Monthly Archives: November 2015

0 AROUND ALONE-DAYS 25,26,27

Day-25
24hr.Run=49NM.
Position-36*48’S. Longitude-120*04’W.
Weather-Wind ESE. Seas a swell coming in from the SW at 8ft.
Bar=1024mb
Cabin Temp=71*-77*. Creeping slowly to the South trying to elude the high that is upon us.

Day-26
24hr. Run=123 NM.
Pos. Latitude-38*41;W. Longitude-129*04’W.
Weather-Wind West 8-20kts.
Bar=1016mb
Seas-SW 8ft. Today was cloudy in the am with sun throughout the afternoon.

Day -27
24hr. Run=117 NM.
Pos. Latitude-40*16’S. Longitude- 118*38’W.
Weather- Wind=8-25 kts.
Bar=1006mb
Seas-8-10ft.

Total miles sailed so far=3640 NM.

Total distance sailed last 3-days=289 NM.

Distance left to go to the Horn=2210NM.

Top speed so far=9.9kts.

The rest of the story:

Day-25
Barometer is on the way down and that is a good thing as the high is moving out and the wind will be coming in.

I was watching over the stern, gazing down into the clear Blue Ocean and I seen several fish following the boat one appeared about two feet long and had black and gray stripes running around his body. The other fish was brown and looked like a 10″ trout. I also noticed some Blue Bottle Jelly fish, they are unusual as they stay on the surface and have a sail they hoist when wanting to move around. They are about 5-inches long and the sail sticks up about 3-4″.
I pulled one out with a net once and was surprised to see a single very long tentacle hanging down that I was told hurts like “Hell” if you are stung by it.

Day-26
I have been creeping along the 120* longitude for 3-days now and it is refreshing to see the winds start to fill back in. I’m sure if I had any hair, I would have surely pulled it all out by now.

I have a solar panel issue that I’m mulling over. The panels are doing great keeping the batteries up but two of them are hanging out on my one inch stainless steel rails, and are 2ft.X4feet presenting not only a large area to the sun but the seas as well. I had planned to pull them off when the seas got up, but now that the wind generator seems out, I’m thinking maybe leave one on and just put the one below. The panels are fused so if they were destroyed the fuse should blow.

My last trip down this way there were many sunny days even when a gale was blowing. This year is an El Nino year so not sure what to expect. The only difference so far is that the South Pacific High has gotten further south sooner this year so it seems to me.

Day-27
I want to wish all of you a belated “Happy Thanksgiving” if you know what I mean “Pilgrims”. My dinner was chicken fried in a sesame batter with boiled potatoes and a can of green beans, and that will be the first can I have opened so far on this voyage, if you don’t count the Budweiser that was desert.

Today we are nicely corkscrewing our way along, with the wind coming from astern and freshening. I have reefed the staysail and hoisted it back up giving me options in heavy weather, where I can roll the Genoa almost all the way in and be powered up nicely.

Had a big squall come through about 3am blowing about 35 kts, and had to put two reefs in the main and the Mizzen is down and covered on the boom. It makes it tough to sail fast all the time when the wind velocity changes so drastically,and often like it is now.

Doing the “Turkey Trot” along the way to the “Horn” the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-22,23,24

Day-22
24hr.Run=142 NM.

Position-Latitude-34*51’S. Longitude-119*28’W.

Weather-Wind=8-14kts.

Seas=2-4ft.

Cabin Temp.65*-73*. Stratus clouds with some sun breaks.

Bar=1028mb

Day-23
24hr.Run=56 NM.

Position-Latitude 35*1’S. Long.120*11;W.

Weather-Wind 0-10 kts.

Seas=1-2ft.

Cabin temp=67*-73*. The high is on top of us and progress very-very slow.Today was sunny and perfect weather for lounging in the cockpit.

Bar=1028mb.

Day-24
24hr.Run=35NM.

Position- Latitude-36*06’S Long.120*05W.

Weather-Wind ESE at 0-7 kts.

Seas=1ft.Cabin Temp=69*-77* Sunny and warm just no wind.

Bar=1028mb

Total miles sailed so far=3351 nm.

Miles sailed last three days=230NM.

Distance to go to Cape Horn=2456 NM.

Top boat speed so far=9.9kts

The rest of the story.

Day-22

Took some time and looked for things that might needed my attention:
Found a steering line on Monitor wind vane that was ready to let go so just retied a new knot on end of line as I had extra line to work with.
Changed the way my jack lines are ran on deck, took one wrap of line off boom brake so it can be moved a little easier,
Found a couple of real small tears in genoa up where it rolls on to the furler by the feed in devise to the furler tracks, so applied patches there.

Trying to devise schedule as to when I might arrive off the Capes assuming things continue about the same.
Cape Horn- December-12th

Cape of Good Hope January-7th.2016

Cape Llewellyn, Australia February-5th.2016

The 180* Dateline east of New Zealand, February-22nd.2016

Arrival 400 NM west of Chile on the Latitude 48*S where I will be making the turn North to Bahia Caraquez, Ecuador
Arriving April-5th 2016.

You must remember my goal is to do all of this in 150-days so will be hoping to shave 6-days off this final arrival date at the finish line, this will be a real stretch for the Old Sailors Run and crew.

Had a hit on the fishing line when I was winding it in by hand, almost breaking my hand when it was slammed into the stainless steel stern pulpit. I often wondered what that would be like. “Hurts like hell”. At least there are fish and although he did not stay hooked up there is always manyana.

