When I brought GANNET into her slip Wednesday morning I was held together by Band-Aids. One on my left leg. Two on my right. Two on my right forearm. And though I could not see them, I could feel the scabs on my head. Sailing GANNET is a contact sport.
As is noted in the passage log, I googled and learned that our skin does get thinner with age, starting at about age forty, which for me is more than half a lifetime ago. Dings go with the job.
I was tired for a day or two, but went down yesterday and stowed the outboard below and returned the interior into harbor mode, during which I threw away a lot of stuff which is always satisfying. When I was finished I telephoned Carol who drove to the marina parking lot so I could haul dirty clothes, my sleeping bag, unconsumed provisions, the failed tiller pilot and more up to the condo.
Above is a screen shot showing our noon positions in iSailor. I have marked our outward track in blue. The return in red.
The first flag on the blue track was our Tuesday position, the next Wednesday, and the last on the right, Thursday.
The wind changed Thursday night and headed us, so I turned back Friday dawn and the Friday noon position is thirteen miles north of where we were the day before. Saturday was stormy. We lay ahull that night and made little progress. Sunday night we were becalmed, sails down, and drifted back east, being at noon Monday ten miles north of where we were Saturday. Then the wind finally filled in from the south and we had a glorious beam reach all the way back to Hilton Head Island.
In the log you will find me debating what I would do about an instrument to display COG and SOG. Since returning I found the Velocitek ProStart on sale at a place called Fisherman’s Supply and have ordered one. Also the wind display has resumed working since I put it in full view of the sun for solar charging. How long it will hold a charge I do not yet know.
I have yet to sort out the depth sounder.
I shot videos which I have viewed once. After doing so again I will upload some.
Here is the passage log.
Tuesday, April 28. 2026
0645 left slip.
Carol came down with me and cast off the dock lines. I backed out until I was clear of the marina, which being the end slip was easy, then powered forward into the Intracoastal channel. The Evo takes a second or two to respond to changes between forward and reverse, so I don’t like to make them in close quarters. Being able just to back out was good.
Overcast predawn sky. Tide just beginning to ebb. Wind six or seven knots NW.
The Velocitek had failed. I took it up to the condo to charge, which it did, but then it would not respond to the control buttons, including turning off. I can still see COG and SOG through iSailor on my phone and watch.
However I also found that the wind display is not turning on. It did a few days ago when I tested it. Perhaps it needs solar charging. So until further notice, wind speeds will be estimates.
We powered at 2.5 knots against the headwind until we were in Port Royal Sound when I could fall far enough off to set the jib.
We sailed at 3 and 4 knots until we were clear of the shoals. At 0920 I furled the jib and pulled the Evo from the water and stowed it below.
0930 Jib set again along with running backstay. We are making an easy 5.7 knots, tide aided, down Port Royal Sound. Sun out. 65ºF. I woke at 5 and had juice and coffee at home, but am getting hungry and will make my breakfast oatmeal.
1200
31º 59’ N 080º 34’
COG 151º SOG 5.9
day’s run 23 miles
wind 17 knots SE
waves 3’
barometer 1026
sky mid-level overcast
We are still sailing with jib alone just aft of a beam reach. Rolling on waves.
Time is Eastern Daylight Time. Usually I keep zone time at sea, but it does not seem worthwhile to make the change back and forth for these few days. I would much prefer that we did not go on Daylight Time at all.
I put the wind display in the sun and it is now working.
A ship a mile east of us heading north.
1400 Light misty rain. We continue rolling SSE at 5 knots.
1500 Rain has stopped. Sky brighter. Wind lighter. 8 to 10 knots and has veered. I just set mainsail. We are making 4.5 knots 150-160º. Close reach.
1545 Headed. Tacked to starboard. Making 5 knots 060º. Starboard close reach.
1730 Pleasant sailing now. It was rough for a while. GANNET heeled 20º at which life on board becomes difficult. I saw that the tiller pilot was working hard to keep us on course. I partially furled the jib and re-trimmed the main, and the wind decreased. All of which helped.
