It's been 10 days now and I'm over the trauma of the return trip and ready to sail again. I thought going over was rough, coming back was even worse. I had drugs, supposedly good ones and I took twice as many as recommended but I still didn't feel the best – no throwing up but was very uncomfortable most of the way back to Grand Bahama. We left the safety of Fort Lauderdale Harbour around 6 p.m. the 4th of November with a jury rigged bow light and lots of freighter traffic and of course lots of wind and waves. The guy who checked us out at the immigration office suggested we don't go – it was rough out there – he wasn't kidding. But once again, we had a deadline (people were coming to look at Dulcinea) and the forecast for the rest of the week was even worse so we carried on – under full sail. As soon as I realized what we were in for I said if we're not turning around I'm going below – see you later – maybe. The only place safe to sleep was on the floor wedged between the drop leaf table and the couch – a tight fit wearing a life jacket but surprisingly comfortable. Eventually I did emerge only to see that the boat was heeled over as far as we used to sail the Siren – I immediately went below! Some crew eh? Gerry once suggested I take my turn at watch and I promptly replied that that wasn't going to happen until things got quieter – there was no way I was staying in that cockpit alone, in the dark.
Gerry had done the "stuffing box" thing before we left but reminded me to pump the bilge regularly. I did it once and it only ran for a few seconds so I knew we were not taking water in around the prop so I sort of left the rest of the pumping to him. Unfortunately, unbeknowst to us Richard had broken the cockpit scupper in the rear compartment when he lowered a drill press into it and with all the wave action we were taking in water but since the boat was heeled over I didn't notice it. I was laying right on top of the bilge and thought for sure that if we were taking on water I would get wet. And wet I did get but not till Gerry came below and noticed vast amounts of water on the port side and our shoes were swimming in it, not to mention a few other things. I was gently reprimanded that I should have been switching on the bilge pump but how would that have helped? It wouldn't have done any good since all the water was on one side of the boat nowhere near the bilge (he didn't and still doesn't see it that way – it's still under discussion)! Gerry rectified that by letting the boat straighten out and sure enough the water ran into the bilge and all over the rest of the boat soaking everything that was on the floor, including me.
By 3 a.m. Gerry needed some rest so he hauled in the jib and things quieted down enough for me to take a watch. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when every once in a while I saw a huge black object pass close by. I eventually realized it was a wave – really really really big wave! Didn't much care for that.
As you can see we survived and spent the next week cleaning (Dulcinea for the prospective buyers), and Ramblynn (because she was once again filthy with seawater). Had loads of laundry because once again we took in water through the forward hatch (soaking clothes and linens) despite the dinghy covering it, loads of tape around it and a big tarp under it, over the bed. And just in case I was getting bored I got to scrape and paint the bottom of the McGregor and today I painted the bottom of the new dinghy. And just to add to all the fun I bashed my foot into the jib sheet block and there's a good chance I broke my toe.
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November 15 - Low key, great birthday spent with friends. Andreas baked a lovely lemon cake and Kerstin decorated it; Betty baked brownies - and of course both were delicious - thank you!
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