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I bet we have already lost that standing in fleet. We may have even lost our first position in class. Since this morning's report, we have been unable to sail well at all. The wind has been light and variable from right where we want to go. The leftover swell from the northeast has been stopping us every time we sail to the east. As a result, we have gone nearly nowhere. Meanwhile anybody to our north has been sailing madly. Maybe not in the exact direction they want, but at least they have been moving at a good speed.

My decision to continue to sail on a port tack last night with the wind slowly going from NE'rly to East and on toward SE'rly today may have not been the best racing strategy. It took us out of the wonderful current that was sending us to the eastwards and, instead, into a zone of very light air. It may have even brought us to an area of counter current that is trying to send us west! But this promise of a low coming across has given me great pause for just how much racing is prudent. I do not mean we are not racing now. Unfortunately, not tacking sometime early yesterday evening may have taken us out of the most profitable area for staying ahead of our competition and others in the fleet. If this promised low comes due east along a track close to us, however, the weather may really deteriorate. Since a low always brings SE winds before S-SW winds - when one is on the south side of a passing low - I am hoping we are far enough south and away from the low not to get really strong SE winds. So, here we are waiting for the change the low will bring, while the others in the fleet keep moving.

Many in the fleet are talking of going south to be sure they are on the safe and profitable side of this low. Being out in front, plus so far to the south, we have already met the light weather the others may soon meet. Until they do, we sit while they keep moving. Adding to the mystery of our fate is the possibility that this low may not come as predicted. Already the American weather forecasts for tomorrow and Sunday, transmitted this evening, are looking suspiciously benign compared to earlier reports. If this should be the outcome, we really have made a racing error by coming so far south. Eventually the wind will come up from a favorable direction. When that happens, we will just have to do the best we can about catching up with the leaders in the fleet.

Quiet and dry weather, even if we are not going well in any direction, is a great thing for the crew after the last bit of uncomfortable weather. It lets everyone have a breather before the next weather comes in. They have time to re-organize the ship and tend to small things that want tending. For instance, to be very sure that the focsle bilge pump system was really fixed, it was taken apart completely. Lo and behold, John, the engineer, found a toothpaste cap jammed right in a critical place ready to cause trouble in the future. John also changed the oil in the generator and we all helped him deal with our new-but-getting-stiff steering gear.

Back in Baltimore during the OpSail event, Pride II was rammed by a tug while she was tied to the dock for an open house. Along with some non-essential structural and cosmetic damage, there was critical damage done to the steering gear. Now we have a new steering gear. I remember the first steering gear from when Pride II was new. Even though it was new and got a lot of regular greasing, it often got stiff just like this new gear. Today the situation was becoming alarming, even though greasings were occurring daily.

Consequently, John started a cleanup campaign with the crew. We decided to remove all the old grease as well the recent new grease - and start over. Since before breakfast, the steering gear has been having its old grease removed, and light oil has been put on in its place. The steering is getting easier, so what we are doing seems to be helping. For tonight we have left the light oil on. Tomorrow we will probably put on some heavier grease after yet another cleaning.

I wonder why it needs to be this way? During the first two years of operations with the original steering gear, it had to be taken completely apart, cleaned, then re-greased and re-assembled several times. During those first two years, no matter how many times the steering gear was re-greased, it would eventually get stiff. Once we had to disassemble it while on an Atlantic crossing. Now we are out here again and the new steering gear acts as if it too wants to be dissembled and re-greased! Well, I hope we have done the right thing to avoid taking the thing apart. With the possibility of having some fresh weather come upon us over the weekend I seriously do not want to face a binding steering gear!

Eventually, the steering gear stops binding and needs greasing only weekly when we are continuously underway, or monthly when we are cruising the Bay or coastal waters. Until we get to that point, I remain constantly concerned that the thing is liberally greased and is not getting tighter even if it has been greased.

Steering with a stiff steering gear is one thing. Steering Pride II in very light winds that shift 30 degrees back and forth while there is a swell running is another. Having both occur at the same time is making everyone unhappy. No matter how hard they try, they just can't seem to steer as I want them to. Every time I come on deck or pass near the compass and wind indicator, there is this dread that comes over the person at the helm. Already we have had the ship caught a-back and forced into an unplanned-for tack. There are few things more frustrating to the captain than getting caught a-back and forced into a maneuver to correct the situation. All of us are hoping the steering gear gets freed up some and the wind comes up from a useful direction - soon!

Cheers!
Captain Miles