Exfil

It's been awhile since I've posted.
Exfil is doing great and just received a refurbished feathering propeller!
The Maxwell Feathering prop enganges into forward and reverse while underway, but when sailing, preforms the miracle of near zero drag by feathering the propeller blades into the horizontal position, eliminating drag, as well as transmission turns, wear and tear!

Still for sale with Dennison Yachts, this Owner's Version Beneteau Oceanis 461 will definitely make the new owners happy for many years;

I hate to let her go, but my personal health says I must. If you are following, you already know the details on that.

Safely docked in Bohicket Marina SC, and looking really good, I vacated leaving not a fork or anything, but I itch to go stay, at my home for 3.5 years. I itch to go back to the islands!

I just KNOW she's ready for the open seas again, I am not.

I moved onto my Beneteau Oceanis 351 and took her sailing solo this weekend, only to realize that I am simply not able. Maybe I chose weather only Exfil could handle.

Getting old isn't for everyone. I'm not ready to get old. I slid down to the low side, to crank the winch on my 351 and my knees hurt, I got in my own way. I shouldn't have tried sailing while sitting, but there I was.

The motoring of Exfil from the yard with the new prop was less than exciting. I actually believe I loaded up the engine with carbon buildup, while delivering to the repair yard, trying to get there with the bad prop at only 1.1 knots! I know I did.

She brings on the RPM's without load, but in gear simply needs to burn off the old carbon.

A great engine, low hours of 4000 on a 10,000 hour engine before a rebuild, I know it's a carbon buildup.

Everything else was fine! Electronics, chartplotter, AIS, etc. If it were not for time constraints, and lack of provisions, I seriously wanted to sail up to Charleston for a few nights. Anchor in the bay a few nights, and return.

She is ready for taking me anywhere in this world, if only I were able.

My friends in the islands are still in touch on Whatsapp. One is building his home. Another in the Bahamas just visited Eluthra Island, and surrounding area. My friend in Panama is wondering just which flag he should fly, with the turmoil there, so Canadian is his decision. Friends traveling in Mexico and Dry Tortuga's.

I was recently asked where I would prefer to return to. After thought, I realized I want to go where I've NEVER been before, because I enjoy the exploring! (Except for the Spanish forts as they are all about the same in architecture)

Wish me luck on the sale of Exfil, because at this age, my next adventure just may be a cross country RV! (Less ropes to pull!)

Simpler Times has its own page now, and upon sale, the Exfil page would be deleted, in the case the new owners would like to start their own Exfil page, looking for their own followers and friends.

Amazing how Exfil on Facebook picked up followers internationally! I don't want to loose those friends. St Martin friends especially. I guess I can friend request by my name. I'm not sure.

If you've been following, and dreaming about doing what I've done solo with Exfil, my advise is to take that leap. You can ALWAYS come home injured, broke or whatever, but you will ALWAYS have the experience. Like a college degree- it cannot be taken from you! YOLO!

Still loving life, and still having fun!

Captain Lord McQueen Smith
Exfil
Hailing St John's Island
South Carolina
Entered all 3 points of the Caribbean triangle!
Sailed 13,000 NM solo (basically)
Legally entered 21 Countries. By vessel
Sailed the Caribbean the WRONG way, Florida is Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Dominican Republic (south side) through the Monas Passage to San Juan PR, St Thomas, Stt Johns. BVI"s, St Croix, then down through the rest of the islands to Trinidad (woke up 18nm.from Venezuela) then norh through the islands, to the Turcs and Caicos, then Florida

Before that SC to Key West, back to SC, the ICW through NC, and Pamlici sound, to Annapolis to Delaware to the ocean to NYC then Bermuda and back to the Bahamas, to Marathon key, to Tampa Bay, and back to Key West.

I was asked were I wanted to teturn- my answer- none, I want to continue exploring where I haven't yet been.
To me- that is the freedom to sail. Anywhere in this world.

From my archives- Dec 2022

Extra fuel EVERYWHERE!

MAC SMITH VIA SATPHONE

So, I had 6 Jerry jugs of diesel, with the 50 gallons built in, for a total of 80 gallons, which at half gallon per hour, at 4 knots, is 160 hours x 4, or 640 NM of diesel.

I'm headed to Grand Cayman island, then on to Jamaica. The course is all upwind. I motorsail on port, and then sail on starboard without the engine.

One jug was leaking on the low side. Like a dribble. 4-6' waves and close hauled motor sailing, I wanted to wait until the problem was on the high side, where I thought I could fix it easier, and I had a tack coming soon, when I could kill the engine. This was a bad idea I learned.

Following that tack, I felt rain, and thought, this will help wash away the diesel spills.

My eyes were burning, I was slipping around, and my face was burning. That ain't rain my friends!

Close hauled, into the waves and wind, each pint gushed out of that jug would become airborne, like an aerosol spray, in the 15+ winds!

Diesel was raining on me, the boat, the dodger, Bimini and helm! The floor was slick as ice, as was everything I grabbed for safety, to hang on!

Sailing at 7-8 knots close hauled, she is pounding and bouncing, at the same time.

Armed with my life jacket, safety lanyard, and a knife, I headed out, to close the diesel can, but the top was removed, probably by the jib sheets. I realized my hands had NO friction on the stainless or any other handholds. My feet were not mine! I cut the line and threw that leaking fuel jug into the ocean.

Still 2 jugs needing securing, but the boat is really pounding. I have truly hurt my shoulder again, and I walked away from that makeshift knot, for now.

I go to the head near the companionway hatch, rinse PFD, me, and leave my shoes. Walked to the head in my room, and began to shower, using shampoo, as I know conditioner is a base, and this fuel is going to start burning my skin.

The shower water was the color of diluted diesel. Two showers, and my left nut, and my chin still are burning. Nope, no idea why.

Put on another swim suit and different shoes, head back up. Diesel is truly everywhere, that could be hit, it sprayed from the starboard high side. I lost about 3 gallons before I threw it over.

Contamination, and cross contamination, has diesel everywhere top side, steps down, and elsewhere I don't yet know.

5 hours of this crap, and I was only 12 miles from where I started, so I returned to Guanaja Honduras to clean this up. A failed attempt today, as I live to try again tomorrow!

The alternative was keeping on, hope for calm and clean then, but I was exhausted and hurting!

I'm Thinking- Selling this boat! What am I even doing out here? It's cooler in SC too!

So, thanks for my venting here. I don't think they are charges for emailing me at this address, but then I don't yet know how to use it, or how to check these emails.

Mac, off the high seas for a bit

END of article in December 2022 between Honduras and Grand Caymans on Exfil.

I don't think this story ever posted. I was using a Iridium Go, which is very unreliable AND I didn't know how to use it. This is where my shoulder injury ultimately went to surgery! I found this on my computer, and I thought it's worth the read. Boat was heeling around 25°, and bouncing, as I was beating in those big waves, and close hauled. I ALMOST was lost at sea that time! This was my most dangerous moment over 3.5 years at sea. Reviewed 10/2024 Mac

46 Beneteau Exfil 1998 Charleston | Denison Yacht Sales Exfil Yacht for Sale is a 46 superyacht built by Beneteau in 1998. Currently she is located in Charleston and awaiting her new owners.

Pettit Vivid bottom paint after 3.5 years, 13,000 NM at sea! Being pressure washed.

https://youtu.be/d4GtIFELMqI?si=U75CAhzGylg_s1i6