A pleasure to be asked to navigate us back to the mainland on day 40. 40 days and tonight, 40 nights to be back in Falmouth tomorrow.
Winds have built again for a brisk sail, except we'd be beating to wind in Easterly 4's to 6's. 0930 and we made our way north out of Tean Sound, piloting the pitfalls of the now to be expected and plentiful Scillonian rocks. Mainsail up, headed NE as close to wind as possible. Given half a chance the tide stream would be pushing us back to Ireland!
A couple of miles out and tracking towards Seven Stones rocks I popped down to the chart table. Why do things always happen when I pop down to the charts? 'Ping' it went from down below; when I say ping I don't mean ping but rather PING. Topsides they described it as a bang or a twang making it a TWBANG!
Casually popping my head up to find part of the starboard rigging had snapped; the V2 section between the end of the spreader and the upper mast, designed to stop the top section bending. A quick change of tack put the pressure on the port side giving a moment to take stock. We were beating to strong and increasing winds, it was clear we couldn't sail on. The main sail down and under a reduced genoa (first outing since repair!) we turned and headed west for the shelter of New Grimsby Sound, Tresco. It would seem that we just cannot get away from the Isles of Scilly!
Picking up a mooring buoy we had lunch whilst the skipper called his mates. Unfortunately the island's riggers needed the replacement to be assembled on the mainland and sent out for fitting. We needed to get the cable down to measure the various dimensions. But, as on the Orkney's, we still have no Bosun's Chair. Peter called Phil who we met on Alycone yesterday for petrol. They were not far off and so again sailed to see us, coming alongside for a second time, on this occasion they lent us their Bosun's Chair.
Yours truly fitted up this nappy device and was attached to a halyard for the second time on the trip. The chair was in fact much better and less physically demanding than climbing the jury rigged steps as before. It also meant I had hands free to work the rigging which was still attached at the outer end of the spreader. There was a bolt through the joint fixed by a split pin. All, parts plus me, descended merrily and the work of assessment, measuring and ordering started. The end of the stainless rig had a swaged on piece of 8mm stainless rod attached; it was this rod that had sheared!
Peter spoke to Wheal Go's rigger, Mel at A2 Rigging in Falmouth who was happy we could motor but not sail home, a bit of our repaired genoa out to steady the boat. So our plans were revised to mean that we would stay here for the evening and then motor 60 miles back to Falmouth tomorrow in slighty better conditions.
A shore party to Bryher with a good walk around the island. A good time for prayer, reflection and thanksgiving to the Lord.
I thought that the Isles of Scilly would be a quiet end to the 40 days, as it is the sailing adventure continues up to the last!
Have just prayed through the forties for the last(?) time. Following the blog I've noticed innovation, encounter, stillness, grace and faith - maybe there have been others too? Hope readjusting to land is not too traumatic! Philippa
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