After an early and rushed start, with a last minute change
of route and strategy, Tai Chi left Hampton at 1700 EST with an extra crew
member on board. The Arc Bahamas fleet had been advised to head to Beaufort, NC, to
wait out a weather system which would bring an intense nor’easter storm right
over our originally planned route. Of
the Arc Bahamas fleet, 4 chose the outside route around Cape Hatteras, 2 chose
the ICW and 1 decided to wait and cross after the storm had passed. Johnnie,
the Arc Bahamas coordinator came aboard Tai Chi just before we left, so he
could continue to help coordinate the fleet from Beaufort, North Carolina.
We had a nasty 48 hour trip, with thunder, lightening, churning
seas, 30 knot winds, gusting to 40 at one point, and two seasick crew members,
one of them Skipper Steve! On top of it all we had engine problems, which
recurred over the course of the 48 hour trip,
evading all attempts at trouble shooting. Under sail in stormy seas we
were further offshore than originally intended, and got into the Gulf Stream
which slowed progress further. After multiple starts and stops, injector
bleeding and filter changing, the engine finally called it quits as we turned
towards Morehead City in the Beaufort inlet. By this time the wind was on our
nose, sea conditions unpleasant, and we were making negligible progress to our
destination as the day drew on. Johnnie and Steve rigged up a jerry can system
and bled the injectors one more time, but when the engine failed again, we
called Towboat US to help us the final few miles to a dock in Morehead City
near Beaufort, NC, for repairs.
So we are not yet on our way to Abacos, though we have some progress in the
right direction. We hope the engine can be repaired in that time
and that we can head out again on Thursday or Friday when the ICW boats reach
us. We are envious of those boats that are well on their way to Tortola, and the two that headed to the Abacos, attempting to outrun the storm system. But we are in a good place to wait for the right weather window, while undertaking needed repairs.
Liz and Steve Rose