Bit of a problem !!

Coordinates: anchored on Bay of Islands this evening
Bearing:
Boat Speed:
Wind Direction:
Wind Strength:
Sea state:

Crew health:


Yesterday we had a great sail up the coast with strong winds , mainly aft of the beam. However later that night was not so good . Because of our good speed we arrived at 11.30 pm at Cape Brett , these craggy rocks mark the entrance to the Bay of Islands. The forecast was of lighter winds overnight , in fact we had to turn on our engine to motor sail round the point intending to anchor overnight further up the bay. About half an hour later the wind began to build and the seas with a wind against tide situation. became steep. It was an inky black night and we were relying on the chart plotter. A squall came came through with winds at times gusting 40 to 50 knots. Suddenly the halyard ( for non sailors a line that is used to pull the sail up the mast ) to the foresail gave way and the sail half sliding down the forestay flogged horribly in the high wind. While I was sorting out that situation and Ted helmed the boat there was a nasty crunch and the engine stopped. Peering into the water with torch light over the stern of the cockpit we were dismayed to see that the end of a sail sheet rope had washed overboard
and now formed a huge tangled mess round the propellor and drive shaft, but worse, the stainless steel rod which normally holds the drive shaft down in position was bent out of recognition, and probably the drive shaft would be bent too.

We turned and sailed off down wind back out to sea, we hove to with just a third reef in the main and it was now 2.30 am and extremely cold. We took turns to keep a watch in case the wind changed and took us onto rocks, or we be taken by currents. Also of course to watch for other boats or ships.
We had a discussion of what course of action to take, sail south again to home to sort it out, abandon the voyage, or to sail up the harbour in the morning and try to fix the problem in Opua in the Bay of Islands. We decided on sailing up to Opua.

We were off at dawn in 18 knots of breeze but this failed about an hour later and except for periodic puffs of wind we were becalmed in the middle of the outer bay. The water was too deep to anchor although we did calculate that we actually had 130 metres of warp and chain and another 110 metres of Parachute sea anchor warp giving 240 metres. Ted did not volunteer to wind it all back in however if we tried this while awaiting wind and being safe at night so close to shore.
However the calm enabled us to launch our dinghy from Katipo's deck and inspect the mess just under water at the stern between the hulls.
We dismantled the pieces after removing the tangled rope, and by clamping pieces of the metal to the largest anchor stored on deck we levered and straightened it out. We found that the the drive shaft fortunately was not damaged or bent. At last late afternoon we gleefully motored up the bay to anchor for the night in a delightful spot in the sheltered Onera bay, just over the hill from Russell.
Tomorrow I have to climb to the top of the mast to replace the halyard, and this evening after a meal, check out the weather forecasts again
for the next few days,
Customs clearance can be carried out in Opua.

----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com