Monthly Archives: January 2016

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS,88,89,90

 

Total miles sailed so far= 11,950 NM
Miles sailed last three days 364 NM.
Miles left to go to cape Leeuwin, Australia=2220 NM.
Top Speed so far=12.3 knots

THE REST OF THE STORY:

DAY 88.
24hr.Run 111 NM.

Position Latitude 45*50’S. Longitude 53*52’E.

Weather: Wind SW 8-30 knots N   Seas: SW 8-15 feet

Cabin Temp 46*50* Bar: 1022mb

Today was a busy and, mysterious day

After breakfast I looked into a problem I was having getting the auto pilot to engage.

Now of course that evolves pulling lots of gear out to get at it, including the 60lb. CQR anchor.

The fix was easy as the Morse cable had slipped where it was clamped down, and just needed adjustment and tightening.

It is very important to have a back up to the wind vane, like when you must work on wind vane and there is nobody to steer, could be a big problem.

The high is moving over us and the winds are going light, so I roll out “Patches” the Genoa and see another rip in it!!

I pull it off the furler and look it over on deck, finding Three total rips requiring patches. Fortunately, today the winds are light. The seas down and the sun is out.

Things got mysterious as I was sewing on the last patch, suddenly I started hearing what sounded like muffled explosions, and rumbling that went on continuously for several minutes.

I scanned the horizon looking for thunder clouds but there was only blue sky, then I searched the sky for a jet-plane nothing, then the sea for a boat, still nothing. My mind tells me that it was either a volcanic eruption under the sea, although I saw no steam, or possibly an earthquake. The truth is I don’t know what it was.

Now getting back to the Genoa “Patches” I even have composed a song for it and it goes like this;

Patches oh, what should I do?
I swear I’ll always fix you,
Though it may not be right,
I’m coming for you tonight,
Patches, I’ll always need you.

[See you can go “nuts” out here.]

DAY 89.

24hr.Run 122 NM.

Position: Latitude 46*02’S. Longitude 56*31’E.

Weather: Wind N. 6-12 knots  Seas: N. 6-8 feet

Cabin Temp: 48*53*. Bar: 1018mb

Today we sailed in light air that started slowly building over night from the north.

I can’t begin to tell you, how confusing it is when it gets light about 20-minutes earlier every day, and then you are on a Bahia time schedule, it just seems really strange to wake up in the morning when it gets light and realize it’s now 9pm.

The food supplies are holding up well with the exception of the Coke 0=0 now, and there are but 6-onions left, and one apple.

I have tons of food in cans etc. but messed up by not buying a lot of popcorn as I love it and was afraid I might break a tooth eating it. Oh well next time more popcorn.

I hope now to keep radio communication the rest of the way. It is very important, not only to feel connected, but my weather comes to me through Sailmail.

I want to invite all of you and any of your friends that want to travel along on this adventure, to check out our blog site at WWW.SAILORSRUN.COM

Debbie has been posting not only this adventure there but also photos of us living the cruising life style over the past 17-years, so enjoy!

DAY 90

24hr, Run 131NM.

Position: Latitude 47*12’S Longitude 59*12’E.

Weather:  Wind N. 12-40 knots, Gusting 50 knots.  Seas:15-20 feet NW.

Cabin Temp:49*-56* Bar: 1000 mb

Stronger north winds to 40+ knots are coming today and will be on our beam

I want to thank the “gang” at Latitude38*.com for coming along on this voyage and keeping the readers up-dated as to our progress through, that Great Magazine out of San Francisco, California

It’s funny how things work out, like the effects of the failure of the wind generator was cancelled out by the failure of the refrigeration, so maybe two wrongs can make it right.
The three solar panels more than keep up with all our other electrical needs, like, Radar A.I.S., electric auto pilot when needed, lights, vhf radio, single side radio, computers etc.

I have been impressed how well they have done especially the two solar panels that are hung on the one- inch life line rail on either side.

