Day 22 - Click image for larger view
Met a guy that solo sails his Westsail 32 from the US NE coast to Bermuda most every year, at least for the past 30 or so. A few times he has had a friend or two along, but not this time. I too this photo as he was heading out of St.George and back towards home.
I had been watching the weather for a good window to set out for my next destination, Horta. Horta has been a sort of mecca for sailors since ocean crossings began, whenever that was. I made a quick run to the nearest grocery store, miles away, for a few fresh eats. Returned the scooter and made my way back to Southern Light to tie down loose items.
My new best friends on Sea Lion were planning to start the same voyage to Horta, on Faial island in the Azores, in a few more days. We said goodbye, I cleared customs, got my flare gun back, stopped at the fuel dock to top off diesel tanks and headed out with time to clear Kitchen Shoals by dark. The wind was light as I motored out avoiding the Mills breaker area. It was light enough to put the light air drifter sail up. It kept collapsing into the rigging so I tried setting the big reaching pole. Setting the pole is a difficult task for one person in calm seas yet here she was rolling as if in a washing machine. As darkness approached I went to take the sail down but the topping lift, holding the pole up, slipped from my hand and dropped the end into the water. The corner of the sail quickly filled, pressing the pole against the forward shroud and the pole broke at an adjustment hole. What a fiasco trying to get all the parts under control with my life harness attachment needing to be moved around. Anyway, The sail was saved and none of the pole parts fell overboard. I figured it could be salvaged on a calm day for possibly some other use. I watched the last flicker of Bermuda light fade off into the west as Southern Light motor sailed into the North Atlantic night.
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Met a guy that solo sails his Westsail 32 from the US NE coast to Bermuda most every year, at least for the past 30 or so. A few times he has had a friend or two along, but not this time. I too this photo as he was heading out of St.George and back towards home.
I had been watching the weather for a good window to set out for my next destination, Horta. Horta has been a sort of mecca for sailors since ocean crossings began, whenever that was. I made a quick run to the nearest grocery store, miles away, for a few fresh eats. Returned the scooter and made my way back to Southern Light to tie down loose items.
My new best friends on Sea Lion were planning to start the same voyage to Horta, on Faial island in the Azores, in a few more days. We said goodbye, I cleared customs, got my flare gun back, stopped at the fuel dock to top off diesel tanks and headed out with time to clear Kitchen Shoals by dark. The wind was light as I motored out avoiding the Mills breaker area. It was light enough to put the light air drifter sail up. It kept collapsing into the rigging so I tried setting the big reaching pole. Setting the pole is a difficult task for one person in calm seas yet here she was rolling as if in a washing machine. As darkness approached I went to take the sail down but the topping lift, holding the pole up, slipped from my hand and dropped the end into the water. The corner of the sail quickly filled, pressing the pole against the forward shroud and the pole broke at an adjustment hole. What a fiasco trying to get all the parts under control with my life harness attachment needing to be moved around. Anyway, The sail was saved and none of the pole parts fell overboard. I figured it could be salvaged on a calm day for possibly some other use. I watched the last flicker of Bermuda light fade off into the west as Southern Light motor sailed into the North Atlantic night.
back
paulsedwick.com main page
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