Mahina Kai – Day 6 Marion to Bermuda – Land Ho

Wind SW 12kts Seas 2-4ft

Mahina Kai – Day 6 Marion to Bermuda – Land Ho

The final task related to the race is to finish.  Bermuda is a figure-8 laying sideways with Hamilton Harbour and the Great Sound to the west, and St. Georges Harbour to the east.  The entire western and northern coastline is protected by over 300 square miles of coral reef which makes the race finish and approach into Hamilton Harbour especially complex. 

Many boats are converging on the finish now, and are popping up on our charts as they get closer.  As we approach, we have a half-dozen navigation aids that we need to pass to the right on the way to the finish line.  After the finish off St. Georges, we turn out to sea, loop around to the West and enter the channel.  Since this is a night finish, we will anchor at St. Georges, and sail to Hamilton in the morning.  It will take a couple hours for us to navigate the channel through the reefs to the Western end of Bermuda and the Great Sound to Hamilton.

This year, the America’s Cup is being held in Bermuda, and the boats are racing in the Great Sound, which we will need to pass through on the way to our port at the Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.  Additionally, this year, there will be large J-boat racing in the ocean along the south side of the island.  The J-boats are 100’ racers, and they will look quite spectacular racing in sight of the pink-sand beaches of Bermuda’s southern shore.  

Once we arrive at the RHADC, and give the boat a bath, I look forward to the RHADC fish stew served with Goslings rum and sherry peppers.

On the menu today breakfast burritos, sandwiches, tacos for dinner. Cookie of the day: Suns!

#SVMahinaKai #MBR2017

Mahina Kai – Day 5 Marion to Bermuda – Calm Seas

Wind SW 3kts Seas 1-2ft

Mahina Kai – Day 5 Marion to Bermuda – Calm Seas

Weather weather everywhere, but not a gust to sail by.

Another day of struggling to find a puff of air.  We had a few periods of modest wind, but largely calm with little progress. 

The monotony of the day was punctuated by a visit from a pod of dolphins, which always excites the crew.  A few seabirds enjoyed fishing in the wake of our boat, and we passed an occasional Portuguese Man o’ War.  These fellows are even more at the wims of mother nature, relying solely on wind propulsion captured by their above-water sail.

Normally on sail races, it is bouncy, the boat is heeled over, and eating is on paper plates.  With the weather being so calm, the Captain has called for the china to be brought out of the closet for a dinner al fresco in the cockpit with lasagna, salad, and fresh fruit cup.  Cookie of the day: Stars!

 

We continue to hope for some gathering weather, but if this does not come, we will have some serious discussions about our provisions, and how long we can continue enjoying this Bermuda High.

#SVMahinaKai #MBR2017

Mahina Kai – Day 4 Marion to Bermuda – Weatherman said there’d be days like this

Wind SW 6.6kts Seas 1ft

Mahina Kai – Day 4 Marion to Bermuda – Weatherman said there’d be days like this

The Weatherman said there’d be days like this.  There’d be days like this, the Weatherman said.

Having cleared the main Gulf stream current, we are now in the third leg of this race, the Sargasso Sea and Bermuda approach.  The challenge now is to thread the needle of ocean currents and setup a route that provides the fastest path to the finish line outside.

At the Skipper’s briefing on Thursday, the Meteorologist described how the winds from the receding storm on Friday would give way to high pressure areas around Bermuda, and cause winds to lighten.  He said to bring a deck of cards for the last leg.  He was right about that!  In late evening yesterday, winds began to fade, and today we find ourselves with barely four knots of wind and flat seas.  Although we see no vessels around us, we know many other boats are experiencing the same situation. 

When there is a little wind, a sailboat cuts through the chop of the waves and rides relatively smoothly to its powerboat cousins.  But, when there is no wind, a sailboat bobs around like a cork in a bucket.  When waves move past, the boat rocks back and forth, unfilled sails rattling.   It becomes noisy, bouncy, and a difficult place to sleep!

Today on the watch, we have seen some Portuguese Man o’ War, and Sargasso seaweed, which becomes more prevalent once we pass the gulf stream.

Thankfully, we get a little lift in the wind around lunchtime.  We adjust our sails, make final course adjustment to Bermuda, and we are on our way.  Progress is modest, but at least we are making forward advancement against the currents.  This fades after a few hours and in the afternoon we are again halted and bobbing.  There is a wind rally around dinnertime.  We are hopeful for some consistency in the wind, which will make for some progress in the night.

BLT Sandwiches and chicken salad are on the menu, chicken pot pie for dinner, Cookie of the day is: Blue whales.

#SVMahinaKai #MBR2017