Page 56 - SOA 109

Quick Blast

We had settled in to a 4 hour on/off watch system. During our second night
the wind started to back and decrease to F3 we motor sailed into an
increasing choppy Baltic Sea just North of
Bornholm.
By the afternoon of our third day the wind was
increasing but now from the SW F5/6 gusting
7 and, on the nose, accompanied by heavy
showers. Suffice to say Thursday night was not
much fun. We had 3 reefs in the main and a
half-rolled jib and were bashing into a
stopping sea. We were both clipped on as
soon as we got into the cockpit. At one-point
Ben went down to get some sleep in the main
cabin but came straight back up as he saw the
rig pumping through the forward-facing
window. We checked the adjustment on the
back stay but it was pretty much at its maximum tension. At pretty much
the worst period of weather still gusting 7 and during a very dark night we
were North of Fehmarn in Germany and on the edge of a very busy shipping
lane. A couple of times we thought it prudent to call up a couple of vessels
we saw on AIS just to check we were visible. The first time I called a tug that
was coming towards us and checked he could see our tricolour – he said he
had us AIS but in the weather conditions could not really see our Nav lights!
We then paid even more attention to the AIS. Later that night the weather
calmed down and we crossed the shipping lane and headed for South
Denmark.

We motor sailed until the wind returned then up sails and tacked our way
to Sonderborg on the Danish Island of Als. We tied up along the town quay
in the sunshine around 14.00hrs and had covered 450NM in under three
and a half days (see route below). The rig survived but I need to investigate
why it is pumping dangerously. Also, I had to remove around 4 full washing
bowls of water from the bilges beneath the main cabin floor again need to
investigate its point of entry and rectify. However, we made it and mostly
enjoyed the trip, to celebrate we had a beer in a waterfront café and

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