Voyage Details

Date	Length	Distance	From	To
April 22, 2004	8 days		Falmouth Harbor, Antigua	Bermuda
Crew Onboard	Race Crew: America, Mike Del Smith, Heidi Hauenstein, Dana Nicholson, Chris Rogers, Ted Smith, Abbott Sprague, Joanna Sprague, Phin Sprague Jr, Seth Sprague, Nancy ??, Joel ?? Crew North: Judy Burgett, Heidi Hauenstein, John Makela, Joanna Sprague, Phin Sprague Jr, Seth Sprague, Rebecca Taylor
Notes and Remarks
These e-mails were delayed for some reason. The satellite e-mail systems have not been up to par.
From Phin Sprague Jr --      When Mike and I arrived we found the boat in great shape. America and his crew had it varnished and painted to the hilt. Mike started up systems changed oils and fuel filters and over the course of several days the boat came alive. Mike carefully checked out each system before starting it up. On deck America and his crew were madly polishing the brass. Soon Heidi arrived and in rapid succession Seth, Abbott and Chris Rogers. We were ready to move the boat to the other side of the harbor where the Classic Regatta was being judged. Lines ready to let go and the main engine humming away, I put the engine in reverse to check the transmission before leaving the dock. OK that works. I put it ahead... What gives? It is still in reverse. HOUSTON (Abbott) We have a problem. No engine!      Well, we waited until midnight when the wind was slack and put the zodiac on the hip and delivered ourselves to the Concours d'Elegance. Flares went off to the PYS crew up North. We were considering having a new transmission shipped. By that time we had gathered our additional racing crew. At lunch Dana insisted that if we wanted to leave this month someone had to carry the transmission down with them. And so our plans changed and Joanna now became the carrier.      Rules, rules, unwritten rules and rules made up on the spot, never-the-less she is our hero. While every one up north was struggling with the transmission, we were trying to look beautiful. The judges spent about 15 minutes on the boat and I was disappointed because of all of the other beautiful boats we were competing against. They had all sorts of note books and were taking notes on the other boats but they just walked through and made chit chat. When they left they said that they expected us at the cocktail party, but I was disappointed. When we did arrive at the party and eventually received the award, tears were pouring out of my eyes because the whole sequence of building the boat flashed in front of me. All the work, all of the fussiness, all of the attention to detail. Ken Coombs who gave the award said she was in a class by herself. Thank you everyone for pushing the standards this high.      We couldn't race with the transmission out of the boat because the engine mounts were on the transmission. There was no alternative but to wait until after the races to remove and replace the transmission.      The first day was very light and I sailed right in to a wind hole before the start and was 15 minutes late over the line. We still came in second. Juno was our nemesis. The boat sails beautifully. I didn't sail all that well.      The second day the wind was 18 knots and we were overpowered and not smart enough to reef. We still came in second to Juno who sailed like a duck. To make up for the late start the day before I opted for an early start and was assessed a 4 minute penalty. HMMM!      On the third day of racing we left a disappointed Mike at the Dock, I think he liked sailing even if I made him turn the generator off. The the wind was cranking and I still didn't have enough sense to reef and change out the Genoa. The crew did manage to convince me to not put up the fisherman. We came in third.      Two seconds and a third resulted in a second place overall in our class. This record is a testament to the boat not the intelligence of the skipper.      Without Joanna to look after us Seth and I were so sunburned that... well Seth's legs looked like Ballpark franks and his feet were swelling. We were absolutely poached.      After the last race we sailed back to the Catamaran marina and used the Zodiac to back ourselves into the slip. At 2PM the mechanics arrived and I had prepared the transmission for removal. Mike had placed a Wichard eye on the engine box top to hang the end of the engine. In about two and a half hours we had the transmission out. The old transmission was cranked up through the companion way at precisely the time Joanna arrived with four suitcases bearing the new transmission. What timing! By 12 noon the next day the four pieces of the new transmission were assembled and since it was unpainted I elected to get it painted prior to installing it. It could have been in that day, but the paint held installation up until Thursday morning. We had an operating engine by 2 PM, cleared customs at 4, and paid off the last of the bills by 6:30. We cleaned up the boat, had dinner hanging by a single dock line off of the stern, and were clear of Falmouth Harbor by 10PM.      