I made myself a gin and tonic. I even brought along a lime. Air temperature of course and am listening to a Wyndham Hill album of movie music. Just now ‘Valse d’Amelie’, a charming movie.
It was too rough to have a drink on deck, so I sat on the starboard pipe berth facing the center line and looked out through the main hatch at the passing sea. A pleasant sight. If I were making a passage this would be welcomed sailing. Yet I am not and that somehow makes a difference. I have felt the difference ever since I completed my sixth circumnavigation.
Do I like being out here? Of course. Even being reminded how difficult some very routine things are, such as wiggling forward to get a new gas cartridge for the JetBoil or making a gin and tonic. Yet it is not the same. I find myself thinking I should just be able to enjoy the moment, but having a destination seems to make a difference.
1820 We are passing just north of Horn Navy Tower R7. A small target, but I would not like to run into it. And there is another tower fifty miles ahead. It takes forever to get clear of this coast.
1845 Wind very light. Only 3 or 4 knots. The Navy Tower is still only a mile away, but behind us now. Flopping around. Small leftover waves rolling the wind from the sails.
2000 Becalmed. Sails down. Still rolling on leftover waves. Almost full moon to the east. Fading yellow light above line of cloud to the west. Navy Horn Tower visible. Now two and a half miles behind us.
Wednesday, April 29
0615. An unpleasant windless, rolly night. I could not get to sleep until after midnight. Up fifteen minutes ago to find wind from the south. I raised the main and partially furled jib and we are making 5 knots east toward pre-dawn glow of the sun. Our position is only six miles east of the Navy Horn Tower we passed yesterday evening. I am tired. Going to make a cup of coffee.
1200
31º 37’ N 079º 30’ W
COG 125º SOG 5.7
day’s run 57 miles
wind 15 SSW
waves 3-4’
barometer 1018
sky high overcast with sun breaking through
Ominous dark sky this morning caused me to lower the main and continue under partially furled jib. We were still making 6 knots. That sky resulted in only a few drops of rain before brightening.
The wind has backed and we are on a broad reach. Now under full jib.
The wind display did not turn on first thing this morning, but did after placing it in the sun.
I changed from Levis and long sleeved shirt to shorts and t-shirt. 79F in Great Cabin with main hatch open.
I dozed off reading at Central this morning and will likely take a nap this afternoon.
Getting back in the rhythm of life underway.
1530 The sky darkens and it looks as though we are going to get more rain, then it brightens again. Brighter now.
We are in the Gulf Stream, being set north. Our compass heading is 090-095º. Our COG in iSailor is 065-070º.
The barometer has dropped to 1012. That is a rather precipitous decline since noon.
I scraped my leg on I know not what or when. It is a common occurrence. I wasn’t aware of it until I saw the blood. I once googled and learned that we do indeed become thin skinned as we grow old. I have cleaned it with hydrogen peroxide and Hibiclens, a liquid soap skin doctors have told me to use before being sliced, and put Polysporin and a band-aid on it, but it is still pulsing at intervals with twinges of pain.
1800 A lovely hour.
At 1700 as is my custom on land or sea I made myself a drink. This a gin and tonic. Air temperature of course, but I did bring a lime which I sliced. Among GANNET’s equipment is a sharp knife and a tiny cutting board.
I would have liked to have moved the Sportaseat and sat on deck, but did not because the occasional wave is slapping onto GANNET and the running backstay is crossing the area I would put the seat on, so I stood in the companionway and sipped and listened and watched the waves as I have for decades, felt the wind against my skin, and was briefly at peace.
1830 The sky is clearing to the west. Obviously a front is passing without much wind or rain. Good front.
The wind has weakened. I could set the mainsail. Were I making a passage I would, but I have no destination. I am seeking only enjoyment of the present, if not the monastery of the sea, and I am finding it.
I am not escaping from an unhappy life ashore.
I live with beauty ashore. Live oaks. Spanish moss. Carol, the right woman at the right time.
But there is a part of this man born about as far from the ocean as is possible, who is in some ways only truly himself alone there.
