LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 109:
Thursday, February 15, 2001
Underway in the Atlantic Ocean enroute to the Bahamas
0400 The wind goes light. I power up, strike the jib, and flatten the main to
keep it full. I switch steering to the autopilot.
0633 Sunrise. Two flying fish came aboard during the night: a big one (about
8-9" long) and a teeny one (only about >"). It saddens me to see
these beautiful sea creatures perish on the deck of my boat - unable to get back
into the sea and unable to get the attention of someone aboard to toss them back
to their world!
0756 Position: 25 53.414 N 74 36.087 W. The wind is calm. I am under power of
the engine making about 5.5 kts. Barometer: 1022 up after bottoming at 1021 at
0200 this morning. Seawater temperature: 77.1 F. Air Temperature: 79 F. Sky:
clear except for widely scattered low cumulus clouds.
0900 A merchant container ship, appearing to be over-loaded at the bow, passes
from behind on my port side at 6 nm. This is probably an illusion, as the ship
is hull-down and I am seeing only the superstructure and the stacked
containers, which more than likely are stacked higher aft thereby creating the
appearance that the ship is down by the bow.
1200 Position: 25 33.972 N 74 45.767 W. The wind is still calm. The NAVTEX
forecast is for 15-25 kts out of the east today and 10-20 tonight. The weather
charts would suggest otherwise, though. The whole region is under a
stationary high. I am not far from the center of the high and the isobars
are fairly widely spaced. Ordinarily this would mean light winds. Tomorrow the
forecast is for southeast to southerly winds 10-15 kts. My heading is just
a smidge west of south, so the wind today will be fair if it materializes.
Tomorrow however is uncertain, depending on whether its direction turns out to
be mostly SE or more from the south.
1230 I transfer two more plastic jugs of fuel to the internal tank, which now
indicates about 28 gallons. I have 11 gallons remaining in plastic jugs. What I
have onboard should be enough to motor the rest of the way if I choose to do so.
1400 A merchant vessel crosses ahead left to right at about > nm. The wind is
still very light: easterly less than 5 kts. I try setting the genaker but it
does not seem inclined to fly as nicely today as it did yesterday. There just
isn't quite enough wind. Hopefully the wind will pick up soon!
1540 I give up on the wind for the time being. I strike the genaker and bag it o
n the bow. I leave it secured there for the time being, just in case the
situation changes. I fire up the engine.
1720 I site a container ship hull down off the port beam.
1751 Sunset. I stow the genaker below. If nothing else, it was good practice
setting and striking the genaker today. I learned more about it today.
1915 The wind is up enough that I set the jib along with the mainsail; I
continue to motorsail. The planet Venus, which has kept me company on this trip,
is in the western sky; it is so brilliant, and has been each night, that it puts
a glittering beam of light upon the sea's surface. Saturn and Jupiter are
overhead at this hour and the moon, which was full on the night I crossed
the Gulf Stream off Cape Hatteras, is now only a sliver; it will join me late
tonight; rising at 0115.
2115 The wind has come up E 10-12G14 kts. A light rain shower accompanies the
wind. A good drenching rain would be nice - one that would wash the salt off the
boat.
2150 A sudden heavy rumbling from the propeller has me flying up the ladder to
the cockpit to slow the engine and take it out of gear. I suspect I have picked
some Sargasso Weed. I put the engine in reverse and back down. I know from prior
experience that I may not throw the weed off the propeller on the first try. I
put her into forward to see and sure enough there is still a vibration. I back
her down again. This time the weed comes clear and the vibration is gone when I
put her back in forward.
2200 Position: 24 46.837 N 75 00.694 W. I am 50 nm NW of San Salvador Island,
where Christopher Columbus in 1492 first set foot in the new world and I have 91
nm left to go to reach George Town, Great Exuma Island. I expect to pass the
southeastern tip of Cat Island shortly after daybreak tomorrow. This will be my
first sight of land since leaving Cape Hatteras. It is my hope to arrive at
George Town tomorrow afternoon. If conditions are favorable, I will go in over
the reef. Good light and visibility are required for "eyeball
navigation" around the many coral rocks and shoals in this part of the
world. Without these conditions, Iintend to heave to and to stand off
overnight to await more favorable circumstances.
2235 The wind is now ESE 14-16 kts. The rain has stopped. I secure the engine.
The boat is on a close reach (port tack) under full main & jib; she is
making about 5 kts. After a hot windless afternoon, these conditions seem
exceptionally delightful. It is a perfect night sail beneath the stars of a
tropical sky.
END OF LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 109
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