Boating & Biking Adventures

Category: Saint Martin

St. Martin to Bermuda – Logblog 3

Another day passed. 160nm in 24 hours. Not bad. Rainer is happy and I am amused. 😀
 
In the afternoon hours we saw another sailing vessel ahead of us. First encounter since we left. The race was on. We called them over VHF and after a while got a reply. The voice and timbre sounded familar to me. Yes, Horst and Christina from SY Malou were next to us, my neighbours for a few days in Mindelo/Cabo Verde. What a damned small world in the middle of this vast pond. We talked a while on the radio and concluded to meet up at the anchorage in Saint George.
 
On top we just celebrated the start of our downhill passage, 430nm behind us, same distance ahead towards Saint George/Bermuda. The second half of the passage will be a bit more challenging from a wind perspective but we are prepared as wind angle and speed will not be as favorable as we got them up to know. No option out here, we need to deal with it.
 
Days are getting longer but temperature (air and water) have dropped. The jumper becomes the new normal during the nights…
 
Fair winds…
Bernd

St. Martin to Bermuda – Logblog 2

A wonderful night has passed, very pleasant and fast sail. Good rest starting the day with a morning tea.
 
Intermar e.V. has joined us again on this passage and I am very happy about the additional support and advice we are receiving. Namely Uwe/DD1HUR, who has become a solid sailing and ham friend over the years, both of us having a link to Singapore as well. Examplary, please find below one of the mails received.
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Message ID: 860757DD8784 Date: 2023/04/15 12:25 From: DD1HUR
To: DL9BS
Cc: DF5AM; 9H2RA
Source: DD1HUR Downloaded-from: RMS:8P6BWS
 
Subject: Atlantikwetter 15.0.2023
 
Lieber Bernd & Crew,
also, wie gestern angesprochen die “Fortsetzung”…. :
 
Die angesprochene Front hat sich südlich verlagert und ihr müsstet sie heute nacht “genossen” haben. Insgesamt sieht das Wetter wieder “oassatmässig” aus, die übliche Bewölkung und jetzt wohl um die 15 Kn aus E.
 
Das sieht alles ganz gut aus, auch die längerfristige Prognose scheint sich etwas abzumildern, d.h. das angesprochene Tief soll offensichtlich nicht so weit in die Näde der Bermudas kommen, als dass ihr NW Wind bekommen solltet. Also, es sieht alles eher nach “grünem Bereich aus. Apropos, denkt dran, Sargassogras wird irgendwann um euch herumschwimmen und so, außerdem nähert ihr euch dem “großen Müllkreisel”, nicht, dass ihr da gegen irgend etwas fahrt – wir sind da mal dicht an einem Tauwerkknäuel vorbeigefahren von ca. 3m Durchmesser…. (kein Seemannsgarn).
 
Ihr solltet ansonsten recht gut vorankommen. Ab ca. 28°N – nach meiner Rechnung solltet ihr da so gegen 12:00 UTC Montag sein, flaut der Wind ab – der angesprochene Kernbereich des Hochs – und der Wind dreht dann bis auf SE die Schwachwindzeit sollte bis Dienstag 12:00 UTC andaueern. Man kann das alles segeln, aber ich würde wirklich empfehlen da mal den Diesel zu nutzen und das mit wenigsens 5 Kn zu überwinden. Ab ca. 30N sollte es dann wieder besser werden. Da der Wind aber auch da noch von S kommt, ist er eigentlich zum “richtigen Segeln” zu schwach, d.h. ich denke eher Stützsegel und nach- wie vor Maschine. Igendwann geht es dann wieder besser.
 
Insgesamt ist es auch so, dass ihr im Moment wohl nict so sehr auf die Höhe achten müsst, in der Schwachwindzone kann man das alles korrigieren, also, ich würde z.Zt. versuchen optimal zu segeln, s bis zu 345. Ab ca. 25°N könnt ihr mit der Winddrehung dann wieder weiter N bis NNE fahren bis ihr, wie o.a., an die Schwachwindzone geratet und dann seid ihr praktisch wieder auf der direkten Kurslinie. Also, alles eigentllich ganz easy. Es sieht nicht so aus, dass ihr Rösser schlachten müsstet, oder die armen Viecher verdursten 🙂 .
Also, gute Fahrt, gute Wache und
vy 73, Uwe
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Every day we get updates and recommendations and that does also include cape factors from name twin Uwe/DF5AM based in Lanzarote. Very much apprciated.
 
We look forward to another sugar sailing day.
 
Fair winds…
Bernd

St. Martin to Bermuda – Logblog 1

As ususal, at the beginning of a passage, I am late and lazy with my logblogs. First I though to skip them at all but here is briefly what happened:
 
We were sailing as per the schedule to St. Martin for final grocery shopping and refilling our gas bottles with butane. These were the last too items on the list before our vacuum cleaner went on strike. In parallel I realized that the weather window was already open for our passage to Bermuda and departure the sooner the better became our line of thinking. After all items ashore were completed (except the gas bottles), the lady got prepared (including testing the new vaccum cleaner) and we lifted the anchor after a final swim in the gorgeous waters of Marigot Bay. The intention was to leave the shores during daylight not to get in any argument with the fishing buoys spreading around in shallow waters.
 
We are now 42h or 263nm away from St. Martin. Good winds in conjunction with perfect trimming, thanks to Rainer, have made this possible.
 
It became a pleasant night and after sunrise a sugar sailing day. In the evening hours we hit some heavy clouds and slight increase in winds, which topped just below 30kn in gusts. Some squalls came through and brought some sky juice. Well, not what we expected but once out at sea, you have to deal with it. It all normalised and the second part of the night was more pleasant.
 
The blue sky is back, wind and waves managable and allowing us to stay on a straight line to Bermuda, 600nm to go.
 
Fair winds…
Bernd

…on the way to Bermuda…

We are now on the way to Bermuda. I am so excited and happy about this move! Expectations are high! Wish us Fair Winds, if you like! Bernd & Rainer

St. Martin – Marigot Bay

Back in France! At ⚓️ in Marigot Bay for final arrangements. Getting ready…⛵️

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