Alone on the blue Atlantic vast…
Logbook of Tinkerbelle – Part 11
Monday, Aug. 9
I sailed until about midnight last night, then hove to with sea anchor for some sleep. Early this morning the wind was directly out of the east, but now it appears to be shifting south, thank goodness. I must get going.
The wind stayed near easterly (just a bit toward south) so I couldn’t stay on direct course of 085ºT. The best I could do was about 057ºT.
I was going steadily more to the north than the direct course would have taken me so about 11 a.m. I went onto the port tack to regain my southern position.
Not long afterward I saw a fishing trawler approaching. There was a man with a familiar face aboard. It turned out to be Bill Jorgensen, who had a cameraman with him. They spent about three and a half hours interviewing me and taking movies and stills. The English crew from Penzance was very nice. Gave me some very good coffee and apples and a tide table.
Just after we pulled apart two RAF planes and a third non-military plane arrived and spent about an hour flying over me and circling about.
Finally one of the RAF planes dropped two canisters. They contained a note that Virginia and the kids are in Falmouth waiting for me. Wow! What a wonderful surprise. Tinkerbelle did get them to England after all. I knew she’d do it one way or another. I can’t wait to see V., R. and D. Hope the wind is favorable and the weather good.
I also learned that Russ Kane, George Barmann and Bill Ashbolt are over here. Kane gave me a sweatshirt and cap emblazoned with “PD” and “Plain Dealer” to wear, but I’m not going to. I refuse to turn my voyage into a cheap PD promotion. It was nice of the PD to bring the family over, but that doesn’t entitle them to convert me into a PD billboard.
Even before the planes left the wind died down to a whisper. But when it sprang up again it was from the south. We went bowling along right on course. We kept at it until about 3 a.m. when we hove to for sleep.
Tuesday, Aug. 10
Awoke at 7 a.m. GMT. Now must get going again.
Noon sight put me at N50º19′, which shows us in the grip of another current.
Struggled all day and night to get back down below N50º.
Polaris sight during night put us even farther north, at N50º25′, but I think it may be wrong. I hope so. Wish we could get in sooner.
Wednesday, Aug. 11
Cloudy again this morning. Wish I knew where we were, exactly. We’ll just have to do the best we can.
I was going to continue all night, but while adjusting the mainsail, the halyard broke loose and the fitting went up to the top of the mast. I couldn’t retrieve it in the dark so I hove to with sea anchor for the night. I got it back in the morning.
Incidentally, I discovered the Rennell’s Current was pushing me rapidly toward Ireland. The southeast wind prevented taking a course to counteract it.
Thursday, Aug. 12
(passed 10ºW)
Spent most of the day on port tack heading about 215º. In the evening a wonderful southwest wind came up and I continued all night on course 150º magnetic fighting the Rennell Current. Passed through a fleet of fishing trawlers. Now I must find out where I am.
Friday, Aug. 13 to Sunday, Aug. 15
Hope this isn’t an unlucky Friday the 13th.
Finally got out of the grip of the Rennell current and by sailing all Saturday night, got to about N49V40′ and W7º. Not too far to go now.
Got too far south, though, and missed Bishop Rock. I’m now headed for the Lizard Hood. It’s about 50 miles away so it’ll be late tomorrow before I get there.
Manry’s written log ends at this point, his voyage having been swept up in the wild rush of completion, as other people and external factors increasingly preoccupied his time…
— editor
The log ends with the following summary:
Voyage lasted 78 days. Saw one or more ships on 33 of those days. 45 days with no sightings. Saw about 60 ships altogether.
Spoke to:
Major J. Casey
Tench (stopped)
Columbia (stopped)
Exilona (stopped)
Steel Vendor (stopped)
Bischofstor
Vardal
Belgulf Glory (stopped)
Jorgensen trawler [Roseland]
H.M.S. Brereton
P.D. trawler
Looked me over:
Otto N. Miller
Shov Neptun
Sirio
9 days (June 21-30) longest period without seeing ship. Becalmed 13 times. Forced to ride to sea anchor 13 times.
