Having checked the tide tables we head over to Browns Bank to be there just after high tide. When we arrive there is just a thin strip of sand, full of nothing but birds.
Photo: Nobody there but the birds
Victoria sits on one of the bow seats and Mike shouts to her to hold on as we very slowly slide towards the sand. Slightly earlier than we would have thought given the depth gauge, the keels touch the bottom and we stop and prepare to wait.
It’s not long before a boat comes and beaches itself a short distance away. It’s inhabitants look at curiously then set up camp on the beach.
As the tide goes out we discover that our landing place might not have been the best after all, as we are on an area which slopes quite steeply just after our keels. We find this out when Mike realises that although the tide is going out, the stern of the boat doesn’t seem to get any higher in the water as Jeannius starts to tilt backwards and her keels sink into the sand. Fantastic.
Eventually though, the propeller cone comes clear of the water and even though waves are still lapping around him, Mike goes down in the water and starts to dismantle it. It’s unpleasant for him as the water is somewhat cold and this is not good for his arthritis.
Once this is off he has to wait for the tide to recede further before he can attempt to take the seal apart. He doesn’t want water going into it.
By 1 pm Jeannius is high and dry but the way that the keels have sunk into the soft sand and tilt on the boat makes it difficult for Mike to work underneath – the prop-shaft is only just off the sand. Victoria sets herself up as Mike’s gofer, sitting on the steps and getting his tools for him.
Mike removes one of the screws holding the seal on but the other refuses to budge. A man arrives offering help in the way of muscle and tools. David turns out to be a software developer too so they chatter away while kneeling in the shifting sands but the screw refuses to budge and by the time they give up trying to remove it, it has no head left at all. However, on close inspection Mike spots that there is still some lobster pot line buried deep into the seal and digs it out. There is the tiniest chance that this has been causing the problem but Mike is not optimistic. Once that is off, they put back the one screw, drain the thick mayonnaise-like oil and Mike re-fills it from the engine room. David says goodbye and we have another four hours to wait until we can re-float.
During the afternoon boats have been arriving for a few hours on the beach. Only a couple were curious enough to come and ask us what had happened and were we OK – not like up in Maine at all. City folk not wanting to get involved obviously. We watch as one by one the boats leave until we are once again Billy-no-mates of Browns Bank. Amusingly, as we are waiting for the last few inches to get us afloat, a sea tow boat hangs around about 100 yards away, maybe hoping to be in the vicinity when disaster strikes and we get stuck but I’m afraid he is disappointed when 15 minutes ahead of high tide Jeannius gently pulls herself out of the sand and bobs around ready for her trip around the corner to the mooring field where once again we anchor all alone.
Just as we have the anchor settled, another British boat motors out of Plymouth. It’s ‘Blue Guitar’, reputedly a boat which once belonged to Eric Clapton but now available for private charter.
Of course, when Mike tries to start the generator, it won’t behave, obviously playing up like it did last time she came out of the water. He knows all her little tricks but decides to deal with her in the morning.
Position: 41 deg 57 min N, 70 deg 39 min W
Distance so far: 1984 miles
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