The autopilot on my 35ft sloop, Second Wind, had been each commissioned and sea-trialed. I had additionally accomplished all the different upgrades I’d had deliberate in preparation for maybe a year-long cruise by the Caribbean. Working with varied native technicians, I’d added photo voltaic panels, a brand new water-cooled refrigeration system, a brand new chartplotter, air con, an EPIRB, an AIS transponder, a brand new dinghy and outboard, and a set of Jap Caribbean courtesy flags. I’d additionally added new winches on the wheel for singlehanded crusing and employed an expert rigger to verify my standing rigging.
Now it was time for my first solo sail, an expertise that may put each Second Wind and my abilities to the take a look at. Granted, I had solo-sailed my earlier boat, a 25ft C&C, on any variety of events up in Maine. However right here on the coastal waters off the city of Fajardo in Jap Puerto Rico, I would want an autopilot if solely to remain head-to-wind whereas elevating Second Wind’s considerably bigger mainsail.
As a result of it could be my first solo departure from my slip, I referred to as for some help in doing away with the strict traces, bow traces and aft spring. The 2 dockhands who got here by to assist recommended they uncleat my port-side bow line from the dock and throw it onto the boat. They might then simply catch it upon my return. I sometimes depart my cleated traces on the dock. However since I’d have these two fellows to assist me out upon my return, I made a decision to go along with their suggestion.
To my shock, as I backed out, they heaved all three port-side traces aboard. Maybe there had been a communication situation. Regardless of the purpose, I now had all three traces sitting messily on my facet deck, with the bow line mendacity over the port-side jib sheet. At a minimal, I must safe the latter earlier than unfurling the jib. Oh, nicely, I believed as I backed the remainder of the way in which out and commenced heading towards the open waters past the confines of the harbor.
Turning the boat head-to-wind, I raised the principle because the autopilot stored Second Wind on target. That finished, I switched off the engine and autopilot and fell off onto a port tack, sheeting within the sail as I did so. The sensation of freedom I skilled was nothing lower than magical.
Participating the autopilot once more, I stood behind the wheel marveling at its backwards and forwards actions because it maintained a correct heading. I took just a few movies, which I promptly texted to a few of my landlubbing pals on shore. I shouted for pleasure on the considered being underneath sail once more.
Quickly afterward, I gingerly made my approach as much as the bow to clear the jib sheet. Pondering it was safe, I returned to the cockpit and unfurled the jib. Subsequent factor I knew, I used to be crusing solo with each sails flying. Ideas of future passages to St. Vincent and the Grenadines danced by my head. The cockpit was mine and mine alone. I moved about freely with out ever having to say something like, “Pardon me, I would like to tug on that blue rope over there.” I performed musical chairs, I sat to port, then to starboard, then to port once more. I shot and texted some extra movies. I went beneath to seize a beer. Having waited over a 12 months for today, I shouted to the skies once more for the sheer pleasure of being alone once more at sea.
Coming again right down to Earth round 1630, I set a course for the marina. As I drew close to, I rolled up Second Wind’s jib and switched on the engine. A considerable improve, my auxiliary was a brand-new 27hp Volvo diesel. Nevertheless, after I pushed the throttle ahead, the engine instantly give up. Trying ahead, I now noticed the identical black dock line I believed I had taken care of earlier, stretched taut over the port bow. The issue was apparent. It had someway fallen into the ocean and fouled my propeller.
I used to be now halfway between the marina and close by Isla de Ramos, a small cayo with a sandy shore. One chance was to sail into the marina and drop anchor within the little bay there. Nevertheless, the water within the marina is simply too murky to snorkel, which meant I wouldn’t have the ability to untangle or lower the road. Worse but, after I’d departed hours earlier, I’d seen a sailboat already anchored in the very same place I’d must drop the hook. I, due to this fact, selected to sail into the lee of Isla Ramos as a substitute. It’s not generally known as an in a single day anchorage, however nonetheless appeared like my finest wager.
I felt my coronary heart racing as I turned exhausting to starboard and headed towards anchorage, dropped the principle and made my approach rapidly towards Second Wind’s bow. (Although “rapidly,” when you’re 61 with joint points, is a relative time period.) Though I didn’t drift as far ahead as I had hoped, I nonetheless dropped the anchor. Though I had no reverse engine with which to dig the anchor into the seabed, the present and breeze have been each sturdy, permitting me to persuade myself the anchor had set. Feeling greater than a little bit proud at having managed the 1st step, I grabbed my snorkel gear and went into the water, leaving a serrated knife within the cockpit.
