for the mast.  I will try to get some photos on the page when I can get to an internet cafe.  We do now have the life raft and EPIRB which we will try to forward to Andy.

On Saturday and Sunday we toured,  grocery shopped, and took in the rest of the island.   Some of the boats that were in Las Palmas with us showed up as much as a week after us. Our window was a good one apart from the swells.

We finally were able to enter and attend to Customs, Health, and Immigration.  The latter not showing until 1200.  In the meantime Steve and Sally started making enquirers about a return flight to Toronto.  To everybody's disappointment it turned out that the only flights were once a week, today at 1600, and then again a week from today. They felt that another 10 days away from the practice would be too much and so they opted for today's departure and their immigration status was quickly rearranged.  We are now once again a crew of two.  They will be missed. They were great crew and great company.

In the meantime we will be staying in Port St Charles for two days to fix the refrigeration,  the only equipment that failed on us.  We arrived with full water tanks and charged up batteries, after a relatively crisis free voyage.  Tonight we will sleep very soundly with NO ROCKING.

It will take a few days for reality to set in. Many thanks to our web master, John, for being there. We will now sign off until there is more to report.

Peter & Karen, SV Piquet

We arrived off Barbados at 10.00 UTC and have proceeded to the entry port of Port St Charles arriving here at 0700 local time, 1100 UTC. There is nobody home until 0900 so we have anchored off to wait for the official so that we can enter.  In the meantime we will have our breakfast and enjoy the view.

After the dust has settled we will report further.

Wind E ENE 15/20. Waves 5-8 NE. Period 8 seconds.  145 NM in past 24 hours. Course 257T. 138NM to N end of Barbados. Currently sailing at 6 knots. Triple reefed main and 100% jib.

This will be the last report from sea as about 1200UTC tomorrow, all things being well, we should be close to the end of this part of the voyage.  After spending time in Barbados we will the continue on to Bequia and complete the circumnavigation.

There are mixed feelings about this day. It has been a good trip but in other ways it will be good to not be continually moving. The boat sways from side to side about 8 times per minute. Over 20 days that is a lot of rocking .  We had Easterlies again last night that once more put us North of intended course.  It was a beautiful night with almost no clouds and a full moon that was there both at sunset last evening and sunrise this morning .  We did see two ships last night, the first since leaving the Verdes area.

Other than the refrigerator deciding to take a powder yesterday, all is well.

Wind E ENE 20/25. Waves 8-14 NE. Period 8 seconds. 149 NM in past 24 hours. Course 260T. 282NM to N end of Barbados. ETA 14th.  Currently sailing at 6/6.5 knots. Triple reefed main an 80% jib poled to starboard.

It was a fairly arduous past 24 hours with the increased wind strength and many squall lines where the wind can increase by as much as 10 knots.  Added to this, the wind tended East, forcing us N of our intended course, detracting from our miles made good to wards destination.  Some people claim they are able to set their sails on this passage and not touch them until the end.  When the wind changes we are altering the jib as much as five times an hour, using it as our accelerator and brake.  The Profurl roller furling has performed very well.

We talked to Herb concerning the two flashing amber lights seen yesterday.  He said that it was definitely not a weather buoy and submarines are usually blue lights.  We think it was a non US submarine.  Steve was sure glad his sighting was confirmed by the 2 others on watch.

We are now in the home stretch just praying that everything still holds together.

Wind NE/ENE 20/25. Waves 8-14 NE. Period 7 seconds.   147 NM in past 24 hours. Course 262T.  430 NM to go from 2854 total. Currently sailing at 6/6.5 knots. Triple reefed main and 80% jib.

A good run again yesterday.  The seas have picked up again this am as they did yesterday. We are still getting the occasional squall line, but without any bad associated winds.

We are now down to an ETA of 3 days.  One day has blended into another but I am sure the anticipation of the land fall will rise with each passing hour.  It will be good to get a good nights sleep.  We do isometric exercises even in our bunks as each wave rolls us.
 

