23 January 2011
It was a reluctant departure from St Helena. Reluctant, for there was still so much we wanted to see and do and not enough time, reluctant because the wind was going round in circles as we headed out from James Bay. It was as if the island did not want to release us from its grip. Strong gusts of wind swept down from the mountains. We tacked this way and that, back and forth but gave up in frustration. It was shaking Voyageur's rig to bits. We furled the sails and motored, hoping to catch a more consistent wind in both strength and direction and sure enough 12nm out Voyageur picked up her skirts and.....we were off. But we were puzzled as to the wind direction. It was reading south westerly, not what was forecast. I hoisted a small flag on the back stay to check and we had our answer. Our south westerly was a south to south southeast. No wonder we could not settle her on a course. The mast head unit for the anemometer had failed again. It was reading 60 degrees off the wind instead of an actual 120degrees, and the wind speed was not making any sense either. We had had this same problem back in the Pacific and bought and fitted the replacement from Brookes and Gatehouse only five months ago. Expensive at over £300, we were disappointed to say the least that the part is only under warranty for three months. It is not impossible, more of a nuisance than anything else. For the next 1926nm until we reach Salvador it will have to be all guesswork. In the late afternoon twenty miles out, we caught our last glimpse of this lovely island as it became enveloped in heavy cloud. Our brief 'exile' on St. Helena was at an end.....
On the 6pm evening radio SSB net we learned that one the yachts who had left the previous day had a broken forestay. This was very bad luck indeed to happen so early on in the passage but at least there was an inner forestay which has allowed them to contInue sailing, albeit at a slower pace. As the sun went down we were abeam of Bonaparte Seamount, at 105 metres the only potential hazard in the next 19000nm of ocean. The wind had started to increase. I reefed the genoa once, then again, followed by the mizzen. Finally I had to get David up to help reef the main. Without any indication of wind speed I was taking no chances. I was having to judge purely by boat speed. Radio St Helena came over loud and clear. We were already over 100nm away! Chessie had now arrived with Crazy Horse not far behind. We settled down once more to a night at sea, what will be the first of many.....
Susan Mackay