Day-23

Day started very pleasant although wind was down to 10-kts. or less,but sunny and felt warm so spent time out in the cockpit. It was about 1-pm and we hooked a beautiful 15lb.Big Eye Tuna.I got him aboard ok with the gaff in him, but by the time he was finished the cockpit looked like a scene from the
“Chain Saw Massacre”.
I love this variety of tuna as it is much like the yellow fin tuna. When it was all filleted out there were 14-dinners that went in the freezer, extending my meat supply out another two weeks. There is something truly amazing about farming from the sea.

This day is also special as we have arrived at our turning point for the “Horn”. Now all we need is this high to move off of us and we will get headed that way.

Day-24

Absolutely no wind at the start of this day and very trying to sail without wind, seems like lots of work for very little gain.
It won’t be to long and we will be crashing along at good speed with lots of wind. We are headed for the 45*S. to get the wind, that is blowing 45 kts gusting to 60kts with 8-meter seas. We will try to stay on the edge of all that

With glassy seas,and no wind I felt compelled to pull the coupler apart and secure the nut better on the prop shaft. Once I had separated the two halves and slid the shaft back, there was no way to loosen the nut without the socket that fits it. I was here and wanted to be sure this nut would not vibrate off if I needed so mixed up a big glob of Marine-Tex epoxy and filled the coupler with it. I’m pretty sure that nut is not coming off now or possibly “ever”, as a matter of fact I probably don’t even need the 4-bolts that hold the coupler together at this point.”Fixed”

Sometimes the solution is right in front of your face! As it turned out in the case of the Hot water bottles left behind. Since all single handers are hard pressed to overcome adversity, we tend to over accessorize, and there inlay the solution to the cool berth at night problem.

See I figured if I took “Little Penelope” the inflatable doll and filled her with salt water, well the tiny little thing couldn’t weigh over 110 Lbs full. Now,to make things perfect, Debbie and I always carried a “body bag” on board so as no crew would ever be left behind.
I figure slip little Penelope in that black body bag, then lay her out in the sun for 4 -5 hrs maybe with a little wind break, and come bed time she will be one “Hot Little Mama”.

Feeling sleepy and heading to bed, the Jeffe’

Ahhh feels great and fits nicely

Another new bean bag debbie made especially for this trip

Using my pressure cooker for great fast meals

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-19,20,21

Day-19
24hr.Run: 159 NM.

Position: Latitude-30*00’S. Longitude-114*04’W.

Weather: Wind 15-25kts.SE.

Seas:6-8ft.

Cabin Temp: 69*-73*. Today cloudy with rain and squalls.
Bar: 1020 mb

Day-20
24hr.Run:151 NM

Position: Latitude: 32*oo’S. Longitude: 115*47’W.

Weather: Wind 8-15 kts.

Seas: 3-5ft. cabin temp=68*-73*. Today squalls in the early am then clearing off with sunny skies and diminishing winds.
Bar:1022mb

Day-21
24hr.Run=125NM.

Position: Latitude: 33*01’S. Longitude-117*50’W.

Weather: Wind 8-13 kts SSE.

Seas:2-4ft. Cabin Temp=69*-73*. Today mostly cloudy skies as we attempt to sail through the high pressure.
Bar:1026mb

Total Miles sailed so far=3107 NM

Total miles last 3-days=435 NM

Distance left to go to Turning point for the Horn=168NM

Top speed so far= 9.9kts.

The rest of the story.

Day-19
Today I noticed a red light flashing on my Spot Locator [tracking device], I assumed it meant we were out of satellite contact range ,as I heard that can happen where we are. Later I noticed it was shut down altogether and decided to read the manual. Hmmmm!! The batteries that were to last up to 6-months were “Dead”. They were lithium batteries and had lasted 18-days, so now we do the test with Kirkland alkaline batteries and see what results we have

With the SPOT Gen3 Satellite GPS Messenger, you can reach emergency responders, check-in with family or friends, share GPS coordinates and track your adventures, all at the push of a button.

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Today I’m fishing again with the cedar plug lure. I have not seen any flying fish or squid for several days now.

Have you ever headed on a long trip and a hundred miles down the road realized you forgot something very important? Well guess what I forgot to get, two hot water bottles. I had looked for them in Mexico and never found them, and they never made my preparations list. So once again it is time to improvise, as those cold ass nights in the southern ocean can be tempered a little with some kind of berth warmer. I’m thinking a plastic quart jar filled with hot water and sealed then wrapped in a towel, any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated?

Information to those of you that might be new-comers to the Solo-nonstop around the world adventure, what I have had to do after leaving Bahia Caraquez, Ecuador is sail first to the Equator entering the Northern Hemisphere, then to add distance to my route I have sailed SW leaving Easter Island to port and have a plan to turn for the Horn after lat.35*S and Long.120*W, and that is only if it is possible at that time which looks a little doubtful now, as I’m in the high pressure and must get down in the roaring 40s to take off for the Horn.

Once around the Horn I will be sailing at Latitude 48*S entirely around the world south of all the great capes, Australia New Zealand etc. I will then turn north when I arrive about 400 miles off the west Coast of Chile at Latitude 48*.

Day-20
I ate the last orange yesterday, so those apples are looking pretty good.

I have to admit I’m not the greatest cook as that has always been Debbie’s specialty and she is great. My meals tend to be basic like ham and egg for breakfast with a piece of toast or potatoes fried up or cold cereal then at Lunch time it is splice the “main brace” time a rum drink with chips or crackers. Dinner lately has been either a hamburger patty or chicken breast baked in a covered pan on the stove with cabbage tomatoes and onions with lots of seasoning and a glob of margarine for good taste. That takes about 30-minutes quick and easy.

In the evening I read from my Kindle, so far three books, and I always have a piece of chocolate.

