Orion is in Bermuda....again

[Jim Walsh]

I just confirmed this boat is a Tartan 4000. It was equipped with a carbon fiber rudder and shaft from the factory.

[John Ring]

Great post Jim. Thanks for sharing that jury rigged steering system, lotta good detail in there.

I think Bailiwick is the Blue Jacket 40 that retired from the Newport Bermuda race last week. It really does look like a Tartan, as it was also designed by Tim Jackett, but it's built in Florida by Island Packet.

I'll just stick with my old long keel & attached rudder for the Bermuda races.

Enjoy a wahoo taco for Sarah & I!

Cheers,
John Ring
CD36 Tiara

[Jim Walsh]

The WiFi has been very weak here. Keep losing a connection once I've logged in. It's free so I'll not complain.
The weather has been stunning here for several days but it seem a depression will pass over the island from north to south tomorrow. If it's weak, as expected, I'm heading out. If the report in the morning seems dire I'll give it a day to pass. I haven't yet stowed my dinghy so I'm hedging my bet.
Seems I may arrive back in Noank right around the 4th of July, give or take a day or two. There are three yachts right beside me that are headed toward New England and they are all 40 feet long or more. I've asked them to please not run down the little Cape Dory....they all have AIS so I'll know if they come anywhere near me.

[John Stone]

Seems like you’ve had a great trip from my perspective Jim. I have very much enjoyed reading your posts and seeing your pictures. Have a fun safe trip home. Will send good vibes your way.

[jcork]

Love this post and keep the pictures coming! I keep rechecking to see additional shots!
Been to Bermuda 3 times but always sailed in with 3000 other passengers on 'my' ship!
I didn't catch what spot you are anchored in.
Back in the 90's cruise ships used to spend an overnight at St Georges and then Hamilton but now they are too big.
A pity, that. St. Georges was so lovely and quaint.
That's when the Naval Shipyard was call Kings wharf and you avoided it at all costs!
I certainly don't have the knowledge or the intestinal fortitude to make a voyage like you have!
And unfortunately my Cape Dory 25 (not 25D) isn't the blue water sailor as other CD's.
Oh and I know a little about fish, but the sea piranha comment, are they real or that was a comment about the water turbulence around them.
In any case thanks for sharing. I almost feel like I'm back having fish and chips at the Hog Penny Pub!

[Steve Laume]

It looks like a lot of north wind right now. Don't you want to stay just a little bit longer?

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/w ... 35.73,1821

I still haven't seen any pictures of Castle Island, Steve.

[Jim Walsh]

It looks like a lot of north wind right now. Don't you want to stay just a little bit longer?

https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/w ... 35.73,1821

I still haven't seen any pictures of Castle Island, Steve.

They predicted occasional showers but it's been a deluge since dawn. I will leave tomorrow if the outlook is more promising. Thank God for a boat with no leaks whatsoever.
I went to Castle Harbor in my dinghy a couple times. Saw lots of neon blue parrotfish, lots of small stuff that could have been johnnie roaches for all I know, and a couple rainbow parrotfish. No tiger sharks

[Jim Walsh]

Love this post and keep the pictures coming! I keep rechecking to see additional shots!
Been to Bermuda 3 times but always sailed in with 3000 other passengers on 'my' ship!
I didn't catch what spot you are anchored in.
Back in the 90's cruise ships used to spend an overnight at St Georges and then Hamilton but now they are too big.
A pity, that. St. Georges was so lovely and quaint.
That's when the Naval Shipyard was call Kings wharf and you avoided it at all costs!
I certainly don't have the knowledge or the intestinal fortitude to make a voyage like you have!
And unfortunately my Cape Dory 25 (not 25D) isn't the blue water sailor as other CD's.
Oh and I know a little about fish, but the sea piranha comment, are they real or that was a comment about the water turbulence around them.
In any case thanks for sharing. I almost feel like I'm back having fish and chips at the Hog Penny Pub!

I am anchored in Convict Bay in St. Georges Harbor. Sea piranha was a little joke. The largest ships must dock in Hamilton but the smaller cruise ships fit into St. Georges. There's one here now.

[barfwinkle]

It is rather amazing to watch the cruise ships appear and then disappear (when departing) through the Cut.

Fair Winds

[John Ring]

Here is a great article from the Newport Bermuda race about that rudder failure Jim mentioned earlier.

It's a great story of major mechanical failure at sea, failure of "Plan B", followed by a little head scratching and success at "Plan C".

Link: http://bermudarace.com/jury-rigged-rudd ... o-bermuda/

John Ring
CD36 Tiara

[Capt Hook]

Off topic but talks about bad things that can happen at sea.

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f15 ... +Emails%29

[John Stone]

Here is a great article from the Newport Bermuda race about that rudder failure Jim mentioned earlier.

It's a great story of major mechanical failure at sea, failure of "Plan B", followed by a little head scratching and success at "Plan C".

Link: http://bermudarace.com/jury-rigged-rudd ... o-bermuda/

John Ring
CD36 Tiara

Great skipper/crew work, decisionmaking, and problem solving. Excellent seamanship. But it’s inconceivable to me that a boat supposedly as well built as a Blue Jacket would break the rudder in 20 knot reaching conditions. Did the rudder hit something? We will probably never know. We could talk about this all day long but the bottom line is we continue to see modern composite boats breaking in ways not common previously. Keels snapping off and rudders shearing. A design or manuafacturing problem?? Seems like J boat had some rudder stock issues a few years ago. This is not a problem I have heard of for a CD but worth thinking about.

Regarding the loss of the boat in the cruisersforum link. I try not to read this stuff anymore. I don’t know what there is to learn there when we have read the same stuff over and over. It’s a big ocean. It can be unpredictable especially in the higher latitudes. Make good tactical decisions. Stay clear of the coast and shoaling water when the conditions deteriorate. Keep the decks and cockpit clear. (Why must we have full enclosures?) keep lockers locked shut when the weather deteriorates. I’m not a fan of stack packs offshore. Be able to heave to. Have a drogue of your choice and know how to use it. Keep the boat under control. It’s the same old stuff we have all studied and read about many times.

I try to not focus on the disasters but think about the hundreds of safe long distance passages people make every year...most on fairly standard boats, thoughtfully prepared and well handled. Lots of great preparations, decisionmaking, and seamanship taking place all around the world.

I have my fingers crossed for Jim’s safe return home but I am betting he makes it back without a hitch.

[Jim Walsh]

I have my fingers crossed for Jim’s safe return home but I am betting he makes it back without a hitch.

Made it back without a hitch at 3:00am this morning
I'll fill in some details shortly. At this point I'm looking forward to catching up on some sleep and getting the salt rinsed off Orion. It seems I've arrived home during a protracted heat wave.....it was cooler in Bermuda.....and THEY have wahoo tacos.

[Sea Hunt Video]

Congratulations Vice Commodore Jim W. Well done

Hopefully this weekend or next week you will have time to post a detailed chronicle of your passage home.

[Capt Hook]

Congrats Jim.