It’s difficult to write about challenging days. I tend to process the events, learn what I can, then let it go without putting pen to paper.
Yesterday was a rough one. It started off fine with chilly weather and winds that were forecasted to be steady from the NE at 15-20kts making a sporty but doable ride for us and Dagny.
The 20mi crossing of Albemarle Sound requires careful study of wind and waves. As predicted, there was plenty of wind but Dagny and crew handled it just fine. Peter drove as I am not comfortable steering with a large following sea. It’s tricky as Dagny is lifted and tossed before surfing down the fronts of the waves. We made it across the sound without incident.
The trouble came when we approached the swing bridge just off Albemarle. Knowing there would be a wait for the bridge to open, Peter started the engine and we dropped the sails. It’s much easier, and safer, to maneuver in tight spaces with the engine. The problem was that the engine was not working as it should. Peter quickly turned it off so as to not overheat, and we hoisted the headsail to maintain steerage. I took over sailing; Peter went below to check the engine.
Let’s just say it was not my finest hour. I quickly lost confidence in my abilities and, yes, was a little freaked out. I’m not the best at maneuvering under sail in tight spaces and there were 3 other boats with us waiting for the bridge to open. Peter soon realized our problem was bigger than a quick fix so he took over sailing and we made it through the bridge and to the nearest anchorage about 2 miles away. We anchored under sail, something we had done before on our smaller boat but never on Dagny. Another opportunity, apparently, for me to stress.
We dropped the hook and Peter went about diagnosing and fixing our engine problem. It turns out our water pump impeller was shot. After pulling out every tool onboard, he installed our spare. I worked on relaxing, putting sails and gear away, and generally preparing Dagny for the evening.
Not my best day for sure but there are always lessons to learn and opportunities for reflection and improvement. And. Next time I’ll break out the DOTS sooner! ❤️⛵️

 Sunrise and sunset