Almost shipwrecked

[March]

The latest expedition to the Bahamas; June 2017.
Here's a medium-sized version of the events--will post more details eventually: Haihui to Bahamas--part deux, just before the prelude of our idyllic 2012 expedition
https://haihuitobahamas.wordpress.com

[Starscream]

OMG!!!!!

What a story!!!!!

[Herschel]

Ouch! But, I suspect you are glad to be back in the cornfields. That is a little too much adventure for me. but congrats on making all the necessary decisions to get back in one piece.

[sailboatmike]

Sounds like the trip from hull, BUT there are positives to take away from it all.

I need update on what was wrong with the motor

Every time I get caught in the nasty stuff it builds my confidence in what a seaworthy little boats we have

[dlandersson]

Great story. My sympathies for your loss. Is there a possible learning point - have a backup outboard - a small one?

The latest expedition to the Bahamas; June 2017.
Here's a medium-sized version of the events--will post more details eventually: Haihui to Bahamas--part deux, just before the prelude of our idyllic 2012 expedition
https://haihuitobahamas.wordpress.com

[March]

Thank you! The lessons to be learned are quite numerous, and I fully appreciate all suggestions.

- The problem was, more likely than not, contaminated gas. At Dearborne when we last filled her up, they used a green hose--the only one they had-- and when I asked about it, they said this was how they did it. But it would have been so easy to put diesel fuel on top of the gas we had in the tanks. That was my first thought--got rid of the gas from one tank and filled it with clean gas from a canister. At times, the engine would work impeccably.Then it would stop again. But I couldn't get rid ofg the bad gas, not even in Bimini. They suggested I pour it in the sand, but I couldn't make myself do that. So I couldn't replace the contaminated gas with clean one because I couldn't dispose of the contaminated on

- It could also be that crossing the GulfStream I ran the tank almost empty--couldn't switch tanks because a storm was hitting us sideways. The gas lasted all the way to Bimini--but barely. Running on fumes is never a good idea; who knows what gunk would have collected on the bottom of the tank and plugged the injectors

- No small back up engine would have helped. With those waves, the engine would have been out of the water in more than half of the time. We had a dinghy with a 3.5 HP horse power and the only time it worked well was, tied to the side of the boat, on calm seas. But there had been times when getting over to the dinghy, starting it up, and motoring by the Mac's side to drag her along seemed like a Real Bad Idea--waves were too unruly, especially across the flats

[ris]

Sorry you had so many problems. At least you are safe. When you stay in the US you have a few more options. That is why we enjoyed the Great American Loop so much. We live in Florida and we want to be in Georgian Bay or the North Channel right now. Family stuff has us tied down or we would be up there. Did you find out the problem with the motor? Thanks for sharing your adventure.

[BOAT]

I never have been much of a motor boat person.

I'm assuming you lost your main because the halyard slipped off the mast? Not sure I understand how you lost the main - that's where things really got bad. What happened to the main?

The East coast has always been a frightening place to me - you guys over there on the "other" left coast are brave.

[March]

Hi, BOAT.
The halyard was attached to a shackle with a pin that has a little nubble. The pin can come off in only one position--where there is a slot in the shackle--say at 12 o'clock. The rest of the time (say, between 1 and 11) it's secure. Can't find the proper name for this type of shackle, or a pic, but it's the same shackle that I have that ties the boom to the pedestal--never have had a problem with that.)

The pin MIGHT have had a spring around it that prevents it from moving--can't exactly remember. That spring was gone.

By the time I realized what was happening, the shackle and the end of the halyard was all the way above the spreaders. It took us two extensible gaff poles taped together to fish it down at the Marina--and a lot of good balancing

[Sumner]

Glad you got to do the trip, but sorry for all the problems. Hope you get to redo it under better circumstances .

One point I try to emphasize with those who want to take the trip is that there are definitely risks involved in going over there in a boat, especially in a small one which our Mac's are. Another is that you have to be completely flexible on your time table for going, moving while there and when coming back. It is no place to go with our boats on a tight schedule, especially if you go past Bimini.

If you are on a flexible schedule like that you can move around with a small outboard either on the boat or the dinghy lashed to the side of the boat. Move when the wind and waves are in your favor and stay put the rest of the time.

I'm also wondering why you didn't drop the mast to get control of the main? I never go any where without my mast raising system and when I first got the boat I could put the mast up and down by hand, but at 73 that is no longer possible. One nice thing about the Bahama's is that once you finally get over there, primarily motoring, you have the trade winds most of the time so sailing back is always an option if you have time.

Sometimes it is hard to share our experiences on a forum but I think that it is great that you shared yours as there is a lot of insight there that will help others prepare for the trip if they contemplate taking it. Thanks for that ,

Sumner

============================
1300 miles to the Bahamas and back -- 2015

The MacGregor 26-S

The Endeavour 37

Trips to Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Mac-Venture Links

[BOAT]

Hi, BOAT.
The halyard was attached to a shackle with a pin that has a little nubble. The pin can come off in only one position--where there is a slot in the shackle--say at 12 o'clock. The rest of the time (say, between 1 and 11) it's secure. Can't find the proper name for this type of shackle, or a pic, but it's the same shackle that I have that ties the boom to the pedestal--never have had a problem with that.)

The pin MIGHT have had a spring around it that prevents it from moving--can't exactly remember. That spring was gone.