Besides sailing cooking and cleaning during the day I enjoy very much sharing the adventure with you via Sailmail. One of my favorite times during the morning is plotting our position on the paper charts and seeing the progress. I also love reading the emails from Debbie and all of you.

Outside you must keep a watchful eye upon the sea or you will soon be taking a very cold salty shower especially when winds get over 20 kts. I seen one other ship a few days ago on the AIS and it got within 13 NM of my position but other than that there seems to be little traffic out here.

Day-21
Winds are down and this morning pulled myself up the Mizzen Mast to tear the wind generator apart as we were making less than 5kts on fairly smooth seas. I pulled the blades off, a real juggling act on a rolling boat in a bosun’s chair and the one and only nut that fits this wind generator dangling on the end of my allen wrench set in one hand and the big three blade drum in your other and just trying to figure out what the fxxk to do now, as you are swaying back in forth in your bosun’s chair safety strapped to the mast. Next I pull the three screws out of the face plate and pull that off and let it dangle with half the generator in it from the three wires that go to the brains of the thing. I cleaned the slip rings with a scotch pad and noticed a bare wire that could have been the culprit in it not working all the time. A little electrical tape cured that, and I sweat bullets until the whole thing was all screwed and bolted back together again. Of course there is not enough air to turn it now so don’t know if it is fixed yet, but I know for sure “I’m” done working on it.

Pretty soon the wind picks up and the wind generator still does not work. I’m sorry to think it but I’m afraid it is out of the picture for the rest of the voyage.

The Wind Generator on the Mizzen Mast that quit working

I have a lot of time to think and reminisce out here on the ocean and I was thinking about what an old sailing friend of mine once told me, about extending your fuel range with a diesel motor. He had worked at a refining company and swore that you could dilute the diesel with 15% gasoline if you had it and extend your range, and not damage your engine. So being the thinker I am, I wondered if when one of my Rum bottles gets down about 15% if I couldn’t use some of that big old bottle of rubbing alcohol I have in the medicine cabinet to extend my range a bit?

Then I was thinking if my water maker quits working while I still have water should every fourth glass of water that I drink be salt water there by extending my range, or maybe it would just be best to drink the gasoline!

Sorting it all out in the Pacific your Amigo, the Jefe’

PS. Found out the Kirkland alkaline batteries only lasted 3-days before needing to be replaced so those of you that are able to follow me on spot I will only be turning on the spot about every eight hours to send out my position.

0 AROUND THE ALONE DAYS-16-17-18

Day-16
24hr. Run=146 NM.
Position =Latitude 24*40’S. Longitude-107*50’W.
Weather=Wind=8-15 kts.
Seas=3-5ft.
Cabin Temp=72*-78*. Squalls in the early am then nice the rest of day.
Bar.1016mb

Day-17
24hr.Run=160 NM.
Pos. Latitude 26*26’S. Longitude 109*56’W.
Weather=Bar.1018 mb. Winds 8-28 kts.
Seas=5-7ft.
Cabin Temp=71*-75*. Wind squally during daylight hours then clear and good sailing overnight.
Bar.1018 mb

Day-18.
24hr. Run=157 NM
Position- Latitude 28*24’S.-Longitude 111*46’W.
Weather=.Wind=8-15 kts.
Seas=5-7′.
Bar.1018 mb
Cabin Temp=71*-75*. A few squalls around overnight but nothing serious and the day was sunny and nice.

Total miles sailed so far=2672 NM

Total miles last 3-days=463 NM.

Miles left to go to turning point for Cape Horn=585 NM.

Top speed so far=9.9kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY

Day-16
I awoke to a loud screeching noise outside in the cockpit. I climbed out into the cockpit looking around for what was getting ready to go bad next. Then I heard the noise coming from aloft off the stern of the boat, there I was amazed to see 5-White Birds of Paradise soaring about kicking up the biggest fuss. I thought possibly they were warning of some impending danger, but nothing was found and I could only wonder where they came from and where were they going, perhaps they were wondering the same thing.

No not a white bird or birds but they do like to fly around the boat to land

I feel compelled to mention that later that evening, after all the shaft problems, I had this strange feeling of another’s presence aboard, and had first picked up on it when I was finally cleaning up and putting things away. I know there was twenty times during the episode that I wanted to cry out to Debbie to turn on the bilge pump, or get me this or that, but I knew better as this was me and only me the “Around Alone Crew”. All I can say is it was that kind of feeling that makes you look back over your shoulder when you are walking down the street at night and you sense someone is there.

Today started fishing by dragging a pink squid on a meat line [heavy 200lb. test line on a rubber snubber]. Since I have found so many pink squids on the boat I figured why not try one.

After the squalls seemed to have let up it was time to shake out the reef in the main sail, when I went to release the reef line at the mast I was “shocked to see it had chafed 95% of the way through. The line was brand new and the reef tied in for only about 12 days. I ended up having to use the fish tape to pull in a new 45ft. piece of ½ inch line. I also made some changes in the bottom of the boom configuration that I believe will eliminate the chafe.

Day-17
I just want to thank everyone for their great ideas on solving the shaft problem and they are note worthy, also thanks for all the prayers and encouragement.

A few of the ideas were put thread tight on the threads, I should have thought of this one as I have plenty of it, but I fear my thought processes were on overload as I worked with a stream of water pouring into the bilge. Another great idea put epoxy on the shaft and handtighten the nut on, that would definitely fix it. A more aggressive idea was filling the coupler with epoxy and pray you “die’ before you ever after take the shaft out. A truly quick temporary fix is put a shaft Zinc on inside the boat right up against the packing gland. This one I tried but only had collar zincs and the diameter is two wide and the zinc hits the packing gland bolts, If I would have had the torpedo zinc it would have worked.

