The stop over here in Gaspe has been a welcomed one. Lots of napping and eating. Of course there have been a good deal of more productive activities like grocery shopping, ice procurement, laundry washing, diesel tank top ups and (lest we forget) porta-potty emptying.
Truth be told the rest up and extra nourishment was required due to an injury sustained a few days after Pierre rejoined the crew. Misjudging a jump to the slip during docking resulted in my shoulder taking a very bad strain while trying to correct a fall.
The bruise is finally falling down the arm and the shoulder is on the mend and now raise-able above my head.
The time is also being spent making plans for the next stage of the passage, those final 500NM to Halifax. The all night sail from Sainte Anne des Monts to Gaspe has given me confidence that the same could be done from here (Gaspe) to Summerside, PEI. It seems it would require one other crew to help with helm watch and aiding during docking for safety sake.
Came across a nice blog posting of a couple who had made the same passage last July. They made it sound very do-able; especially with an extra person for helm watch.
Pierre suggested reaching out to Jason, my instructor in Ontario. He is interested in the idea yet wanted to check with his schedule and partner this weekend and would get back to me. Pierre also reached out to some other professionals yet they are so highly skilled that they seem an overkill for this stage of the passage.
My feeling is that a not so skilled deckhand is all that would be required. Especially if we simply motor through. The Wind Guru has indicated that that would be the most likely mode of travel for the next couple of days wind-wise.
In that regard a course has been plotted on Navionics and Pierre has been texted to ask if he would mind looking it over and offer any suggestions for alterations of any kind. He was also asked if he would mind looking over my calculation for fuel consumption and the like. Those Knots and Nautical Miles are not second nature for me and there is still the fear of mixing something up.
Pierre came across a Kijiji ad of James' seeking crew for Bermuda. Thought to ask him to keep me in mind for any that do not make the cut and are perhaps looking for a shorter passage like Halifax. Could offer him a bounty for any he successfully throws my way. Anyway texted him asking that he give me a phone call once he has had his morning coffee.
We shall have to foster patience and see where life, and the leads out there, take me.
May the wind be at your back!
-------
A chronological listing of my sailing posts:
@novacadian/novacadian-s-blog-index-sailing