Collisions, Crash Gybes and Forty-Feet Swells - 24 08 09
What a day! It really feels like I'm certainly not having an easy last week in at the moment. Things went really pear-shaped this afternoon.
I was standing on deck, leaning on the coachroof, gazing out across the sea when suddenly WHACK! we hit something. The tiller started to jar about and the autopilot was really, really struggling to control it. ‘What on earth,’ I thought? Had I broken a rudder? Was something caught on the rudder? Was the shaft bent?
I jumped in the stern and noticed that the mount for the autopilot ram was partially torn away and I could hear that not-so-lovely noise of cracking fiberglass. Incredible how one second everything is fine, the next everything is going wrong!
I turned off the pilot and then manually tested the rudders, how they were behaving with the tiller - still loads of jarring! I peered over the back but couldn't see anything amiss.
I needed to change over the ram to the other side with the other good mount for my other ram. I had to slow down a bit for this job in case anything went wrong and so I furled away the solent and put a reef in the main for good measure.
With the pilot off and the tiller being nudged and kicked from one side to the other by me making alterations every now and again, Totallymoney.com was weaving quite dramatically.
I knocked out the pin for the ram, hoisted it over to the other side and started to set it up. All the while I was steering by 'feel'. But I was down for a little too long and I couldn't feel the boat well enough. We suddenly plunged into a nice crash gybe which I had no chance of pulling out of.
The main whacked up against the running backstay and because it was pinned there, we rounded up into a stiff 30knot breeze nicely. Now the first time this happened on this trip, somewhere in the Atlantic on leg 1, it was quite a shock. Now, however, I've gotten – well, let's say ‘well-practiced’ at this, as it's happened a good few times since then!
When the main’s pinned and rounded up, I've learned to leave the preventer on rather that letting the main swing to the other side fully and this in effect creates a sail. With the wind on the bow and the main pinned up, we started sailing backwards, just as I had hoped. In a weird way we even surfed a little, reaching 6knots! Once I had enough speed I swung the tiller over and we reversed round, just as if backing out of a parking space. The main caught the wind on the side and Totallymoney.com set off again downwind.
When we were reversing I suddenly felt the tiller go 'free' and it became a lot easier to move. I think something had hit the rudder and became stuck on it, which had caused the erratic movement and a heck of a lot of extra strain. So whatever it was fell off! YES!
Next, I had to reconfigure the pilot to work on the other side of the boat as all of it's lefts and rights were mixed up! This is easier said than done and as the pilot performed it's 'test' we came a little too close to both broaching and gybing for comfort, but it was all okay in the end and I bunged the pilot back on.
But the fun wasn't over at all! When we had gybed, the battern attachment had snapped clean right by the head of the sail and the battern had now slid out from the front of the sail by about 10inches. Not good! Now I was faced with an hour long struggle to get the main wound down. In the end it was thanks to a broom and some string that I finally succeeded, having caught the battern on about every possible thing on the rig! It was a quick fifteen-minute job to replace the attachment, put the battern back in and tension it up and then put it back on the mast track.
Then came the really hard bit, getting the main up the mast again. It was blowing 30knots and because the head of the sail is so flipping large it was forever catching on the lazy jacks and it took an hour and a half and lots of up-and-down and up-and-down and up, to finally get the main up to the first reef mark. I threw in the reef, got everything tensioned and set and headed down into the cabin, cold, wet, feeling pretty knackered and, more than anything, hungry!
Our 'bad boy low' is delivering tonight and I've currently got 35knots of wind and some serious seas. A rough 40foot swell too! The sea has picked up so much because this low has had a long chance to really build up in the same area and so we're now seeing the effects of that. I’ll be saying ‘hi’ to Hurricane Bill in the early hours of Wednesday, but it doesn't look so bad now, although it’s headed in a more southerly direction than I would have liked. I'll write more in-depth on the approaching hurricane tomorrow, I think this blog is long enough!!
©MikePerham2009
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Good Grief! What could you possibly hit out there in the ocean. Maybe a big, curious fish of some sort? Crazy stuff! I'm glad you have the know how to mend all the problems. Be careful!
Comment by Becky on August 24th, 2009 at 9:44 amWell Struth, Mike
Your going like a train AND Jeez - It's almost as if Someone else has taken over the script just to make it that extra bit exciting for the Finale! I'm knackered just 'reading' the above!
What a terrificly exciting week is ahead for all of us. My Union Jack has been flying non stop now for 278 Days and will continue to do so until you get to see it in person on September 26th. (No need for 'over-the-horizon calculations then)!
TALKING ABOUT CALCULATIONS, HERE'S SOME NUMBER CRUNCHING;-
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £...
YES EVERYONE...
That's 283 £'s! ONE for every day of Mike's Voyage.