1900 It has been interesting and instructive to watch this front pass.
Now a pleasant sky and 12 knots of wind.
On the way out not having a destination I can choose my wind angle. On the way back, having a destination, I won’t be able to, but I will be able to decide how hard to push against adverse wind or to wait for a change. Quite different from making a passage.
2000 The barometer is at 1010 and the sky is clear.
To the east the full moon rising. A beauty I would not have known if I were not here.
Thursday, April 30
0700 The first part of the night was smooth, but then the wind picked up and we began moving too violently, so I deeply furled the jib.
I had trouble finding a satisfactory sleeping position. My back was bothering me, but I did sleep until 0530.
Larger waves. 6-7’. Wind about 15 knots. Still from the SSW. Barometer 1008. High overcast with a few blue patches.
I just realized that I forgot to take my wedding ring off which I always do when sailing. I don’t want it to catch on anything. But when I went to remove it, at first I couldn’t. My fingers have swollen. I was finally successful.
1200
31º 33’ N 076º 52’ W
COG 080º SOG 4.3 knots
day’s run 135 miles
wind 8 knots SW
waves 4’
barometer 1009
sky low overcast light rain
Rain has been falling for the past hour. Light, but enough to cause me to put the slat in the companionway hatch. Wind has diminished with the rain.
Our day’s run was greater than I expected. Made all under jib alone, deeply furled since 0400. I will amble along until the rain ends when there may be a wind shift.
I shaved this morning for the first time since Monday. I use an electric razor and have a small hand mirror, but mostly shave by feel.
1400 A half hour ago the expected wind shift abruptly came. Southwest to northwest in an instant and increasing to 20-25 knots with moderate rain.
The small amount of jib I had set backed, but the tiller pilot was able to keep us pointing east while I got into my foul weather gear, went on deck, furled the jib to t-shirt size and trimmed it to the starboard winch, first removing the running backstay on that winch and setting up the port running backstay.
The wind has decreased and we continue east at 2 to 3 knots under dark low sky until I see what happens.
When I came below and removed my foul weather parka I found a gash on my right forearm. Not serious.
I am still wearing foul weather pants in case I have to go on deck again quickly.
1520 Rain has stopped. Low clouds have disappeared. Some clearing. Wind has returned to the southwest. Very light. GANNET being thrown about on leftover 5’ swells.
I will now attend to my wounds.
1630 Thinning high clouds, but the sun is shining. Very light wind. The wind display is not working, but only maybe three knots. GANNET rolling east at a knot or two.
1700 The sky is darkening to the west. Perhaps there is more to come.
AlpineAire Grilled Chicken with Spinach Alfredo Pasta is steeping.
James Galway is performing Japanese melodies on the flute in a album, ‘Enchanted Forest’.
A tumbler of New Zealand sauvignon blanc is on the floorboards and at intervals being sipped.
1730 The Grilled Chicken with Spinach Alfredo Pasta was quite good. Were I on a passage the packet would have made two meals, but I just ate about half and threw the other half overboard.
I am sitting on the starboard pipe berth, one foot balancing on the port pipe. Sipping wine. Listening James Galway and the slight sounds of GANNET moving through the water. Very pleasant. I cherish such moments. But sailing without a destination is not fully satisfying.
I found myself often thinking these past two days that if I were on a passage I would be so pleased to be making these comfortable miles to the next port. But there being no next port and knowing I will have to turn around, that I am on a tether, makes a difference, and that there is no next destination that has meaning for me.
Part of me understood the moment I stepped onto the Customs Dock on San Diego’s Harbor Island, completing my sixth circumnavigation that the second part of my life had ended. It had and I have yet fully to come with terms with that.
I am glad to be out here. I am glad to use GANNET. But it is not the same.
Friday, May 1
0630 I woke a half hour ago after a quiet night to find the wind has gone NNE. The tiller pilot was keeping us pointing east with the scrap of jib backed. I turned us, unfurled more of the jib and raised the main. We are making 6 and 7 knots on a course of about 280º. Hilton Head is 230 miles, bearing 278º. The sky is partially clear, partially low clouds. The barometer is slightly up to 1010.
