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Testarossa - Kaboom!!!



Testarossa Daily Message: Kaboom! / 20-21 May 2016//

"Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, How did you like the play?

"Whop bop a lu bop, a lop bam Boom!"

As of 1531L hours on 21 May 2016, our position is: 35*38.337'N / 48*35.340'W. We are steaming 109* COG making 8.0 Kts SOG, under reduced sail, 971.8 NM's from the Azores.

Our Day in Numbers:
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We are presently 971.8 NM's from the Azores.
(The 24 hour run figures have not been calculated today)
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First and foremost, We are fine! Testarossa is fine! A little excitement experienced last night, but that is all. We are still doing well, and under good wind pressure, making good time.

So there we were...It seems that all great stories, aviation and otherwise - in this case sailing, begin with those immortal words. It was late on the night watch, just as Mr. Murphy planned it, when all heck broke loose, or in this case - our boom.

Here is what happened. Previously in the day, we had shifted our night watch schedule from 8-12 / 12-7 to 7-11 / 11-6. So second shift was on deck, Babalou and Felipe, as Testarossa pressed on with all sails set under a freshning breeze. At approximately 0100L, a strong gust of wind from the port caused Testarossa to heel wildly to the starboard. The boat accelerated frantically, and as the auto-pilot - "Iron Mike" steered to maintain our course, the boat veered wildly to the right all the way into the wind line. The head sail flapped furiously as winds now struck from behind and on both sides of the sail, as Iron Mike began to bring Testarossa back onto course. Needless to say, this got our attention. So much so in fact, that Felipe went below to rouse the Captain. "The winds building rapidly, and veering, we need to shorten sail and put on a preventer."

Coming up on deck immediately, Captain George & crew set about getting Testarossa reined in. First step, let's get the headsail in. Working the roller furler, the jib was quickly brought in, and the vessel stabilized substantially. But wind and wave were still chaotic, with waves slewing the boat around, while the wind was strong and variable. And then it happened. The wind struck the main sail from behind (the port side), causing the main to "crash jibe" to the starboard. The sail popped loudly, as the rigging groaned in protest. We knew we had to get the boat stabilized and sailing correctly right away. We also needed to rig a "preventer," a line on the boom to preclude another crash jibe from occuring, and rig it NOW! We set in motion to do this, but Posiedon and his minions was not to allow this. The boat lurched again, the wind shifted, and BAM! - crash jibe the other way (back to port). While this jibe didn't seem any worse than the first, it was all over - the boom at the bottom of the main sail had been shattered, and split clean in two. The entire rig flapped chaotically while we began to surmise how badly the damage was.

Calling all hands on deck, Captain George set about to get the main sail and boom secured on deck. Life jackets, lanyards – checked on. Deck lights on. Engine started, and we turn into the wind, letting go the main so it could drop to the deck. The waves rock the boat fanatically now that there are no sails set to stabilize us.

The plan is to go forward and secure the boom and main, so that they won't cause further damage to the vessel. Felipe, David, and Captain George head forward to start the task. By this time, the main is starting to slip over the port rail and go in the water. Heaving the already heavy sail aboard is no easy task, and we finally are able to get it back aboard. Now to secure the boom and sail. Using spare line, we jury rig ties around the sail to contain it. We also corral the broken boom on the starboard rail and secure it. Everyone heads back to the cockpit to regroup. Amazingly, everyone had remained calmed cool and collected during this "adventure." As we sit around the cockpit - still stunned - that that had happened, David went below and started some soothing music! After a few minutes of calming down, all hands head below except for the night watch. (Excerpt added by David - the song was Bridge Over Troubled Water, Simon & Garfunkel - which I felt set a calming tone, whilst also reflecting quite aptly, the situation at hand!)

Although the rest of the evening was anti-climatic, we did get drenched by a fearsome little squall that dumped a lot of rain.

A grey morning finally came, and with that Captain George to survey the damage. "I was hoping that it was just a bad dream." Unfortunately it wasn't.

The rest of the morning was spent stabilizing the foredeck: Broken boom derigged and lashed down on the starboard rail. Sail flaked and tied down on the port.

We are currently running under just our headsail, but due to strong winds are still making good progress. Our plan is to effect repairs in the Azores - I'm sure we are not the first sailors to come limping into that port, nor shall we be the last, so that we can proceed on the rest of our journey. Parts are already on order.

Oh - I forgot to mention: dinner last night was fabulous - pork on cous cous. So was breakfast: Scrambled Eggs & grits & bacon. Thanksssss Ms. Lorrie! And guess who we got to eat the grits? Our resident Englishman - David. He liked em!

In conclusion, it is times like this that give one pause for thought. Today has cleared up and turned into a beautiful day - Bright sunshine, puffy cumulous clouds to the north, grey skies to the south, and an amazing Atlantic all around. Huge towering waves (some estimate them at 5', some at 12', but I think there are some bigger still. The deck is 4' off the water, the stern arch is another 8', and when we are in a trough - I see wave 3-4 feet above that. So I leave it to you to do the math on that
one) The water is deep deep blue, with flying white horses while the wind whips the foam from the water. We just saw one of the most amazing sites - a large pod of Dolphins, jumping above the waves - must have been a hundred, as they came towards the boat to check us out. In all, an amazing day. We are ok.

Personal Messages from the Crew:
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Captain George: Thanks to all for helping me get parts on order!!!
Ms. Lorrie: Hi Dad! Fly Navy!
Babalou:
Felipe: 4CJ - Try Pineapple cream cheeze on crackers! Yummm! xxx! Are you home safe? Not to worry Mom - All is okay! We are doing fine! Dad - you should see the waves!
Mr. David, Esq: Woo exciting last 24 hours... Almost half way to the Azores smile emoticon, Franny you would be so green in this swell! It probably a good thing you stayed home, I'm saying 15 foot seas, Georgre reckons some of the big waves that join together as the wind changes direction are closer to 25 foot! Im enjoying Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, tis funny! And Mandy's nifty little torch is permanatly strapped to my lifejacket and prooving priceless during midnight coffee making. Goodluck with your course! Hope the kids are fun. Sue n Kev - look forward to filling you in in LAGOS, which apparently we have been pronouncing wrong - it's more of a 'LAGOASH'. And finally I did enjoy the grits -BUT no matter how much he is played I refuse to enjoy Jimmy Buffet. Lots of Love Dp x
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Yesterday's Song of the Day: Southern Cross, by Jimmy Buffett

Cheers to All, and to All - The Best, More to follow manana!

Whoo hoo - less than a thousand miles to go!

Testarossa Sends,
USA 143



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