Sea trial #3

My parents came to visit for Memorial Day weekend and we decided to take the boat out. The plan was to take the 6 hour trip down to Cumberland Island, anchor overnight and then return. We checked the weather, it looked good. We checked the sea forecast– waves 3-5 feet, winds from the northeast at 10-15 knots. Should be easy going down, a little more difficult coming back.

We loaded the boat with plenty of supplies, fuel, water. Installed safety netting over the safety lines, fitted everyone for PFDs, and we were ready to go!

It started out really nice. The channel was calm, the weather beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

We exited between Jekyll Island and St Simon’s Island, raised the mainsail and started heading out to sea. The channel goes for several miles off shore as The Golden Isles has a long section of shallows. As soon as we were out in the channel the wind and waves started picking up. The winds were sustained 20 knots with gusts up to 30. I kept checking the gauge, definitely measuring true wind, not apparent. We were being pummeled by the waves. They were so high they were breaking all the way back to the helm. Definitely 5-7 with occasionally even higher. We were only able to go about 3.5 knots an hour. We made it out into the Atlantic Ocean–true blue water with no sight of land, and then turned south. Now the wind was toward the port stern (back left of the boat). Although we were no longer being pummeled it was still a rough ride. The bow of the boat would be buried in a wave, then go up so high I couldn’t see over it before going right back down again. The waves were closely stacked…the adjective that kept coming to mind was relentless.

Kim and I had a quick conference:
1. The return trip would be more like the trip out but instead of it lasting an hour it would be for at least 5.
2. We had closed the hatches, but had not communicated well. I thought Kim had closed the portholes, she thought I had closed the portholes.  Ended up neither of us had closed the portholes so we had salt water down below on the beds, the hallways, etc.
3. We had failed to put away many items that ended up flying.  There was stuff that had tipped over everywhere.  We almost lost the cooler and the dog bin overboard several times. Down below it looked like a tornado had hit the boat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. We had not planned ahead and made any preparations for food and drink while underway.  We had the food, but it was too rough to be down in the galley trying to prepare sandwiches and beverages.  Next time we will have ready made PB&J in zip locks and our water bottles filled and ready.

5. We were seasick. Ben was sick and miserable, Aislin had thrown up several times, Kim had thrown up right along with Aislin, and I was holding onto the steering wheel for dear life thinking as long as I kept driving I wouldn’t hurl with the rest of my family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So we decided to turn around.  We endured rough seas for another hour and limped back to port to hose off the boat, wash all the bedding, clean water out of the inside of the boat and regroup. We were cold, wet, nauseous and disheartened.

I’ve heard life on a boat is both highest highs and lowest lows…