Whale II's Caribbean 2001 Trip
The Crossing

Date	Log Notes
March 10, 2001	Left Biscayne Bay 18:00 Winds ESE 8-8 seas 2-3' Picked up around midnight 10 10-15 knots, seas 4-6 feet
March 11, 2001	Finished crossing Gulf Stream, Beating up NW Providence Channel. Winds 15 knots, lightening towards mid day, then strengthening towards the end of the day.  Canned Ravioli w/fresh fruit salad for dinner.
March 12, 2001	Winds averaging 20 knots all day, sometimes higher. Put in 2 reefs, and mainly using 90%. masthead light not working. Anchors not completely secure. We decided to put in to Spanish wells for a quick regrouping. As it was too late to enter the main (north) entrance, we bore off, and anchored on the banks WSW of Spanish Wells behind Meek's Patch. Balance Bars for dinner.
March 13, 2001	Took a slip at Spanish Wells Yacht Haven. entrance wasn't obvious due to ferry stirring up bottom. Worked on Wind Vane, Fixed Masthead light, secured propane tank and anchors, tightened standing rigging, fixed exterior GPS wiring, topped off water tanks, did laundry, repaired dodger window, put tell tales on staysail, installed netting on port side of bow. Pork Tenderloin w/rice & black beans for dinner. Pudding for desert.
March 14, 2001	Went up mast to fix tri-color light. It worked off and on for a few days, then died for good. Left Spanish Wells at 14:00 under Genoa and full main in 8 knots of wind. Sailing a good course. Winds picked up to 10-15 near midnight. Left over pork on a salad for dinner.
March 15, 2001	Winds built to 18-25 in morning. sailing good course with 2 reefs and 120% jib. Winds moderated by evening, took out 1 reef and put up staysail. Having problems with starter battery. Needed to jump it from house to get it started.
March 16, 2001	Winds SSE 15-18 average course around 100 DegT. Sewed patch on to small rip in main caused by reefing block. Charged battery, alternator surging, something is wrong with regulator. Winds lightened to 8-12 in evening. I saw a huge shooting star which left a smoke trail I could see for at least six minutes. It must have been close or low as it was very impressive. Didn't see any ships today. Masthead light no longer working which is annoying since it makes it impossible to see the windex at night. Dinner: Beef tenderloin w/plum sauce and rice. Also salad and banana bread.
March 17, 2001	Talked to ship in early morning. Weather forecast sounds like there are strong fronts behind us with ugly weather. Our weather is nice, SSE 10-15 knots, gentle 5 foot seas. Sailomat working well. Full main, 120% and staysail. Big clouds on horizon behind us. Winds lightened to 8 knots during evening which was too light for sailomat. Started motorsailing at 800 RPM just before midnight in light winds. Lunch: Bagel, cream cheese, sausage, tomato Dinner: (formerly) frozen lasagna
March 18, 2001	Motored until 0400 when there was enough wind to put jib back up, but now on port tack, heading 150 DegT. Stopped engine at 0730. New shaft seal leaking. Port tank still full. The engine is very thrifty at low RPM using about 2 gal in 10 hrs. Light winds all day with some motorsailing. Sailomat worked well with light 155% genoa when winds over 8 knots. Electric autopilot used while motoring. Light drizzle just before midnight. Dinner: Pasta packet w/canned peas & carrots
March 19, 2001	Motorsailed until morning at 900 RPM (4 knots). Winds picked up by evening. At midnight, 120%, staysail and single reef in main. Dinner: Chili, corn, cornbread, cheese, sour cream.
March 20, 2001	Log says "Beautiful sailing!" at 0300. Down to 120% and two reefs by mid morning. Looks like we're in the trade winds now. Winds pick up to 20+ knots and we switched to 90% jib and two reefs in main. Seas building with the occasional pound from the bow.
March 21, 2001	"Annoying Night" Winds 5-30 knots. Took out and put in reefs several times. Also raining at times. Bright and sunny during the day, but still windy and rough. Seas steep, green water on deck. Wind shifted so it looks like our first stop will be Fajardo perhaps even San Juan. Forecast says winds may go S from ESE.
March 22, 2001	Land sighted at 0830. Rainy, winds went South (on the nose) and are variable. Engine seems to have overheating problem on Fwd. Cyl. Main ripped at slide on luff at 0940. Took down main, now motorsailing S in lumpy seas with just staysail. Engine continues to overheat briefly. Bringing it back to idle very quickly lowers temp. Someone is constantly watching temp gauge to tell helmsman to idle when temp goes high (which it does every 20 minutes or so). Finally made it to marina mid afternoon. The most frustrating day so far. Checked in to Puerto Chico Marina. $1.50/foot, free water. Arranged to have main fixed in morning at local North Sails Loft. Dinner: "El Rickkisimo" Pizza at Ricky's Pizza. Internet access $5/hour.

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