sy Timoneer

Timoneer has safely arrived in Newport. On the way in we stopped to take the main sail off so that we can send it to the loft for a pre-season service. We were tied up just after 3pm.

JC

Noon Position 41deg 13N 71deg  22W

Course – 15 Degrees   Speed –  12.8  Knots        Day’s Run –  303 Miles

Weather – Sunny, cool and relatively flat

Wind – 23 knots from W

We continued flying along with the Gulf Stream and clocked up 327 nm from 8pm to 8pm. This is an average of 13.6 knots. We lost the current around 7pm and the water temperature dropped from  80F to 65F (27C to 18C) in a very short space of time. We put the main sail and staysail up after sunrise and have been motor sailing since making good time. We have cracked the 300 mile day for the 2nd day in a row.  We have less than 20 nm to go so should be tied up in Newport soon after 2pm local time. A very quick trip.

The fishing lines are out but no luck today. See the attached photo for the reason we love fishing. Penny and the lunch she created yesterday.

Penny and lunch of Tuna and Wahoo

JC

Noon Position 36deg 33N 73deg  34W

Course –  032Degrees   Speed –    14.8Knots        Day’s Run –  301 Miles

Weather –   Partly cloudy with 6′ (2m) swells from NE

Wind – 10 knots from N

We waited all afternoon hoping to find the Gulf Stream but just kept getting current against us keeping us at 10 knots. Finally at 8pm we found it and hopped on in and have been doing between 12-15 knots over the ground since then. It was a bit of a bumpy ride during the night but worth it to be knocking off the miles that quickly. The morning started well when at 7.30am both fishing lines took off. It took us quite a while to get them in but we were rewarded with a 42 lb and  65 lb Yellowfin tuna. It also took a long time to fillet them. Now Penny is busy making us some sushi to go with the Wahoo ceviche for lunch.

Today is also the first time I have broken 300 nm from midday to midday. We are also measuring from 8pm last night until 8pm tonight which should be a very fast 24 hours.

JC

Noon Position 32deg 55N 77deg  40W

Course – 052 Degrees   Speed –  10.6  Knots        Day’s Run – 190  Miles

Weather –   Sunny with 6′ (2m) swells from NE

Wind – 6 knots from NE

Timoneer is back at sea! After nearly 2 months in Thunderbolt,Savannah we were ready to leave the muddy waters of Georgia behind. We left at 5.30pm and headed down the river crossing the bar at the entrance around 7pm just before high tide. It felt strange to feel swell moving the boat again. After a night of motoring into light winds and gentle swells we woke to a great sunrise and clear blue waters. Just after 7am Wayne, our new engineer, pulled in a 20 lb Wahoo. Less than 2 hours later we sighted the biggest Marlin I have ever seen. This sent us running for the lines to try and get them in before it had a go, as we did not want to lose all our line or waste hours fighting . It’s top tail fin was sticking 2 feet out of the water and we could see could see it clearly through the crystal clear blue waters and watched as it turned and headed for the boat.

We have slowly been heading further offshore to try and pick up the Gulf Stream to give us a push along. As of yet we have just been dealing with eddies giving us current on the nose. We need to speed up if we are to cover the remaining 620nm and arrive in daylight on the 20th.

JC

Noon Position 32deg 01N 81deg  03W

Course –  Degrees   Speed –    Knots        Day’s Run –   Miles

Weather –  Overcast and drizzle

Wind – 12 knots from E

The final 15 miles of the trip up the Wilmington River on Monday went smoothly once we establish a critical channel marker was missing. On the voyage we passed several dolphins and some incredible houses shaded by the massive Living Oaks draped in Spanish moss. We tied up at 6pm and customs and immigration were there and waiting for us and we were processed pretty quickly.

Three days later, the engine room is padded up for protection and the engine dismantling has begun. We will be here for nearly 8 weeks and will be out of the water for half of that time.