There was no moon and about 20 knots of trades so the first several hours were rolly as we bore off to run along the leeward side of Antigua. This morning we missed a couple of rain clouds but the crew has settled down nicely and are close reaching at 7.5 knots in 12 knots of wind to Bermuda. ETA Late 28th or 29th.      This is the end of my report. Thanks to Mike and Every one at PYS for their great support! Cheers! Phin   Joanna Sprague--      Judy, John, and I arrived on the 20th with transmission in tow. It made it in 4 boxes packed into two duffles. The poor baggage handlers! I was able to see it on and off planes so had some relief. The boat was in the middle of being checked over: electronics, woodworking making chocks for anchor in bow, and galley head door being varnished from collision with gimbaled stove. Abbott was still here and he and Seth had packed up sails and the hard dingy on deck. We 3 came in time to see them receive their 2nd place price for Classic Yacht Regatta Class B. Abbott, Seth, and Phin went up together, all sunburnt lips, and peeling ears. Nelsons Dockyard was HOPPING. Every nationality represented, boats to over 200ft. The rum was flowing.      Heidi and Rebecca had organized on deck and were ready to provision the food stores. They had done inventory down below. Heidi runs to the top of Shirley Heights each afternoon -- a feat many cannot walk. We found a gourmet take-out and placed an order of frozen meals. They sound almost as good as Laura's during our trip down. The old transmission was taken away and reported back that the clutch plates were broken in, forward and reverse had welded themselves together. It returned back in the four boxes and the mechanics said they would have the new one back on the 22nd at 9am painted and ready to install. We set our departure for 6pm on the 22nd. Abbott left early on the 21st, and we continue to put the dodgers back on (stripped for racing mode) and stow all gear. Rebecca, Heidi and Judy went off with Ted Smith form Hodgdon Bros for a tour of island, swimming, lunch, and shopping. Something we don't do as tourists, we are much too mission oriented.      John, Phin, and I ( and Judy as she just returned) left to FIND a friend of John's from Kincardin, Ontario. We had a place and just ask for "Bill", (this is a typical Makela trait). BUT we did and it helped as John had remembered photos of the area and that this couple had rented a cottage right on the ocean for 6 months a year. They gave us water (rum for John) and educated us on their take of the new government. It so happens they rent from one of the new ministers in the government. The graft is to stop. As we left to visit one of the only sugar mills, we came upon a line of 20 cars and found a taxi had hit a COW. The cow was upside down in the shrubs, breathing though. The taxi driver was having the glass on head washed off. The front of the car was demolished. Judy was undone that the cow was not being shot to put out of misery. The next day front page news was that the cow walked away! The sugar mill was not operating, but a museum trying to do so. The evening ended at Jimmies for dinner and rum punches and John floating in Falmouth Harbor enjoying the breeze. We called Eric from cockpit and sang happy 16th. We miss YOU.      On the 22nd, the mechanics arrived and by noon it had started. By 3pm they were packing up and we had to leave to clear customs. We had a painter look at dinghy to put name on it before it will be stored on island. Finding a new home for the old transmission was a feat. After we cleared and did some rum shopping we threw the stern lines to move to the fuel dock. Transmission running smoothly and stuffing box not leaking. Sat at the dock for dinner, cleaned the anchor chain, and tore the boat apart for the electricians putty. We had to use it to clog up the anchor hawse. -- FOUND IT. At 10pm we inched out of the harbor listening to the Reggae band up on Shirley Heights. The wind is 10-15 from the ENE. We decided to go to the south of the island to leave. I must go on watch now but will continue this saga.      Elizabeth, when is your band and voice concert? Eric, we miss you -- and hope you are surfing. Mak, I am taking photos but Phin has purchased A LOT of classic yacht regatta photos that we can use as we see fit. The boat is moving well and John and Judy are fairing well. Heidi is all what Mimi was, such a great memory flash and a DELIGHT to have on board. Rebecca is knowledgeable and a pleasure with her upbeat personality. LOVE TO ALL, Joanna P.S. -- call MUMU or Dauby to call MUMU that we all are FINE.
