Left out of Ft.Meyers this morning, heading for the Tortugas. Had waited an extra day here, because the weather forecast was not very good, but was about perfect for today. Of course weather forecasts are never wrong. This morning it was pretty nice, but as the day progressed, things continually got worse. Was not going to turn back, no matter what. Yeah, I know, hard headed and stubborn, thats me.
The thunderstorms kept popping up, getting more dense, and making more wind. By 2PM, winds were up to 25 to 30 knots. Seas approaching 10 to 12 feet. Steep, confused and close together. Still, the thought was to keep going. Had rolled up about 40% of the jib, and was about to reef the main, when BAM. Bow went way under, and when it came up, I no longer had a line to roll up the jib, and the bow light was torn away and just gone. I guess you could call what went on after that an adventure. Managed to get up on the bow, fish out the broken end of the furler line from the drum, and tie the broken pieces together. Of course the knot wouldn't fit through the blocks, so started one by one removing them. Then I discovered there wasn't enough line left to roll the jib all the way up. About 25% of it still out. So, I dropped the main, turned around and headed back to Ft. Meyers, using what jib was out, and the engine. I have about decided that there was something floating in the face of the wave I hit, and not just the wave. There is about 4 or 5 feet of the furler line for the jib just not there any more. The bow light was ripped completely off the bracket, and the front of the anchor roller is badly bent. Made it back to the marina in Ft.Meyers with no more problems, and will get things fixed and a new light installed tomorrow. And then off for the Tortugas again.
The thunderstorms kept popping up, getting more dense, and making more wind. By 2PM, winds were up to 25 to 30 knots. Seas approaching 10 to 12 feet. Steep, confused and close together. Still, the thought was to keep going. Had rolled up about 40% of the jib, and was about to reef the main, when BAM. Bow went way under, and when it came up, I no longer had a line to roll up the jib, and the bow light was torn away and just gone. I guess you could call what went on after that an adventure. Managed to get up on the bow, fish out the broken end of the furler line from the drum, and tie the broken pieces together. Of course the knot wouldn't fit through the blocks, so started one by one removing them. Then I discovered there wasn't enough line left to roll the jib all the way up. About 25% of it still out. So, I dropped the main, turned around and headed back to Ft. Meyers, using what jib was out, and the engine. I have about decided that there was something floating in the face of the wave I hit, and not just the wave. There is about 4 or 5 feet of the furler line for the jib just not there any more. The bow light was ripped completely off the bracket, and the front of the anchor roller is badly bent. Made it back to the marina in Ft.Meyers with no more problems, and will get things fixed and a new light installed tomorrow. And then off for the Tortugas again.