What I did do until I get the nut secured with thread lock is put a piece of heavy hose that was the same inside diameter of shaft and split it then hose clamped it on to the shaft up against the packing gland. That should keep the shaft from sliding out of the coupler for a little while.

Our New 54 HP Yanmar Diesel Engine

Engine going down below into it’s new home

Today dragging a cedar plug for the fish, as I had no luck with the squid.

Day-18
This am Easter Island lays 48 NM. off the port beam. I’m sad I never got close enough to see it, but the wind Gods are dictating sail more to the west to get over the top of the high.

Shows Easter Island and it’s position to the mainland of South America

Yes,it’s almost barometer soup time, and as you might have noticed the barometric pressure is gradually rising as I near the center of the South Pacific High. I do not want to cross the center as there will be no wind, or little fluky winds. The problem is the high wanders around, and yesterday it was centered on Longitude 111* today it is at 113*, and I want it to go back to 111* or even further east.
I can only hope that the 120* longitude is far enough west for me to be able to skirt along the outside edge of the high to a point where I pick up the westerly winds that are currently at about 40* south.

Still trying to catch a fish, the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS13-14-15

Day-13

24hr.Run=159 NM

Position=Latitude-19*21’S- Longitude 102*55’W

Weather=Wind=12-18Kts.SE.

Seas=5-8ft.

Cabin Temp 71*-75*. Many squalls during the day but tranquillo overnight with lots of stars, including the Southern Cross

Barometer=1012 mb
Day-14

24hr. Run=15 NM.

Position=Latitude-21*21′ Longitude.104*33′.

Weather= Wind=8-18 kts S.E.

Seas=6-8ft.E.S.E.

Cabin Temp 73*-75*. We have sailed clear of the cold Humboldt Current keeping Sailors Run a little warmer at night. This day was the sunniest and nicest day so far

Barometer=1012 mb

Day-15

24hr, Run=135NM.

Position=Latitude 23*03’S.Longitude 106*57’W.

Weather= Wind= 8-18kts SE

Seas=4-6ft.SE.

Barometer=1015mb

Total miles sailed so far=2210
Total Miles sailed the last 3-days=448 NM
Miles to go to turning point=103 NM.
Top speed so far=9.9kts.
Time to Easter Island about two days
The Rest of the Story.

DAY 13

“Mystery aboard Sailors Run”

I awoke from a sound sleep to the sound of a motor running. The sound was different from anything I had ever heard. I struggled to get clear of my berth, and glanced at the blank Radar on my way by. Climbing the companion way stairs I knock the cabin doors open with a “bang”, sliding back the hatch allowing me to get out in the cockpit, I peered into a pitch dark night scanning 360’ looking for lights of another vessel to find nothing, and outside could no longer here the motor.
Once back below I noticed it was still quiet so I crawled back in my berth. Suddenly there it was again, only this time I just wait and listened, and sure enough, it stops then starts again in about one minute. I thought maybe the refrigeration is going bad sounding different and cycling on and off. I climb out of the berth again and stick my head under the sink and listen to the refrigeration purring quietly along.

Now I’m sitting on the berth with my head between my hands thinking “What the Hell”. Once again the motor turns and suddenly a light bulb comes on in my head. I dive on to the cabin sole and lift the floor board over my fuel tanks, and sure enough there it is, sitting between the two tanks the automatic bilge pump I had installed for this trip over a year ago. Apparently when a large wave slammed into sailors Run it had forced about a quart of water back through the pump,that was now roaming around under the tanks, setting off the pump every time it got it wet, It turns on for about 12 seconds then shuts off until it is splashed again and never pumps any water out. Hmmmmm????
I go hunt down the fuse removing it and suddenly there is silence. No worry! I will continue to monitor the water level and if it ever comes up will get the pump back running. I also have a high water alarm just in case I forget to check.

DAY-14

I’m sure you have all heard of Cannibalism being a survival technique aboard ships that remain out to sea just a “little to long”. It was also quite common among many of the South pacific Islands.

Well I’m sure I to will soon become a Cannibal as just about everything I will be eating will come from a can. It really isn’t much different than being a vegetarian. The one slight difference is the canitarian needs a can opener;”that’s about it”.

Cans,Cans,and more Cans

Putting a line out for catching a fish is starting to sound like a good idea.

After two weeks I’m still on the first 75 gallon tank of water, when that goes dry it will be time to start up the water-maker.

The sailing over the past two weeks has been some of the very best I have ever experienced, sailing fast along the course line. Just a reminder this voyage is unassisted meaning no motoring and no outside help.
I do weather by receiving weather faxes on the long range SSB Radio along with grib files and weather descriptions about what is happening in my area.

Day-15

“High Seas Drama Aboard Sailors Run.”

It all started about 10:30am when I decided to run the motor to circulate the oil and get the moisture out of the engine. I started the motor taking it out of reverse and leaving it in neutral, this allows the prop and shaft to spin freely. After 20-minutes I shut the motor down, and as I went below I felt a strange vibration and could hear something spinning and rubbing, and it sounded like the shaft which should be impossible as I had put the transmission back in reverse locking the shaft.

I immediately tore into the outside locker clearing out all that was stowed there to gain access to the shaft below decks.

