Champagne Sailing with a Twist

Kady

As our friends know we lost our starboard prop when heading to Bonaire this summer. It took months to replace. Our passage to Curacao started with amazing champagne sailing downwind. Half way wind died down and changed dramatically while seas states radically picked up. Turning on the engines we realized we have no power on my port. Yes we lost the other prop. Previous owners didn’t install them correctly, you need to bend the washer to ensure that the bolt never works out. With only one engine steering was difficult. As we headed up the east side of Curacao, the coast guard helicopter flew by. Reminiscing of when our captain radioed in of engine problems during our entry to Bonaire and they flew by to check on us . But the helicopter was en route just in front of us for another boat. They did a rescue in front of our eyes. Captain called port authority that we were 30 minutes in and they said we were not on the list for us to enter. Eventually they figured it out. We called marine zone of our engine issue. They warned the port authority. As we headed towards the channel, we hear 5 horns from the large cruise ship, they started to embark in front of us. With limited steering and needing to maintain control at full throttle/ 7knts we blaze into the channel as they open the walking bridge. We were able to maintain control to squeeze in. At the marina they had a tug boat to help us moor in. Short story, we will be in Curacao on the hard staying somewhere until we get another propellor. Boat life. 🐾

Boat & Crew

SV Catnip

Lagoon, 42

Robert Down

Owner

Captain Whiskers

Pet, Female

First Mate Fluff

Pet, Female

Kady

Owner