GTFOplan #92: The Bermuda Triangle or Just a Really Rough Passage?

IN THIS VIDEO: We had waited for days, watching the weather forecasts closely, hoping for the perfect window to leave for Bermuda. But when it finally came, we got hit with the roughest passage we had ever encountered. The two women on board were violently seasick for nearly two full days, while the crew battled a series of dangerous situations that pushed us to the brink. The most perilous moment came when the Dyneema loop snapped, sending our Code Zero flying into chaos. The 20-pound electric furler, swinging wildly in 15-20 knots of wind, careened through the air, smashing our upper helm Garmin screen to pieces. It was a near miss-Ann's head was just inches away from the deadly furler. She screamed in panic, and Brian, roused from his sickbed, sprang into action. Dennis, unable to manage the sail in the high winds, was joined by Brian who, channeling a "Braveheart" moment, helped Ann take control. Ann, in a surge of determination, yelled, "STRENGTH!" and together, the men managed to secure the tack of the sail, preventing the furler from swinging uncontrollably. With the sail stowed safely in a forward locker, we made our way back to the shelter of the salon, where Ann promptly succumbed to the seasickness once the immediate danger had passed. The next day, as if the storm had been a prelude to more trouble, we attempted to raise the Code Zero again-without securing it with tape every meter, despite Captain Ann's firm reservations. Predictably, the sail wrapped around the forward stay, creating yet another nightmare. After much struggle and hard work, we finally managed to wrestle it down and shove it into another locker. Lesson learned: Never, ever try this again! After a grueling five day passage, we finally sighted Bermuda, just as the sun dipped below the horizon. Customs was a breeze, and the relief of stepping off the boat was palpable. We ended the evening with a delicious dinner prepared by Chef Rose-her meals never fail to impress. To top it off, Paul lightened the mood with a Scottish tune, The Drunken Scotsman, while the crew savored a fine whiskey, courtesy of Brian. Despite everything that went wrong, we had made it. And in the end, that's what matters. We'd survived one of the wildest passages of our sailing careers. CURRENT LOCATION: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV-GTFO/ ABOUT OUR CATAMARAN: We love our new Balance 482 - it's a perfect size for a cruising couple to handle and is a great "balance" of performance and comfort. One of our favorite features is the excellent ventilation since we mostly live as "hookers" (aka at anchor) where the boat automatically turns into the wind so we stay cool and we don't need to battle mold. We also have starlink for easy off-grid life. Our 2400 watt solar panel array also means we rarely need to run an engine to charge our batteries. ABOUT US: We saved for a our future boat, sold everything that we owned, and shipped the rest in a container to Cape Town, South Africa. We then flew there and explored South Africa by way of a safari and touring Cape Town before moving aboard our boat. We then sailed to Saint Helena, Ascension Island, Fernando de Naronha (Brazil), Martinique, Sint Maarten (Dutch and French side), the US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas), the British Virgin Islands (Anegada, Norman Island, Jost van Dyke, and Anegada), The Bahamas (Inagua, Crooked Island, Long Island, George Town, Staniel Cay, the Exumas, and Eleuthera). We then sailed back to the United States, making landfall in Cape Canaveral, Florida. From there our destinations are endless! Both Dennis and Ann grew up military brats with Army fathers. Dennis (the Colonel) served 30 years in the US Army and his retirement pension helped us retire in our 50s. Ann (the ship's Captain) wrote Test Automation in Python and Java. Dennis and Ann met on Match.com where Ann had in her profile "Do you want to sail the world with me?" Ann easily brought Dennis into sailing, and he loved the GTFOplan of retiring early and sailing the world. After many years of saving, living on one income but earning two, and cutting back on everything possible, they saved enough to buy a Balance 482. Follow them as they get real about boat life and all the hassles of buying a new boat because we all know N.E.W. means Not Everything Works. Kisses, Ann & Dennis Twitter: @GTFOplan Facebook: https://facebook.com/anndennis.snellikin.3 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gtfoplan/ YouTube: www.youtube.com/c/gtfoplan Email: gtfoplan@gmail.com