Position: 038degs 48' 89N 166degs 00' 07W
Boat time: 06:45hrs
Well! Where to begin! It's been a rough old rollercoaster for a few days. It started a couple of nights ago when our watch was ending. We recorded a drop of 5 millibars on the barometer. (Just so's you know, a drop of 2 or 3 millibars in 3 to 6 hours means bad weather so a drop of 5 millibars in one 3-hour watch spells big trouble). Just as we'd got our foulies off and were preparing for bed the Skipper says 'We might need some help on deck'. Confused, we wriggle back into our foulies wondering why they need help reefing or whatever, until we hear the call to drop the main sail.
Chaos is the only way to describe the deck as we struggled against the strengthening wind to get the main down. As this was happening we noticed the Yankee foresail that was lashed to the foredeck was going over the side, so Connor (No, Dad, not Dennis Connor!) and I were sent forward to re-attach it whilst the rest of the crew carried on the fight with the mainsail. Once it was down and lashed to the boom we settled down for another 24 hours of sailing bare-poled in winds upto 65 knots, roughly 75mph, achieving speeds of around 19 knots when surfing. We sailed through the night with just the storm jib up, trying to make the best progress we could towards to San Fran. During the morning watch, whilst warming up in the saloon, a massive wave broke over the back of the boat and came flooding through the main hatch to leave half a foot of water sloshing round the saloon and galley! Another wave during the night caught us side on and swept the 3 of us in the cockpit across from one side to the other, soaking us and setting of my lifejacket! (they inflate automatically when immersed in water).
Fortunately for us, we were the lucky ones that night and got away lightly with the tough conditions. Uniquely Singapore had 3 incidents of people being swept overboard by waves, including the Skipper and the Helmsman, but luckily all 3 were attached by their lifelines and were pulled back onboard a little shaken but unharmed. The wave that knocked the Skipper and Helm over also managed to buckle the steering wheel and completely wash the coach roof hatch off. Fortunately, there was nobody in the way of it at the time.
In the early hours of yesterday morning, we were called upon to divert to the last known position of the Californian boat as their EPIRB (emergency position indicating radar beacon) was transmitting signals which Falmouth Coastguard and Clipper HQ were recieving. California wasn't responding to any attempts to contact them so us, Uniquely Singapore, Hull and Humber and Spirit of Australia were asked to divert towards them. As we were the nearest vessel at only about 50 miles away we were the first on scene. It took us quite a while to find them as they were still moving at about 6 knots but we were getting regular updates from thier EPIRB. Before we made contact with them, a US Coastguard plane had been scrambled and they had managed to speak with California's Skipper and establish what the sitiation was onboard. They had suffered a 120degree roll with the stay sail and storm jib up, which caused the mast to break above the first spreader when the boat righted itself. All of their electrics and communications are down which is why they couldn't respond to any attempts at contact.
We were also told that there was an injury onboard and they were requesting a medevac. The unlucky crewmember had hit his head on a bulkhead during the role and suffered at 6 inch cut from the hairline to the crown, 1-2 inches wide. He was awake and didn't seem to be suffering any loss of speech etc. but the Skipper wanted to be safe rather than sorry. The CG plane had to leave the scene because of fuel shortage but not before arranging a rendezvous with a tanker in the area bound for LA to take the injured person.
We motored in convoy as fast as we could towards the rendezvous with the tanker to try and get there before dark and made it just in time. The tanker launched its 'man over baord' rib and tried to go along side Cali to pick up the casualty. However, the swell and the still strong winds made it very difficult. In the end, the tanker turned side on to provide shelter from the wind and waves and Cali had to go right up close beside them to get in the flat water and the rib could get along side from there. The injured crew member and also another person suffering from shock were evacuated onto the rib which was then craned back onto the tanker. By this time it was pitch black and most of the operation had been carried out in the dark. It was a nerve racking event watching the little rib trying to get close enough to Cali and the tanker, I was sure that on every roll of the wave the rib was going to be squashed. Thankfully, everybody got back to the tanker safely and everyone on California is much relieved that their fellow crew members will be receiving proper medical treatment.
As soon as the operation was over both Cali and JLB began making full steam through the night towards San Fransico. We're still awaiting instructions from the Clipper race office but it looks like in the morning we will be transferring fuel to them and when Singapore catch us up they will do the same and take over escort duties until H+H and Australia catch up etc. and we will contuinue racing.
Despite the dreadful conditions, stressful events and tough weather, spirits are still high onboard. We're a little disappointed that our arrival will be a little later than hoped for but, overall, we will be relieved to be back racing again soon. xxx
Great up-date thanks Lily. I look forward to reading the book when you get back.
ReplyDeleteUncle Peter