June 7: Day 4: Buccaneer Bay

Author: Bethanny Brooks

Whales, Wind, and a Ripped Mainsail: Crossing the Strait to Buccaneer Bay

What a day. It’s safe to say this leg of the journey gave us a little bit of everything—from breathtaking wildlife to unexpected boat repairs.

Once we reached the open water of the strait, the wind filled in and we were finally able to cut the engine and start sailing. About halfway across, the universe treated us to an incredible spectacle: a pod of Orcas actively feeding out in the deep water. Watching those massive, powerful fins cut through the surface is the kind of magic that reminds you exactly why you choose this lifestyle. Fortunately, I managed to capture a quick video of them, which was a good thing... because it turned out to be the only media we'd get all day!

Google isn't being friendly with me right now.  I posted a video but it didn't work so I've deleted it. If anyone actually saw it, please send me a comment below. Thank you.

We made our way into Buccaneer Bay with the mainsail still up. After a bit of navigating and deliberating on the best spot to tuck into, we managed to get the anchor down successfully.

With the boat secure, it was finally time to douse the sail. Right as we started bringing it down, a sharp gust came up and whipped the canvas. Unbeknownst to us in the moment, that single gust ripped the mainsail horizontally, slicing it about 3/4 of the way across just above the first batten. We didn't hear anything unusual—just the standard sound of a sail flapping in heavy air—so it was quite a shock to look up and see the damage.

It was only after the shredded sail was finally put away that we had a moment to look at the instruments, which confirmed the wind was putting on a wild show, fluctuating anywhere from 3 to 19 knots.

To add insult to injury once we were settled, Artemus decided to register his own opinion on the day's events by peeing right outside his litter box again. Ah, the glamorous side of cruising with a ship's cat!

Thankfully, the wind completely died down as evening fell. After a rollercoaster of a day, we are tucked in at Buccaneer Bay, enjoying a beautifully calm night on the water—and mentally preparing for the alteration in our sailing plan and the new sail consultation we will have to arrange when we return home.

Again, no photos of the anchorage or the sail—we just didn't have the mind to take any after such a long, eventful day.

(Here are three photos I took on Day 15 - I don't know if the video is going to post. It seems to be taking a long time)




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