Sailing STV Tuna to Marblehead and back "There and back again"

Those who have arrived at any very eminent degree of excellence in the practice of an art or profession have commonly been actuated by a species of enthusiasm in their pursuit of it. They have kept one object in view amidst all the vicissitudes of time and torture”. Enthusiasm would seem to be an essential element of any challenge.

Never has this truth been more valid than this year’s Marblehead to Halifax Ocean Race. The Navy’s sail training Vessel Tuna provided the platform and therefore the opportunity for a selected crew to sail to Marblehead (Boston) and back to Halifax. Like any great endeavour, a large amount of preparation and attention to detail was required to have the vessel ready for the sail. This included a surprise in the form of a complete engine flush. Two days prior to her departure, the engine coolant bearing failed allowing sea water into the engine block which could have been a serious catastrophe if discovered at sea. However, Paul Tonen and his crew of mechanics from FMFCS quickly rushed in and worked relentlessly to restore the engine in a efficient manner. Paul ensured that we were ready to go and on time. A complete ISAF safety inspection was conducted to guarantee that the vessel was compliant with the Ocean race safety standards. The boat was stored with food, fuel and water and a selection of sails was packed for the delivery phase with the remaining race sails scheduled to be transported during the road move. All onboard electronics were flashed up and run to insure they operated and an Iridium Satellite phone was acquired to provide a communication link with METOC for weather updates.

The acquisition of crew seemed to be problematic this year until eight volunteers stepped forward from HMCS HALIFAX to participate in the delivery of the boat and to crew in the race. Most of these individuals had never sailed before, let alone contemplated the adventure of sailing 800 nautical miles in an offshore race. The crew were as diverse as the conditions experienced at sea with each contributing to the Tuna’s mission with selfless dedication. Two days of intense sail training were conducted in some very arduous conditions. The crew practiced steering, sail changes, reefing and man overboard drills. Henry Raffel who would skipper the race, had a chance to work directly with the crew. Eric Hill our ISAF Sea Survival instructor, volunteered to assist in crew training providing individual coaching on intelligent seamanship. Great attention to detail and team work were encouraged and practiced. The whole mission was in jeopardy when a 1st mate could not be identified. Fortunately Max Shaw stepped up and volunteered. He arrived just in the nick of time after traveling 18 hours on a packed bus through Mexico with his children and pregnant wife. He was able to eventually get on an airplane to Halifax and showed up as we were due to leave. Max exemplifies the Tuna ethos with dedication and unwavering commitment to the success of the mission.

The delivery commenced with our departure on Canada day. It was a rough passage to Shelburne with high seas, wind on the nose and torrential rain. We were forced to motor for 20 hours, arriving in Shelburne the next morning. Suffice it to say, the crew suffered through the ordeal and cheerfully enjoyed their brief respite ashore while we fueled and concerned ourselves with tide and current calculations for the crossing of the Gulf of Main. After a quick lunch we set off to sea in the direction of Brazil Rock. This would be our last piece of Canadian terra firma. It also was a location of great concern due to the current and tide rips present. With seas abated and the full advantage of taking a lift from the currents, we relentlessly headed in the general direction of Marblehead. The next morning we found some favourable wind and we could enjoy the simplicity of sailing. We were able to sail for the majority of our transit and were consequently rewarded with a fireworks display on the evening of the 4th. While still some 20 miles out we were able to see the fireworks displayed in celebration of US independence. That evening around 0200hrs we sailed into land which was ludicrously peppered with lobster pots using the Salem Navigation range. We finally picked up the Marblehead entrance buoys. As we made our way through the mooring field, the engine decided to die three times as a last test to our nerves and helmsmanship. The anchor was readied but never used and we came safely alongside tying up on the Boston Yacht Club’s jetty to await customs and direction to our mooring.

The crew change out went smoothly with the arrival of the road party. Gear was cross loaded from the boat to the van. All vital information such as the engine’s problems, and the loss of a radar reflector, as well as the intermittent cutting out of the radar were passed on to the race skipper. The delivery crew then chose to stay in a hotel on their own dime for two days to recover from their sleep deprivation in preparation for the road move home. Race crew training commenced with flying the spinnaker. Henry took command of the race and mentored and drilled our two watch keepers who were getting ready to challenge their skipper certification. Ultimately, on Sunday around 1410hrs the gun went off and we were racing home to Halifax. We had an outstanding start with spinnaker flying and rounded the first marks with an imposing lead. As time went on and we began to beat to windward we started to lose some ground. The alternator bracket broke which denied us the ability to charge our batteries. This ultimately would take away all our main electronics and navigational equipment. Fortunately, we were able to jury rig it with nuts bolts and vice grips enough to get us home to Halifax. Eventually, we arrived in the vicinity of Brazil Rock again and fortuitously at the optimal moment of tide and current flow. We were in thick fog, without a radar or reflector, in the middle of a race fleet and several fishing vessels coming close to land, when we lost the wind. After a quick Chinese Parliament it was decided it would be in our best interest to retire from the race. Rather than bob around adrift and at best in a precarious position we started the engine and safely headed for home.

 The entrance to Halifax was made tricky by the thick fog and several war ships and commercial vessels entering and leaving. We navigated well to the west of the shipping lanes using the AIS which proved to be absolutely essential. We were cleared by customs and headed directly to Shearwater Yacht club. The road party mustered and conducted most of the de storing and cleaning the boat, allowing the now tired race crew the chance to secure.
Overall, this year’s Marblehead to Halifax Ocean race was indeed a challenge, and perhaps not in the way we perceived it might be. The Tuna program provided a variety of individuals with a natural state of dissonance requiring adaptive coping. Our shared problems filled us with confidence, taught us tenacity, and perseverance. There was a certain amount of improvisation and a definite need to overcome adversity. We were ultimately successful as a team in being able to operate safely in diminished conditions far from normal support. Equipment problems have been identified and consequently rectified. STV Tuna will be ready for her next mission. After setting precedence as the first all ship’s company crew HMCS HALIFAX is ready to pass the baton to our fellow sailors and we strongly encourage other ships in the fleet to participate in the Tuna Sailing program