Disaster!
Worse things do happen at sea but this was pretty
bad. We lost our Parasailor sail today. We were already in dire
straits concerning our sails. The genoa, which is the main working sail,
was all but destroyed in the storm of 30th November. Somehow we managed to
put it together again adequately enough for it to continue pulling us
through the water for another 10 days before she suffered further severe damage
during a squall in the middle of the night on 10th December. At this time
we were in strong winds and heavy seas and it was decided to park it on the
forestay until we reached our destination. In the meantime we rigged the
stay sail as a poor, but better than nothing, substitute for the genoa. This
worked reasonably well. We also flew the Parasailor whenever conditions
allowed. On 12th December a small longitudinal tear was noted on the leech
of the main sail and by the next day this had extended to half a metre in
length. Then the inevitable happened the leech tore across transversely
putting the whole of the sail at risk. An attempt to furl it resulted in it
jamming in the in-mast furling system at the site of the tear. It would
neither come in nor out and the seas were too rough for any attempt to go up the
mast to try to free it. It was decided to leave it where it
was.
This morning we awoke to moderate winds varying
betwen 13 and 18 knots. Ideal conditions for the Parasailor, which was
duly launched at 0800 hrs. The weather report, downloaded from the ARC,
indicated winds of up to 27 knots during the day and this was confirmed by
GRIB weather files. In view of this information a decision was made to
take down the Parasailor at 20 knots of wind, which was the situation by
around 1030 hrs. Cruelly and totally unexpectedly the plastic "snuffer"
which encloses the sail to enable it to be taken down, broke in two with only a
third of the sail enclosed. "Snuffing" was now impossible and the only
option was to lower the sail on its halyard. In the process of doing
this part of the sail entered the water and became trapped under the
boat. It was eventually recovered but in a severely damaged state and
minus the snuffer. It seems very unlikely that anything useful can be
retrieved from the wreckage.
One slightly better turn of events during the
mornings drama was that the main sail freed itself from the jam. It
remains very vulnerable to further tearing but it is our only remaining
effective means of wind propulsion. Furthermore any new attempt to
furl it is highly likely to result in another jam. There are just 130 nm
to go. We just hope the main sail lasts this short distance to enable
us to limp into the shelter of Rodney Bay, where we will take it down before
entering the port. Wish us luck!