More Night Dramas
March 28, 2019
Day 175
Noon Position: 46 13S 47 04W
Course(t)/Speed(kts): NExN 7
Wind(t/tws): WxN 20 – 25
Sea(t/ft): W 10
Sky: Clear
10ths Cloud Cover: 0
Bar(mb): 1022
Cabin Temp(f): 66 (!)
Water Temp(f): 58 (!)
Relative Humidity(%): 83
Sail: Working jib, two reefs; main, three; reaching to port
Noon-to-Noon Miles Made Good (nm): 156
Miles since departure: 23,947
Avg. Miles/Day: 137
Leg North Days: 8
Leg North Miles: 998
Avg. Miles/Day: 125
Night dramas continue.
I had been in my bunk an hour when Mo began to pound. Winds were the better part of 30 knots on the beam and the sea had been bouldery all day, so I knew we had rounded up. But why? I got up and suited up.
In the pilot house, the chart plotter showed Mo doing a handy seven knots (good) but due north (not good). Once in the cockpit, I saw that Monte’s tiller lines were limp and the tiller, free-wheeling. This usually means one of the crew has failed to lock Monte’s chain in its chock with a small lashing, without which the chain can slip out. But tonight the lashing was in place. I climbed to the transom and peered over the side. There I saw that the windward tiller line had parted near the lowest block.
This line has parted once before–on January 10 to be specific, and after 13,543 miles of hard pulling. With nothing inside the Monitor frame tubing to chafe on, the only explanation is that this 1/4 inch Dyneema with a cover of tightly woven Dyneema and a working load of 2,000 pounds–extraordinarily tough stuff–simply wore out. I replaced it back then with an entirely new run of line and made a note (mental) to inspect it at around 10,000 miles of use.
It parted at 10,404 miles. Southern Ocean miles.
I quickly did an end for end of the line–effectively taking the chafed part out of service–and we were back underway in fifteen minutes.
—
Warm. And suddenly. Only five days ago the cabin was 45 degrees at sunrise. This morning’s cabin temperature was 60 degrees. The cause may simply be the rapid rise in water temperature, which was 42 degrees a week ago and is now just shy of 60 degrees. Remarkable. And we’re still well within the Roaring Forties.
Can you show us a picture of where the line parts on the Monitor? I’m having trouble picturing it. A warm clear day must be so soul-lifting by this time!
aloha,
Mary
Randall, I’ve been following your journey and have been inspired by your ambition, bravery, and eloquent prose. I’ve been talking about your trip with people I know and have been asked why i think it is that you have run out of beer when only half way through your journey. I tell them that beer is heavy and that now your lighter boat will sail much faster. Perhaps, more simply, you just really like beer. I wonder if you will regret your poor rationing once you get back into the tropics.
Jon Sanders was awarded the CCA Blue Water Medal “Without Date” in 2016.