Turned Around

Well, we turned around and did not make it to Bermuda. We do not have enough time to try again this year. The whole story follows:

14:30 Eastern Time - Left the dock at Rockland harbor bound for Bermuda. Three souls on board.

15:15 Made the "PB" bell, a bell buoy with PB written on it (PB for Penobscot Bay) turned south and followed the shipping channel.

16:05 Passed the "PA" buoy, turned southeast.

17:05 Passed the Morse A buoy, turned east. (buoy flashes in Morse code - letter A)

19:05 Made the "PBA" whistle, turned south east into the Gulf of Maine moving out of sight of land.

It took us about 5 hours to go from Rockland harbor to the beginnings of the open ocean. From there we tacked out into the Gulf facing a headwind from the south. Long tack out to our first position report - 43 24n 67 46w. Freezing at night, cold during the day.

We saw our first batch of "squeaky birds" in the morning watches on Saturday. Tacked back west for warmer water and better winds. Warmed up some, but the winds never came from a direction we needed.

By Sunday night wind was rising and the waves were uncomfortable (for us) so we moved into a heave to. Stayed there Sunday night. Monday morning weather router said a line of squalls was headed our way, with gusts up to 45-50 knots. Crew exhausted and our third hand was developing a double vision problem, so we turned around and headed for home.

We covered the distance it took us 60 hours to make fighting into a headwind in less than 12 hours. We made the PBA whistle again about 7 pm on Monday. Because the winds were not with us at this point, we decided to run on the engine. Engine died between the PBA and the MORSE A. We changed diesel fuel filters at sea, in the gathering dark and could not get the engine going again.

Finally gave up and called the Coast Guard. (Oh, the embarrasment of calling the Coast Guard to pull us in.) They sent a rescue vessel and towed us into the nearest safe harbor, on Vinylhaven at 12:45 Tuesday morning (according to the paperwork I have). We spent the night in Carvers Harbor, got the engine fixed at the shop there and motored home to Rockland by about 2 pm Tuesday. Our third hand grabbed his gear and headed for home. We have not heard from him.