Twice they have been knocked loose of one of their supporting legs but I merely had to put the stainless steel leg back in the socket mounted on the cap rail and tighten the Allen screw that attempts to keep them in place.

Last night like always, I looked forward to crawling into my berth and getting some rest, one of my favorite times of the day.

I had been asleep for about 15-minutes when I smelled something burning. I opened my eyes and the cabin was pitch black, that being strange as normally the A.I.S. illuminates it with a soft light.

I jumped out of my berth and turned on the light. The entire cabin was filled with smoke as we had an electrical fire.

Fortunately, I smelled it when I did as the air was awful, that I had been breathing. I opened up the hatch and aired out the cabin all the time coughing my lungs out.

Luckily the breaker had tripped and there was no ongoing fire. In the darkness I was able to close the breaker back in and seen where the wire was shorted out.

As it turned out this was a 12 volt wire that we no longer used and for some reason the connection on the end of it had shorted out, melting it down to where I could not even recognize where it might go.

Sucking up some fresher air in the Southern Ocean, the Jefe’

 

 

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 85,86,87

Total Miles sailed so far=11,586 nautical miles
Miles sailed last 3-days=404 nautical miles
Miles left to go to Cape Leeuwin, Australia=2640 nm
Top speed so far=12.3 knots

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day 85
24hr. Run 149NM.

Position: Latitude 45*17’S. Longitude 45*23’E

Weather: Wind 10-40 knots NW.  Seas: 8-15ft.

Cabin Temp=51-55*. Bar: 994mb

Sailing in the Southern Ocean requires staying on top of the ever changing environment.
A typical day aboard Sailors Run involves four to eight sail changes. The reason so many are necessary is the rapidly changing strength of the wind from 10-40+knots.

The weather here in the “Roaring-Forties” brings a deep low to your area every two to three-days, and normally gale force winds or worse.

DAY-86

24hr. Run 140 nautical miles

Position:  Latitude 45*35’S. Longitude 48*36’E.

Weather: Wind=45kts Gusting 55kts.N.  Seas: 18-30ft.NW.

Cabin Temp.53-55. Bar: 984mb

Day-86
Today the low that we have been sailing in has deepened and appears to be moving over top of us as the winds are now 30 knots  and the Sailors Run has just turned up into the wind and an obvious steering problem has come up.

I scramble to get my foulies on and out into the cockpit. Immediately it is obvious what is wrong, as we have that silver looking salmon dragging along behind the boat, which in reality is the servo- rudder of the wind vane. I put the boat on the electronic auto pilot and go below to manufacture a new tube section to get the wind vane going again.

The wind vane does an amazing amount of work steering the boat and is perhaps the most valuable addition ever put on Sailors Run.
Thank God I got the wind vane fixed when I did as now the barometer continues to fall and is reading 984 mb.

The winds are now blowing 45 knots gusting 55 knots the seas are running 20-30 feet and now I’m forced to sail more south than east to keep these huge waves on my stern.

Before I turned more South Sailors Run was being slammed every 20-minutes on the side by breaking waves, and some water was finding its way below. Now that they are on our stern the only thing that happens is the cockpit is filled on a regular basis.
This Gale/storm is one of the worst we have seen on the voyage so far. It stayed on us hard for 18-hrs then the center passed over us after about 1-1/2hrs, and then we rode out the back side of the system.
A storm such as this has amazing amount of rugged beauty, with all the colors of the sea and the white foam of the breakers cascading down the face of the waves.

Although frightening it may be, it also makes you feel so totally alive, and you find yourself just staring at these amazing forces in action for hours.

DAY 87

24hr. Run 115 nautical miles

Position: Latitude 45*44’S. Longitude 51*16’E.

Weather: Wind SW 8-35kts.  Seas: 15-20ft.

Cabin Temp.46-55* Bar=1010mb

“Today is very special day as we have arrived at the half way point of our circumnavigation!! Yea!!”

