No matter what the weather, we will depart
November 10, 2020: It's rainy and dreary and soggy.
Sarasota or Bust!
We will depart on today, Tuesday, November 10th for the next 10 days on S/V Bubista II. We had a simple breakfast, filled with fuel and water, reefed the mainsail and shoved off. Best advice ever: stay hydrated to try to avoid seasickness.
As we depart - Yacht Haven Grande - the good and the bad
Have to give shout out to Dalton at Yacht Haven Grande. Not only helpful with the initial delivery, but tended to watch over us for any needs. Not at all like the treatment from the young white supervisor at our end of the dock. He doubled the price of a bag of ice and spoke condescendingly to his (black) subordinates. Maybe trying to get some points from the front office?? We were not happy with his attitude, so we informed the office. The main office staff was gracious and helpful. They had a lot to do with an upcoming boat show the next day, so we didn't see much of them.
We motored out of the harbor and onto open seas. Occasionally the bilge pump alarm went on due to a sticky float switch, but with careful precision, Graham smacked it with a boathook, and it started to behave.
Now, it gets rough on the open seas…
Not too bad, the first hours. Then the seas were getting heavier as the rain continued. Guess what we forgot - Dramamine! This is a critical supply for any long passage. After those few hours, the yogurt & fruit for breakfast was first to come up, then it was just clear liquid. it was important to drink a lot of water, but that came up, also. Best advice: let your body work it out - go to bed and let the body acclimate to the rock & roll. We both were feeling it - the seas were rolling constant 6-10 feet.
Innovation helps to power us through the weather….
Captain Graham
Was it mentioned that Graham is a problem solver?
Graham came up with a way to get more sail area from the jib sail. It involves bringing the corner of the jib wider to the edge of the boat. His longer term suggestion is to get a bigger jib.
“All reasonable licensing requests will considered.”
Graham also figured out how to get all the instruments, except wind direction and speed, to his ipad, so he would not have to stand in the rain. Graham also fixed a problem with my toilet and cleaned the shower trap in the guest bathroom.
The sailing feels slow
There is some wind, but not enough to get top speed, so the engines are being alternated. Need to preserve fuel so we don’t have to stop. When we have a good tail wind, we are achieving over 10 knots.
The wind and rain continue..
After a eye-opening first day, we settle in for the night
By 10:25 pm, Carlos and I were feeling significantly better, but still not perfect. Felt a growl of hunger, that means there isn't anything left in the stomach!
Graham and Amber took watch that night, Carlos and I were both spent. Missed seeing the lights of San Juan PR, but there will be other times. We have gone about 100 nautical miles by nightfall.
11/11/20 - Happy Vets Day! Thank you to all who have served their country.
Better times ahead!
Carlos dons the proper gear and takes the helm!
Around 9:25am the captain went to all sails; no motor and 22 kts of wind! Wheeee! So much quieter - the ocean sounds are clear and everything that moves on the boat can be clearly heard.
Carlos went on his first watch tonight. We made good progress passing Puerto Rico and getting close to Dominican Republic. Feeling better, but still a little queasy.
Feels like we have turned the corner and can submit ourselves to the whims of the ocean.
In the next blog:
Realities of a long passage
Power issues???
Making sure the crew is fed
Kim’s first watch
