Difficult decision; safety first

 

Dec 11 @ 6 a.m.

Fresh morning here after a very busy night. We ran before a 15-20 knot west wind all night, with triple reef main and double reefed jib. The seas were running about two meters and white horses ran with us all night breaking on the side deck occasionally. WW II has acquired some new and rather loud creaks and groans since my last passage. Her hull is moaning and that combined with the rigging and deck hardware clanging presents a cacophony of sounds that makes it rather difficult to sleep.

Not that sleep was available in any large measure. We gybed several times during the night which required immediate attention and a rude wakening from a nice warm bunk and deep sleep. The temperature outside is cool and bringing her back on course could be done from the cockpit so no need for full rain gear.

On one of my forays on deck I noticed we sailed through a school of fish whose shadows showed up as steaks in the bioluminescence, like the fish in Life Of Pi. Claire ate some dinner last night,  rice and fried zucchini which is a good start.

I will take one of the reefs out of the main after breakfast this morning which will bring us up to 7 knots. We have made a good 100 nm since noon yesterday and we should see 125 nm day today which brings us to less than 2000 nm to Tahiti.

I talked to Alek in Perth and Cliff in Belclutha on the ham radio last night at 08:00 zulu on 14.140 mz. Always great to catch up with those two friends. Isobel came on the air as well and sends her regards. We’re looking forward to a good day of sailing and plenty of rest again today. 

Dec 11 @ noon

All is well. Claire is resting and has been on deck this morning for an hour or so listening to music and enjoying the very fresh air.

I have been resting also. We have a full jib and triple reefed main and are running before the wind nicely, could go faster but the ride at 6.5 is fine and it’s important to be comfortable at the moment. We have been making a fair bit of water in the bilge and it seems, after thorough inspection, that it’s coming from some original caulking around a pair of keel bolts just ahead of the engine that has perished. We’re keeping an eye on it and searching for solutions. One is to get it dry and re caulk from above, and there are no others at this time. I am going to reinspect it again this afternoon. To say it is not troubling would be a lie.

I am trying to put it in perspective. I hope I can come up with something to stem the flow. We are pumping every two hours and it does not seem to be getting any worse. Other than that, things are all good here. Just going to make lunch and have started to turn the eggs.

Lat. 35′ 33.037’S

Long 179’11.629’E

Course 103 T

Speed 6.5kts

Wind W15

Waves W 2m

Cloud 100%

Temp below 20C

Daily run 140nm

Distance to Tahiti: 1989 nm

Dec 11 @ 5:30 p.m. Turning around

I’ve spent the last two hours evaluating our position and the leak in the bilge through the keel bolts. I’ve decided to return to New Zealand and do repairs. There are of course many things to consider and the impact of the decision on the arrangements already made but far and above all that it is and always will be safety first. So with that in mind, we will be turning around in the next hour and heading back. Not an easy decision to make but I believe it is the right one. As the next few days pass we can discuss the changes that will have to be made and what new options are available.

We will be back in the Bay of Islands in about three days time. 

Dec 11 @ 7:24 p.m. Heading back

We have turned around and are headed back. We’re beating hard on the wind, Claire is again down in her bunk and toughing it out, an amazing young women. WW II is beating with triple reef main and double reefed jib. Lots of water on deck and the motion is a lot different than when we were running. Tomorrow should bring a NW wind and we will be able to get on a starboard tack. For now we will work a little north and east. Our course is 349 t and our boat speed is 7 kts.  I have lots of feelings but I believe it is the right choice.