I have posted on the websitesome photos of the 2 marlin we caught. Look at reports from Day 1 and Day 6 of this trip.

JC

Noon Position 31deg 51N 80deg  53W

Course –  Degrees   Speed –  0  Knots        Day’s Run – 199  Miles

Weather –   Sunny and 3 foot swell

Wind – 5 knots from 210 degrees

We eventually reached the Gulf Stream yesterday afternoon which was pushing us North at 2 knots. The Gulf Stream’s legendary fishing status didn’t fail us. Unfortunately all we caught was another marlin which we got to the boat and set it free after removing the hook. So the only fresh fish we had on the trip up was flying fish. We had a pretty rolly crossing of the Gulf Stream but nowhere near as nasty as it can be. Once across, the swells settled making for a much more relaxing night.

We arrived at the mouth of the Wilmington River at 08:30 and dropped anchor to wait for the high tide this afternoon. We will then complete the last 15 miles to Thunderbolt.

JC

Not easy getting the hook out!

Noon Position 29deg 25N 78deg  23W

Course – 275 Degrees   Speed –  9.7  Knots        Day’s Run –  255 Miles

Weather –   Overcast with confused seas of 6 feet (2m)

Wind – 18 knots from 133 degrees

We ran out of wind just after sunset when it turned behind us and died in strength. We put the main and genoa away and have been rolling ever since. To make matters worse we have also had 1-2 knots of current against us most of today. Soon we will be reaching the Gulf Stream which is flowing North at 2 knots where we will be crossing it. No luck with the fishing this morning.

Still on schedule for a 6pm arrival at TMI tomorrow.

JC

Noon Position 26deg 42N 74deg  40W

Course – 313 Degrees   Speed –  13  Knots        Day’s Run –  297 Miles

Weather –   Sunny with 3-6 foot (1-2m) swells from NE

Wind – 20 knots from NE

The engine is off and we are doing 11-14 knots with 1 reef in the main, full genoa and staysail. We have had some great sailing in the last 24 hours although we put the genoa away  and had the engine running through the night. The winds have been a bit shifty but on average keeping us going at a good pace. We have not had the fishing lines out but tomorrow we will arrive at the Gulf Stream and have time to slow to 10 knots to fish the whole way across. I did get a good haul of flying fish off the deck today. Looking forward to having them for lunch.

We are on schedule to arrive off the Wilmington River Monday morning and wait until 4pm to enter the river and continue up to Thunderbolt.

Can’t believe we got so close to breaking the 300mile day. Top speed 14.5 knots.

JC

Noon Position 23deg 21N 70deg 48 W

Course -313  Degrees   Speed –  12.5  Knots        Day’s Run –  273 Miles

Weather –   Sunny with 6-9 foot (2-3m) swells from NE

Wind – 22 knots from NE

We have been flying along since about midnight when the wind swung and picked up some. Since daylight we have been maintaining 12-13.5  knots but at the cost of comfort as we launch off some of the swells. We have not bothered to put the fishing lines out today as we are going too fast to keep the lures in the water. It looks like we will have these conditions for at least another 24 hours, news that some of the crew with weaker stomachs are not so thrilled about. The good news is that we are knocking off the miles which takes the pressure off arriving in time for the tide to get up the river to Thunderbolt.

We have another 5 minutes of latitude left before we cross the Tropic of Cancer and leave the tropics behind.

JC

Noon Position 20deg 13N 67deg  13W

Course – 313 Degrees   Speed –  11.5  Knots        Day’s Run – 265  Miles

Weather –  Rain squalls  and 3-6 foot swells (1-2m)

Wind – 10 knots from 245 degrees

We failed to catch a fish along the Saba Bank and have had no luck today either. Last night we passed between the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and are now back into the Atlantic. With light winds from behind we have been motoring with just the staysail up to try and slow the rolling. This morning the wind has slowing been clocking around and we hope to be sailing again by tonight.