Forensics.....

The swivel pin that broke at the treads......

This swivel is less than 3 years old !! It was purchased in the Spring of 2008.  So, yachties, you may wish to check your anchor tackle......  Hearing a giant splash as you are raising the anchor is NO fun !!   It is great to have the Rocna back aboard.  Today is shackle shopping day, so we can get the Rocna back where it belongs....in the water holding Persephone tightly to the bottom.

MISSION 11-01: "Charlie Mike"....

MISSION 11-01

MISSION NAME: "RUN-AWAY ROCNA"

MISSION OBJECTIVE: FIND AND RECOVER ANCHOR

Col. Bob (ret.) of 'Tranquila' and Capt. Dave have been working Mission 11-01 since last Wednesday; involving 4 scuba dives. Bob, who is a retired officer from the US Army infantry, felt that the only way to assure recovery of the anchor was to use the precision tactics of a military exercise.

Logistically, the actual course of 'Persephone' had been saved by the onboard computer system. The estimated position of the lost anchor was plotted on a grid which was narrowed to 120 feet (3 boat lengths). Marker buoys were deployed at 40 foot intervals along the estimated course. The buoys were set by using a hand held GPS after transferring the coordinates from the main onboard system. Comm was set up on VHF channel 77 between the dive dinghy and 'Tranquila' for tactical support. Bob ran the dinghy while I did the diving...

MISSION 11-01 A FRAGOP (fragmented operation of original mission)

On Sunday morning, 27 Feb at 08:30 hours, day 4 of diving operation commenced. Three floats were deployed a bit south of the earlier dive operations. The water was 21 feet deep, and the bottom was covered with approximately 12-18 inches of very soft mud and silt. A cloud of silt and mud swirled above the bottom by 3 feet.so there was NO, absolutely NO visibility at the bottom. (I found the bottom by descending through the cloud and doing a face plant into the ooozz...literally !!) At each float, we would drop a heavy weight, to which had attached a 40 length of light rope with knots in it every three feet. I swam around the weight in a circle while holding the rope. At the end of each revolution, (as determined by a compass which I had to hold 6 inches from my face), I would increase my distance from the weight by one knot (3 feet) and make another revolution; feeling the bottom with gloved hands. I was completely blinded by the mud and silt...thank God I am not claustrophobic !! Fourteen revolutions, each of increasing distance from the weight...No joy...

At 09:30 hours, we moved to the second marker. Again the weight was moved and the circling commenced. In my first revolution, three feet from the weight, my flashlight hit the top of the anchor !! I started screaming with excitement.do you have any idea how difficult it is to scream while trying to keep a dive regulator in your mouth ?? The anchor was buried with only about 2 inches of the roll bar protruded above the bottom layer of mud. While completely blind, I tied my line to the anchor about a dozen times by feel!! I surfaced, but Bob already knew I had found the anchor, as I had stopped my rotation and was staying in one spot. Bob radioed 'Tranquila' and Laurie got us a heavy duty lifting line. I re-dove on the anchor and tied the lifting line to it. Bob hauled the anchor to the dinghy and transported it to 'Persephone'.

MISSION STATUS: "CHARLIE MIKE" (completed mission !!)

FORENSICS: The 7/16" (about as round as a pencil) pin attaching the swivel to the anchor chain broke at the threads. The metal literally snapped...there was no sign of rust, corrosion, or wear; it simply failed. I keep shaking my head...how did this happen, and how do you prevent it ??

MISSION 11-01 B: Coldies aboard 'Tranaquila' at 1800 hours to celebrate our success !! Looking forward to a "Charlie Mike" on this mission too !!

Ole Dave

Still in Marin, Martinique...

Hi All....

This is just another quick update from Martinique; Still little/no email access. So, still using Amateur Radio for all electronic communication.

