Major Refit

Well, we've decided to keep Mintaka indefinitely, which means we've also decided to spend ridiculous amounts of time, effort and money on a refit. She's on the hard in Port Townsend, Washington, right now, looking a bit forlorn without masts or rigging. We took the masts down in September for some maintenance and deck repairs, and took the opportunity to weigh them. The mainmast weighed almost 550#, more than twice what it should. It was overbuilt, to say the least. So, we're building new masts. Minor chore. Trifling cost. I salvaged the wood from the old masts to make new booms. It was also time to replace all the standing rigging (the wires), and we're taking the opportunity to change the rigging plan somewhat to more closely approach William Atkin's original design. Thousands of sea-miles have convinced me that Atkin got the design right, that the changes the builder made to the design were mistakes. Between the new, lighter masts, and the change in the rig (fractional foretriangle, instead of masthead), we expect great things from the old girl. There are also a host of other projects on her. I'll write about them as we go along.

Belated Landfall

Sorry for the delay in this last blog entry. What with dealing with the engine problem (see below), moving the boat down the sound to her permanent mooring, and getting home to Salt Lake, time just got away from me.

So, we obviously did make it in, Saturday the 2nd to be precise. There was a bit of drama at the very end, though. We had been nursing a sick engine for the previous week or so, and it seemed doubtful that it would take us in to port. The weather wasn't cooperating, with clear, sunny, windless skies, so we really needed the motor. We rounded the spit at Port Angeles with the engine coughing and belching white smoke every couple of minutes. And just as we entered the marina, the engine quit completely. With a good breeze (now the breeze comes up!) behind us, we sailed under bare poles up to the transient dock. Robyn was there to meet us, so she caught our line, took two turns around a cleat, and held on tight. Kind of like landing on an aircraft carrier.

Anyway, my crew jumped ship almost immediately for a hotel and then on to their families. Robyn and I spent the evening and night with friends nearby in Sequim, then the next night on the boat before she needed to go back to work in eastern Washington. Then I motored Mintaka for two days down to Brinnon, Washington, where I put her away in our new slip in Home Port Marina.

It was a good, mellow passage. We had fair winds for all but a few hours. A bit light perhaps, but no complaints. It was great to sail back in to where we left ten years ago. It really feals like I've done something.

Will we go out again? I hope so. On Mintaka? That remains to be seen. She'll remain in Washington for the winter, and then, we'll see.

Approaching the Strait of Juan de Fuca

At 1700 hours today, Friday, we are 50 nm W of Cape Flattery, and sailing well. We have every expectation of making it in to Port Angeles tomorrow.

Day 20

This is short, but we have power issues again.

At noon today, we should be about 220 nautical miles west of Cape Flattery. We might make Port Angeles by dark Saturday night.

Don & Deneb saw an Orca RIGHT NEXT TO the boat night before last. I was sleeping :(

Day 19

Power issues again. Noon position today was 47 deg. 34 min. N 133 deg. 14 min W, 345 nm WSW of Cape Flattery. If we're REALLY lucky, we might make Port Angeles by Saturday night. Saw an Orca CLOSE to the boat last night.

Day 17

With all the overcast, and not a lot of wind for charging the batteries, we've been watching our power usage. Now we're motoring again, so it's a good opportunity to charge up the computer, etc. We're still on track for a Saturday landfall; should be about 480 nm WSW of Cape Flattery at noon today (Tuesday). Whether we stop in Port Angeles, Sequim or Port Townsend depends on the time of day, tide, etc. when we're there.

Yesterday was gorgeous, the first since we left the trades. Last night was, too, mostly clear with a just-past-full moon. The wind was getting lighter, but it was so nice, sailing along on such a gentle sea. Oh well, we'll get wind again, but we're doing 5 kts without it.

Just before dark yesterday, Don saw another Sperm whale. This one wasn't quite so big, but it was only 15 yards off the port bow, and swimming directly across our path! Well, the whale cleared us, and then dove. Sorry I missed that. We've also seen a couple of logs (not good) and bits of broken kelp. We're getting closer. I'm beginning to smell the barn. Oops, I think that's me I'm smelling.

Somehow since we last used the engine, the ignition switch got broken. I don't see from the fracture how any force from the outside of the case could have done it. Had to hotwire it. Only a minor nuisance, really. Just have to plan a few minutes before needing the engine. That won't be the only repair needed.

Day 16, Sunday, 26 June

Our noon position today was 45 deg. 51 min N 142 deg 29 min W, 740 nautical miles WSW of Cape Flattery. It's still early, but we could be in to Port Angeles as early as Saturday (unlikely) or Sunday. Night watches are getting COLD! My feet are ice by the end.

We saw another whale, but unsure of the species. It didn't come close.

The sky has been continuously overcast for many days, but the night before last, the clouds parted for just a few minutes to reveal a partial lunar eclipse. I didn't even know there was to be one, until I checked the almanac after the fact.

