What, That’s All You Got?

3 am this morning – it’s always 3 am – a squall hit. Not too bad, 22 knots. I happened to be awake, about to make some coffee. Full main and Code 0 up. Before I could climb into the cockpit to blow the mainsheet, Sparrow rounded up and broached. No worries, I thought as I eased the main thinking she’d get back on her feet as the rudder dug back in. No go. I then moved to roll in the Code 0, but then realized it was in shreds, torn from head to tack right down the luff. Maybe someone can school me, but I don’t find this very good service out of a very new sail.

By now I’m used to clearing messes, even in the dark (Sparrow has a great deck light with the oh so convenient cockpit switch). My knife is getting too much use, I think. I cut it away, unfurled the jib and left final cleanup for daylight. This sail was my other main downwind sail, and it was a big loss for speed. Sparrow is now down to working sails, solid Hydranet which I have a lot of confidence in. Definitely in cruising mode now, and the sailing will be much simpler. More time for my reading list.

But wait, there’s more!

While I was cutting away the sail, it appears a slightly loose lazy jack line near the end of the boom caught the NKE GPS antenna that provide Sparrow’s position to her electronics and Expedition. It’s also gone & I have no spare. It crossed my mind more than once to get a spare before departure, but I never acted on it. I do have multiple other GPS devices onboard, so it’s not a show stopper. The Vesper AIS is feeding GPS data to the NKE system now, but for some reason now the NKE Wifi box isn’t talking to Expedition or anything else. A headache I will hopefully resolve tomorrow.

Frankly, it’s been a week I wasn’t expecting, and I’m feeling bowed but unbroken. No doubt some would say I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. Maybe, but I’m still chewing!!! I had a little discussion with Poseidon today: “What, that’s all you got!?!”

Just a guess, but I’m pretty sure he has more tricks up his sleeve.

Hawaii approaches. Take care of each other.