Nov 21, 2009

Affinity has a trip under her belt. The J/42 Affinity had a wonderful passage as part of the NARC Rally from Newport to St Martin. We sailed a 2 person on deck- 4 hour on 4 hour off - watch. We hand steered all the way and kept a close watch on weather and adjusted our course and sail plan early as the anticipated situation dictated.

Starting at 1515 Sunday November 1st from Newport we reached Bermuda in 3 days 20 hours. Had a very comfortable Gulf Stream crossing, some seas, but overall it was smooth. We sailed through The Steam in one watch. Holding 189 degrees out of Newport to the stream, to the dog leg recommended by Susan Gennett of Real Weather the advisor to the NARC Rally. We stayed South while in the Stream recommended by Commanders, then Gybed and had a nice broad reach with a high, but favorable, following sea all the way to Bermuda. There was not a lot of direction changing required on the helm to guide our way to Bermuda this time!

After lots of fun in Bermuda, socials, scooters and The Swizzle Inn, and a meeting with another J/42 owner, Peter Willauer aboard Eight Bells we departed Sunday at 1500. The decision to leave Sunday, rather than the originally planned on Monday, was due to weather forecasts in our path to SXM. We sailed a bit West of Rhumb for 3 days to avoid weather and to also (hopefully) pick up a wind change to the Southeast which might result as IDA turned up the East coast. We then tacked to Starboard, SE, for St Martin. We were in pretty close contact with Freestyle, Don Cody’s Hyalas 54 which was insight for 3 days post Bermuda. Along the way and were able to raise Laughing Lady Andy Lipman’s Swan 44 a few times. Andy had left Bermuda Sunday Morning. We experienced some rain squalls on the second leg but nothing serious. Once we tacked SW when we saw what looked like a nasty squall ahead. Several times we were successful in missing the heavy stuff with our avoidance behavior.

We did see winds as high as 42 kits. and seas at or close to 20 feet. For about 24 hours. While being careful and respectful of the conditions. we all enjoyed the boat moving between 10 and 14.9 knots the whole time in the surf. The boat, and each crew member, handled it perfectly, one night we chose to sail with 3 reefs and no headsail as we suspected the weather might worsen.

Mid week with a large squall forecasted Southeast of our position we decided to tack to the Southwest for 5 hours to avoid it. After the 5 hours were up I said to the crew; we can beat to SXM or crack off to a tight reach to Virgin Gorda and be there in 24 hours. Everyone gave thumbs up on the latter idea. I checked in with Commanders for a forecast to BVI from our location and they said “the forecast is for a tranquil night”. We went for it.

We had a wonderful time in BVI. Ran into the boats from the Carib 1500 at Nanny Cay, met cruising families on similar size boats with children and dogs. We had a nice time talking to the owners of another J/42 from Washington DC, Ceol Mor, Jim and Heather Wilson. They are on their way to Australia via Gallipolis with their two sons, who are about 5 and 7 years old. We had drinks at the Soggy Dollar on Jost Van Dyke and anchored at White’s Breach. We also spent a night in the bight on Norman Island and snorkeled in the caves on the West side of the island.

On Tuesday with our mental batteries recharged, the winds went light and happily, for us, swung to the South. With full sunshine above we set sail on a close reach in 9 to 11 knots of wind, ten hours later we were in SXM. After a good night’s rest we entered the basin with the 0630 bridge opening. My only problem at this point was I left my ships documents home and St Martin authorities did not find that amusing. The Documentation Center in Virginia was great after I found someone there take ownership in finding a solution to my problem. Wynette faxed new docs to me and I cleared a few days later.

Everyone on AFFINITY; George Fallon, Stewart Rose and Leah Quinn did their share of the work and made strong contributions. It was a team effort and we worked well together. I give a special thanks to Leah who celebrated a birthday at sea with us this year. A live aboard in Annapolis in the summer she knows her way around boats. A grandmother in New Orleans in the winter so she is highly skilled with food. In addition to often making practical suggestions, sometimes when the captain did not want to hear them, and helming well in the heavy stuff, she quietly took upon herself all the provisioning and most all the cooking responsibilities. We ate like KINGS every night having dinner as a team promptly at 1900 each day. When the stove stopped working for two days and the three men thought the food excellence was over. NO WAY Leah cooked up some Shrimp by marinating them somehow in vinegar and spices, rustled up other things she had hiding in the refrig to accompany the main course, and we continued to eat like kings. In BVI Stewart fixed the stove.

We used only 10 gallons of fuel on the trip. Resting in SXM now contemplating the next move. Tony - AFFINITY

Some recent pictures sent by Tony.

`