“Holy Shit”!! The shaft had come free of the coupler and was spinning madly about as we were sailing at over 7-knots. Now unattached to the transmission it was really wobbling and had tried to slide out of the boat but was stopped by the rudder, that was now currently being eaten by the whirling three blade prop. I grabbed a 15-foot length of 7/16inch line and secured one end to some frame work below putting five wraps around the whirling shaft and synched it down, just barely enough to stop the shaft from turning. Next I activated the electric high volume bilge pump as a large stream of water was coming in around the packing gland on the shaft. Next I went on deck and rolled in the Genoa sail and dropped the staysail the other forward sail and hove to under main and mizzen slowing the boat speed down to about two knots.

I worked feverously to separate the coupling hoping to find the nut that had come off the end of the shaft and the key that locks the shaft to the coupling. Once the two halves were separated I found the nut but the key had obviously vanished into the flooding bilge that was only kept under control by going and turning on the pump every ten minutes. I could not slow the flow of water until I once had the shaft back in the coupler attached to the transmission, there by locking it down.

I got my extendable high powered magnet and went fishing in the bilge for the missing key, for the keyway. On my second try I was relieved to have come up with it and it looked to be in good condition. I slid the coupler down the shaft and over the key then screwed the nut on the end of the shaft by hand tightening as far as I could turn it before getting a socket to tighten it.

I won’t even go into how hard it is to get at the large socket set, just believe it takes time. I gathered up the three most likely sockets to fit the shaft nut and was real disappointed to find that I did not have a socket to fit the nut.

This was even more unbelievable as I had installed this new shaft made in Argentina and tightened that very same nut 6-years ago. I could devise no way to get anything in the hub other than a socket to further tightening it. So I reassembled the couplings placing the four bolts back in them to secure the coupling.You cannot even imagine the feat that was, pulling the shaft up to the transmission lining up that first bolt and getting the nut on the end of the bolt, as all the time the shaft wants to pull away and turn if you don’t keep a firm grip on it. After way too much time that was as right as I could get it, and then I had to take the stuffing gland apart and add more Teflon stuffing around the shaft. Once the gland was tightened the water flow was stopped I could take several huge deep breaths.

This entire drama from start to finish took over 5-hours, and my body ached and hurt afterwards. All that work had to be performed hunched over in a confined space working below the level of my feet.

Going onward I have a less than perfect fix due to the missing socket. I have decided that if I want to run that engine again in the future to dry it out I will have to go below and tie off that shaft so it cannot spin. I don’t know how long I could motor before the nut might vibrate off, it could be five minutes or five months but I don’t want to find out. I would tie the shaft off temporary permanently but if suddenly I needed that motor to avoid impending doom I at least want to be able to try and power the boat.

Looking forward to “better day, The Jefe’

Jeff 2 days from Easter Island,he won’t be stopping,just going around it

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-10-11-12

Day-10
24hr.Run=176NM. Our third best day’s run ever aboard sailors Run.

Position=Latitude 12*52’S Longitude 98*02’W.

Weather=Wind=15-25+kts.SE.

Seas=6-9ft.

Cabin Temp. 72*-76*. Squalls 50% of the time with sunny and clear patches.

Barometer-1012 mb

Day-11
24hr.Run=160 NM.

Position -Latitude 14*57’S. Longitude 99*39’W.

Weather=Wind 12-25 kts.

Seas=6-9ft.

Cabin Temp=71*-74*. Squalls 50% with sunny periods.

Barometer-1012 mb

Day12
24hr.Run=170 NM.

Position.= Latitude-17*12’S. Longitude-101*22’W.

Weather=Wind=12-25 kts.

Seas=6-9ft

Cabin Temp=71*-74*.

Barometer=1012 mb

Miles sailed last 3-days=506 NM

Total miles sailed so far=1762 NM

Distance left to go to turning point for cape Horn=1468NM.

Top speed so far=9.9kts.

The Rest of the Story.

Day-10
In the morning as I gazed out upon the rugged seas it was wonderful to see a small pod of black dolphins frolicking in Sailors Run’s bow wake; there commotion was putting hundreds of flying fish into flight. I had to wonder does the school of fish suddenly become a flock of fish during those 100 yards of flight.
It makes one wonder if the fish have evolved to flight status, to avoid predators from the deep. What might it be like sailing a million years into the future after the dolphins might have accomplished the same thing, as I know just how much it hurts to be hit by one of those flying fish?

Today was laundry day and it was accomplished by using a bucket and several lines strung up in behind the dodger. This all seemed well and good until a squall sought us out, and pounced upon us. Things were suddenly chaotic in the cockpit as I struggled to roll in the head sail while being slapped in the face with a wet T-shirt.

Later in the morning I peeled the not so good leaves off of 6-cabbages and got them re wrapped in fresh newspaper.

I learned from my Cape Horn trip six years ago to bring lots of cameras along, and they have to be able to endure getting washed down, to capture some of the best footage. I also learned where to burn lots of film and less film, as a result this video will have considerably less “nude shots”.
The shower experience at sea entails taking the planned every third day shower and the many unplanned showers that materialize either salty from the sea or fresh and cold from the sky above, all just part of the sailing experience.

Day-11
We are now just south of Lima Peru and over 1200 miles off shore of South America. Out here a long ways from help you are forced to balance the forces of nature and the desire to go further faster. You might think 7-9 kts. is not that fast, but when you are heeled over 20 plus degrees and the water is raging along the side of the boat’s hull and then you are suddenly struck broadside by a very steep 9-foot wave that explodes into one of those unexpected “showers, you suddenly feel “extremely alive”, and pray that things stay that way.

Heading for Easter Island

So far we are sailing great with good speed as I attempt to nearly circumnavigate the South Pacific High, using it much like a giant pinwheel to sling shot us into the “Roaring Forty’s”. The transition from the winds on the outside of the high to the “Westerly Winds” in the Southern Ocean is one of the key parts to me having a fast Circumnavigation. “Let’s see how this works out”???

