Freebooter has arrived,
After an arduous 6 days at sea after leaving the Turks & Caicos, we made it to San Juan. It was an ambitious Northly tack, to beat against the predominant E-ESE winds, for a long final tact SE to Puerto Rico from the Atlantic side. It was not working well, variable winds and squalls delayed our progress. We finally got a break off the northern coast of the Dominican Republic in the form of a NE'stly. We were then able to make a run across the eastern top of the Dominican Republic, across the Mona Passage, directly for the western tip of Puerto Rico. It didn't hold out for long before turning into an E'stly, but enough for us to make the Mona passage crossing in its infamous swell. On a time constraint, as a crew member had a flight from San Juan, we motored for 10 hours in the close into the lee of the island. We did this for better time and to avoid the ocean swell. We made landfall early saturday morning into San Juan. A lovely end to a great voyage. We were greeted by the mild winds and protected waters of the inner harbour, a salve after days at sea out of sight of land. After clearing customs, and cleaning the boat, we got to enjoy some of the old San Juan, and my new home and haven for Freebooter at N18 27.589, W66 05.306. A far cry from Freebooters homeport of Fleetwood, but a nice home harbour nonetheless.
The Journey has been ambitious, at some times perilous, but a great adventure none the less, where Freebooter has surpassed my expectations and that of the crew, for a safe haven in the blue waters of the Caribbean, where Freebooter can really come into her own.
Freebooters Final Tally (Boat log) for the Stormrunner (UK-Canada) and Sunseeker (Canada-Puerto Rico) adventures, is 7429 nm. That's the distance travelled from Fleetwood, UK to San Jan, Puerto Rico by sail boat since our departure on the 3rd of May. We'll be updating the website with the actual route taken (GPS Co-ordinates and dates) from the log shortly and posting on the accessory sailblog route page and eventually on this web page itself as an image.
I would like to thank all the crew (Freebooters one and all) for a sterling effort and there invaluable assistance in making this adventure possible.
Freebooter is now about to undergo some much overdue love and attention in harbour, but her adventures will continue...
Sunday 18 August 2013
Saturday 10 August 2013
Turks & Caicos
After sailing over the Crooked Islands, between the Plana Cays and below Mayaguana and above Inagua, we were going to make the the crossing of the Caicos Bank, when I saw fraying in the forward baby stay. Obviously when rigging is fraying immediate steps need to be made to repair the rigging. Fraying was possibly exacerbated by strong winds we had been sailing in for the last 2 days. We continued on our N'ly tack (rather than continuing south to the Dominican Republic) to make the closest port of call in the Turks & Caicos islands. We made Sapodilla Bay before nightfall where we anchored protected from the strong Easterlies. Following morning we moved the boat on the high tide to a shallow Marina, 6 miles east so work could be done to jury rig a repair to the baby stay with some local support from the Shipyard. All done we enjoyed some local drinks cuisine and saw some of the sights on the island. Tomorrow we depart at high tide, back for our original destination, although we will be taking a northly route, above Turks Caicos and out into the Deep Atlantic, in order to avoid the strong winds that are associated with the low pressure that is sitting on the Dominican Republic, for the calmer winds of the high pressure in the North Atlantic. We will stay at deep sea for 2 days before making a tack back directly towards Puerto Rico, and hopefully missing the worst of the strong easterlies and associated thunderstorms. In other words, Freebooter once again is stormrunning.
Tuesday 6 August 2013
Eleuthera & Long Island, Bahamas
We sailed from West Bay, New Providence down the Tongue of the Ocean to Fresh Water Harbour, encountered strong winds and moderate seas, making the Exuma crossing unfeasible. tried berthing in Fresh water harbour but not enough depth. Anchored behind the US Navy research station and went ashore for provisions. Rowed 2 miles to fresh water and back for provisions anchoring became untenable in the hard ground in the lee of the breakwater, so pulled anchor, to go sailing back in the deep waters of the Tongue of the Ocean, our only way forward in the strong winds was to sail back to New Providence and go to deep waters north of Eluethera unless the winds abated. As we approached Eleuthera, winds abated and good weather returned the following day so we decided to take the shallow protected waters on the Eleuthera bight that in essence was a shortcut, and allowed us to have some time at anchor to enjoy the island, as sailing in shallow waters at night is never recomended.
