On to Bermuda
Author: Shirlz
My departure for Bermuda was delayed by the need for some emergency dental work, giving me a chance to explore the town of Stuart. I enjoyed regular strolls along the river walk and the faces of some of the other early morning walkers and their dogs were becoming familiar.
At last I was ready to leave but the weather had other ideas. An early ‘named’ tropical storm, Anna, was moving towards the coast of North Carolina and strong onshore easterly winds kept me aboard, safely anchored in the St Lucie River.
7 May, 2015
Today I motored up the ICW to anchor at Fort Pierce where there is a grade A inlet from the Atlantic Ocean. As always, it felt good to be close to the open sea again. My cruising permit had to be canceled so that a new one can be issued when I plan to return later in the year. This entailed a 4 mile walk out to the airport where the customs office is to be found. No busses on this route. A kind motorist stopped and gave me a lift on the way back.
Harbortown Marina, close to where I was anchored, allowed me to use their dinghy dock and free WiFi. They also had a convenient fuel dock.
May 9, 2015
The anchor and chain came up cleanly, not covered with sticky black mud as in the St Lucie river and very soon we were approaching the start of the channel to the sea. It was a lovely sunny day and the weekenders were out in force.
The wide channel was alive with small fishing boats, inflatable dinghies, kayaks, monster gin-palace stinkpot boats and anything else that floats. Just ahead of me a powerful Coastguard vessel, with blue lights flashing, stopped and boarded an incoming fishing boat. Someone’s unlucky day.
May 16, 2015
A week at sea and half way to Bermuda. The first two days were easy and fast with the Gulfstream helping us along. Then the wind died and we flopped helplessly about for a day until a strong NE wind set in and stirred up an evil sea. I was reminded as to why not everyone goes to sea in small boats and wondered what I was doing here. Nothing to do but reef down and hope that nothing breaks. The Navik managed valiantly and I retired to my bunk with leecloth securely fastened.
Over the next couple of days the wind moderated but took up a firm position directly against our heading. So we are currently way north of our ideal course and hoping that the winds forecast by the weather fax will materialize and get us going in the right direction again. A gracefully curious tropic bird circled the boat a few times but retreated when I aimed my binoculars at him.
Sunday, 17 May 2015
This morning I found a small squid had expired on the leeward side deck. I cleaned him up and had a delicious brunch of calamari rings pan-fried in garlic butter tossed with spicy couscous.
Yesterday it was a fair-sized flying fish which cooked up well with rice. Maybe I should start a collection of ocean roadkill recipes.
Still waiting for the wind to change.
Monday, 18 May 2015 – day 11
After a long dark night of steady motoring in a flat calm and rolling sea, we were rewarded with a gentle breeze on the aft quarter. Just enough to hold the sail out and keep us moving at almost 2 knots. Now the junk rig shows its stars. A small group of storm petrels fluttered about gathering their breakfast.
The wind strengthened as the day progressed and soon we were running smoothly along at a comfortable 4 kts. I took advantage of the easy conditions and made a big pot of vegetable stew in the pressure cooker to last a few days. Then I found that the last banana had become rather overripe. Ideal for making banana cake. It turned out well despite being a little lopsided as my stove isn’t very successfully gimballed.
The wind increased steadily.
Big seas, strong wind, moving at hull speed reefed right down and a pitch black moonless night. Time for all those irrational fears and terrors to surface.
By morning it was already moderating and everything seems easier in daylight. Once again I was glad that I had made the change back to a flat sail with strong, rigid battens and no added complications to go wrong in rough conditions.
Friday, 22 May 2015
After a few days of a good following wind, I arrived at Bermuda early this morning.
Three other yachts arrived at about the same time, one of which had to be towed in. Much to and fro from Bermuda radio, constantly giving instructions as to what to do and where to go. On previous occasions I have not had the radio switched on when I arrived as it can be very distracting. The anchorage was quite crowded but I was able to find a good spot and rowed ashore to clear in.
Tags: Bermuda
June 24th, 2015 at 19:23
Keep up the good sailing – hope your voyaging is blessed by fair winds and safe anchorages.
Where to next – It’s summertime, you could do a transatlantic trip – it’s not as though your little boat hasn’t done the trip before!!?