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Published: June 10th 2010
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Dear all,
Well I returned to George Town via New York on the 19th May, with a view to making a transat crossing via the Azores, with Carla on Jeremy as crew. However and unfortunately I ended up departing George Town on the 24th May bound for the Azores, but on my own. Many thanks to Jeremy and Carla for helping me get to George Town and for taking care of Harbinger whilst I was away and i'm sorry that we didn't attempt the Atlantic together. Thank you for all that you did to get me to George Town.
Well as I said, I departed George Town on the 24th but 5 days out, after 450 miles and half way to Bermuda, I decided that I was not going to get beyond Bermuda, and that is not a good place to leave the boat, and so reluctantly I turned around and went back to the Bahamas. I headed for Marsh Harbour in the Abacos, which is another great group of islands in the Bahamas. I found out later that I had a problem with the fuel pump and wouldn't have been able to charge the batteries, but that isn't why I
turned around. It was just too much for me on my own. I wasn't tired and the weather was kind, it was just that I wasn't enjoying it and 30 plus days like that would have been too much.
By the time I reached Marsh Harbour I had covered 860 miles, solo in the Atlantic, 9 days alone. I enjoyed the cat naps and the vivid dreams. I also enjoyed reading but one day I needed a change and so I stripped the wood back around the galley to refinish it since it was looking a bit marked following months of fried food.
The Abacos are lovely and a bit more civilised than the Exumas as well as being closer together. However a lot of my time in Marsh Harbour was spent sorting out the fueling problems that proved to be a fault with the fuel lift pump. Once fixed I headed for Fox Town and then Palm Beach.
For some reason I always seem to be crossing the Gulf stream in a NE wind, which is not recommeneded. Anyway after several thunder storms and some big lumpy seas I reached Florida. I'm pleased to say that the Customs and
boarder control people seem friendly here, or perhaps I'm just getting used to their ways.
Any how, I've sailed 1600 in total, 1200 miles since leaving George Town, and finaly feel I'm a sailor, at last. Even though I backed out of the transat, no worries, it will always be there but it's no longer on my bucket list.
I do hope you enjoy the pictures attached, although it is difficult to convey the size of the waves in the Atlantic.
It has been a good trip alround and I've met many good people, many of whom I hope to meet again. the human relationshiops are the things that stand out, with the sailing simply being an enabler. Would I do it all again? Well that is hard to say but I'm so glad that I did this once.
I'm seeking work right now and so I need to return to the UK forthwith, once Harbinger is nicely laid up. Therefore so until the next time, take care and don't be afraid to give something a go, you just don't know until you try.
Kind regards to all but particularly to all those kind people I have met on my
travels, I will think of you often.
Bob
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