We ('Absaroque' and 'Impressionist') started to leave Le Marin on Wednesday, but just as the anchor on 'Persephone' was loading onto the bow roller the shackle holding the anchor to the chain broke, and the anchor went overboard. I have NO idea why the shackle broke...it did not unscrew but literally 'shattered'...the shackle wasn't one of the "cheapo" China ones...but, a quality shackle forged in the USA....well, at least I thought it was a quality one !!) Thank God it didn't let go in a squall while on the bottom !!

I have two spare anchors aboard, and quickly hooked one up and re-anchored. BUT, it was an $880.00 USD Rocna anchor that went to the bottom !! This anchor is made in New Zealand and is terrific. We have never dragged with this anchor and have (had ?) complete confidence in it. Our secondary anchor is a 45 pound Delta which is not nearly as reliable. Persephone is currently using our 37 pound Fortress as it was most accessible on Wednesday (the Delta is buried in the bottom of a locker), and holds well in mud bottoms.

I have been scuba diving for the past two days trying to find the anchor. Bob from 'Tranquila' has been helping each day. ('Tranquila' is crewed by Bob and Laurie; not to be confused with Bob and Lori on 'Pride' !) Earlier in the week Laurie had come over to introduce herself, as we are the only two U.S. flagged vessels in the area. But I digress...

The bottom is VERY muddy, and you can't see a thing...literally 1 foot max of viability at 20 feet down....so, I have been going along the bottom feeling for the anchor...a useless exercise. The bottom is so muddy, it may have just "swallowed" the anchor.

So, the diving will continue later today. We will keep you updated on our success.... If we are unsuccessful, the journey north will be diverted to St. Martin where the is a dealer which stocks the Rochna. The anchor is that good; don't want to be without it.

Keep your fingers crossed !!

Martinique

Persephone sailed into Martinique on Wednesday after, again, enjoying a beautiful 20 nm sail from St. Lucia. The wind speed and direction was perfect for the sail, but the sea swells were still large at 8-10 feet...the seas prevented me from doing any fishing :(

When you are in Martinique, you are literally in France. Martinique is a Department of France (think of a State in US)where everything is as it would be in France, governmental offices use the same forms as Paris (try and fill out Customs/Immigration forms in French on a computer with a French keyboard....yes, the keyboards are different), the locals vote in French elections, and a phone call to continental France is a local phone call (but all phone numbers are 10 digits). The language is exclusively French, and 99 percent of products in the 'supermarche' are imported from France...I hope 'thon' is tuna !!?? I wish I applied myself a little harder in high school French classes....

The only issue is communication...the phones from the English islands (Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Antigua etc.) do not work in the French islands...so there is no cell phone service aboard. In addition, internet is scarce at best. Harbor coverage wifi in not available in Martinique....so, it is back to internet cafes or restaurants/bars which have complementary wifi service. It is like being plunged back into the dark ages !! This blog will have to be sent out by amateur (ham) radio from Persephone....back to 1930s technology !!

Just wanted to give you all a quick update...more when communication is better...

Marigot Bay...

A couple of days ago, Persephone motored north  from the Pitons to Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia.  We hugged the coast as the "Christmas Winds" (winter trade winds) continue to howl near gale force, which create enormous seas (10 foot plus).  The key is to sail along the leeward side of the island close to the shore so the seas don't have a change to build.  Cruisers up and down the island chain are holed up waiting for a weather window (i.e. winds and seas to subside) before moving.  'Persephone,  Silverheels III, and Absaroque are holed up in Marigot Bay, pictured above.  The Bay is beautiful, cozy, well protected, and is the site of an upscale marina/resort complex featuring every amenity...most of which us cruisers can't afford....But it doesn't hurt to window shop.

Looking at the long range weather forecasts, it appears that the next window may be Tues/Wednesday of next week.  We would like to use the next window to sail to Martinique.  Depending on the length of the window, we will move north as quickly as possible.  As for now, we will stay in Marigot watching the rich and famous....

