Orion is in Bermuda....again

[Jim Walsh]

Singlehanded to Bermuda. Left Noank, Ct. Monday, 5/28 at 10:30am and arrived at Customs in St. Georges on Sunday 6/3 at 7:30pm. A six day and nine hour passage.
Saw lots of whales between Montauk Pt. and the continental shelf. Had to alter course several times to give hem a wide berth. There was a lot of breaching activity.
Twice it was necessary to hail ships within 4nm of me which the AIS indicated were on a collision course. Once made aware of my presence both altered course. It's easy to be lost in wave clutter when you are such an insignificant size.
I logged 786.5 nm for the passage. Only spotted the sun a couple times. Continuously hazy and overcast. Winds moderate at 18 to 35k. Waves 3 to 6 other than the days it piped up to 35k, 6 to 8 feet on those days. No real nasty weather.
I'll be here for a few weeks if anyone cares to sail over.
Wifi is spotty but I'll try to check in when I can with pictures.
The CD 31 is a great blue water boat!

[Steve Laume]

Well done Jim!

Liz and I were just talking about how you might be having a difficult passage and should be hearing from you soon. It sounds like it was a good ride. Glad to hear the whales were happy as well. I kept watching the winds and it looked like you would have been motoring for a couple of days then some push off to the east with wind counter to the current at times. It sounds like you avoided most of that. Enjoy your time there as I am sure you will. Swim often, eat lots of fish tacos and watch out for Tiger Sharks.

Congratulations, once again, Steve.

[Capt Hook]

Jim, is this Orion's third trip to Bermuda?

Any place else on you bucket list?

[John Ring]

Sarah & I are glad to hear you & Orion are enjoying Bermuda's warm blue waters again, and yes we're jealous. Post pictures when you can!

John

[John Stone]

Outstanding Jim. I give you joy on a safe and successful passage. I would love to see any photos you care to share or read about your voyage or thoughts on what are your lessons learned. BZ.

Best regards
John

[Sea Hunt Video]

"Well done" indeed Jim

Passage photos would be nice, assuming the weather was sufficiently mild to allow for photos.

[Nebe]

I'm envious! many years ago, I crewed on a delivery of a bristol 30 from Bermuda to Newport. Took 9 days...

[Jim Walsh]

Here's a shot I took on 6/2 at 2:09am. The lights you see in the darkness are the "Celebrity Summit" as she steams past at 19 knots. I was watching her on AIS and we were on a collision course. When she got within 4 miles I radio'd her to inquire whether she was aware of my presence. After the second call she replied. She said she now saw me and would alter course to keep clear. She asked that I maintain my present course and speed which I confirmed.
You can see that I'm covered in spray and rain. I was doing 4.8 knots under a double reefed main and a full staysail in 30 knots of wind. As usual the Monitor has the helm.

[Jim Walsh]

Jim, is this Orion's third trip to Bermuda?

Any place else on you bucket list?

Yes, my third trip.

I like Bermuda. It's a challenge for a singlehander to get here but it's a wonderful place to spend a month. The waters beautiful, the arrival and departure of the offshore sailboats is always interesting, I'll get to see the Bermuda Race competitors, my son will visit for a week, and most of all...the wahoo tacos are outstanding.

[jbenagh]

Jim,

congratulations on the passage! You're becoming a regular.

With big ships I always like to ask what I look like on their radar. Sometimes they answer. Off Halifax at 2am a couple years back, we called to one of the big ships we saw on AIS that was crossing our path. Captain said he could see us well and gave the right heading which was quite a relief. Funny that it was a ship that often came to our home waters in Salem, MA; I even recognized captain's voice.

Jeff

[Jim Walsh]

Today things have turned for the better. A heavy rain and thunder woke me at 4:00am. It was the usual fire drill to get two hatches and eight opening ports closed at the same time. Then the rain scrubbed Orion free of salt while I slept till 7:00. The skies had cleared and the wind was 8 to 12 knots.
After making pancakes and reading for a while it was a nice opportunity to take a couple photos from the dinghy.
The first photo has a tall ship, the "Tenatious" off my starboard beam. She arrived yesterday.
The second photo is of a school of deadly sea piranha which I spotted off the stern just before going for a swim. It always pays to be cognizant of your surroundings.
The weather forecast is for several days of excellent weather. It has been unsettled here and very breezy. I was finally able to erect my canopy. A couple boats have relocated back here after spending several days on the other side of the harbor where the seas had less fetch.

[wsonntag]

So nice to see a sister ship of my CD31 in those waters. I sailed to Bermuda and back several times in the 1970's. On one trip I hooked up with another crew and sailed to the Azores. About 14 days or so as I recollect, downwind most of the way during the Summer Solstice with a full moon. Celestial Nav and dead reckoning were the order of those days. Rum and Cuban cigars, a clutch of palm fronds tied to the backstay. As you know the stars out on blue water are remarkable.

Fair winds and happy sailing to you and Orion!

[Sea Hunt Video]

Jim:

The photo of S/V Orion at anchor is beautiful. A true classic sailboat that looks in all respects like a ocean sailor.

Seeing piranha in Bermuda is interesting. I am not a ichthyologist but I always thought they were fresh or brackish water fish.

Good catch seeing them before doing a swam dive into their midst. Yikes

[Capt Hook]

So nice to see a sister ship of my CD31 in those waters. I sailed to Bermuda and back several times in the 1970's. On one trip I hooked up with another crew and sailed to the Azores. About 14 days or so as I recollect, downwind most of the way during the Summer Solstice with a full moon. Celestial Nav and dead reckoning were the order of those days. Rum and Cuban cigars, a clutch of palm fronds tied to the backstay. As you know the stars out on blue water are remarkable.

Fair winds and happy sailing to you and Orion!

Were the voyages you described above in your CD 31?

[Capt Hook]

Jim,

When able would you please post a pic of your dinghy and also describe how you stow it when it's not in the water.