Our last post was about installing new 190W solar panels on Ventolines. While our intended approach is one of continuity of articles the universe often has other plans. Also, our brains don’t actually work that way; we are easily distracted. So, this article should have been part 2 of our install; it will be about our recent distractions.
Indecision and Hurricanes
Its hurricane season. Hurricane Florence is beating down North Carolina as we speak. It is expected to turn south and deliver rain and wind to South Carolina. We normally keep our boat in Charleston. I say normally, since we moved her ahead of the storm. The initial tracks of the storm had the eye wall passing over or close to our location. Worse, the storm was predicted to by Cat4.
Our move seems fortuitous, even smart. But it was arrived at in a fit of panic and desperation. See, the predicted 12 or more foot storm surge would have sent our marina into downtown Charleston; if not into twin bridges behind it. Our decision making vacillated back and forth. We chatted with many people on other boats. People at restaurants. Sailing Briticain on Facebook. We could not make up our mind. But it was through Briticain that we became acquainted with the crew of SV Coreolis.
At first we both decided to head south. But in the hours after that decision. We could not locate crew that could help, save one: Ron Sanga. He was willing to drop everything he had going on to assist. After discussions with more people and seeing that most of the charleston boating community was doing nothing, that afternoon we decided we would motor up river and anchor as far from the coast as we could get, in the hopes of avoiding the surge. At least, we thought, we would not be at the dock.
That decision did not feel right, though. Leaving Ventolines unattended would put her at risk. We might never see her again. This was action; but action that ended in passivity. “If we had to, we had to” , we reasoned. We went to bed ready to execute that plan and informed SV Coreolis that we would be staying after all. They wished us luck.
I could not sleep that night. I kept waking up, tossing and turning. Finally, I stated in the pitch dark of the aft cabin, ” Jennifer, wake up, I don’t feel right about this and I need to talk it thorugh.” She was not happy with it either. Her reasoning was what I needed to hear “if we take no action to move the boat and it gets destroyed we will be disappointed forever. If we take action get the boat out of the way by going south, we will put ourselves in position to run even further south if necessary.” Ultimately if we lost the boat, but we did everything we could to save her, we would be satisfied. I am a big fan of regretting the things one does and not the things one doesn’t. So at dawn we texted SV Coreolis and let them know we would see them outside the Jetties of Charleston.
Unfinished Bimini Top pressed into service
One reason the other solar panel articles have been tardy was our bimini shade. It was torn and ragged so I took it down. I ripped it apart to use it as a pattern for a new one. Just the week before, I had sewn the pieces together and created the general shape. Before finishing, I wanted to check it on the boat A test fit of sorts. Good thing I brought it that weekend. As we needed it for the trip south.
Because it was a last minute decision we did not have certain things with us, like our life raft. Also, the boat was a shambles from all the projects I have going on at one time. At 7 am we hit the grocery store to provision. At 7:45 we dropped our car off a a friends house. At 8:15AM we pushed off of the dock and went to get fuel.
Coreolis left their slip at 8:50 and they were an hour closer to the Charleston Harbor entrance. We caught them just outside the Jetties and buddy boated to southern Georgia.
The first day of sailing was quite nice. I was really motor sailing. The wind was light during the day. In order to make the required speed to make this an overnight trip we had to motor sail.
The night was dark, as there was no moon. But for the first half we were treated to a sky without pollution. The Milky Way was clearly visible. Along with the normal smattering of shooting stars, there was a bright orb in the sky. It was so bright and burnt for so long that Jennifer woke me up. Neither of us could figure it out, until it either turned enough or go close enough that we could see a tail. It was almost comet like, whatever it was.
Choppy seas and random buoys
After the natural light show, clouds started filling in from the south. What little light there was ended, replaced with deep murky blackness. We could still see various lighted marks as we approached Bruswick. Sometime near 4am we I think we hit something. The auto pilot went crazy and we experienced severe vibration through the prop shaft. I quickly shut down the motor to save it and assess the situation.
We were both tired, but I set to work ripping apart the aft berth to get to the steering quadrant. Jennifer was left on deck with us essentially sailing poorly towards the east. The auto pilot ram was fully extended and not allowing the rudder to turn through its full motion. I disconnected it for the time being.
The larger question was what was causing the engine vibration? Did we hit a fish trap? Some floating junk? Was the prop wrapped? We radioed Coreolis to let them know our situation. They offered to stand by until dawn so that we could sort out our steering and vibration. My plan was to go over the side when the sun was high enough so I could see if something was wrapped on the prop.
While we waited for light I unbolted the Auto Pilot’s tiller arm from the quadrant and adjusted it back to normal position. Tighted it up and tested that it was working. As first light appeared I simply fired up the engine to see if the vibration was there and its severity. To my surprise it was gone and we motor sailed the rest of the way into Brunswick. Still not sure what the issue was.
But we are now closer to Florida for the winter. Still undecided on where we will go next.