2006 Bermuda Reports

As usual, these trips really begin well before people arrive in either Norfolk or St George, as they go over gear lists, check the weather on the web, and exchange thoughts, hopes and fears by email.   All that happens for the Captains too, so by the time we actually meet at the boat, the trip planning is well underway. That said, most of the crew had checked in by the afternoon of June 16th, and several of us had dinner together that evening, before starting in earnest to go over the boat and our plans the next day.   

6/17/06 Crew all aboard by 0800 for training. Ken Widener, a seasoned pilot for Fed Ex in his spare time, was aboard as First Mate for a transocean trip a little slower than his usual.  Bill Brewer, Bob Lacca and Mark Carlson were each boat owners looking for more blue water experience to lend knowledge and confidence as they considered taking their own sailboats offshore. Tracy Reno had chartered numbers of boats, but was not a sailboat owner.   

First day, on the dock, was one in which we all shared our goals, and concerns for the upcoming trip, and went through setting, reefing and striking all plain and storm sail- important to be sure we all understand, and do the same way before we are trying to figure it out in an offshore squall.  Also planned meals, assigned crew duties, and set the watch schedule 

6/18/06 Back at it by 0800, and checkouts of boat systems and rig for the bosun, navigator (all of us), safety officer, engineer, and stewards. Reviewed emergency procedures, shopped and stocked the boat, and as the weather and tides appeared encouraging, we topped water, diesel, and cast off lines this afternoon by 1515. Left the Chesapeake Bay Bridge astern by 1800, and motorsailed until about 2100, when the wind freshened and let us retire the iron staysail. By 2230 we were reefed, and making great time.  

6/19/06 Continuing SW winds carried us along nicely, but diminished around dawn, letting us motorsail and charge the batteries for a few hours before picking up again and allowing us to kill the engine. By afternoon we were again reefed, booming along and eating up the miles. Around dinnertime we hooked into a fish that took an hour to land, with each of us cranking for some of that time. It came in too late for dinner that night, but fed us for three other dinners, counting some we took ashore to share with the next crew in Bermuda.  It was a mahi mahi, also called dolphin or dorado, and best estimate is that it was about 40#... A real treat. 

6/20/06 SW wind holding well enough that we continue to barrel along toward Bermuda using the generator to make electricity since the engine isn't needed. Seas and wind building - 2 reefs in mainsail, jib rolled half in, and people bouncing around the boat and moving very carefully.