First Round: Ocean 1 - Erden 0

We were having problems with the raw water system on CLARA. We tried everything with Simon Curwen to no avail. We had methodically run water through sections of the system and suspected that the heat exchanger may be blocked. When Simon talked to his mechanic over the phone for ideas, one of the suggestions was to mount the impeller housing cap inside out.

CLARA was built in 1976 and the engine was replaced in 2007. Upon inspection we observed that the rubber impeller had worn a shallow circular groove less than 0.5mm deep on the inner face of its soft brass cap, causing it to lose pressure. Thus the raw water pump was not able to send the water through the heat exchanger. We sanded down the blue paint on the outside surface, cleaned it and installed it inside out such that the now sanded outside face pointed toward the engine block. Fortunately there were no engraved or embossed lettering on that surface. We instantly had proper flow discharging with the exhaust. Magic!

You can see the yellow groove on the reversed cap.

It was a relief to observe the cooling water discharge with the exhaust.

My friends Çağrı Özpideciler and Stephen Taylor arrived on Friday the 12th and we launched the day after, on Saturday. I was grateful for their company on this first passage with CLARA. With their help, I could focus on sorting the vessel and establishing a reasonable routine. Our intended destination would be Lisbon after which I would resume sailing alone to satisfy the minimum of 2000 solo nautical miles for 2026 GGR qualification.

Çağrı Özpideciler upon arrival at Port de La Base de Lorient

Çağrı Özpideciler and Stephen Taylor

I favored my GoPro to capture videos while sailing, so I will have to browse for some screen captures at a later date. The wind was fickle when we started and it completely died around midnight on Saturday. We made the best of what the sea offered then the wind began filling again toward the morning. It was shifting, eventually settling on a southerly blow; we had to make progress due southwest to pass Cape Finisterre with room to spare.

There is heavy marine traffic rounding that cape at the NW corner of Iberian Peninsula. These vessels converge there as they shuttle north and south between the ports of northern Europe and those of the Mediterranean Sea or further south on the Atlantic Ocean. They are restricted to stay in charted shipping lanes until they clear the cape. My experience in 2005 launching by rowboat from Lisbon, was that these vessels trailed each other in a line at about two miles apart in their respective lanes.

Then the unexpected happened on Monday morning, July 15th. We were about 115 nautical miles due SW from Lorient. We had strong winds overnight which felt like 30-knots and gusting. We put one reef in the main sail then furled the Genoa to instead deploy the staysail; we eventually partially furled that as well. The changing winds created 6-8 foot cross waves which not only resulted in boxing seas, but also meant that while we trimmed our sails to the winds, we were still exposed to junk waves rolling the boat. It was impossible to set anything down and to expect it to stay there. Freeze dried dinner packets were no exception.

I put a dinner packet on the galley sole that morning, wedged between the water jerrycan and the engine cover. I boiled water in an open top JetBoil canister, grabbed it with my right hand, crouched facing aft with my behind braced against the side panel. Just as I was preparing to pour said water, the boat tipped to port and lurched with a wave. The back of my right hand hit the galley wall, hot water jumped out and became airborne. My body was already in motion, driving my face across the now suspended blob of boiled water.

My left eye was immediately affected. Hot water sat in the left corner of the eye for what felt like eternity. I had shut my eye tight a moment too late. My forehead, left cheek and lips grew tender as time slowly crept forward. We had no ice for cold water; rinsing with room temperature water was the best that I could do.

My face and left eye were splashed with hot water. I felt the stinging immediately and my face turned red and tender where affected. Image on the right is 24-hours after the mishap.

We had to make a decision. The wind was steady from the south. French coast was peeling away due southeast. Closest port was Lorient where we had started. Not willing to take a chance with the eye, my teammates Çağrı and Stephen agreed to head back. We had favorable following winds and waves, making quick work of the return. We tied up around 16:30 on Tuesday.

Mug shots 48 hours and 72 hours after the accident which forced us back to shore.

Throughout this time, I was in communication with Dr. Daniel Carlin at WorldClinic who have been my steadfast remote medicine provider since 2007. I was instructed to begin using an antibiotic eyedrop from my medical kit, also courtesy of WorldClinic. This treatment was to continue until I could visit a proper eye clinic.

My medical kit courtesy of WorldClinic has prescription strength medications. It also included an eye drop, marked #14b.

By Wednesday morning, WorldClinic had sent me the address for a nearby hospital with an ophthalmology department which also offered emergency services. I visited them that same day. The doctor inspected my left eye under a microscope, applied medication and cleared debris. He offered me new eye drops, a lavage and an ointment to help prevent scarring of my cornea. With mutual hand waving, resorting occasionally to English, he gave instructions in French, most of which I could follow. I then started the hunt at area pharmacies for the prescribed items. Dr Carlin agreed with the treatment plan and I could focus on recovery.

This door was our final destination on our return trip to Lorient from 115M away.

This was an unfortunate and unexpected turn of events but in Çağrı and Stephen, I had two well meaning and caring friends. They had carved time from their work and family responsibilities and stepped forward to sail CLARA on her first voyage with her new skipper. Now they could assume their respective shoreside roles once again. I was forever grateful.

During our stroll on Wednesday evening as a team along the shores near Port de plaisance du Kernevel where we docked.

I am keeping an eye on the forecast to depart solo this time. There will be strong winds overnight on Saturday, subsiding by Sunday. I have been communicating with my sailing friend Jason Christensen at Racing the Wind who, you may remember, offered me critical wind and current information during my successful row across the Pacific in 2021-2022. He may have suggestions on a feasible course to sail considering weather, which will get me the 2000 nautical miles that I need. I am toying with the idea of sailing roundtrip to the Azores, which would give me 2,400M. Simon Curwen is also keeping an eye on the wind patterns.

Please monitor my tracking page for action.