Upon arrival at Marigot, my rear molar began to throb....I am trying to determine the association between the two...may be pompous, rich, vacationers give me a tooth ache !!  So, it was off to the dentist yesterday. (Always an adventure in a third world country.....leaches anyone....how about a good bleeding ??)   Anyway, a root canal may be in the offing, but, for now, I am taking heavy duty antibiotics and adopting a wait and see approach.  The next appointment is Tuesday morning.  We shall see........

So, toothaches, and Christmas Winds keep us firmly Velcro-ed to St. Lucia.

Banana Ketchup

     As mentioned in the previous blog, ‘Persephone’ and ‘Absaroque’ sailed together from SVG to St. Lucia last Saturday. ‘Silverheels III” joined us the following day. On Sunday, ‘Absaroque’ sailed approximately 12 miles north to the town of Castries, SL to meet relatives which were aboard a cruise ship.

     So, all week ‘Persephone’ and ‘Silverheels III’ have been on moorings immediately under and between St. Lucia’s famous Piton mountains. (For our sailing friends, the mooring costs $30 US per week…not the $60 + US per day in Newport/Martha’s Vineyard.) The Pitons rise vertically nearly 3000 feet from the ocean to the base of the clouds….a very impressive sight. Petit Piton is directly in front of us, and Gros Piton is right behind us. Here is Persephone under Petit Piton….

On the south side of Gros Piton (about 3 miles from the anchorage) we discovered a remote, black sand beach…exactly what you would expect on a tropical isle. We have spent several lazy afternoons on this beach chatting with the local fishermen, swimming and enjoying a coldie….I even managed to clean the bottom of the dinghy !! The town of Soufriere is about 3 miles north of the anchorage, so we are able to get supplies easily by dinghy. You could live here indefinitely….. especially with the new water maker. Now that the rainy season has ended, the water maker has been worth it’s weight in gold….gotta love those cool, fresh water showers after a tough day at the beach !!
    
     Tomorrow (Sunday) we may be moving a bit north to Marigot Bay (6 ish miles) for a day or two; and will rejoin ‘Absaroque’ which has sailed south from Castries. We got an email from them this morning saying they were having problems with their wind generator which is mounted high on their mast. They need a couple of guys to help them get it down. So, Ken (SH III) and I have offered to help out, so we will move up to Marigot tomorrow. After Marigot we will sail to Castries and then on to Rodney Bay in the north part of SL. We plan on being in SL for another couple of weeks before moving north to the French Islands, and finally to Antigua. But first, we are all really enjoying SL, and savoring every moment.

    

 Speaking of savoring things…..when you are living on an island which grows few tomatoes, and lots of bananas…there is only one thing to do…make Banana Ketchup !! You just can’t make this stuff up….”Banana Ketchup” ??!! Tried it, love it !! Wonder if my hot dogs have finished cooking yet ? Hey, where’s the ketchup ?

Port Royal...... ARRRRGGG!!!!

Last Saturday, the US flaged sloop "Persephone" stealthly sailed into 'Port Royal' searching for da 'Black Pearl' and the "Pirates of the Caribbean"......

A natural arch guards the enterance.....with a sign which reads "Pirates Beware" !!!

 Here is the arch as it appeared when CAPTAIN Jack Sparrow sailed into "Port Royal".....and the arch as it appears now..... 

Port Royal has hardly changed since the "Black Pearl" entered the harbor.....

Since there were no pirate ships in Port Royal, (only boat boys selling trinkets at pirate prices) we did the same as Captain Barbosa.... turned our rudder to Port Royal, ne'r to return.

P.S.   Port Royal is actually Wallilabou Harbor, St. Vincent where "Pirates of the Caribbean" was filmed in 2003.  Much of the sets have been preserved, and the dock is still in place, but in disrepair.  As we were heading for St. Lucia, with 35 miles to go,  we didn't stop.  We may stop here next summer on the southbound trip.