0930 Wind continues to veer. We are now on a very broad reach. The main was blanketing the jib, so I lowered it. We are making 5 knots under full jib. Low clouds, but the barometer is rising. Now 1012.
1200
31º 45’ N 076º 51’ W
COG 275º SOG 5 knots
day’ run: we reversed course and are 13 miles due north of yesterday’s noon position
wind 10 knots
waves 3’
barometer 1011
sky high haze
Hilton Head 195 miles bearing 278 º
The wind has continued to veer. I gybed the jib to starboard. Smooth sailing.
1650 The sky has clouded over and misty rain is falling. We continue to sail smoothly at 5 knots under full jib on a very broad reach. To keep the jib from collapsing and because we will be set north by the Gulf Stream, I have us sailing smoothly on a heading of about 250º. It would be fortunate to reach out and reach back, though this wind is not likely to last.
I am sitting on the port pipe berth, facing the center line, my feet braced against the starboard pipe berth, though we are sailing mostly level, sipping Botanist gin and listen to an album of Ennio Morricone’s superior movie music. A few minutes ago I realized I had not read any poetry today. I did listen to Bach. So I paused the music and read ten pages of THE PENGUIN BOOK OF HAIKU and ten of an anthology, POEM COLLECTION.
The music has resumed and I am about to heat a freeze dry feast.
1807 Light rain is falling.
I am again sitting on the port pipe berth and did not feel the rain. I saw it landing on the starboard pipe berth and closed the hatch.
No increase in wind.
We continue to sail smoothly east.
The music has changed to ‘Voices’ by Vangelis.
The freeze dry feast was Mountain House Beef Stew.
This one, too, on a passage would have been two meals. I ate about two-thirds.
I am pleased that I can still live out here.
1832 Light rain continues to fall without any change in the wind.
If I were in the condo I would look out at the changes in weather, but not be effected. Here I am almost immediately effected. I have to respond rather than just look out. I like that.
2000 Light rain is falling, but there has been no change in the wind.
We have been mostly sailing level, but now I will gybe the Avon and foul weather gear to starboard. I plan to sleep on the port pipe berth unless there are changes in the night,
2230 I am not certain what just happened.
I do know there was rain and a wind shift back to the northeast, but in darkness it is confused.
I put on foul weather gear and a headlamp and went on deck, re-trimmed the backed jib from starboard to port, disengaged the port running backstay, set up the starboard running backstay, and came below where I had to move the food bags, the second set of foul weather gear, and the Avon inflatable from the starboard pipe berth to the port berth.
Through all of this we continued west.
Saturday, May 2
0800 I woke about 0330 to the sound of the jib flailing. The wind had returned to the southwest. I furled the jib and let us drift until dawn, when I got up and turned us west, set the main with a reef in it and the full jib. The wind is light enough to carry full sail, but the sky is covered with low dark clouds and I want to be ready for gusts. We are pointing more or less west, but being carried NNW by the Gulf Stream. Hilton Head is 144 miles, still bearing 278º. I am having a cup of coffee.
1020 Removed reef from main. It doesn’t make much difference. Less than 5 knots of wind from the north. Bow pointing west. COG in iSailor is 1 to 2 knots north. Rain to the east and south,
1200
31º 53’ N 077º 57’ W
day’s run 58 miles
COG 247º SOG 2.4 knots
wind 4-5 knots
waves 2’
barometer 1008
sky complete high cloud cover, rain to the east
Hilton Head 139 miles bearing 278º
A half hour ago the wind veered far enough for us to gybe onto a port broad reach. The heading is considerably closer to Hilton Head.
1500 Heavy rain. Sailing close hauled port under main alone. Black clouds to the NE with thunder passed behind us. I do not like lightning. GANNET’s mast is not tall, but it is the highest thing around for many miles. I am in foul weather gear ready to go on deck quickly. I just was on deck to set the tiller pilot ten degrees more off the wind. The remote didn’t work from inside the cabin.
