Orion is in Bermuda for a 6th visit

[Jim Walsh]

Orion left her home port of Noank, Connecticut last Tuesday. After several days of light and variable, and I do mean variable…the wind this trip had no idea which quadrant it favored. Several times each day it would change direction by 30° to 60°, very frustrating to say the least. The Gulf Stream was a bear, to put it mildly. But, all that aside the weather did its thing, I did my thing, and Orion once again proved capable of an offshore passage.
Now for a good nights (uninterrupted) rest.

[Carl Thunberg]

Glad to hear you arrived safe and sound. Enjoy your time in Bermuda!

[John Stone]

Outstanding Jim. Another voyage demonstrating your superb sailing and seamanship skills. Get some rest. I’d love to read about your voyage when you have time to write it out and share it on the forum. Enjoy Bermuda and the fish tacos.

[Jim Walsh]

Outstanding Jim. Another voyage demonstrating your superb sailing and seamanship skills. Get some rest. I’d love to read about your voyage when you have time to write it out and share it on the forum. Enjoy Bermuda and the fish tacos.

Thanks for the glowing assessment of my sailing and seamanship skills. Next time I’m forced to rush topside in the middle of the night to put a reef in I’ll use that as a mantra to ease my worldly woes.
The wahoo tacos are delightful. One down, one to go…

[jbenagh]

Nicely done Jim!

[Jim Walsh]

Orion at anchor in Convict Bay.

[Jim Walsh]

Flying the Bermuda courtesy flag and our CDSOA pennant.

[Jim Walsh]

Lovely skies just before sunset.

[John Stone]

Beautiful. Nothing like evening on a fine boat anchored under a tropical sky with a cool breeze blowing down the hatches and through the boat. I know you are enjoying every minute of it Jim.

[Jim Walsh]

When the humidity level rises it’s helpful to read about a voyage to Iceland and Greenland.

[John Stone]

That's a great book. I read all 8 of Tilman's books on mountaineering and sailing. An amazing adventurer. A man's man.

[keneasley]

Sounds like a great trip.
Was it about 600 nautical miles?
Hope that you enjoy Bermuda.
I only visited there once (by plane). I recall some excellent snorkeling in clear cool water.

[Jim Walsh]

Sounds like a great trip.
Was it about 600 nautical miles?
Hope that you enjoy Bermuda.
I only visited there once (by plane). I recall some excellent snorkeling in clear cool water.

650nm as the crow flies, in reality if you log 750nm you’re doing great. My intention is to remain as close as possible to the rhumbline but we all know where good intentions frequently lead. I had to alter course many times due to the flukey winds this year and the Gulf Stream was very active…like white water rafting at times. At least the squalls were 25k and less, I’m thankful for that.

[Jim Walsh]

On to a short safari tome, 575 pages penned by Teddy Roosevelt. I really appreciate being able to read undisturbed in such pleasant surroundings. I just have to be careful to leave enough unread books for the trip home in a few weeks.

[Jim Walsh]

Another lovely day yesterday but rather windy, 18 to 22k, with the associated chop of 1 to 2 feet. Made it risky to swim alone off the boat so it cramped my routine somewhat. We actually had a couple quick showers which was very nice, now I’m completely salt crystal free. It’s nice to have gentle showers as opposed to squalls.
My solar panel has kept the batteries topped up since I arrived, and during the trip down which is nice, never had to start the engine once. Down here where the sun is much stronger than back home the panel will produce 6 amps under the best of conditions and frequently 5 amps with some clouds. At the moment skies are hazy and it’s still putting out 1 to 1 1/2 amps. This is with a 100 watt panel clamped to my stern rail. I can tilt it somewhat for best effect. Certainly not an ideal mount but I’m not putting an arch on Orion which clearly would be a proper, if unsightly, solution.