Sep. 20, 2007 - Disaster!!
19 September 2007 The day started so well with an early departure from Marina di Capitana and straight into wind “up the chuff “ 10-15 knots – yippee! Nige suggested putting the big genoa up and we flew along. 70 miles under the belt and maximum speed reached 12 knots down a wave with the genoa goose-winged. Wonderful.
 Running downwind (at last!) to Sicily
I went into the galley to dish supper up at 19.30 hrs whilst the men shortened sail in readiness for our over-night passage. Both Matty and Matt were in the cockpit and Nige up front by the mast trying to clear a fouled line to the furling gear, when there was an almighty bang and the forestay snapped at the top of the mast. The mast fell slowly down towards the boys who ran for cover – it veered over to fall onto the starboard rail as the boom crashed down onto the port rail of the cockpit. I ran up the galley steps into a wildly flapping “tent” of canvas with wires and ropes flailing everywhere. The wind was whipping everything about so much, Matt went up on deck with Nige to disconnect the shrouds and cut sheets, and attempted to pull the mainsail down to salvage it.
 Attempting to free the rig
Matty and I were undoing all the knotted ends of ropes using a serrated bread knife to cut through some for speed. Nige nearly got trapped between the stanchions and mast as it started to enter the water. The two of them worked so hard freeing the rig as Matty and I had to pull the boom over the steering binnacle to allow it to follow the mast into the water. Nige was concerned that the mast and spreaders would hole the hull as the wind was pushing it hard into the beam so decided to let the whole rig go. Exhausted, we all watched as it disappeared into the sea, the sails looking eerily ghostlike as they sunk away from sight. It was now pitch black with rocking waves and howling winds and we all agreed to turn around and head back to Sardinia as it was the shorter distance and would take us into a marina we knew for depth/facilities as all our instruments had been lost and, with no radar, radio and electrics we felt particularly vulnerable. We only had a stern light so we left the saloon light on for warning to other vessels. We donned warm overnight gear and, duly safety-harnessed on, we started the long 16 hour journey back to Sardinia. We all stayed up in the cockpit taking turns to helm in one hour shifts whilst two were on lookout for vessels/lobster pots etc and one slept in the corner. There was an amazing thunder and lightening storm going on to our portside which didn’t help matters! It was truly exhausting and sometimes trying to keep awake was so hard, the ol’ eyes just wanted to shut. As dawn arrived around 0730 we passed the headland and made an excrutiatingly slow journey against the wind and in rough, choppy seas up to the marina. Those last few hours seemed to be endless. We tied up on the fuel pontoon as there was now a Force 7 howling and we were asked to stay there overnight until it abated.
 Safely back at Marina di Capitana
How vulnerable were we and how lucky. I thank God that no-one was seriously injured or had been dragged overboard or that the hull had been holed. I also thank my “three stars” who acted so quickly and for whom I have the utmost respect in their ability to cope under such stress and duress. Enough of that drama – it feels good to be alive. Where's my large gin!!!
So thats the end of the ride for the immediate future. We have now slipped into grockel mode enjoying the delights of Sardinia (well the marina and neighbouring Cagliari) whilst we await quotes for repairs and agreement with our insurers. We'll update you as and when we have news.
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