Phin Sprague Jr.--      Joanna, Seth, and I are taking the Starboard watch. This means that in theory each of us are on for two hours and off for four hours... Except that I have to be engineer and navigator and Captain so I am getting a little blown out. This means that Joanna and Seth are covering for me, which means they are putting in long hours. We aren't ignoring anyone, just busy.      As of 6:30 Monday night we are 264 miles south of Bermuda. The wind is out of the East South East at 12 knots. A lovely day of sailing. We are doing 7.6 knots toward Bermuda. Overcast is building and we expect to have a sleigh ride into Bermuda Wednesday morning as a low forms to the North. My plan is to be at the dock when the front comes through.      With the exception of the developing low ahead of us this trip has been a real pleasure. The only mechanical troubles to date has been with the stuffing box leaking. It must not have been put back correctly in Antigua and it leaks when we power. I have to run the bilge pump every two hours for about 5 minutes. That corresponds to about 25 gallons of water. The automatic function of the bilge pump isn't working. I haven't felt up to hanging upside down and taking it apart... or the stuffing box. But I am thinking about it. My sense at this time is that I shouldn't mess with something that is under control. The plastic stop collar was found broken in Antigua and I am pretty sure that it should have been replaced closer to the bellows. As a consequence, when the engine is put ahead the ceramic rings separate and water gets through. --Phin Sprague, Jr.   Joanna Sprague--      Mom here, and we are 10 minutes from gourmet lasagna. The crew is good humored and taking their watches with glee! We had to power for 18 hours but we are back to sailing 8 knots, a close reach. We saw a whale today -- John spotted it as he was diligently watching the fishing line. He has baited it with the dead flying fish each am or lures. He has had hits but no fish. He is not happy. The whale was going in the other direction -- about 35 feet. Lots of clouds today so the sunset will be spectacular. Heidi and Rebecca are reading the Life of Pi. Heidi has great stories of her trails in Equator and Nols trips. Rebecca is happy to have her college decision behind her and that everyone at Cape Eliz high went back to school today. Seth's legs are back to normal and is looking forward to the party for Julia McCue in Bermuda that her husband Bill is arranging. Laura is arriving on Thursday and THEY have rooms at a very elegant hotel with the other guests. Judy and John are toughing out the every move of the boat and making the BIG test of their balance.      The water temp is down today but the blue is navy and quite lovely. We have had the golly up, the reacher too, but are back to the main, main staysail, fore staysail, and jib. Most systems are fine. Forward head still not correct as the flushing causes it to hit the seat. LOVELY. Fridge and freezer are great. It is warm down below and hatches can be open only on leeward side. Moon is up until 1:00am as a sliver. No boats today. Mak call Daub again and Grandma and make sure they get these emails. LOVE FROM US! Joanna Sprague --      We cleared customs at 8am on April 28 Wed and THEN had to power into 30 kts of wind and rain to get to Hamilton Harbor. Phin got us in before it hit. Thank you Commanders Weather!! Looks like John finally caught that fish! Heidi catching up on emails with Phin checking on the weather coming into Bermuda

John & Judy clean the mahi mahi -- at 8 knots it was difficult to hang on!	Rebecca Taylor having a sunset break, the sunsets were spectacular.	John taking a break from watching that fishing line.
This one is America and the varnish crew after Lions Whelp won the Concourse Award for 2004. Thank you America!		Rum Jumbie deck shower!