NOW IF YOU RECKON MIKE'S EFFORTS HAVE BEEN WORTH 10p FOR EVERY DAY OF HIS VOYAGE, THEN CLICK ON THE JUSTGIVING CHARITY LINKS ON THE LEFTHAND OF HIS WEB PAGE AND DONATE £28.30!
ON THE OTHER HAND, I RECKON IT'S TIME THAT B I G BUSINESS GOT INVOLVED AND PUT THEIR HANDS IN THEIR CORPORATE POCKETS.
To all fellow bloggers. Make a PROMISE this week that you will personally contact the RICHEST person or BUSINESS you know and invite him, or her, or them to make a contribution...
For instance £1.00 for every day of Mike's Voyage will net one of his chosen charities £362.81!!! (That's £283 - plus a £79.81 Gift Aid Supplement from the Government for any UK tax payer)
SO GET CRACKING EVERYONE! I RECKON MIKE, AND HIS MUM & DAD, and HIS WHOLE TEAM DESERVE OUR SUPPORT. SO START EMPTYING THOSE JAM JARS OF COINS READY FOR SATURDAY!
Mike...
Not long before you'll be able to shout "LAND HO"! ...But DON'T climb the mast again just to see it that little bit sooner... I think that gave us ALL the 'Willies'!
Jonathan
Comment by Jonathan Martin on August 24th, 2009 at 9:48 amMike, What a shock - congrats on sorting out that problem. Just thought I'd let you know that we're still following you from down under. Enjoy the blow and good luck for Saturday...
Comment by Bill Wright on August 24th, 2009 at 10:38 amBill Wright
Come what may, I believe you can fix it, you can go through it and achieve it. The blessings of God be with you always.
Comment by Sofia Saracen on August 24th, 2009 at 10:39 amYikes! What can you have hit?? Some semi-submerged debris I guess.
What a struggle to control the ship... but the boy done good! You really are incredibly resourceful. Way to go!!!
Hope you have a better day, but the weather sounds truly atrocious. Will be thinking of you throughout the day.
Ed
Comment by Ed on August 24th, 2009 at 11:20 amWell Mike, I'm nearly at a loss for words except, what incredible fortitude and presence of mind you have. The ability to make quick, accurate decisions also comes to mind. Your book will be a fascinating read.
Comment by Dan Drimmie near Toronto on August 24th, 2009 at 12:13 pmYou will always AMAZE me Mike.
You are simply amazing! Reversing a boat! I find it difficult enough in a car, but a boat. Well done you! I sent an email around to a few people yesterday, so if they are taking a look at your blog today... well lets hope it makes them put there hands in there pockets a bit more
Comment by johnboi on August 24th, 2009 at 1:13 pmWould everyone please join me in emailing the Prince of Wales at the following link:
http://www.princeofwales.gov.uk/contactus/
and request the attention of the Royal Family for Mike's arrive in Portsmouth next Saturday?
Be sure to tell them what an extraordinary young citizen of the UK Mike is, and what his adventure has meant to you.
Then ask them to have someone in Portsmouth next Saturday, preferably William or Harry, to give Mike an official and memorable return home.
It doesn't hurt to ask, folks, and we who are fans of this should be the ones asking for it. I did, I hope you will too.
Thanks
Comment by Alan on August 24th, 2009 at 1:15 pmHi Mike!
I was lucky enough to hear your interview earlier this morning on Radio 4 and it was so good to hear you speaking live and know that you were okay. Then I’ve just logged on and found this blog and my heart was in my mouth whilst reading it. Wow! You’ve certainly had more than your fair share of dramas, difficulties and extremely challenging situations, thrown at you throughout your voyage. As usual, your cool reasoning and quick thinking saved the situation – well done Mike!
I do hope the boat hasn’t suffered too much damage (“noise of cracking fibreglass” sounds really scary); especially in the prevailing conditions.
We are all with you Mike (in spirit) on this last leg of the journey and praying for your safe passage to the finishing line.
Good luck Mike. Take extra care and keep checking everything!
Elizabeth
P.S. May I suggest that you play the following song on your IPod: “When the Going Gets Tough (the tough get going)” and reward yourself with the biggest bar of chocolate you’ve got left!!
Comment by Elizabeth (UK) on August 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pmKool man...Yeah I will send us$10 where to?
Comment by Rory Gogan Singapore on August 24th, 2009 at 3:06 pm15.55 BST
Peter, Mike
Just had a look at your JUSTGIVING sites. - WOW. What a response!
Time for "Grins" all round. Well done everybody.
Show your appreciation...keep those donations rolling in!
Jonathan
Comment by Jonathan Martin on August 24th, 2009 at 3:54 pmFor what it was worth, this American wrote to respectfully request the attention of the crown. Mike is most definitely a citizen to make England proud!