Two days ago I found out I’m not solo on this voyage as it seems I have a stow away.”What”!!
Yes, the cockroach must have got on in Ecuador and of course the question is there only one, or maybe now none as that one met a horrible end to his life. Now I’m not sure but should there be more I have taken special precautions, placed poison everywhere except in the fresh produce, and I’m “packing” a can of Raid where ever I go. Oh yea! and I placed a huge tarantula looking rubber spider left over from Halloween by my birth in hopes to “scare” them away. I just hate waking up to the feeling of a big cockroach crawling across my face, as I usually give myself a bloody nose and the thing disappears before I can get a light on.

Day-12
Yesterday I seen a ship on the A.I.S. its closet point of approach was 31NM. And that is the first one I have seen since the encounter with the fishing boat at night a week ago.

I think I have narrowed down the problem with the wind generator. I was out in the cockpit adjusting the wind vain steering and got the wind coming in over the stern and while looking at the wind hawk at the top of the mast I noticed the wind generator facing aft and thought what the hell lets turn it on and see what happens, much to my surprise it started generating properly. Now it seems almost for certain the problem is dirty slip rings in the unit that I will clean once the seas lay down. Even if I never get up there the thing should work in much of the southern Ocean.

I have struggled a bit trying to get my head around this great adventure. The planning took a year and a half and for over 5-months I had not sailed before embarking on this voyage. Once at Sea it all felt somewhat overwhelming for the first week, and my sailing skills rusty and my movements methodically thought out and revalued continually. Now I’m happy to say that things just come to me naturally once again and Sailors Run and I are one with “nature”. The one thing that will never be right until I return is the yearning to once again hold Debbie in my arms.

“Ripping across the South Pacific”, El Jefe’

Sharing a picture of many friends family who came to see my talk show at the Corinthian Yacht Club-Tiburon,Ca

0 AROUND ALONE-DAYS 7,8,9

Day-7

24hr. Run=154
Position: Latitude-07*23’South =Longitude .92*33’West
Weather: Wind: S.E. 10-20kts.
Seas: 4-6 feet S.E.
Cabin Temp: 76*-81* Sunny with small puffy white trade wind clouds.
Barometer-1008mb

Day-8
24hr.Run=154NM.
Position: Latitude-09*15′ South=Longitude-94*16′ West
Weather: Wind S.E. 8-20kts.
Seas: SE 5-7ft.
Cabin Temp: 75*-78* In the am a few squalls about but none hit us and by 10am it was full on blue skies and sun.
Barometer=1010mb

Day-9
24hr.Run=150NM
Position: Latitude: 10*54’South= Longitude: 96*07West
Weather: Wind 8-18kts
Seas: 4-6ft.
Cabin Temp: 73*-78*
Barometer 1010mb.
Total Miles sailed so far=1266NM.
Miles sailed last three days=458NM
Distance left to go to turning point before heading to the Horn=1952NM
Top speed so far=9.8 kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:
DAY-7
I Took a reef in the main this am as we were a little overpowered and it made life aboard so much more comfortable. Now both main and mizzen are reefed and the Genoa is rolled in about 20% to keep tear rolled into avoid making it larger. The staysail is full on at 100%, and we are sailing great.

More flying fish and squid on deck this am. They would make fine bait but the freezer is still to full to fish!

Got an email from a friend and he says “Fxxk” the wind generator as he knows of a power company that invested in them and nearly bankrupted the utility. The sad part of that was the people on the system that had had nearly the cheapest rates in the nation before the free wind power have watched their rates double in just a couple of years and struggle under huge debt. Having said all that I truly miss mine and hope to get it going again.

Each morning I use about a quart of water rinsing the three solar panels off with a sponge, as the salt spray reduces their effectiveness. Even at 80* I’m noticing the cooling of going further south, and the moisture in the air is starting to make things feel cool and damp aboard.

DAY-8
With squalls in the area a sailor needs to be a bit more cautious. I normally reef down a little more at night, and mental go through the drill in my mind as to how I can get all sail down and in what order as it can be very “chaotic” if overtaken at night while asleep by a severe squall. Radar is your first line of defense, because the size and distance they are from you can be measured and tracked.

Typically the power of the wind in a squall is pretty much determined by the size. My experience is anything two miles or less in size seldom requires reducing sail. The small ones you can just sail off downwind in them until they pass over, normally no more than 20-minutes.

A squall that is 2-4 miles across can be more serious especially if you are already sailing hard as the wind strength will most likely double for 20-30 minutes as it goes over you.
When the squall is 6-8+miles across it is time to get serious about taking amounts of sail off once again, especially if you are already sailing hard and fast. I know of several boats that were caught in large line squalls such as this and had all their sails destroyed as they failed to get them down in time and watched them blow out in winds in excess of 60kts. Once again radar allows you the ability to know the size and distance away night or day.

DAY-9
This morning when I awoke things were quiet aboard and we had slowed to just over 4kts. I knew now was my chance to roll the Genoa out and patch the sail. While bouncing around clipped into the bow pulpit I applied sail tape to both sides of the tear that was about 6 inches long and one layer of sail material glued down with contact cement before getting it rolled back up on the furler as the wind had piped back up. Repair on the fly to be continued.

Several hours later there was another lull in the wind strength, so I eased the sail out just enough to get at the tear and did a little dance on the bow platform juggling the can of contact cement and my chisel as I applied the cement and eventually the second piece of 5oz. sail material to the other side. It was then that the real fun began sewing the patches together on a plunging bow, possibly much like doing needle point on a “pogo stick”!! After about one hour the patch was complete and Sailors Run was ready to go with a Genoa that could now be rolled all the way out. “Yahoo”!!

