LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 49:
Monday, April 03, 2000 continued
I have finished everything I can do on my taxes until I get home. I am glad that is
done - at least for now!
2200 The wind is up to 25 kts. I roll up the jib just a bit more. Mainly I am
trying to keep the boat below a speed that generates the yawing, as I think this
is when there is an increased opportunity of breaking things.
2300 The wind is gusting 27-28 kts. I roll up some more of the jib. I do not
have any more than about 100 square feet of sail left that is presented to the
wind now. It is enough to drive her at 5- 6 kts, though.
Tuesday, April 04, 2000
0150 A chirp from the C.A.R.D. awakens me, but I cannot see any lights on the
horizon. Peak wind now is 31 kts. It has veered slightly and that is driving me
a bit east of track.
0225 After expanding the range on the radar and turning up the gain, I detect a
contact 12 NM astern. It is unusual for the C.A.R.D. to pick anything up that
far off; the antenna is purposely set low on the bow pulpit to avoid the
detection of such long range contacts. With the boat pitching up and down
as she goes over the big waves, this occasionally puts the C.A.R.D. antenna a
good deal higher than normal though, which explains the long-range detection. I
put the C.A.R.D. into standby and set the radar guard-zone to alert me to any
contacts closing within 2.5 NM.
0646 Sunrise.
0730 Breakfast: hot oatmeal cereal with raisins & wheat germ added, topped
with chilled applesauce, and coffee.
0800 At about 100 NM south of Beaufort, NC with detailed weather charts in hand, I
have a look at the feasibility of navigating around Cape Hatteras rather than taking
the inside route up the ICW. The current and forecast wind direction is
favorable for a trip around. After some consideration, I revise the route and
adjust the course to stay outside the 2000-fathom line at Hatteras. The route is
as follows: Waypoint #1 - 33-35N 076-14W, #2 - 35-11N 074-36W, #3 - 35-33N
074-34W, #4 - 36-51N 075-39W, #5 - 37-01N 075-56W, and #6 - 37-05N 075-59W.
Waypoint #2 is east of Cape Hatteras. Waypoint #6 is at the Bay-Bridge-Tunnel
North Channel.
0900 I start the engine to recharge the batteries. Since my battery monitor is
out of action, I am estimating the state of the batteries by reference to the DC
analog voltmeter.
0940 The engine slows and quits. This occurs in spite of my pulling it out of
gear at the last moment. The slowing of the engine seemed to be related to
moments when the boat slowed to climb the back of a wave. This happened 2-3
times before the engine actually quit. My theory is that the propeller went into
the feather position or something close to it as the boat careened down a wave;
in doing so, I think it over-ran the prop and then as the boat slowed, the
engine wanted the prop in the "forward" position but it did not go
there for some reason. Trying to turn the shaft with the propeller partially or
fully feathered would over task the engine and stall it out - I think. Just a
theory!
1015 I take a short snooze.
1215 I restart the engine to continue recharging the batteries. This time I
leave it in neutral to see what happens.
1230 Lunch: ham, cheese, lettuce & Dijon mustard sandwich on white bread
with water.
1245 I shift the good whisker pole over to the starboard side of the reefed dual jib
so that I can adjust the boat's heading to the right.
1330 The engine seems to be running fine, but when I shut it down, I pull the
RPM back to 1000 and then it dies on its own. I wonder if I have an engine
problem!
1340 The wind gusts to gale-force: 35 kts. There is a lot of variability in the
wind force: 22-28G35.
1515 The sky to the west is dark. I expect that the cold front is drawing quite
near now.. The latest surface analysis shows two cold fronts about to merge. I
suppose that means a stronger weather system. My barometer has been dropping
sharply for the past 24 hours - confirming what is coming in over the weather
fax. The seas are getting increasingly rougher and periodically a wave sloshes
into the cockpit. I have the boat entirely buttoned up now to keep the water out
of the cabin.
1535 The wind veers about 45 degrees.
1540 I adjust the windvane to steer directly down wind and I reef the jib down
so that what is presented to the wind is very small. I suppose I am a bit
"gun shy" after being knocked down the other day by an apparent
microburst. The drop in temperature is noticeable. I will wait and see what
the result of this frontal passage will be.
1620 I read for a while and finish Rachel Carlson's "Silent Spring."
An excellent book!
1630 I stow the whisker pole on the mast, turn the boat back on course and pull
the jib partially off the roller trimming it to starboard. Lord's Prayer is on a broad
port reach with the wind W 22-28 kts. Waypoint #2 is 102 NM ahead.
1730 I roll up the jib and set the staysail. I bring the cockpit cushions below, as
the cockpit is being regularly sloshed with water.
1815 the wind veers another 15 degrees or so; I adjust the windvane to maintain
the course.
1927 sunset.
1935 Position: 34-12N 075-36W.
END OF LORD'S PRAYER LOG, Part 49
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