Martin Samuel's Bermuda trip report: DE38 Eclipse

Just got this in hot off the wire from Martin Samuel. So I’m going to put it up now.

Hello Scott – from Bermuda…

Left Fort Lauderdale 8.45 AM Wednesday 26th May – docked St. George’s at 2:00 PM Friday 4th June.
Now anchored out, quiet, peaceful, warm, breezy with WiFi and my mobile phone works too.

Weather was great for the most part but had some damage to the boat – more later.

No problem with Customs. Tomorrow I start to explore … boat repairs later.

Re: boat damage … a stainless steel pin sheared and disappeared – it holds the front stay which holds the mast up and and also the roller furling head-sail. Of course it happened at 1.00 am, the sail was flogging and the metal hardware was beating the boat to bits. Got a hold of it and was able to do a temp. fix putting it back in place. Also, the shackle that holds the sail up at the top snapped with all the pressures – but I was able to drag the sail down. All of that done without stopping the boat – wet, dark, slippery, frustrating. Everything useful falls overboard but not the broken shackle – found it the following day – it had hit and shattered the glass on 1 of my 2 solar panels and was still sitting there just to prove it… what are the chances… ! ! !

Following day sailed with 1 sail missing – just the main and the staysail see photos:

1. clear, sunny, calm sea sailing the day after the debacle

2. same day with dinghy under wraps

3. still sailing

4. daytime configuration – that’s the bagged sail tied down on the deck

5. nighttime configuration with a ‘bunk’ made up over the companionway – so I could nap and keep an eye out

Following day, remembered an old original sail was still on board so figured a way to fly it and make more speed:

6. old staysail from aft

7. old staysail from fwd. – the hanks are supposed to be attached to the stay I don’t have

One evening just at sunset, a dozen dolphins swam along with the boat for an hour – have some film but it’s probably too large to e-mail – will try later.
Was too exhausted to go exploring – tomorrow is soon enough. Listening to Radio Bermuda playing oldies…

‘bye for now,
Martin