Today is shower day as I take one every three days whether I need it or not, and trust me I’m doing the
“right thing

Just to revisit my Around Alone route for any that have joined me lately it is “Around Alone Non Stop from Bahia Caraquez Ecuador and back again.”

Since I’m doing this as a record attempt I had to enter the Northern Hemisphere which I did as soon as I left Bahia, and since the course has to measure out over 21,600 nautical miles by rhumb line measurement I’m adding distance by sailing to a position in the very remote South Pacific, which is sailing West of Easter Island to 35*South and Longitude 120* West. Once there I can start my run into the Horn and then on around the world at or near the 48* South Latitude, south of the 5-great Capes West to East.

I noticed a peculiar odor coming from the vegetable storage area, it smells much like a rabbit hutch I once had or maybe it was that Ginny pig cage I kept in my bed room. I suspect that my six cabbages wrapped in news paper need to be trimmed down and rewrapped!!

Bouncing along in the Pacific, El Jefe’

Sailors Run & Jeff motoring on the Rio Chone,having left Puerto Amistad Yacht Club in Bahia Caraquez

Proudly flying the Flags to all the Countries we have been to
Flags were made by both of us.except the U.S.A. one

Heading out to do their Around the World Adventure

0 AROUND ALONE-DAY’S 4,5,6

Moving right along in a nice breeze

Day-Four: 24 hr. Run=119 NM.
Pos: Lat.02*02’S Long.87*02’W
Weather=Mostly overcast, temp=78*-81*, Wind= 7-12kts from the S,
Seas=2-5 feet from the S. Barometer = 1008 mb.

Day-5: 24 hr. Run=one hundred forty six NM.
Pos.= Lat. 03*37′ Long.=88*52’W.
Weather= Sunny all day. Temp.=78*-81*,Wind =10-17 kts.SSE,
Seas=5-8’SSE, barometer 1010 mb.

Day-6 Twenty -four hr. Run=166NM
Pos.= Lat.05*29S Long.=90*50’W.
Weather= Temp=77*-81*,Wind=15-20kts.,
seas=6-8ft.barometer=1008 mb. This day was mostly sunny and clear at night

Total miles sailed so far=808NM
Distance left to go to turning point for Cape Horn=2402 NM
Top speed so far=9.8kts.

The Rest of the Story.

Day-4
This morning fired up Honda generator and let it charge for two hours, at a rate of 50-amps per hour, topping off my 8- golf cart batteries. I have just 26-gallons of gas for charging and get about four and a half hours of charge time out of 1-gallon of gas. I can also charge with main engine in neutral if need be and that gives me another 250-hrs. of charging at approximately 65-amps.
With the solar I have about four hundred and eighty watts I’m sure I can make it without the wind generator.
On a better note I heard back from Boe at Southwest Wind power and he believes that either the connections in the tower tube up on the mizzen mast are failing or the slip rings in the unit itself where the brushes make contact are dirty and a scotch pad could clean them and possibly get the wind generator back on line. When I find a somewhat flat spot out here on the seas, up the mast I will go.

Now we must discuss alcohol rationing for the duration of the voyage, as I had sponsors, Dan & Lorraine off the boat Zephyrus, they know I believe in drinking a beer a day and a guestamation makes that 180-beers, now herein lays the problem. That much beer would take up too much space and who knows how good beer is after about 3 months, also think of the weight. So I did what any good sailor would do, and augmented my supply with rum. How much rum is enough I asked myself, and ended up getting 24 750ml. bottles and 5-bottles of tequila 1,75ml. bottles. Fortunately for me my good friend John and Dee were down to see me off and John owns several restaurants and has a good sense for numbers. He told me I can have 3 drinks a day as long as I get back in 180-days, and cautioned me that 4-drinks “will not work”!! Since one or two is my limit at sea it sounds like I’m well healed in that department and that is without counting the 2 cases of beer.

I had to take evasive action during the night to avoid collision with a fishing boat. I tacked away to the starboard tack for about 5-minutes then resumed my course on a close reach on port tack [meaning wind just off the nose coming in over the left or port side bow].
The fishing boat was wood and not visible on radar nor was he transmitting an AIS signal, fortunate for me I seen his lights while having a look about on deck. I was extra cautious on this night because I had seen a wooden fishing boat earlier in the day and he had 3 small sailing craft in tow behind him like little ducks. These boats they use in their fishing efforts as they require no fuel. The crew of about 10 waved a hearty greeting as we passed each other within several hundred feet.

Day-5
Today I have Booby Birds diving upon the fish that dart out from under Sailors Run’s Plunging bow as we are now within 150 miles of the Galapagos Islands. I feared for awhile that I might end up on the South shore of one of these Islands as the Humboldt current has been pushing me towards the North as I attempt to sail SW to the SE-Trade Winds that lay to the south of me.
Today the winds piped up to 15 kts. and I rolled the Genoa sail in a few turns on the furler,
It was then that I saw a tear in that sail. The tear was about 6″ long and I quickly rolled it on to the furler to avoid any further damage. The sail is but 5-years old and the tear came as a sickening feeling in my stomach, as I have so far yet to sail. Fortunately I can reach it from the bow pulpit and will make the repair on the fly once the seas and winds abate considerably.
At last I’m happy to report that the course is finally steerable. I should mention that since the Equator the Monitor wind vane has been doing all the steering, and since heading off shore from Ecuador we have been on the same Port Tack, with the exception of dodging the fishing boat during the night.
This morning when I went up on deck after a night where the heavens sparkled like a “Bowl of Diamonds”, I found 5 flying fish on deck and in the cockpit as well as 2 squid, and who knows how many were washed off during the night.

