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Sabine - Sabine (118) ARC blog update - 2 Dec 2022



Hello interweb friends, Captain Stape on sail boat Sabine right here (///desegregated.acquire.stockings)
What an exciting start to the day!
First, the headsail furling line had broken overnight. It’s was sold as a dynema line, but clearly wasn’t! So, Richard and Kia go forward (removing around 8 dead flying fish) to install a new, definitely dynema, line, ably assisted by both Polina and John in the cockpit. The new line is on a spool marked as 16m, but it seems it’s a couple of meters short! However, it’s ‘good enough’ until we can purchase the correct length when back on land. Not too many chandleries in the mid Atlantic! And a Genoa that can be furled up in high winds is essential at the moment.
Then we pass the ‘less than 1000nm to go’ mile stone. Hmm, maybe out here it would be a mile-buoy? And then we find we have a leak! Whilst John was looking for his pocket knife, he turned over his mattress to find water. After a thorough investigation, we’ve found water seeping in through an engine mount under the bridge deck (the part that connects the 2 hulls together, and where the electric propulsion motors are bolted to). Kia investigates and fixes the issue with a jubilant shout of ‘Butyl tape is the bomb!’. On checking the other side, the same problem is found on the other motor, so the same solution is applied. Afterwards it’s decided to ‘strap up’ the motors to help relieve the pressure on them a smidgen, especially with these confused seas (more on that later, maybe for another day) and all the water pummelling Sabine. But… the designated ‘motor strap’ can’t be found. A search of all the lockers in the cockpit and around the helm doesn’t reveal it. But does reveal a significant amount of water (sea water) in the autopilot (aka Otto) locker. This is a mystery as the drain hole was bunged up to prevent water ingress. Mystery solved as a connecting channel to the locker on the other side is discovered. This locker doesn’t have a plugged drain hole, so water has been entering via the drain hole, and then the rocking of the boat has meant the water has made it through to the other side (did I mention at any point it’s been a little rough?), where it couldn’t drain. Removing the contents of the locker and then the bung drains the compartment, with a quick wet-vac to remove the remainder of the water.
Kia mentions that he’d rather lose one of us than lose the autopilot. We *think* he’s joking…
So that’s 2 (well, 3) issues discovered because of lost items being looked for. Everything happens for a reason!
The strap for the motor was eventually found in the helm under-seat storage, and was fixed in place to help support the motors. We’re still not sure where John’s penknife has got to though, that still remains a mystery.
Well, after sailing at a lick (average 8kts) for a while, the weather turns, the wind dies, and then can’t make up its mind where it’s coming from or where it’s going to. We tack, we tack again, and again, and then it dies completely so the motor strap is removed and the motors lowered and we motor. We see another boat, Avalon, and Polina calls them to warn them of the crazy wind. They’re already aware, but thank us anyway. They’re off to Guadaloupe, and we wish them well on their journey. We actually see them, well the mast and sails in the distance - the first boat many of the crew have seen in what seems like weeks now. And then the rains arrive. Not so much rain as half of the Atlantic falling on our heads. I think it’s going to be a long, wet night my non-feathered interweb friends., and I’m grateful that I remain indoors.
Richard reminds the crew of what his dad used to say to him on occasions such as this: ‘Remember lads, this is FUN!’.
The crew are donning some serious wet weather gear, in similar colours to my beautiful bright red plumage. Watching the AIS, it appears that Avalon is performing pirouettes trying to find the right wind they need.
And the microwave has only been mentioned once today, so things are improving on that front!
Let’s see what tomorrow brings. I’m still waiting for ‘the easiest passage you can do, set the spinnaker and enjoy the champagne sailing’ that was mentioned in the brochure before I decided to come on this voyage! Maybe tomorrow things will improve… (Kia has been saying that for 3 days now!)
This is Capt. Stape signing off with 953nm to go.
Late breaking news! John’s knife has been found, I repeat: John’s knife has been found. And it was in the last place he looked! ;-)
Ciao ciao squawk!


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