We stopped in the lovely protected harbours of Hatchett Bay and Governors Harbour. By coincidence we arrived at Hatchett Bay during the August homecoming and Island holiday, so we were able to enjoy the festival onshore, as we were on a mooring, before getting a good nights rest. Governors Harbour was a great little harbor where at anchor, we found a mooring block (when diving the beautiful clear waters to check anchor holding) so we wrapped the anchor around the mooring that gave us extra security and allowed us to explore the oldest town and former center of government of The Bahamas. We enjoyed a nice meal and a few drinks at the local Bar. From Governors Harbour we sailed to Eluethera Marina, just off Powels point after passing the shallow exit passage of Davis Channel. We stopped to take fuel at the Marina, but Marina was closed, Was going to stop over night, but insects were prevalent in the Marina. Wind had died so we motored over night and the next day through the deep waters of the Exuma sound, in the Lee of Cat Island and pass the Exumas straight for Long Island. Our objective to get to the last deep water Marina of the Far Bahamas at Clarence Bay, Long Island. Unfortunately due to strong currents in the north of Long Island, we lost an hour which meant we had to approach the harbour at twilight and in the dark, since the East end of the Island is completely surrounded by uncharted reef shallows, our only options were to keep motoring to the east, or try to enter the harbour at night. We made the entrance into the main channel of the harbour at night to see how well lit the area was and whether docking was a possibility. As t turned out, Flying fish Marina was lit and the entrance harbour was quite clear and well marked, so we were able to take a berth for the night. Unfortunately the town was closed tight since its a holiday weekend. Today however we were able to refuel, re-provision with water and soon we will explore the Island before heading out late this afternoon for the final run to Puerto Rico, a 6 day trip out to the lee of the Turk Islands and across the top of Hispaniola and across the infamous Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Forecast looks good for some nice winds tonight and tomorrow, despite the rain, although the rain will make the trip a little cooler. Looking forward to parting on our arrival at Puerto Rico, and once more being in civilization.
In Retrospect, it was a shame to miss the Exumas, as I've heard great things but theirs always next time, and Eleuthera was well worth the visit and saved us time rounding the Island to the north and west on the Atlantic side.Freebooters deep draft does make exploration of the shallow waters of The Bahamas interesting, and anchoring is an important aspect of sailing the Bahamas, a good tender is also important, and we've become quite proficient at popping out the inflatable dinghy for rowing ashore, in true Freebooter fashion, nothing better than anchoring off and rowing ashore on a tender. Also we've met some great personages, helpful locals and had a great time. After our long journey across the Nth Atlantic, the Bahamas have been a much needed salve to Freebooter and her hardy crew.
We stopped in the lovely protected harbours of Hatchett Bay and Governors Harbour. By coincidence we arrived at Hatchett Bay during the August homecoming and Island holiday, so we were able to enjoy the festival onshore, as we were on a mooring, before getting a good nights rest. Governors Harbour was a great little harbor where at anchor, we found a mooring block (when diving the beautiful clear waters to check anchor holding) so we wrapped the anchor around the mooring that gave us extra security and allowed us to explore the oldest town and former center of government of The Bahamas. We enjoyed a nice meal and a few drinks at the local Bar. From Governors Harbour we sailed to Eluethera Marina, just off Powels point after passing the shallow exit passage of Davis Channel. We stopped to take fuel at the Marina, but Marina was closed, Was going to stop over night, but insects were prevalent in the Marina. Wind had died so we motored over night and the next day through the deep waters of the Exuma sound, in the Lee of Cat Island and pass the Exumas straight for Long Island. Our objective to get to the last deep water Marina of the Far Bahamas at Clarence Bay, Long Island. Unfortunately due to strong currents in the north of Long Island, we lost an hour which meant we had to approach the harbour at twilight and in the dark, since the East end of the Island is completely surrounded by uncharted reef shallows, our only options were to keep motoring to the east, or try to enter the harbour at night. We made the entrance into the main channel of the harbour at night to see how well lit the area was and whether docking was a possibility. As t turned out, Flying fish Marina was lit and the entrance harbour was quite clear and well marked, so we were able to take a berth for the night. Unfortunately the town was closed tight since its a holiday weekend. Today however we were able to refuel, re-provision with water and soon we will explore the Island before heading out late this afternoon for the final run to Puerto Rico, a 6 day trip out to the lee of the Turk Islands and across the top of Hispaniola and across the infamous Mona Passage to Puerto Rico. Forecast looks good for some nice winds tonight and tomorrow, despite the rain, although the rain will make the trip a little cooler. Looking forward to parting on our arrival at Puerto Rico, and once more being in civilization.
In Retrospect, it was a shame to miss the Exumas, as I've heard great things but theirs always next time, and Eleuthera was well worth the visit and saved us time rounding the Island to the north and west on the Atlantic side.Freebooters deep draft does make exploration of the shallow waters of The Bahamas interesting, and anchoring is an important aspect of sailing the Bahamas, a good tender is also important, and we've become quite proficient at popping out the inflatable dinghy for rowing ashore, in true Freebooter fashion, nothing better than anchoring off and rowing ashore on a tender. Also we've met some great personages, helpful locals and had a great time. After our long journey across the Nth Atlantic, the Bahamas have been a much needed salve to Freebooter and her hardy crew.
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