Last night we were passed by "something" carrying two flashing yellow lights.  My reaction was a weather buoy, but I did not see it, and they are holding out for a submarine.  It was at 2 miles and not visible on radar.  Lots of conjecture.

Wind ENE 18/22. Waves 8-14 ENE. Period 8 seconds. 144 NM in past 24 hours. Course 261T. 578 NM to go.  Currently sailing at 6 knots. Triple reefed main and 80% jib poled to starboard.

Most of the past 24 hours was pleasant sailing.  We had supper in the cockpit. We are now a little smarter and use bowls rather than plates to contain our small, very round, Canarian new potatoes.  Beats having to chase them around the salon floor.

The wave action died yesterday but has picked up again now. The winds went more Easterly and so we made a little more westering than ideal.  They have have now reverted to ESE and it is easier to hold course. The larger waves slew the stern around which does not help. Thank goodness for the auto pilot.

Today we changed ships time to UTC -3 hours as we approach 50W.  This time zone is shared with Greenland and, I think, Brazil.

Our weather forecast is still good with slightly stronger winds as the high builds and we approach the Caribbean.

Wind ENE 20/25. Waves 8 -14 NE and some from N that roll us.  Period 7seconds. 156 Miles in past 24 hours. Course 265T. 721NM to go.  Total voyage adjusted to 2854.  Currently sailing at 6/6.5 knots. Triple reefed main and 90% jib on pole to starboard.

The waves have become bigger in the past 12 hours due to a storm more than 1000 miles to our NE.  The side waves make life below very difficult to both cook and sleep.  We had a good day distance wise, but the aim is still to get there safely and in one piece.  The end is in sight as we can now get 5 day weather forecasts and it looks good.  There will still be the squall lines, but nothing bad is in the predictions - I may regret that statement.

Wind ENE 20knots. Waves 6-10 NE. Period 8 seconds. 150 miles in past 24 hours. Course 263T. 873NM to go. Currently sailing at 6/7 knots. Double reefed main and 100 % jib to starboard on pole.

We are finally in the trades having had constant ESE winds of varying force for 24 hours and have not had to touch the sails.  It was a pleasant day but still very rolling.  The 1000 miles to go position was passed.  A definite hump point.  Our forecast is more of the same for the next three days.

To my Mother, who is still in hospital - get well soon, and love from us both.

To all you would be voyagers and young people reading this log we are experiencing what Mark Twain advised us - "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bow lines.  Sail away from safe harbors.  Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

Best of luck Yana in your search.

Wind NE 20 Knots. Waves 8-12 feet from N giving large cross swell. . Period 7 seconds. 145 miles in past 24 hours. Course 264T. 1023NM to go. Currently sailing at 6 knots. Double reefed main 80% jib to port on reach.

We were finally through the squall lines by 0200 last night. The past 18 hours had been quite demanding with the excess wind that came with them and the very large seas that built up, some being as high as 20 feet, judging by their height above our bimini.  It was very difficult to hold course so we bore off to 250T, putting the waves on our quarter.  When we talked to the weather man,  Herb, at 2000 hrs, he pointed out that by turning we had prolonged our stay in the front as we were running down its axis.  He advised to turn NW to get out of the system.   We did this reluctantly as it put the large waves on our beam and made life very uncomfortable.  But he was right, and we were soon sailing into clearer skies.  Eventually the seas subsided and we were able to revert to course. Sleeping last night was very difficult. We are now sailing under clear skies and the upcoming forecast is for more of the same.

Yesterday was "change the clocks" day.  As we go West every 15 degrees takes us one hour further away from UTC.  At 40W it was still quite dark at 0700.  We took one hour off of ships time and we are now on Central Atlantic Time as per Windows on the Computer.  This is a very unique time zone, because, apart from the Arctic and Antarctica, there are no populated areas that exist in this time. Our one chance to live in our own time zone.

The boat is still doing well although we have to limit speeds in order to keep the auto pilot happy.  When the waves are behind us we surf very nicely, but with the present situation life becomes uncomfortable with faster speeds.  The flying fish catch is increasing. Today we had 5 on the deck.