1722 Backcountry Santa Fe Rice and Beans with Chicken is steeping. One of my favorites. David Lanz’s “Cristofori’s Dream’ is playing on the Megaboom speakers. GANNET is making her way slowly under full main and deeply reefed jib. She could carry more sail, but so far this afternoon every time I set more jib, a gust came and buried the lee rail in the ocean. I do not want that to happen while I am eating dinner. Her bow is pointing west, but her COG according to iSailor is all over the place.
The sky is still low. No rain is falling on us at the moment. The barometer is 1005, the lowest reading so far, but looking at the sky, I believe the worst of the front has passed.
The Great Cabin is wet.
I was up and down many times this afternoon and rain came below. I have lived today in foul weather gear and sea boots. It was a hard afternoon because of the shifting wind direction and strengths.
I have written that I do hard. That is part of my job description. You probably did not know that I even have a job description, and perhaps you will forgive me for observing that with the years doing hard is getting harder. But I am rather glad to have had this afternoon. To know that I can still do it. And GANNET sails wonderfully. I have no experience with big boats, but some little boats are so responsive they are a joy. In some of the heaviest rain and wind, the tiller pilot could not respond quickly enough and I took the tiller and steered. Maybe in time machines will be able to do that better than we can, but for now a good sailor is better than the best machine.
The Santa Fe Rice and Beans with Chicken has steeped long enough.
I will feast.
1846 I just checked. We are eight miles from our noon position. I could have just lowered the main and furled the jib and read, but I didn’t. Perhaps foolish, Perhaps not.
1942 Chaos.
I shot a video which may show this. I haven’t looked at it.
We were overwhelmed. I doubt the wind was more than in the 35 knot range and I expected it would not last long, but it did. Sails were flogging. GANNET was heeled far over. I had to hold myself from falling through the cabin. The lee rail was buried. Finally I stopped videoing and went on deck. I could barely furl the jib. It took all my strength. I finally managed and then let go the main halyard. The sail came most of the way down. I had to go to the mast to lower it completely while GANNET was being tossed around by the waves. Ultimately the sail was lowered and secured to the boom. I put the tiller amidships held by the tiller pilot, then put the tiller pilot on standby, and came below and turned it off.
The wind is still howling.
I am sitting on the starboard pipe berth. A wave just slammed into the hull behind me. I felt the hull flex.
2023 Even under bare poles GANNET is heeled 15º. Her motion is not severe. I will be able to get some sleep. If when I wake during the night this has passed I may get underway, but most likely we will not start sailing again until after dawn tomorrow.
Before we do I will have to re-glue mounts for the electrical wires to the tiller pilot connection.
The bilge was full and in getting the hand bilge pump from the space between the pipe berths I caught it on the wires and detached the mounts.
Sunday, May 3
0700 We are again underway. Making 4 knots under a scrap of jib after lying ahull through the night. Sunshine. Barometer up to 1016. Wind around 20 knots from the east. Some remaining 6’ waves.
I have been awake since about 0300. I could not find a comfortable position in which to sleep without back pain.
I was concerned that the Gulf Stream might sweep us north while lying ahull, but it didn’t. We are five miles west of our noon position yesterday.
I re-glued the wire mounts before setting sail with SuperGlue. They are holding.
1200
31º 58’ N 078º 13’ W
day’s run 15 miles
COG 290º SOG 2.7 knots
wind 18 knots and weakening
waves 5’
barometer 1018
sky sunny
Hilton Head 125 miles bearing 275º
I have let out a little more jib.
I think we are still being set by the Gulf Stream.
1330 A nice afternoon. Wind about 15 knots. Waves down to 3’. Sunny and cloudless.
The tiller pilot died. I heard it making excessive noise and saw it going full over side to side. It got very wet yesterday. Replaced it with another.
We are sailing on a broad reach under full jib more or less on course for Hilton Head. We seem no longer being set by the Gulf Stream.
I am no longer living in foul weather gear.
1530 Wind has gone light. Less than 10 knots. Full main and jib set.
1800 We lay ahull last night, drifting because of too much wind. We may drift sails down tonight because of too little wind.