Well, at least mileage wise I believe this to be half-way, time wise could be different as no two days sailing are the same.

All things considered this should put me across the finish line at Bahia Caraquez on or about the 22nd of April,2016.  I will have also celebrated my 70th birthday on the 17th of April. Of course the real party will be in Bahia with Debbie and friends.
Aging along the way, the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 82,83,84

Total miles sailed so far 11182 Nautical Miles
Miles sailed last three days 401 Nautical Miles
Miles to go to Cape Leeuwin, Australia 3,050 NM.
Top speed so far 12.3 knots

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day-82

24hr.Run 135 NM.

Position: 44*58 S. Longitude: 36*14’E.

Weather: Wind SW.12-35 knots

Seas: 8-15ft.

Cabin Temp: 53-57*.
Bar: 1006 millibars

Today was one of those days, where many sail changes had to be made and in the end we were under staysail alone in 35+knots

Wow!! 82-days Totally Alone, not another sole to lay eyes upon, this all seems pretty strange.

I’m definitely a prisoner of this voyage, and Thank God it is by my own doing.

I must admit the sunny days are my favorite as it is warmer and the Ocean that we are sailing upon looks so much more beautiful.

The radio is still not hooking up to Sailmail, and I just hope friends and family understand, things are fine aboard Sailors Run.

I search the radio for news but all I get is African news, and that is a whole new level of depressing info

Day-83.

24 hr.Run 138NM.

Position: Latitude 45*01’S. Longitude 39*16’E.

Weather: Wind 12-22kts SW-NW.

Seas: 6-12ft.

Cabin Temp: 49-55*
Bar: 998 millibars
It appears that I’m about 4-days from the half way point mileage wise.

I’m sailing as hard and fast as I can with the vulnerable Genoa sail, which I only fly all the way out in winds of less than 17 knots

The weather has not been very severe the last few days, “knock on wood”[my head].

The boat is going to need lots of TLC wants we make Bahia Caraquez, Ecuador.

Today we sailed over the top of Prince Edward Islands about 90-miles to the south of us; there are only two Islands there and they are quite small.

Day-84.
24hr.Run 128NM.

Position: Latitude 44*56’S. Longitude 42*07’E.

It seems I’m finding a rhythm with the Southern Ocean.

I had originally planned to sail across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans at 48*-latitude, but it seems to be more productive at 45*-latitude.

The winds and cold fronts seem less violent, and the temperature is about 10-degrees warmer.
Another system of when to add or reduce sail has evolved.

I now use the 30-minute rule when I think a sail change is needed, because if I don’t wait 50% of the time the choice is wrong. Of course if you are pounced upon by a huge squall there is no waiting to reduce the sail and take the load on the rig.

During this day I watched the barometer plummeted from 998 to 992 then rebound to 1004 mb, all within 24 hrs and all the winds became very strong when they switched from NW to SW, and once again we sailed along under staysail alone with winds gusting 40 knots for some 13-hrs.

Trying to get there your amigo, the Jefe’

 

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 79,80,81

Around Alone Days-79-80-81.

Total distance sailed so far: 10,781 NM.
Distance sailed last three days: 430 NM.
Distance left to go to Cape Leeuwin,Australia: 3,292 NM.
Top speed so far=12.3 Knots

THE REST OF THE STORY

Day-79.
24hr Run 154 NM.
Position: Latitude 44*02’S. Longitude 27*19 E
Weather: Wind WNW 12-15 knots
Seas: 6-8 ft.
Cabin temp: 57*-63*
Bar:1008 mb

Today I actually had some rain with not to strong of winds, and was able to collect about 6-gallons in the second tank. That’s a start!

The more challenging thing right now is trying to stay hooked up to Sailmail.
Chile a great station is now over 3500 miles away and contact seems to be too weak. The next station is in Australia at least another 3500+ miles away and way weak at this time.

I assumed I would be able to use the Africa station, but come to find out they use a directional antenna and it is facing NE, not down into the Southern Ocean.

