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Everything Wet – Crew Safe – Computer okay
3 Comments
In the midst of a storm, when all is wet including the bunks, the crew of Delicate Balance sent this very brief message from their navigation station:We are in rough seas, much water over boat, every thing wet including most bunks.
Are we fun yet?
No danger, just uncomfortable.
42N 16.42 speed 9 knots course 209
Love to all
We can’t heat anymore as alcohol fuel is in cockpit locker, dare not open.That says it all……. They are safe. We couldn’t ask for more.
Published on July 6, 2010 · Filed under: Vic-Maui Race 2010; Tagged as: racing in gale force winds, tracking the vic maui 2010 race, Vic-Maui Race 2010
3 Responses to “Everything Wet – Crew Safe – Computer okay”
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Delicate Balance said on July 5th, 2010 at 10:05 pm
By day 3 we were in 30 knots of wind with gusts a high as 40 and seas had built. We were sailing fast under reefed main and full jib when the first of many waves swept right over us, dousing the lee berths. We dropped the main and sailed on with just the blade. During the night we were doused several more times, and the furling line on the jib broke, allowing the jib to unfurl. Russ fought it down and called for the storm jib.
The morning of day 4 had us running under just the storm jib, still sailing at 9 to 10 knots with the odd surge much higher. We switched off all instruments to conserve power as the engine would not start and the house batteries were getting low. We were nor worried about hitting anything, there was literally nothing out there except waves.
Delicate Balance has no dodger or cockpit shelter. The companionway opens directly into the sleeping area (pipe berths in the quarters and the settees). The cockpit has an open transom. in 35+ years of sailing I have only been pooped once before, but in DB (now renamed Diabolic Bastard by the crew) we were pooped so many times we lost count. The first time it happened I was sitting in the floor of the cockpit sheltering from the wind when a huge wave broke over the side, filling the cockpit up to my neck, and totally soaking the inside of my foulies. The companionway was closed so not much went inside, but later we were hit in similar manner with hatch open as crew members went in or out.
By day 4 every birth was wet. Pierre (le Capitan) made a valiant effort to dry them with towels, flip the cushions, and wipe off the sleeping bags. Just moments after he announced we would all have a dry bunk to sleep in, another wave entered the hatch, and all the berths were wet again.
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Joy said on July 9th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Considering that the boat Delicate Balance has taken so much water, and the electronics still work, communication still in place… the crew did well. Delicate Balance managed to have daily communication for family members even in the midst of the storm puts the family members at ease. This shows a great deal of sensitivity and respect for the loved ones.
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Peter said on July 11th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
This is a very informative and honest blog, with great photos. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us. You have made the experience easy for us non-boaters to understand.