I have feasted on freeze dry Louisiana Beans and Rice, followed by some chocolate and Tasmania Pure Vodka and music: Vangelis’s ‘Themes’ Album.
The entrance to Port Royal Sound is 115 miles away, bearing 275º. As some of you know I am willing to enter Port Royal Sound after dark. Will we be anchored there sometime tomorrow night? I do not know and it does not matter. I miss the company of Carol and a shower, but another day or two or five or twenty, if it came to that, do not matter. The ocean is not the same to me as it was when I was circumnavigating, but I am still at home out here.
2016 A spectacular sunset: orange and rose and red. No wind. Sails down. Rolling on leftover waves.
Monday, May 4
0630 Becalmed all night. Becalmed now. I had a good night’s sleep.
We have drifted east and are now 10 miles north of our noon position Sunday. The mouth of Port Royal Sound is 138 miles away, bearing 274. This seems familiar.
0730 Sailing slowly west. Starboard beam reach. Full main and jib. Wind less than five knots from the north. Sunny. Barometer 1018.
1200
32º 06’ N 77º 57’ W
day’s run -15 miles (We have drifted away from HH.)
COG SOG becalmed
wind becalmed
waves flat
barometer 1018
sky sunny
Hilton Head 136 miles bearing 273º
Nothing to add to the above.
1600 We have sailed slowly all day and Hilton Head is still 134 miles away. I can’t seem to get closer. Now on port broad reach with the wind—if it can be called that—having veered a bit south of east.
With the sun behind the mainsail this afternoon I noticed two small holes near the foot. They probably came from chaff when the sail was tied to the boom when we were lying ahull the other night. I applied sail repair tape to them.
These sails are North DLi, molded and not sewn. They are very strong.
I will check on the proper way to repair them when I get in.
I don’t think the holes will be a problem and I can always set the main with a reef.
1730 I am back below after a couple of Tasmanian Pure and tonics on deck. The lime was covered with mold.
When I first went on deck the wind died and I had to sit on the cockpit sole to prevent the boom swinging back and forth from hitting my head. Eventually the slight wind settled and I put a preventer on the boom and was able to sit on the deck and sip my drinks, listening to music.
I did not realize at the time that this was the beginning of thirty-six hours of wonderful sailing.
I agree that the anguish and pain of life are appropriate themes for art. I have written about them myself, but I prefer to experience and write about and listen to music about joy and serenity. So I did. First Olafur Arnalds’s ‘Found Songs’ and then Erik Satie’s ‘Gymnopedies’ and ‘Gnossiennes’.
So I have finished my drinks and come below to prepare this evening’s freeze dry feast.
It has been a pleasant day—if I ignore that we are no closer to Hilton Head Island now than we were at dawn.
For more than forty-eight hours we have been within a ten mile circle. That is not good. I need the illusion of progress. I need to see Hilton Head Island becoming closer.
1900 I stood in the companionway and observed the sky and sea.
The sky has scattered puffy low clouds like a trade wind sky. The sea has small wavelets as to be expected in about five knots of wind. I try to judge if this wind will last through the night. I do not know. I hope it does. I would like to get home.
I have said I am at home out here, and I am as much as any of our species can be, but our species went on the land and we, unlike dolphins made the wrong decision and remained.
1930 Arvo Part’s ‘Spiegel in Spiegel’ is playing;
I have gybed my sleeping bag and pillow to the port pipe berth and the Avon and food bags and foul weather gear to starboard.
Maybe at dawn Hilton Head will at last be less than 130 miles away.
Tuesday, May 5
0600 The light wind lasted and we sailed smoothly at 2 and 3 knots through the night. The mouth of Port Royal Sound is now 103 miles away beyond 272º.
1200
32º 12’ N 079º 04’ W
day’s run 58 miles
COG 270º SOG 5.1
wind 8-9 knots
waves 1’
barometer 1018
sky sunny wide scattered low puffy clouds
Hilton Head 79 miles bearing 272º
Lovely sailing this morning with GANNET making 4 and 5 knots in about that much wind. Few other boats could. In the last hour the wind has increased to 8-9 knots, still on the beam, and our speed has increased to 7 and 8 knots.