Debbie has been alerted that I have a radio problem and follows me on the Spot Locator, but that is all she has to go on. You can contact her at sailorsrun01@yahoo.com Also she will be posting to our blog site
www.sailorsrun.com
This is a huge problem for me as I get most of my weather info from Sailmail, so will now be getting my weather from the barometer and looking out the “port hole”.

Day-80.
24hr.Run 138NM.
Position: Latitude 44*35’S. Longitude 30*25’E.
Weather: Wind SW 12-25kts.
Seas: 6-8ft.
Cabin Temp: 53*-57*.
Bar: 1000mb

The night before last the high pressure system was located on top of me causing shifting winds, and at one point I awoke after two hours to discover I was headed back to the cape of Good Hope, fortunately the winds were light and we were moving slow.

Here in the southern Indian Ocean I have seen some of the largest Albatross so far, some with wing spans that must be 7-8ft. and it never ceases to amaze me how well they can fly in the heavy winds.

I have been truly enjoying my kindle for making lots of books available and so user friendly.
I have been struggling with the time change, as the further East I go the earlier it gets light.
Now the sun is rising at 9-pm and sets at about 1pm. I find myself just taking two hour naps whenever I feel like I need it.
I run the Radar 24/7 and the AIS the same, and have seen no shipping since the vicinity of cape Horn, and the last thing I seen was the “Ice Berg” that I almost hit.

Day-81.
24hrRun 138 NM

It feels strange to have no communication, but I know that within a week or two I should be able to get back on.
I still have the spot locator and that lets some people know where I’m at, and I can let Debbie know I have lost radio communication through the spot.

Once I get a good Sailmail signal again, I will get all the adventures out so you can get caught up.

I’m looking for the big “Radio Skip” in the Southern Ocean. “Breaker Breaker” the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-UPDATE INFORMATION 1-25

GREAT NEWS:

FINALLY HEARD FROM JEFF AFTER 6 DAYS ,HE SAYS:

I am finally hooked up on Africa station but it is weak so far. I have just spent 18hrs in a storm and the center passed over me and now I’m riding out the back side of it.
Today is day-87 and we will at last be at the half way point mileage wise! Yahoo Baby I’m on my way home

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS UPDATE INFORMATION: 1-22

JEFF’S POSITION AS OF 1/22/2016 2:36PM- LATITUDE-44’80 S +LONGITUDE-40’58 E.

AND HAS BEEN  SAILING FOR  83 DAYS

THIS IS TO BRING EVERYONE AN UPDATE ON SAILORS RUN WITH JEFF AS HIS LAST EMAIL TO ME (DEBBIE) WAS JAN 19^TH AND MENTIONED HE WAS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING HIS ADVENTURE’S AND EMAIL’S OUT ON HIS RADIO AS IT SEEMS HIS SIGNAL OR PROPOGATION IS NOT VERY GOOD AND HE IS NOT BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO ANY STATION ON THE SAILMAIL.

HE SAID THAT IT MIGHT BE 2 WEEKS, BUT AS SOON AS I HEAR FROM HIM AT ANYTIME, I WILL POST IT.

HE HAS A SPOT LOCATOR, THANK GOODNESS, WHERE CAN GO TO SEE HIS POSITION EVERYDAY, AND CAN SEE HE IS STILL SAILING ALONG.

IF YOUR INTERESTED IN FOLLOWING JEFF ALONG GO TO THIS SITE BELOW

I have a SPOT device. SPOT devices use satellite technology to allow people to share communicate and share GPS coordinates from virtually anywhere in the world. Click the link to locate my SPOT.

Just follow this link to see my location updates:
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0RlWim3EmIovld5Yv0JeVriGokaQ5gYzP
If the link doesn’t work, try copying and pasting it to your browser’s address bar.

Learn more about the SPOT product family at FindMeSPOT.com!