Comment by Bev Cagle on August 24th, 2009 at 4:57 pmHave emailed HRH Prince Charles. Let's hope he turns up.
Ed
Comment by Ed on August 24th, 2009 at 5:22 pmMike
Just saw your interview on ITV. Good account of your trip. But, amazingly, the graphic of your voyage skipped your stop in Cape Town!
But there you go. That's the media for you. Stand by for more daft question from land-lubbing anchor men and women on the news desk! You handled them brilliantly.
"Do you get lonely sailing solo, on your own?" ... Duurh!
Keep grinning.
Tame that storm behind you...
JM
Comment by Jonathan Martin on August 24th, 2009 at 6:30 pmWELL I WOULD SEND YOU 100GBP BUT I DO NOT HAVE PLASTIC SO HOW A CHEQUE TO WHO
Comment by EDMUND JAMES CROSSLAND on August 24th, 2009 at 8:30 pmTed
Hey Mike
No one said this was a walk in the park. I was just exhausted reading your blog today. So many things may have hit you, wood fish a submarine whatever you managed the situation so well.
I must say again I am so proud of you not knowing you but it makes think so many boys your age playing video games and you playing a game made for grownups that you have managed to know so well it makes many be amazed of you great skill.
Is a great week this one first you will manage Bill the way you know then you will be heading home for a great welcome. I will really miss reading you daily blog and writing you.
Good luck be safe
Comment by nilo marchand on August 24th, 2009 at 8:37 pmHang in there Mike.
Comment by dave letham on August 24th, 2009 at 9:31 pmFantastic job.
Dave L.
Hiya Mike,
Read your blog today when I got home from work for my lunch break. I was, to say the least, dumbstruck and had to read it again, but time was not on my side to submit comment before getting back to work. It is now getting on in the evening and I have just been catching up on the days comments.
What can I say. You really are someone special. Always calm and quick thinking under pressure following logical routes to overcome 'tricky' issues.
I think that is enough problems for what is left of the remaining days. If anything else happens (heaven forbid) I shall fall off the edge of my chair! Goodness knows how your family are coping; lots of respect for them.
Keep safe.
Neil A.
(thanks to Carol re. avatar)
Comment by neil arnott on August 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pmwow....i have been so busy with life ~ not boring ~ however nothing in comparison to your journey mike!! i had been reading you quite regularly up to the beginning of the year, and then today a little bird (not a yellow throated warbler) called in my ear and said "where is mike now?" so i see you are rounding it up.....congratulations mike ~ extremely well done. my prayers however never stopped for you....
when you get a chance on land you may wish to see what i have been up to these months while you were crossing the globe: zengreetings.com
~ m
Comment by magdalena on August 24th, 2009 at 10:08 pmMike,
I know you like the excitement but please don't break the boat before you grab the record !
-Sven
Comment by Sven in Cabrillo on August 25th, 2009 at 3:19 amMike. You ARE the coolest guy I've every known. I'm sure that upon your return, all your mates at school will call you a "Legend".
Thanks for that video "Mast Climb". It really depicts your situation and how you cope with changing events. I love the humour er..British understatement while up the mast.."It aint no fun, it aint no fun at all".
You ARE the 'stuff of legends' now!
Remember what I said in an earlier blog about the dolphins;
Comment by Dan Drimmie near Toronto on August 25th, 2009 at 3:59 am"no matter where you travel in the world, the word has gone out, that your friends are to be all around you, just below the surface...watching over you.
@Carol...thanks for the avatar. That's my 'pretty lady' on Lake Huron west of Toronto...second longest(11 kms) fresh water beach in the world.
Comment by Dan Drimmie near Toronto on August 25th, 2009 at 4:02 amMike - I am so glad you didn't have to go for a swim to fix the rudder as you did in the Pacific! Hang on tight in this rough weather. I want the next blog to be boring!
Don
Comment by Don Wilson on August 25th, 2009 at 5:35 amCleveland OH
Thanks to Dan Drimmie for sponsoring your latest Horror Movie!
...I'm beginning to have my suspicions about you Mike.
How can anyone be at the very top of a mast that high
- in that wind
- in that swell
- saying he doesn't like heights
- that "This aint no fun, it aint no fun at all"...
AND... S T I L L HAVE A GRIN ON HIS FACE?
Is there something about Oaklands College producing Superhumans that we should know about?
Yours, with vertigo
Jonathan
Comment by Jonathan Martin on August 25th, 2009 at 6:05 am@Jonathan and Mike...
I'm just glad, that by sponsoring, I DIDN'T have to actually hold the camera. LOL. I HATE heights (and snakes-from Indiana Jones).
Comment by Dan Drimmie near Toronto on August 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm