Down Spinnaker
Amaris sails the world
16.25.42N
34.23.23 W
Atlantic Ocean
Down Spinnaker
With light winds all day yesterday and predicted
overnight, we decided to fly the spinnaker all night due down wind -
conveniently the direction of St Lucia. When I came out from my slumber,
grabbed a coffee, and walked out onto the back of the boat I was eager to look
up at our beautifully flying spinnaker. Quickly, the smile "turned upside down"
as I saw a 15 inch tear on the side of the sail. "Down Spinnaker!" I
said. Soon, everyone on the boat saw the same tear and helped me get the
spinnaker down.
The day was spent trying twice to tape the sail
back together using specialized sail tape. Unfortunately the tear, which
is along the edge of the sail, is in an area that develops a lot of
strain. After the second try, I broke out the old sewing kit, disassembled
a flag for it's edging material, and spent 2 hours hand stitching the edge of
the spinnaker. I finished just before dinner - phew.
We are gybing throughout the night-running downwind
with the main and code zero. We are all hoping that the spinnaker
holds tomorrow. We will fly it at first light, that is assuming the
wind is again blowing from the East - between 10-20 knots and that the seas are
less than 3 feet... Is that all too much to hope for?