Voyage Tortola to Bermuda
Nightsong
Wed 7 Apr 2010 18:00
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Last photo of a Caribbean sunset at Sopers Hole
Tortola 2 nights ago. And I must do a blog of the last 2 weeks in Anguilla (the
last of the Leeward islands) and the BVI's sometime. Great cruising ground and
very compact. Very crowded though.
 Well we set sail after much Caribbean waiting
around for refuelling at 1100hrs yesterday. 840 nmiles to Bermuda due
North.Motored out past Jos Van Dyke Island and set sail - 1 reef and furled
jib in NE5. And that is what we have had since. Very rough at times and close
hauled all the time which very tiring. And guess what Nightsong's failures
continue.
Firstly there was a bang in the middle of the night
and we found that one wheel was swinging freely. The chain bottlescrew which
attaches the wheel to the quadrant sprocket on the port (self steering side) had
broekn. Big temporary repair job by AMB in the middle of the night but what a
worry - we would have to steer on the starbord wheel if it fails again. Then the
Duogen shaft pin broke - too rough to repair at the moment so we'll have to
use the engine more than I intended. Then this morning the bowthruster started
up causing havoc with the electrics. Again managed to short it out to stop it.-
but water in the bowthruster compartment is undoubtedly the reason. Bloody
Northshore!!
Still in good spirits bowling along at 6.5 knots -
managing to cook despite the very rough seas and it's still warm. Hoping for a
wind shift to the east that is forecast and less wind!!
AJB 7th April 2010
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