By the time I realized what was happening, the shackle and the end of the halyard was all the way above the spreaders. It took us two extensible gaff poles taped together to fish it down at the Marina--and a lot of good balancing

Okay, that's what I thought - I have the same shackle by the way.

What happened to you is one of the most common issues that almost every sail boat owner has done at the dock at least once and every ocean going sailor fears more than sea monsters: "Loosing the Main Halyard"

If this were a cruising forum website (mostly larger boats than ours) then there would be an entire section devoted to this issue - yes, it's THAT common and also THAT FEARED.

The instant you lost your main you were in the most danger. You will read lots of suggestions from marina queens about long bits of PVC or bamboo or even lasso type things you haul up to catch the halyard but I can tell you they are all bullshit. There is no way to steady 30 feet of pipe or stuff on a pitching deck - some people will step the mast in those conditions, if you can do it it may be the safest way but I don't think I could do it. the rolling and pitching makes it impossible - that's why most lose the halyard in the first place. Once the halyard is up there it's gone. There is only one way to get it - and I have been there:

The first time my dad screamed "Splice the Mainbrace!!" was in Mexico, anchored in the Sea of Cortez - I was 13 years old and my mom could not sleep because the halyards were slapping in the wind. I slept in the cockpit in a nice warm soft sleeping bag all the way over my head because the wind was cold at night. The companionway door opened at 1AM and my dad woke me up yelling "Splice the Mainbrace!" I said "Huh?" and he tossed out the bosuns chair and said: "RIG IT!" Now, I had ridden the bosuns chair before, at the dock, on the trailer, and even attached to a Spinnaker, but this was my first time in swells at anchor in the wind. - So, I rigged it. My dad handed me two bungees and said "hook the halyards to the stays with these" and I got in the chair and he started pulling - up I went. I fasted the halyards - the slapping stopped - and my mom went to sleep - (and me too!). After that whenever my dad threatened me with "Splice the Mainbrace" I assumed he was sending me up the mast - but I also heard him say it to my mom when they were drinking martinis! (Go figure - I was a confused child).

THAT - is how you retrieve a lost halyard - you need a bosuns chair and a spinnaker halyard to take you up, and a lightweight crewmember, and I guess a martini helps too. No spin halyard you say? No lightweight crewmember? Are you a solo sailor?? No rum or grog? Climbing the mast at sea can be really nuts without a bosuns chair - but even now I think I would be too old to do it, so now what?? Well, one option is the step the mast.

Here is a hard fast rule I use: 'If I am going out for more than one day I must have a downhaul'

It may save your life someday - and it's a handy thing for lowering the main in a blow.

So that's the long story - it happens to everyone, and that's why you MUST have a downhaul if you cruise, or else: "Splice the Mainbrace!"

[Russ]

What happened to you is one of the most common issues that almost every sail boat owner has done at the dock at least once and every ocean going sailor fears more than sea monsters: "Loosing the Main Halyard

Colonel King had the perfect solution that I'm going to implement next year. A continuous loop main halyard run back to the cockpit. No shackle, just a big loop with no extra lines in the cockpit. Pull it up or down depending on which side of the loop you pull.

So simple.

[BOAT]

What happened to you is one of the most common issues that almost every sail boat owner has done at the dock at least once and every ocean going sailor fears more than sea monsters: "Loosing the Main Halyard

Colonel King had the perfect solution that I'm going to implement next year. A continuous loop main halyard run back to the cockpit. No shackle, just a big loop with no extra lines in the cockpit. Pull it up or down depending on which side of the loop you pull.

So simple.

Yes Russ, I agree with you - that sounds like a brilliant idea - hats off to Colonel King!

There are so many times when a downhaul is so handy when your out at sea. Here is one my SISTER of all people told me about years ago! It's a great trick she said she got from our dad. He told her about it for reasons that will be obvious when you read the usage:

If you sail downwind for days in the ocean on a good old fashioned boat that has no rotating mast you will encounter an interesting phenomenon when you haul down the main after days on the same running tack: One or more of the sail slugs are stuck in the mast track to one side from a white powdery substance that covers everything aluminum out at sea!

You end up pulling on the sail and yanking the halyard and sail back and forth – yank yank and eventually you get the mess down and find this white crusty stuff in the track – if you want to clean it out (and remember – your AT SEA – you can’t just step the mast!) you may be able to clean it without stepping the mast but you need help from your wife.

Go ask the wife for a tampon. (!)

Yeah, you heard me right – if your wife is of the right age and “beam” she will have just the right size that fit’s in the track – for you guys who married a more ‘beamy’ rig I will not advise, but suffice it to say when my mom was "older" my dad made a strange request from my sister one day and that's how this trick got passed down in the family. Anyways, take that device out of the cardboard tube and tie it to your halyard/downhaul combo with the included “string” (yes, they come with their own sort of ‘downhaul’! ), and then put WD40 cleaner on the cotton and run it up and down the track. DO NOT put the WD40 on the ‘device’ before you put it in the track or it expands into a huge blob that will not fit in the track!

Thus, you can clean your mast track safely while out at sea! It works great! But you need a downhaul to do it!

[dxg4848]

Hi March, Thank you for sharing your great and scary adventure.

For us with ETECs did you find out what was wrong with your motor? Thanks!

[FishyFabs]

Wow. Great story! Tx for the write up.