The turquoise blue sea was now rapidly darkening with the late afternoon solar, and the present was way more intimidating within the water. I had by no means earlier than swum all the way in which from one facet of Second Wind’s 12ft broad hull to the opposite. What if I used to be to get snarled within the dock line as I used to be attempting to work it free? What if I hit my head towards the underside of the hull? The phrases “Sea Tow” stored working by my head. I used to be the one boat within the anchorage, very a lot by myself.
Pushing again towards my fears, I resolved to do the very best I might, and diving right down to assault the a number of tight wraps across the prop, I succeeded in rapidly undoing the primary of them earlier than surfacing once more. Sadly, it was quick turning into too darkish to even see whether or not the remaining wraps have been clockwise or counterclockwise, which meant the remainder of the job must wait till morning.
Climbing again aboard by way of the strict ladder, I showered and ready myself for what I knew was going to be a minimum of 13 hours of a tossing about within the present. My anchor had already dragged, which meant I needed to keep alert. Dinner consisted of salami slices folded up inside some slices of very dry bread. There could be no sleep that evening, solely a continuing checking of the boat’s place. I turned off my two anchor alarms to keep away from having to hearken to their steady ringing in stereo. If I might make it by the evening with out dragging all the way in which to the rocky, tree-lined shore to leeward, I’d be advantageous. If not, I’d haven’t any alternative however to weigh anchor and do might finest to sail again to the cayo.
As I used to be standing watch, I texted a few marina pals to allow them to know what had occurred. They provided encouragement and loads of recommendations; nevertheless, by now I had determined that if I really wished to solo cruise the Caribbean as deliberate, I wanted to cope with the scenario I now discovered myself in by myself. It was take a look at, a problem. Nasty, ugly stuff occurs. A reliable sailor must be ready to unravel any and all downside she or he might encounter, whether or not or not there may be anybody else round to assist.
By daybreak I estimated I’d dragged about 300 yards. Fortunately the depth had remained a close to fixed 26ft. Going over the facet once more, my preliminary dive revealed various tight, clockwise wraps across the propeller shaft. This made sense, given the course of the gear rotation the day earlier than. I used to be in a position to undo a primary wrap with out a lot of a combat earlier than having to return up for air.
Getting a second wrap off took a little bit extra effort, however I used to be gaining confidence with each dive and in a position keep underneath a little bit longer as nicely. I didn’t rely whether or not it took three or 4 extra dives, however there was quickly just one extra little bit of the road left to take away, a half-moon wrap caught inside a groove towards the again of the prop. Initially of what I hoped could be my remaining dive, I seen the hump and dorsal fin of a dolphin off Second Wind’s starboard bow, which I took to be an indication of excellent luck. Sadly, regardless of its presence, a robust tug on both finish of the road failed to tug it free. I would want to chop it. Nonetheless within the water, I threw the lengthy finish of the road amidships to strive a take a look at lower within the cockpit. My knife sliced it properly and rapidly. After that it took solely three extra dives to chop each ends of the road near the propeller shaft.
The query now was whether or not a burst of ahead engine throttle would blow off the remaining piece of line nonetheless. I let the engine idle a minute or so earlier than placing it in gear. I used to be overcome by an unbelievable feeling of reduction and success as Second Wind started shifting ahead and the previous few bits black of rope that had been left on the shaft appeared within the water astern. After weighing anchor, I motored the mile or so to the marina, maneuvered my approach again into Second Wind’s slip and promptly fell asleep in my air-conditioned V-berth.
Though the longer portion of the lower line was nonetheless usable as a dockline—a victory of types—the expertise nonetheless left various unanswered questions. Foremost amongst them: Did the fouled prop mar an in any other case exhilarating sail, or had my skill to beat the difficulties I’d encountered make it a optimistic expertise as a result of approach it had made me a greater sailor? I lean towards the latter, since I all the time search to study one thing new.
Past that, had the cayo been a hazardous place to anchor in a single day? Maybe. Did I take a danger going into the water when and the place I did, with nobody else round to assist? Ought to I’ve referred to as Sea Tow to take Second Wind safely again to her slip? Possibly. On the finish of the day, although, you’ll be able to’t argue with success.
In fact, the opposite classes realized are fairly apparent ones. Don’t ever depart a bunch of free line mendacity round on deck. On the very least, they create a tripping hazard. On the worst, nicely, I suppose I had simply skilled the worst. It’s additionally not a nasty thought to all the time have a little bit mustard or mayonnaise aboard within the occasion you ever end up having to unexpectedly subsist for the evening on salami and dry bread!
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Photographs by Damian Lapaca
March 2022