1430 We have had perfect sailing since about 1900 last evening. Wind steady on a beam reach. Smooth seas. Sailing joy. It would be wonderful if this continues the rest of the way. Port Royal Sound now 68 miles away. GANNET sailing at 5 knots.
This morning I saw a small boat south and then east of us. It just roared by. A small powerboat, about 20’, with two men, presumably fishermen, on it. I was sitting on deck and we waved as they passed a quarter mile away heading toward Hilton Head. I assume they will be in within a couple of hours. I thought they were a long way out in such a small boat. I expect they thought the same about me.
1745 I just furled the jib to slow us down.
We were making 5 knots with fifty miles to the mouth of Port Royal Sound which would put us there at a sleepless 0300. So we are now making about 4 knots which would put us there at first light and enable me to get some sleep. I will adjust during the night as conditions indicate.
Wednesday, May 6
0600 We are just off the outermost buoy of the channel into Port Royal Sound at first light.
I have had only two hours of sleep.
I tried to go to sleep early at 2000, but slept only an hour. I slept for another hour around midnight. And then got up for good at 0200 and sat at Central. There are just too many buoys and towers and ships and boats out here to run into or be run into by.
I made a cup of coffee at 0300 and slowed us down. First by furling the jib and then by easing the main sheet far out.
I popped my head above deck at frequent intervals. The lights of a half dozen shrimp boats were visible and some passing ships.
Finally I saw the lights on the channel buoys and here we are just when I wanted to be.
Another sailboat, a large racing trimaran is a half mile abeam of us. Only her mainsail is set. She is not moving much faster than GANNET.The wind is still on the beam.
I have unfurled the jib and properly trimmed the main. Exactly the wind I wanted has lasted now for more than thirty-six hours. GANNET is making 7 and 8 knots tide aided.
0930 The trimaran turned on her engine and disappeared ahead.
GANNET continued under sail.
I turned on the depth sounder and got nothing. This has happened before and has been due to a loose wire connection. I jiggled the wires without success.
Not a problem. I know these waters and can see our depth in iSailor.
I sailed into the sound until the water smoothed then furled the jib and feathered the main to slow to fit the outboard, but fully battened mains are hard to depower and we were still moving too fast, so I had to let go the halyard and drop the sail. Then I was able to fit the outboard mount and the Evo shaft and tiller arm, but I had unusual difficulty in getting the battery in place. Finally it snapped in. I pressed the button and the outboard started. However we were too far from the mouth of Skull Creek, so I kept it in neutral, and with the main already down, unfurled the jib to sail to the mouth of the creek.
At that moment the wind which had been perfect for so long changed. It veered and headed us and increased to 18 to 20 knots. The tiller pilot was overwhelmed. I had to hand steer and we had to beat our way, heeled gunnel deep, two miles to the green marker at the entrance to Skull Creek, where I furled the jib and put the Evo in gear. The battery reading was 94%. The wind was blowing hard out of the creek, but the tide was with us. I had my iPhone with me in the cockpit and kept our SOG as shown in iSailor at between 2 and 2.5 knots.
We made the long curve in Skull Creek with the wind gusting hard against us and the tide turning us sideways. I already had the dock lines and fenders in place and was able to let the tiller pilot steer with my glancing back repeatedly to check the remaining battery charge, which remained above 80%, but I had not forgotten when the battery suddenly went to zero along that stretch of Skull Creek.
As we rounded the curve I was pleased to have a straight course to our slip.
A couple of small power boats got in the way, but moved off.
I had not entered the new slip from Skull Creek.
It was not a straight shot in, but almost. An approach from an angle, but only a slight turn, balancing strong wind ahead and strong current behind.
I bought new longer docklines for GANNET. I tied the bow line to the stern line with a square knot, held the combined lines in my left hand, kept my right on the Evo throttle, eased in, stepped onto the dock, caught the lines around a cleat, and the sail that ended in joy was over.
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