Monthly Archives: January 2016

AROUND ALONE DAYS 64,65,66

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Total miles sailed so far=8748 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-day=421 NM.
Miles left to go to Cape of Good Hope=1160 NM.
Top speed so far: 12.2kts

Day-64.
24hr Run=131NM.
Position:Latitude 49817’S. Longitude 16*42’W.
Weather: Wind=12-15kts SSW.
Seas: SSW 6-8ft
Cabin Temp=42*-48*.
Bar=1002 mb

We are sailing in lighter airs now so I let more of the Genoa out on the furler only to discover another small tear. I immediately role it back in and decide that now I must wait for a good opportunity to pull the sail off the furler once again for repairs.

I’m awakened to the sound of the main boom bouncing against its restraints, as the winds have died down. Its 1 am and already light outside,I climb out of my berth and heat up some left over coffee as the time has come to repair once again the Genoa.
I stagger about the cabin getting the necessary materials to gather to make the repair. I drink the coffee looking for that little burst of energy that comes from the caffeine and the thawing out of my fingers that are warmed by clinging to the hot cup in my hands.
Once up on deck I get the sail rolled all the way out, I go forward and release the halyard dropping the sail down as I struggle to tug it aboard keeping it out of the ocean.

Once the sail is on deck, I take black marking pen and circle the tear and inspect the sail for other tears, finding three more. I go below and cut out the 8-patches needed to make the 4-repairs. Once again I find myself tethered in, on the fore deck and I set about gluing the patches into place on both sides with silicone sealant. During this process I discover two more tears, so more patches, and more silicone.
A squall comes along and I’m pummeled by hail as I struggle to complete sewing the patches into place, normally a not so difficult job, but here in a hostile environment it becomes much more challenging
.
By 6am the sail now has 6 new patches, looking now more like a quilt, that I once seen my grandmother making, than a sail. I pull the sail back up in the aluminum track and fly it full out. it appears to me that I have little choice but to either fly it all the way out or roll it all the way up in anything over 15kts, and rely on the rest of the sails to move us along in the heavier air.

Day-65.
24hr Run=138nm
Position:Latitude 48*29’S, Longitude 13*56’W.
Weather: Wind 5-15kts WSW.
Seas: 6-8ft. SW.
Cabin Temp=42*-48*.
Bar: 1012mb

I was out in the cockpit scanning the horizon, when I saw a whale blow off the starboard beam. The whale was some distance off and I never did see it, but the geyser it put up was amazing.
The winds seem to be going lighter now and we are having frequent isolated squalls with snow and hail in them.

I guess I should mention that the Seattle Seahawks had a great game against the Arizona Cardinals, and I think at one point in the game I could even here Debbie cheering clear down here. I think the score was 36-6.

One thing I notice down here is wrapping your fingers around a hot cup of coffee means almost as much as drinking it, and I know I like my “Tequila bottle” full of hot water, more than any of the ones I have with Tequila in them.

Day-66.
24hr Run 161NM.
Position: Latitude 48*07’S Longitude 10*48’W.
Wind: 12-30 kts West
Seas:6-12 ft.
Cabin Temp: 42*-47*
Bar: 101mb

I watch in amazement at the birds, that continually soar around the boat, and I can’t help but think about how getting older and things like arthritis can have such an effect on human beings, and then imagine the effects on a bird that needs to be constantly flying to survive.

I’m not sure what all can go wrong on the Sailors Run on a voyage of this duration but I’m pretty sure we are in record territory as the “refrigeration” has just gone “tits up”.
The good thing there is no meat in the freezer and the whole boat is just about at refrigeration temperature near 42* most of the time anyhow.
That ice machine that I was regretting dragging along might come in handy, when I hit warmer temperatures.

There are some gale force winds coming my way and will be with us for several days so I’m checking the old Sailors Run over, getting her ready for the wild ride that is on its way.
These winds are predicted to be 35kts with higher gusts,the good thing is they will be West or NW winds and hopefully warmer than the southerly’s we have been having

“Battening down the hatches” the Jefe’

AROUND THE WORLD DAYS 61,62,63

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Total Miles sailed so far=8327 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=454 NM.
Miles left to go to Cape of Good Hope=1496 NM.
Top Speed so far=12.2kts.