The watermaker blew a gasket many days ago, but I had recently filled the tanks, so we have plenty to see us in.

Day 14 (Fri. 25 June)

We have been cursed by good weather. Who would have thought that the North Pacific had nothing but gentle breezes? And what little there's been for days has been dead astern on a rolly sea. Oh well, we have less than a thousand miles now to Cape Flattery. Our noon position today was 43 degrees 48 min N 148 deg 07 min W.

Day Twelve

Our noon position today was 41 degrees 10 minutes N, 152 deg. 12 min. W, about 1200 nm WSW of Cape Flattery, and about the same latitude as Eureka, California. We've been motoring for the past 28 hours in a light following wind. Lots of fog, too. If time was of no issue, we could sail very slowly, but it is an issue. We all have things we need or want to get back for.

Score one for modern technology. The AIS has alarmed on a number of ships, but one of them two nights ago would have crossed our bow in the fog very closely. I called them with DSC (Digital Selective Calling, a new capability for us with this new radio), and they altered course to pass astern of us.

Don is doing great service as our cook. He made a great Thom Kha Gai (Thai chicken soup) today. He and I both washed our hair today, too. Deneb called foul on us.

Seventh Day

Our noon position today, June 18th, was 32 degrees 57 minutes N, 160 degrees 05 minutes W, 677 nautical miles north of Hawaii and about even with San Diego. Not much to report. The weather is fine. The sailing is good. We're not screaming along, but we're moving well. We are seeing more and more rubbish. Not heaps, but much more than I've ever seen before. There was even a construction hardhat. Very few birds now, this far from land. No more whales thankfully.

Moby Dick

We encountered a sea creature this morning that I had hoped never to see, at least from the deck of Mintaka. At nine o'clock, we were startled to see a sperm whale, swimming fast towards our beam as if to ram us. For whatever reason, he veered off at the last moment, then followed closely behind in our wake. This was a dangerous animal, larger than us by far, and with a bad reputation. Fortunately, he lost interest in us after a few minutes and dropped astern.

We've been having good to great sailing conditions since clearing Oahu. The wind was a little light for a while, but the sailing was delightful. We've been moving faster since yesterday. The weather has been beautiful, mostly sunny with only a few small squalls (only one good boatwash so far). We had a pair of Mahi-Mahis following us for a while yesterday. The previous two nights, we had red-footed boobies roosting on the bow pulpit all night, and one on the solar panel.

Our noon position today (June 16th) was 28 degrees 29 minutes North, 159 degrees 52 minutes West, about 415 nm north of Oahu.

Fourth Day

Our noon position today was 26 degrees 14 minutes N, 159 deg 33 min W, about 290 miles north of Oahu. Last night was squally, with light air in between, so we moved along rather slowly. Things have speeded up a bit today and the weather is beautiful. All is well.

Third Day

Our noon position today (6/14) is 24 degrees 50 minutes north, 158 deg.56 min. west, about 210 miles north of Oahu. Once we cleared Oahu, we've had a light-air beat on a slight sea. We've not going real fast (about 4 kts), but it's a nice gentle start. We had 3 gannets perch together on the bow pulpit last night, and another spent the night on a solar panel. All well here

Hard Start

We got off from Kona Wednesday morning, and had one of the roughest nights sailing in my experience crossing the Alenuihaha channel to Oahu. Got pretty beat up, actually, so we pulled in to the Alawai boat harbor in Honolulu for a little R&R before continuing. We'll head off again tomorrow (Saturday) morning, going around the west side of Oahu, then heading north. The forecast for the next week looks excellent. I'm hoping to show my crew some more pleasant sailing. I'm actually surprised they didn't jump ship here in Honolulu. They're made of good stuff.

New launch date

I completed the repair this morning, and it looks good. We have a new launch date set for Tuesday morning, with a probable departure to sea early Wednesday. Two crew are joining me on this passage. Don is from Hilo, here on the Big Island. Deneb is from Salt Lake. Neither has any experience sailing. Should be interesting.

Nothing is ever simple

I came back to the boat a few days ago to get her ready to sail on to Washington. We launched her this morning, and five minutes later, we hauled her out again. Somehow, she had developed a leak around the stern tube. So, I spent a couple of hours this afternoon grinding away the old fiberglass around the stern tube preparatory to reglassing it. Unfortunately, this part of the hull is only reachable by lying on top of the engine, wriggling around the hoses and control cables, and using a Dremel tool at full arm extention. All this while dressed in a hazmat suit, and wearing a respirator. Oh, and part of the job has to be done by feel because you can't see it at all. I'll get on to the reglassing tomorrow. Doesn't this make you want to go buy a boat? We expect to launch again Tuesday morning, and head to sea the next day. Stay tuned for more fun.