Day-6
At last we have sailed into the SE-Trades and I have the pedal to the medal on the old Sailors Run and she is “Hauling Ass”.
Sailors Run my 40-ft.Baba Ketch loves reaches and it doesn’t matter if they are close reach.beam reach, or a broad reach. Now as for me the skipper give me “fast reaches”, “sunny beaches”, and “tight britches”. Well something like that; “Missing you Debbie”.
Out here you don’t have to worry about working out to stay in shape as you are doing dynamic tension exercise 24/7 and occasionally a yoga stretch that you might otherwise never had attempted.
I just eat 2 meals a day and that is somewhat like a circus juggling act just trying to get the makings into a pan on the stove. Yesterday, I had a bowl of cereal in my hands and needed to set it down, and the only flat safe place was secured on a burner on the gimbaled stove.

Such is the cruising life style! To my Amigos, El Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE-DAYS 1,2,3

Around Alone: Days-1 2-3

Day-1
24 hr.Run-121 Nautical Miles.

Position: Latitude-00*25 S -Longitude-80*39’W

Weather: Wind-10-15kts.from the West.

Seas: 3-4 ft. from SSW.

Barometer-1009mb.

Cabin Temp- 80 to 83 degrees
Day-2:
24hr. Run-130NM.

Position-Latitude-00*26’S Longitude-81*14’W.

Weather: Wind-8-17kts SSW

Seas: from SSW at 3-4FT.

Barometer at 1008mb.

Cabin Temp-78-81 degrees

Day-3
24hr.Run-126 NM.

Position-Latitude-01*37’S Longitude 85*14’W

Weather: Wind lighter at 7-14kts

Cabin temp=77*-80*
Total miles sailed so far=377NM
Top Sailing speed so far=7.7kts.
Distance to go to turning point for the “Horn”= 2,794NM  located SW of Easter Island.
The Rest of the story:
For clarification when I write WE, I’m referring to me and Sailors Run.  Also I will be staying on Bahia Caraquez time for the duration of the voyage. When it comes to what day it is, I will use one through how many ever days it takes to complete the voyage, just know that day-1 started at 7:09am Oct/31/2015 when I crossed the starting line off Bahia Caraquez.
Day-1

The alarm rattled me into consciousness at 4:15am. I thought to myself “holy shit” the day has finally arrived to start the greatest adventure of my life. I rushed about hooking up all the electronics and getting a pot of coffee going, things were pretty much ready topsides already.
I was below when I heard the pilot boat approach and Pedro scramble aboard. He immediately set about preparing the mooring lines to be cast off. Soon we were motoring away from the other boats resting at their moorings, and the pilot boat had gone and retrieved Tripp the Puerto Amistad owner from the shore, in front of his condo as he was to be my official starter {Thanks Tripp}.

We motored out through the channel around the point and past some of our friends whom were there to wave one last goodbye.  John & Dee had come the furthest flying all the way down from Colorado to see us off.
We crossed the starting line at 7:09am and were off on a great beam reach headed north for the Equator and we crossed that at 1:47PM our 12th time to cross it and after entering the Northern Hemisphere for a distance of about 1-mile we jibed around and sailed south crossing it once again for the 13th time and treated King Neptune to a toast on both occasions.

Sailors Run with Jeff leaving Bahia Caraquez heading out

We were now sailing close to the wind with adverse current part of the time making the going slower, as we approached the area just off the coast of the surf village at Canoa, it was time to tack off shore and head west getting clear of the local fishing boats and out beyond the shipping lanes that run North and south along the coast of South America.

It was nearly 2am and my butt was dragging when I finally felt safe enough to sleep for 20- minutes at a time using the egg timer to wake me for a look about.
Once the sun came up and I was on deck I discovered a-You have got to be “shitting me”, as my wind Generator was acting in an erratic fashion, breaking every minute or so and producing no power. This is a big deal as the wind generator provided 90% of my power on my previous Cape Horn trip.

Jeff and boat crossing the bar out of bahia

Day-2
We are now over 100 miles offshore and the seas have turned cobalt blue under partly cloudy skies, and suddenly I realize why I’m here, feeling again “One with Nature”.

Today I will catch up on some much needed sleep and share with you the two most important things about making long ocean passages and they are “Haul Ass” and Haul Ass”.

You see the biggest mistake new sailors make is to try and sail the Rumb line to their destination, as it is the shortest distance. Experience will teach you that the shortest distance does not equate into the fastest passage making, when covering large expanses of Open Ocean. Your course must take you to where the most favorable winds can be found to get you there without down days especially when sailing unassisted {no motoring} like I usually do and this trip must always do. I always fall off the wind an extra 5 degrees to sail fast and never worry about my course as long as it takes me to the better winds.
I have been eating bell peppers like apples since the lady at the market sold me 25 of them when I only asked for 10, actually there not bad.

Day-3
Has been the most pleasant day sailing so far as the winds are down a bit as are the seas.  Today is full sun and clear skies.

I remember a favorite dream I had when I was a young man, oh not that one! but the one where I had a magic carpet and I could fly to where ever I thought I wanted to go and today I’m living the dream and Sailors Run is my “magic carpet”.
I spent the morning cleaning all wind generator connections hoping to get it producing power, without any luck. I’m afraid the regulator in it has failed and I will have to be a bit more conservative on power consumption.
O, that’s it for now amigos   The Jefe’