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1730 Tuesday, August 29, 2023
We ran the engine for an hour and 45 minutes while tied to the dock this morning. Some of the time in gear at a fairly high RPM. All seemed good after Jesse's work of last night. So, at 0742, we left the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club and headed out into Conception Bay, headed for home.
We ran the engine for two more hours while checking for coolant leaks, high temperatures, and air locks. All good. So, knock on wood, we hope the engine issues are behind us.
We were under full main and jib as we sailed out the bay, leaving Bell Island to port. The island's sheer cliffs always dazzle my senses. There is also a remarkable sea cave in one headland; from the right angle you can look hundreds of feet through the rock to daylight beyond. The cave is in the lower right of the photo just below. David seemed to enjoy taking the helm along the island's shore, as seen in the top photo above.
Exiting Conception Bay, we rounded Cape St. Francis, with its short light, perched atop the rocky shore. After that, I was on the helm as it began to breeze up. Soon, we were under reefed main and jib and making over 7 knots. Much of the day has had flukey, shifty winds. In light winds we were back to using the engine. However, by mid afternoon we were back to sailing, close hauled on starboard tack doing over 6 knots down the coast. We sped rapidly past a large ocean sunfish, lolling in the warmer surface waters.
One significant landmark was Cape Spear, just south of St. John's. The Cape has two lighthouses. At the peak is the old, historic light with the keepers house built around the base. Lower down, to the left, is the newer lighthouse that is the official navigation aid. Cape Spear is the most eastern point in North America, where sunlight hits first each day. Rounding this, we can begin making out way westward, towards home and New England.
We are still watching hurricane Franklin and a low pressure system to the north, headed into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The low is likely to have the greater impact on our passage. 35 knot winds, some on the nose, are forecast. It is looking like we will put in at Trepassey, just after rounding Cape Race. We would wait there for bad weather to pass. Our decision point will be early tomorrow morning.
More news tomorrow. Photos below.
Bill
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