“Parting is such sweet sorrow,” Shakespeare
After spending a month back in Marblehead, Massachusetts, to regroup following our Passe’ Compose’ journey to French Polynesia, we returned to Charleston to bring Kailoa up the East Coast… HOME. During our month in Marblehead, we caught up with family, met with friends, and tackled the many chores at home that had been neglected while we were away. The list seemed endless. One of the major tasks was a thorough house cleaning, top to bottom, to handle the mouse infestation. YUCK!
We also found out that we are expecting grandparents, with the baby due in October. This news brought us immense joy, making the last leg even more difficult to leave. It has now been a year since we left Marblehead, and the time away is starting to wear on Kim. The thought of becoming grandparents and our desire to help with the nesting preparations made leaving bittersweet, but it also filled us with happy anticipation for
what’s to come.
When we arrived in South Carolina, we were grateful to see that Kailoa had been well cared for by the folks at Safe Harbor, Charleston City. We recruited Rob Reed, a friend from Marblehead, to help us with the leg from Charleston to Annapolis. Rob is a long-time sailor, cruiser and resident of Marblehead. With Rob’s assistance, it took no time to ready the sails and provision Kailoa for the next couple of legs. Unfortunately, a heat wave set in over the East Coast, making for some uncomfortably hot and humid nights aboard, as well as thunderstorm threats. We managed to get a break from the heat during a few meals out.
Our departure for Beaufort, SC, on June 17th at 0700, was met with a forecast of southeast winds and following seas, and temperatures in the high 90s. What a contrast to the 20-degree weather in December 2024 that we encountered during our sail south to the Bahamas. The extended daylight of the summer months was a true delight, enhancing the beauty of the sea. As we motored out, we noticed that the bearings on the blower in the engine compartment were making an unusual noise. We disassembled the engine compartment, isolated the problem, and made a few calls to the mechanic at Safe Harbor to determine if we could still run the engine without the blower cooling the compartment. The answer came back” yes”.
Fortunately, the steady southerly winds of 20-27 knots held through the entire night and morning, enabling Kailoa to make a consistent 7 to 8 knots on our rum line, even hitting 11 knots at times. This was, without a doubt, the most extended passage under complete sail power at 220 NM. At one point, we were running with a code zero on a poll. There was too much tension as we tightened the sheet, and the block failed, sending parts flying into the air (nobody was hurt).
The clear night was a blessing, given the high Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), over 3,000 (J/kg), which is a measure of the potential energy available for a thunderstorm to develop. Higher CAPE values suggest a greater potential for more severe weather, we like to see values below 1000 (J/kg).
The movement of Kailoa under sail was a corkscrew motion, making it hard to sleep. Still, with Rob’s help, we managed to stay rested and hydrated throughout the night. Our familiar night sky greeted us with the Big Dipper, Orion’s belt, and the crescent moon, a sight that never fails to inspire awe. We preserved the battery charge by turning off the freezer and refrigerator at night until the sun activated our solar panels. We crossed into Beaufort by noon, and we were on the dock by 2 PM. Overall, it was a delightful offshore passage.
Once we arrived in North Carolina, Rob and Scott worked together to troubleshoot the part that needed to be replaced, a testament to the Captain’s and crew’s resilience and problem-solving skills. We managed to have the component shipped to the Beaufort Marina. In the meantime, we visited Carrot Island by dinghy, taking in the wild ponies and the natural scenery. We managed to work in a dinner meet-up with our cruising buddies, Anne and Jim, who graciously picked us up. It was terrific to catch up with them and learn about their future cruising plans. As soon as the part arrived, Scott promptly installed it, and we were ready for a June 22nd departure to Annapolis. Beaufort is a great port to visit, and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.
All for now! Kailoa signing off.
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