Hi again, it is me, Karl. Current Master of the RV, Adoring Tehas, here again to tell you more about my family’s trip into the great Whale. You don’t know about the Whale? You better go back and catch yesterday’s blog first…
Now that you are up to speed and ready to continue the sail, let’s all move on. We had just changed course to a narrow passage between some rocks to enter the mouth of the Whale. Dad looked nervous. On the outside he looks very stern and serious. Like he is thinking really hard about a puzzle or trying to solve a problem. People can’t tell he is nervous but my highly tuned Shepherd senses can sense his nervous energy rolling off of him in waves. I am on the bench next to him. You got this, Dad. I said it with my eyes. I am very good at that. Dad does not always listen but I think he heard me this time.
The wind starts to die down so Dad asks Mom to trim the sails. That is what they call it when they arrange the sails in certain ways so they catch the wind just right. That is what makes us move. We still have the engine on so we are motor sailing, because we are using both the motor and the sails. Sailors like me call the engine the Iron Sail. Hehehe. I have been sailing for years now. I know things.
After a few minutes of sweating, Dad gets us through the narrow rocky opening and we are in the Atlantic Ocean and entering the body of the Whale. My dad is the best. As we pulled out into the Whale we could see right away what all the fuss was about. We had waited weeks for the right weather to pass through this passage. There were true stories about huge cargo ships being thrown into the shore and broken in half by the Whale. What would a little boat like ours do to stand up to it? We had to wait for the right time and then scoot across quickly.
The seas were big but manageable. Dad said to Mom, can you imagine what this would be like in a blow? That is what we sailors call a storm. Remember, we have different words for everything. We are cool like that. The sea state was choppy and the waves were about three feet high. These are ok conditions. Not extremely comfortable but safe, and we were happy to deal with this in the notorious Whale. We were moving along. In a sailboat, this doesn’t mean the same as it does in a car. While motor sailing, we move at about 5 knots. Knots are how we measure speed on the water. A knot is a little less than a mile. About .87 of one, if you want to get technical about it. The Whale isn’t big but from the time we entered until we exited we expected it to take nearly an hour.
Then Dad said there is a boat coming straight at us.
We were trying not to move too far out into the ocean. The ocean shelf where the deep part of the Atlantic meets the shallow part of the Abaco Islands was right under us. The Atlantic was 6,000 feet deep right out there and the Abaco around this island is about 30 feet deep. The closer to the edge, the worse the water disturbance was. The currents were intense. There was nothing we could do about the waves. We had to stay away from the rocks on one side and away from the Atlantic shelf on the other. It was a narrow passage.
And here came a great big charter catamaran straight at us.
Dad tried to hail them on the radio. They didn’t answer. Again. No answer. Again. Finally they answered. But by that time Dad had already had to alter his course to avoid a collision. Typical catamaran people. I do not want to talk about it. We went around the other boat and were caught up in some huge waves for a few minutes until we were back in the lane.
Dad had me get on the floor by Mom and Sister. Dad stood sideways with one leg on each side of the cockpit. Mom held onto us Sheps. The boat laid way over to the side. Each wave hit our port side coming in out of the Atlantic and threw us over onto our starboard side. We leaned over so far that we could see the water from the floor of the cockpit. Sister and I were shaking. Mom said, it’s ok. This is what your boat was built to do. Are you sure, Mom? Sister did not even look worried. That is her whole thing. I looked worried enough for both of us. I feel that was the right call. After three or four big waves Mom said, that’s it, guys. Really?
No thunder? Nope, all done.
The sun was shining bright. Huuummm. Everything looked ok. Look buddy, there is the end. We are almost done with the Whale. Great job, Dad.
Note for all you landlubbers: If you are standing at the back of the boat looking forward, the port is the left and the starboard is the right.
We headed through the Old Ship Channel on our way back to the Sea of Abaco. We ended up behind a big catamaran heading the same way as us. It was not a problem because they were way faster than us. They were having a problem with their main sail. They were up on their deck trying to sort it out for a long time. I would have offered to help but Dad needed me to stay on board and supervise. I am a very valuable crew member. Mom says I am the number one Morale Officer. It is an important job. Someone has to do it. I have accepted this responsibility.
This was when the sailing got really good. We were finally able to turn off the engine and let the sails all the way out. The wind had come up as we made it through the Sea of Abaco into Pelican Bay. This was a huge bay that started right after the Whale and went all the way to our next stop. We would be exploring in this area for a long time. I was getting excited. Mom let me get up and walk around the cockpit. When the conditions are calm I can go down into the boat or be in the cockpit but I like to be where the action is!
A little bit later I spotted a huge sea turtle. I barked for Mom. A happy yip, so she knew I needed her to come see what I had found. She knows my voices and knew it would be something great. Mom and Dad were sure it was the biggest one yet. I was very proud of my discovery. This is why they need me out here. You are welcome, everyone.
We saw a lot of islands off in the distance. Mom looked at the map and told us the names of them all and said, don’t worry we will visit them all. We were heading somewhere else today. Finally, our cove was in sight. We were heading back to Great Abaco Island, to Marsh Harbour. I couldn’t wait for our next adventure. There are stores there. And restaurants. Mom says we need groceries. I have heard there might be treats for Sheps. We will see about that.
That is all for today. Tune in tomorrow for my installment of something cool.
Karl out!