LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 11:
February 6, 2000
0535 Sunrise
0815 With the wind light (under 10 kts) I start the engine, douse the sails and turn the boat south to motor/charge for a spell.
1030 I am getting repeated system failure alarms from the autopilot: "Rudder response failure". The trouble-shooting guide indicates the probable fault is "no response to the rudder command" and suggests first checking all connections. At the helm I check carefully and determine that the rudder indeed does not seem to be receiving any commands. I set up the Monitor wind vane and pass
steering control to it.
1130 After a thorough inspection, I find no problems with any connections. I try re-engaging the autopilot and it operates normally. I button everything up and receive one more "rudder response failure" alarm. But on pressing auto it operates normally. There is something not right here. But what? I give it a further rest and let the Monitor do the steering.
1300 the wind is 6-7 kts still on the nose; I continue running the engine, but to conserve fuel, slow it to 1800 rpm. In the diminishing seas the boat continues to make 4 kts.
1530 The wind is less than 5 kts still from the south. If the weather forecasts can be believed, the wind should come around easterly sometime in the next 12 to 18 hours. I suspect the lightening of the air here is an indicator foretelling that occurrence. It will surely be welcomed.
1600 I shift steering to the Autopilot.
1647 Sunset. I am looking forward to arrival in Barbados and getting a break from being underway. I had this figured as a 2-week offshore trip and it is clear now that will be longer because of the unusual weather system that has given me a head wind for the last few days. I think that besides doing the standard things with customs and the refueling, re-watering, routine maintenance, etc., I
shall probably lay over a few days and take a tour around the island. The scenery is supposed to be quite wonderful with interesting vertical development once you are out of the relatively flat Bridgetown port area. According to the cruising guide, there are not many US yachts that go to Barbados because it is a long upwind trip from the West Indies island string. Presumably there are normally a fair number of European yachts visiting in Barbados this time of year, though, which have come across the southern Atlantic starting in late November.  The vast majority of US and Canadian yachts get to the Caribbean by traveling down the ICW - some with one or more offshore legs - across and through the Bahamas to the Turks and Caicos Islands, through the Thorny or Thornless Passage past Hispaniola and then on into Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. From there they proceed along the West Indies string through the Leeward Islands, the Windward Islands and some even as far as Trinidad, Tobago and Venezuela. But few taking this route make the upwind offshore passage to Barbados. In the large Atlantic waves that are kicked by the easterly trade winds and that lie to the east of the island string, getting a sailing vessel to weather is a substantial task. Just inside the
string of islands the Caribbean Sea is relatively flat and this makes for much more pleasant sailing conditions than on the windward or Atlantic side. It turns out that Barbados went undiscovered for decades after Columbus' trips because of this interesting situation. And when it finally was discovered and settled, the English settled it - the only island in the Caribbean that they did not fight
someone to acquire. Barbados is sometimes known as "Little England"
1900 The wind is now ESE about 5 kts. Shhhhh! Don't scare the fair wind away.
1930 I put the boat into the wind, hoist the mainsail and resume course. I haul the jib off the headstay and secure the engine (eng hrs 1411.6). The sea is the flattest I have seen it on this trip - following a day of practically no wind. The Autopilot has the task of doing the steering for now but will be
relieved by the wind vane when it is time to transfer email. The wind is picking up slowly (now 5-7 kts). The boat is making about 3.5 kts heading 190T and proceeding in the RIGHT direction under sail for the first time in days. Happiness beyond words! The battle is o're. By morning there should be a good 15 kts or better out of the east and soon enough to push her to hull speed.
2025 Position: 22-46N 059-19W.
END OF LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 11


 -------------
Via Pinoak Digital - Advanced technology SSB radio digital wireless email.
In reply please do not include text above or attachments.
For further information on our service visit www.pinoak.com