Day-61
24hr.Run=132 NM.
Position Latitude 49*01S. Longitude 26*57′.
Weather: Wind=12-40kts SSW.
Seas=SW. 8-12ft.
Cabin Temp=44*-46*.
Bar=997mb

Today the sun is out and the winds have moderated. It never ceases to amaze me, when I go out on deck and watch all the birds demonstrating their flying skills. Sometimes as many as 20+birds and usually three to five different varieties.

Today while washing dishes I happened to glance out the window and seen two birds floating up over a wave, and was surprised when they took off underwater as they were actually “penguins”. I guess they forage for food this far north from Antarctica or have an ice berg parked just over the horizon.

I try fishing again but must pull the line in as all the birds are attacking the rubber squid, and actually tearing the thing apart, and not even getting hooked

Overnight the winds go back up to gale force 35-40kts and I reduce sail to just the staysail and reefed main, and with that, it still feels like a bit too much sail.

Day-62 NEW YEARS EVE
24hr.Run=132 NM.
Position: Latitude 48*41’S Longitude 23*46’W.
Weather: Wind=12-25 kts.S
Seas: 6-8ft SW.
Cabin Temp=41-46*
Bar=1000 mb

The day starts out nice, sailing along in 25 kts

I have decided to stay home this year and avoid all the cops on the highway.
The really cool thing about sailing the Southern Ocean is you can get sloshed every day without drinking anything, not to mention staggering when you walk and things are always getting spilled, and it’s all free and just part of the experience.

I will be making some kind of Tuna fish spaghetti, with garlic, tomato sauce, onions, and Italian seasoning. I hope it turns out ok.

Overnight the winds crank up to Gale force once again. I prop myself up on one elbow so I can see the A.I.S. first to be sure there are no targets [ships],and then the speed which was 7-9 kts and the course which was about 40-degrees off from what I wanted but even with a jibe I would still be twenty degrees off, and the winds were forecast to shift favorably before too long, so I just curled back up with my “Hot Tequila” bottle and drifted off to sleep, awaking an hour later to see we were back on course.
I awoke to a very cool cabin at 41 degrees and was a little shocked when I looked top sides and found about one inch of slushy snow.
Now it’s summer down here with 19hrs of day light, and that makes me hope I get out of here before it becomes winter.
Oh well, I had a White Christmas thanks to the Ice berg and now a white New Year’s day with snow.

Day-63 HAPPY NEW YEAR
24hr.Run=161 NM.
Position: Latitude 48*37’S. Longitude 19*51’W.
Weather: Wind SSW.12-25kts.
Seas: 6-8ft.
Cabin Temp: 42*-46*
Bar: 1004mb

I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and hope many good things come your way in the New Year ahead.
Today looks like a good sailing day and it should put us beyond the half way point of crossing the Atlantic.
I fell about 4-days behind schedule in the Pacific due to adverse weather.
My hopes of making the Cape of Good Hope by the 7th are out the window and now it looks more like the 12th at the earliest.
When nature is your motor you just have to make the most of what you receive for power.

There is another low that appears will form directly ahead of me, although it is not intense, they are always like opening Pandora’s box full of unpredictability that “jumps” out at you.

Sailors Run “bumping along” on one “cold ass” ride, the Jefe’.

PICTURES OF NEW YEARS PARTY YR 2011 GRENADA ISLAND/S.E CARIBBEAN AT CLARKS COURT BAY MARINA

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CARIBBEAN  YEAR 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CARIBBEAN YEAR 2011

NEW YRS EVE PARTY AT CLARK'S COURT  MARINA 2011          DANCING OUR LEGS OFF TO GREAT OLDIES MUSIC

NEW YRS EVE PARTY AT CLARK’S COURT
MARINA 2011
DANCING OUR LEGS OFF TO GREAT OLDIES MUSIC

JEFF WITH LANI FR SV ASTOR,HAVING A GREAT TIME

JEFF WITH LANI FR SV ASTOR,HAVING A GREAT TIME

SUPER FRIENDS RICHARD AND WIFE LANI FR SV ASTOR ,NEW YRS EVE PARTY 2011

SUPER FRIENDS RICHARD AND WIFE LANI FR SV ASTOR ,NEW YRS EVE PARTY 2011

CLARK'S COURT BAY MARINA WHERE WE WERE ANCHORED AT YR 2011/GRENADA/CARIBBEAN

CLARK’S COURT BAY MARINA WHERE WE WERE ANCHORED AT YR 2011/GRENADA/CARIBBEAN