Running Away from a Hurricane...Without a Working Engine 😳 (Calico Skies Sailing, Ep 163)

This episode opens in the gorgeous Honeymoon Cay in the Sea of Cortez Mexico where Bill and Grace have just recently reunited after a 4 day separation. Grace had jumped aboard Delos to help out when our friend Kazza was sick. Now she’s back, and better, so it’s time to celebrate because it’s her birthday and with 3 buddy boats here that means only one thing . . . a raft up!

We try a couple of different maneuvers before the boats are snug and secure and then we waste no time getting into party mode. We use all of our floating toys and enjoy the afternoon hanging out together. Later Brian grills some juicy burgers and we enjoy cake. As the sun sets we jump off the boats and cool off in the beautiful clear water here. This anchorage is the prettiest we’ve seen so far!!!

The next morning is one rude awakening as a giant storm has rolled in over night. It’s come in earlier and stronger than forecasted and the heavy winds actually rip one of our solar panels right off of our bimini top!! We quickly separate the boats and pick up our stern anchor which is dug in really deep. Its a rainy morning but finally the weather settles overnight and the next morning we are off, this time attempting to outrun a hurricane that has formed and is moving in.

Our strategy is to run North to try and get above the hurricane box where we are ensured. Unfortunately we encounter some gnarly conditions and thunder and lightening plague us all night. We are making very little progress so we change directions to escape choppy seas and wind on the nose. At the exact same time we get a low oil engine alarm and then have to tack our way towards the safety of an island without the help of the engine.

We decide to rest for a few hours and wait for the wind to shift but first we address the engine which ends up – thankfully – just needing oil. We test it before heading out a few hours later and see the latest models show a shift in the hurricanes path. We decide to change directions completely in light of this information and head toward the mainland . . . it remains to be seen whether this is the right decision!!

0:00 Intro
1:43 Setting up our 3 boat raft up
7:20 Raft Up Successful let the party begin!
9:05 The Harsh Reality of Raft Ups! 😂
11:58 Running from Hurricane Kay!
15:43 Wind Shifts, Time to Seek Shelter!
16:15 Engine Issues, We Need to Sail to the Anchorage
20:45 Storm’s Path is Shifting

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