Wind Varying between N and ENE in past 24 hours averaging 15 knots with squalls to 30+ knots. Waves 8-10. Period 9 seconds with cross swells.   140 miles in the past 24 hours.  Course 264T.  1165 Nm to go. Currently sailing at 6 knots with earlier speeds as high as 8.5 and as low as 3.5. Double reefed main and 80% jib.

The past 24 hours has seen a variety of conditions ranging from no winds to heavy in the squalls with rain. Then for most of the night we had a steady 15/20 under a moonlit night.  We were reaching along at 7 knots, just magic..  The frontal activity started at 5am UTC and has been with us since.  Most of the fire drills occur on Karen's watch which is making her feel a little "put upon".  It appears we will be through this area soon and look forward to some more consistent trade winds.

Wind NNE/NE 15,  Waves 8-10,  Period 12 seconds, 136 miles in past 24 hour. Course 264T. 1305 NM to go - Total increased to 2843.  Currently sailing at 6 knots with double reefed main and 120% jib.

We had some very slow periods in the past 24 hours and a few vigorous ones .  The wind clocked North in the night and rather than change the pole in the dark we elected to run off a little, losing a few more miles .

We are now on a reach with the jib to port, fully out moving very nicely under a bright blue sky with a few trade wind clouds.  The swell is still uncomfortable coming on our side from the NW.  Last night we had a rain squall with 25+ winds that caused an all hands on deck moment.  It all turned out well.

We celebrated the half way with a bottle of Spanish "bubbly", making sure that Neptune was invited too.  Obviously not a big enough amount as the winds died shortly after his drink!

Wind ENE 10/14, Waves 5-8,  Period 7 seconds,  128 miles in past 24 hours, 1437 to go.  Currently sailing at 5 knots.  Course 264T.  Double reefed main and 120 % jib.

We have now passed the longitude of 35W which takes us into the forecasting area for the Eastern Atlantic.  Later today we will have reached the half way point in the Voyage.

The going was very slow last night with our speed dropping to 4 knots until a cloud formation would come along and speed us up to 6 knots.   The weather has been kind and we seem to have come South of any fronts.  We are having to tack down wind which has added to the mileage that does not show positive to wards our destination.

The flying fish are on the deck every morning and the temperature has been in the mid 70'sF (24C). All is well and the books are being consumed rapidly.

Wind E 7-10 knots,  Waves 7-10  Period 7seconds, 151 miles in past 24 hours, 1565 to go.  Currently sailing at 5 knots.  Course 260T.  Double reefed main and 100% poled jib

Missed a few squalls today. All OK on board.

Wind NE/NNE 15/20 to 25 in squalls.  Seas 8-12 Period 12 seconds.  Distance covered in past 24 hours 150 nm.1713 to go.  Course 257 T, Speed 6.5/7.5,  Triple reefed Main and 120% Jib

It seemed like we did more than 150 miles yesterday, probably because our course was a little zig zag. We also altered course South to minimize a light wind hole ahead.  It still is a little rough.  Steve fell out of the sea bunk and Dad's painting went into orbit and is now stuffed behind a cushion.  It will be good when the seas go more East. 

I apologize to all my mailing list. There was a virus in the address book that kept sending emails to one and all. We think it is now rectified.

It is a beautiful day today, clear skies and a good wind, giving us a reaching sail at 7+ knots.  We were hitting 8's last night but the aim is to get the boat across in one piece, so we reduced sail.

Wind NNE/NE 12/15 knots Waves 5/8 feet Period 7 seconds.  132 Miles in the past 24 hours 1863 to go.  Currently sailing at 6/6.5 knots.  Course 265T.  Double reefed main and 120% jib to Port.

We had a light wind night which slowly clocked North causing us to lose a few miles with the pole still out to starboard.  At dawn we were able to take the jib off the pole and switch it to port so that we are now on a reach with the wind on the beam.  Fortunately the swells have gone down - but, we are still not having peas for dinner.  Later today we will be going through the 1000 mile mark so Sally and Steve will get a t-shirt to mark their first 1000 nm ocean passage.