Log of s/v Bellerophon

5 bells in the afternoon watch

Both the scuppers and the head have emerged intact. (Fortunately the head had been pumped before we left...)

Steve is still prone and unable to sit upright but his pulse appears to be only slightly elevated and he is responding to a sense of humor. Our onboard medical professional (retired) is rendering basic medical assistance and we have hopes of a full recovery -- though perhaps a light dinner.

On the way out of the mooring field, Bruce suggested that we go out around Breton Reef to 3rd beach instead of sailing up the back to the Kickamuit. Brad, looking for an opportunity to test Steve for sea sickness, agreed.

Test results positive.

Quite the sail to Jamestown fighting the current and a brisk southwesterly. We short-tacked down the east passage on just the staysail, main and mizzen. When Steve woke up from his nap, we let out the jib -- probably a mistake. Most famous quote from the passage...

"We're going over..." - Bruce

It's OK, Bruce, that's what the cockpit drains are for. None the less, despite four -- yes, four -- warnings from Steve about losing the ear muffs overboard, I ignored him and over they went.

We had a great meal in Jamestown at Tricia's, including the Bermuda Triangles and a trio of Huma Humas. (Brad drank the trio... there was no sharing.) We settled in for a nice, though slightly rocky, night on the mooring.

Sideband station (above), CW station (below)

The NB1RI crew - Steve, KA1RCI (center rear), Bruce, KD1BE (right), Ernie, N1SW (left) and Brad, KA1SVW (front)

Provisioned on Friday morning. Filled the reefer and the wine rack, ready to set sail.

Left EYC 5 bells in the afternoon watch, headed to Potter Cove. Arrived 2 bells in the first dog watch.

Spoke the Coast Guard Cutter Thunder Bay, warned them of impending colors.



















Steve brandishes a steak tip.

Bruce and I spent yesterday rebedding the port side main chain plates in hopes of sealing a leak that allows water into the boat behind the galley when we put the port rail in the water. Fortunately that doesn't happen very often, but when it does, we would like a dry boat. We had just managed to get two of the shrouds and their corresponding deck plates unstuck and exposed when a nasty squall appeared in the northwest. We hurredly recaulked the deck plates and stuck them back down before retreating to the cabin for 20 minutes. After the rain passed, we continued our work on the third chain plate.

While Bruce was replacing the last of the cotter pins, I happened to notice the old pressurized water inlet. It was originally used to feed shore water under pressure to a second set of faucets in the boat, but those have long since been removed. The inlet is essentially a deck fitting in the port side bulwark. When I removed the screws that held it on, I discovered -- much to my surprise -- a big hole where the pipe went into the deck and NO CAULK! I believe that may have been the cause of the leak. I sealed it all back up and stuck it back on tight. Time will tell.

Left Jamestown around 1030 in a nice southerly. The southerly built through the afternoon as the skies to the west began to darken. Fortunately we have plenty of technology on board and we were able to track the progress of the storm all the way until we ran into it at Conimicut. The storm moved fairly quickly but we did have about 15 minutes of rain and high winds. For about 5 minutes visibility dropped dramatically, but it soon came back. We arrived at Edgewood under sunny skies at around 2.

What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
What shall we do with a drunken sailor,
Early in the morning?

Take 'er and shake 'er and try an' wake 'er,
Take 'er and shake 'er and try an' wake 'er,
Take 'er and shake 'er and try an' wake 'er,
Early in the morning!

Awoke to a gorgeous day with a light SW, 5kts or so. Waited until 6 bells in the forenoon watch and set sail for Conanicut. Put the rail in the water quite a few times. Scuppers awash - lost the ammo box (full, of course) over the side. Decided not to turn back for it.

Jen got some time at the helm, and then retired below.

The ammo box was lost overboard with 30 rounds in a tragic marine accident. A replacement has been procured and secured to the lifeline.

We arrived in Jamestown at 5 bells in the afternoon watch. Tom had the help for a flawless mooring pickup.

Left Edgewood at 6 bells in the 2nd dog for PC. Decided to try to outrun the large green blobs coming in from CT. Made it to PC by 1 bell in the first watch, escaping all the rain.

We awoke at 8 bells in the morning watch to a gentle rain. A quick check of weather radar suggests that this storm may blow through in a few hours and give us a nice easy sail home, albeit in a northerly. We made coffee, set up the gennie, and are sitting still waiting for the storm to pass.

Sailing with Phil and Carmen. Left EYC 6 bells in the afternoon watch for PC, arrived in the 2nd dog. Picked up Nick's mooring (PC40). Great steaks for dinner, over-served ourselves. Winds SW5-10.

Set sail at 6 bells in the forenoon watch for Jamestown. Arrived 2 bells in the afternoon watch. Went ashore for Bermuda Triangles and Huma-Humas. Spent the afternoon in gentle contemplation.

We set sail from Potter at around 2 bells in the forenoon watch and arrived at the Kicky around 8 bells. We settled into a three martini lunch (or rather, a 3 martini stuffie) and secure the boat. The rest of the fleet dribbled in over the course of the afternoon, with the Commmodore arriving in his new boat at around 4 bells in the first dog. He received the customary 7-gun salute.


Above, the captain barks orders at his crew.



Right, the Commodore and Mrs Commodore betray their exhuberance, having just completed the maiden voyage of their new vessel, Macushla

We set sail from Edgewood at about 6 bells in the afternoon watch under cloudy skies and SW10-15, with just jib and jigger. We quickly set both foresails but left the main down. The winds picked up a bit south of Conimicut, but it was quite manageable. We arrived at PC at around 4 bells in the first dog.

Typical New England weather -- high today in the low 60s, tomorrow in the low 90s. The boat is stocked and Bruce and I are headed out shortly. Just a quick water top-off and a head pump-out and we'll set sail for the promised land -- or Prudence Isl, which ever comes first. Then it's off to the Kicky tomorrow to join the Fleet. But first a quick trip to the liquor store.

Dave and Janait joined us Fri evening. I crashed early after dinner
Fri, but my crew were accosted by the Darby Room gang and made to accept
many free drinks.

The weather forecast for Sat kept us at the dock, which in retrospect
was unfortunate because the nasty stuff missed us and we would have been
perfectly safe. It turned out to be a day of lounging on the boat with
no fixed plan. Saturday night included an impromptu cookout on the
porch and another early night with ebook in hand.

Sunday turned into a project day. I decided to tackle the alternator
adjusting arm, which needed to be lengthened to accomodate a larger
belt. The belt that was on there was under-sized and has been a problem
for a few years.

What seemed like a quick chore became a nightmare when the bolt that
held the alternator adjustment, leaving a 1/4" of bolt extruding from
the engine block. Fortunately my friend Bruce and his mini machine shop
were only a phone call away. After 2 trips to Bruce's house, one to
Rocky's and one to an auto parts store, plus 6 hours or so of labor,
Bruce managed to get the old bolt out intact and the new arm and belt
put on. Our initial testing looks very promising.