Monthly Archives: September 2015

0 Making Final Preparations aboard Sailors Run for October 31st “Halloween Day Departure

It was a year and a half ago that I decided to go solo around the world nonstop, and at that time it somehow seemed so far away,now today it seems to be rapidly approaching.

I have been busy over the past month putting on new sails and many other parts to help insure a safe and successful passage. Chafe gear has been installed on both sets of spreaders as the back edges of them seem to be a little too sharp for the sails best interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many lines have been replaced or swapped end for end to extend their service life.

I have been running hard attempting to get in the best shape possible for the trip and I’m happy to report my times keep coming down on my measured runs.

I’m currently repainting the bright work and will re-oil the teak in the cockpit area. I have also re-familiarized myself with sea anchor tactics and means to deploy the18 ft parachute if need be. also the drogue was revisited and accessories for both made readily available. It will be interesting to see how big of a part they may or may not play in the grand scheme of things.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This next month October will be primarily spent on final provisioning and trying to stuff away 7-months supply of all necessary foods and “Drinks”, more on that later.

I know I have bitten off a huge challenge and look forward to living the adventure that will come out of it. I feel Sailors Run is a Great Baba 40 foot Ketch and in top condition for what might lie ahead. My health is good and I feel up for my battle with nature, to propel Sailors Run around the world unassisted (meaning no motoring or outside help)

I have a lot of knowledge in heavy weather sailing,therefore feel confident that we will prevail.

My route around the world measures out at just over 22,000 Nautical Miles via a rumb line course. To come up with this much distance I have had to add nearly 2,000 miles to my route, and did that by sailing SW after I cross up into the Northern Hemisphere and sailing past Easter Island on its western shore, and continuing in that direction until I get to Longitude 120* West and 35* South where I plan to take my first opportunity to turn SE and sail for the Horn and the other four Great southern Capes,- Good Hope,Africa-Lewellen, Australia,- West Cape ,Tasmania and finally East Cape, New Zealand.

Be sure and check out our blog site for photos of preparations at www.sailorsrun.com

Debbie will be taking care of that end and I can only say she will be greatly missed over this extended period of time.

Thanks, Your Amigos ,Jeff & Debbie of S/V Sailors Run

0 MY RETURN TO SAILORS RUN IN BAHIA CARAQUEZ,ECUADOR-9/2015

                         My Return to Sailors Run in Bahia Caraquez, Ecuador, 9/2015

  Debbie and I have just wrapped up a great 6-weeks together, visiting family and friends. Our tour started in New Mexico at our son Chris’s place for several weeks then; off to Colorado to visit friends, then it was on the bus to Grand Junction where we climbed aboard the Amtrak Train to San Francisco, to visit our son Daniel’s family and friends.

Debbie and I put on a slide while there at the Corinthian Yacht club at Tiburon. It seemed the show was well received and several of our long time cruising friends came by to see us,which was wonderful.

    Next we were off again to Washington state to visit friends and family,such as our daughter Ginger and sister Bonnie  and brother in law Jim live there.    I must admit there were many great friends that we never got to see, but you must know you are all in our hearts and minds often.

 

 

It was truly magic to return to Longbranch, Washington, and put on a slide show for our friends and neighbors there, it had been over 16 years ago that we left that quiet community, and I’m happy to report it is still just that a quiet community. This was put into the Newspaper and Newsletter

(COMING AUGUST 25TH “CAPE HORN “CAPE HORN “CAPE HORN-ONCE MORE AND BEYOND” ONCE MORE AND BEYOND” ONCE MORE AND BEYOND”

Former Longbranch residents, Jeff & Debbie Hartjoy, have quite a story to tell.

Since leaving Puget Sound in 1999 and ‘turning left’ at Cape Flattery, they have logged over 85,000 miles at sea aboard their Baba 40 sailboat, “Sailor’s Run”, and will be back in Longbranch on August 25th to share their adventures with old friends, neighbors, and guests, at the Longbranch Improvement Club.    Jeff will take listeners on a trip through the Southern oceans, including his solo transit from Ecuador to Argentina via Cape Horn. Jeff’s presentation will include photos of sunny beaches, local islanders, and occasional gatherings of fellow cruisers at some of their favorite spots from Baja, Central and South America, and the South Seas.

Of course, it’s not all fair winds, coconuts and palm trees out there on the blue water, so he will also recount his passage around notorious Cape Horn, dealing with 50-knot winds, blown sails, gear failures, and electrical fire, and a punishing knockdown off the Falklands.

But wait! There’s more! Jeff is now preparing for another solo rounding of Cape Horn. This time he will keep going east, as he attempts a nonstop circumnavigation via the Five Great Capes. His plan is to accomplish this feat in about 5 months, and he has vowed to not use his engine or accept outside assistance. He plans to leave Ecuador around Halloween, and with any luck, hopes to arrive back in Ecuador by his 70th birthday next April. This is not a ‘bucket list’ stunt, Jeff just plain loves sailing.

He will share his enthusiasm, determination, and sense of humor with all, who attend this special presentation, whether you are an Armchair Adventurer or an experienced sailor.

The program will be on August 25th, Tuesday evening, starting at 7:30 pm at the Longbranch Improvement Club Hall, 4312 Key Peninsula Highway, Longbranch WA.)

We were also able to get to the Bob Perry Rendezvous at Port Ludlow and visit with THE MAN who is a major part of our Baba Ketch-Sailors Run.

  Debbie and I took off in two different directions from Tacoma, Washington, she to Oregon to visit our daughter Heather and grandson and me flying back to Ecuador.

 

  I was so loaded down with two new sails and lots of parts for the boat, not to mention warm clothing for the upcoming circumnavigation, and I could only hope the plane would get off the ground. I was very anxious about coming into Ecuador with all this stuff, as I had heard many horror stories about customs in Ecuador. Well as it turned out I was welcomed right in with absolutely no problems, I just wish I knew better, ” when to worry”

  Arriving back at Puerto Amistad marina at 4am worked out well as the security guards were happy to see me and helped lug my two sails and three bags down to the patrol boat, and soon I was back aboard the “Old Sailors Run”. I was happy to find the door still locked and secure, everything was still there as I breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed into my birth.

  It was 10am when I finally rolled out of the “sack” and had a look top sides in the daylight. Yes all things were in order and everything was coated with a secure layer of dust.

  Now I’m busy readying Sailors Run to put to sea once again, there is much to do over the next two months, and I eagerly dive into this project, so I can finish up the obvious, getting the new sails on, replacing the whisker stay fitting that I had discovered was cracked. Of course the bright work must be repainted and the teak in the cockpit all oiled. I brought back a new control cable for the auto pilot, and my boom break must be reinstalled on the main boom.
  A really big ticket item will be the provisioning for 5-7 months, our friend John in Colorado came up with the great idea of pickling a bunch of eggs to extend there life, and maybe mine. I will be more than happy to hear from anyone on this subject of provisioning for extended voyages. Just realize that I’m in Ecuador and there are no Costco’s here, so we have to work with some pretty basic foods, but I’m hoping to make them tasty.

  I just want to thank my Great Wife “Debbie”, for supporting me in “living the dream”. I know I will be alone on the sea, but she will always be traveling with me in my mind and heart, not to mention encouraging me anyway she can from afar.

  Check out Blog for photos at www.sailorsrun.com.
                                                                                               Thanks, Your Amigos Jeff & Debbie