ATLANTIC 1000 Images

DAY 7 – Tybee Island to Isle of Palms

Today we started the second leg of the Atlantic 1000 which is called the Outer banks 500 (OBX 500). We rested well yesterday and even got to visit the old town of Savannah.

As I write it is 11pm and my right hip is getting stiff. I took a nasty fall today while blasting along on a broad reach. Tomorrow it will be worse I am sure. A minor battle wound. Today was a 76 mile leg – upwind – we even got to tack a few times - that makes a change!

We got off to a start on port – the first time in 500 miles. We had some difficulty with our dagger board getting stuck just after the start and in the process of getting it down destroyed the gasket. Beto had to stand up on it to get it down - all 194 pounds and 2 m tall – the board eventually gave in. Soon we were heading north. Team Tybee and us - battling it out in 5 knots of wind - only metres apart for the first hour. Eventually we decided to sail a line closer to the shore and we separated. We sailed in solitude having separated from the guys behind us and from Tybee.

Passing an inlet we nearly rand aground on a sandbank. Around Fripps Island there were extensive shallows and breakers. Here we converged again with Tybee having to tack around a sand bar. They passed ahead of us by a couple of hundred metres and the others were far behind. Later the wind filled in and we – as on the Tybee leg got down to some serious speed sailing – flying along with both of us on trapeze. I was doing my now regular somersaulting getting washed off the boat. The rudder was kicking up again – and to go in and get it down again became a tiring process. At least our speed had gone from 10 to 20 Knots. Read between the lines – that means arriving quicker!! – Well it was a nice thought. Crack and the boat spins out – Beto says the rudder snapped off – I look back and so it has – the leeward rudder completely disintegrated. Shit!!!

We are about 25 miles from the finish. So we just get on with sailing the boat with one rudder – a bit tricky in the waves but we manage to do without loading up the other blade and breaking it. The third boat eventually passes us about 3 miles from the finish.

Today was a frustrating day and more boat work in the evening to repair the rudder and centerboard gaskets. We only got to the beach arrived at 6 pm so I am going to keep this short – tomorrow is another day – I need some rest.

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