The journey from San Domingo to San Juanico was the epitome of perfect downwind sailing. Our day began early, at 5 a.m., before the first light of dawn. As we motored out of the anchorage, our path was illuminated by the brilliant bioluminescence trailing in our wake. A waning gibbous moon hung overhead, and the sky was filled with stars, guiding us through the darkness. The gentle lapping of the waves against the hull created a peaceful rhythm, while the cool morning breeze promised perfect sailing conditions. As the sun slowly rose, the horizon came alive with hues of orange and pink, casting a magical glow across the sea. Dolphins appeared sporadically, playfully riding alongside us, adding a touch of magic to the serene morning.
Anticipating ideal conditions for downwind sailing, we had set up the whisker pole the night before, hoping for a wing-on-wing configuration. As we rounded Punta Concepcion, the first hints of sunrise began to color the sky, and Tyler was eager to raise the sails. We started with the Reacher, our light wind sail. However, as Tyler began to unfurl it, he noticed that something was wrong—the Reacher sheet wouldn’t budge.
Quickly tethering himself in, Tyler moved to the bow to investigate. He returned, relieved, to find that the problem was just the furling line snagged on the anchor locker lid. With the issue seemingly resolved, he began to unfurl the Reacher again. But midway through, just as the wind started to pick up to 13 knots, the sail refused to open further. A glance from the cockpit revealed a badly jammed furler.
With the wind increasing and the swell growing to 2-3 meters, Tyler had no choice but to go back to the bow and untangle the jammed line. The task was far from easy—the bow bounced wildly with each wave, making it difficult to keep steady. I watched with my heart in my throat as Tyler struggled against the elements, clinging to the bow and working to untangle the snarled lines. At one point, while leaning over the bow and using the bow seat for support, it suddenly snapped off, leaving the seat hanging by a single zip-tie.
It took him about thirty tense minutes to sort out the mess and make his way back to the cockpit with the bow seat in hand. A repair for another time. Despite the difficulties, Tyler was determined to try again. Although I was nervous, I trusted his judgment. With careful coordination, he pulled the furling line and released the Reacher sheet, successfully deploying the sail this time. Then, he unfurled the Genoa onto the pre-rigged whisker pole, and just like that, we were under sail.
Though the execution wasn’t flawless, we were finally sailing, and what an incredible sail it was! The wind filled our sails completely, and we glided effortlessly over the water, feeling an exhilarating sense of freedom. We enjoyed a steady downwind sail all the way to San Juanico, with only the first couple of hours under motor. The coastline of San Juanico gradually came into view, promising yet another beautiful anchorage to explore.