 

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 76,77,78

Total miles sailed so far=10351 NM.
Total miles sailed last three days=382 NM.
Distance left to go to Cape Leeuwin, Australia=3733 NM.
Top speed so far=12.3 knots

 

 

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day-76.
24hr Run: 126N

Position: Latitude 45*18’S. Longitude 18*-50’E.

Weather: Wind 8-15kts WNW.

Seas: 8-12ft SW.

Cabin temp:49*53*.
Bar: 1016mb

Today marks another milestone for the crew of the Sailors Run, as now after over 10,000NM, and 75- days and 21hrs. we have “The Cape of Good Hope” abeam.

Now of course even though it is 4 am a toast of one shot of 12-year old Cuban Run is enjoyed at this milestone of our Journey.

For me this is also a very emotional time and I must thank my lovely wife Debbie and all our family and friends for hanging in there with us, and not to mention all of your prayers.

Now it’s into the Indian Ocean, and another 3,900 NM. to our Third Southern Cape, Cape Leeuwin, Australia.

I’m sure some of you have wondered if I ever thought of packing it all in, and sailing for home, well the answer is an emphatic NO!

I have never been very good at quitting a challenge that I have undertaken. Believe me I know what it feels like to want to quit having run several marathons in under 3-hours, but as long as I can see the remotest chance of success I keep on going

It occurred to me today that I’m experiencing a strange phenomenon and that is, I believe this is the first time ever for me, that I have set out on a voyage and will not have to turn around to come back, “Think about it”.
Day-77

24hr.Run: 145NM

Position: Latitude 44*55’S Longitude 22*03’E.

Weather: Wind NNW 12-30+kts.

Seas: W. 8-12 ft.

Cabin Temp: 49*55*.
Bar: 1012mb

Today I got the Genoa back up on the furler in the lighter morning breezes, and was able to sail with it through the daytime hours, eventually having to roll it in as winds increased.

I have been cautioned by Two Time World Circumnavigator Bruce Schwab, who soloed “Ocean Planet” in two Around Alone Races, that he always had the worst times in the Indian Ocean. So now I get to see if we have a similar experience.

Last night I cut up one of my giant squash and cubed some of it and cooked it up. The squash was great and now I just hope it will keep until I can get it all eaten.

Day 78

24hr Run: 111 NM.

Position: Latitude 44*45’S. Longitude 24*10’E.

Weather: Wind 6-20kts. SE then NNW.

Seas: 6-8ft NW

Cabin Temp: 49*-60*
Bar: 1016mb

Now I must be honest with you and say that my new “Desert Dry Water Distiller” for offshore cruisers is living up to its name, as I have not seen a drop of water in the production water container after several days. It might be a case of where you must cut the condenser jug into slabs of plastic and lick the inside area to obtain any water. Oh well it was an idea.

I should mention on another experiment of mine I have been quite successful 83-days ago

I purchased 4-loaves of the cheapest wheat bread I could buy, with the idea that it would have lots of preservatives in it and there for would keep well. I can honestly say I can still make a tuna sandwich, and the bread is soft and tastes fresh, and no mold. I don’t know how long the bread can keep doing this but I still have 2.5 loaves left so might find out.

To further conserve water I’m now washing the dishes in salt water, with a little fresh water rinse.

Looking for rain, your Amigo the j

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 73,74,75

Total miles sailed so far=9979 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=422 NM.
Miles left to go to Cape of Good Hope=92 NM
Top Speed so far=12.3kts

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day 73
24hr Run: 126 NM.
Position: Latitude 46*02’S. Longitude 09*35’E
Weather: Wind 10-30 kts WNW.
Seas: 8-15ft.
Cabin Temp: 46-53*
Bar: 1005 mb

Sailed along nicely with just the staysail all day in 30 knots of breeze. I’m waiting for the winds to die down some before re-rigging how I free fly the main.

I awaken about 11pm and see it is just beginning to get light, and I also see our speed has dropped below 5-kts, and it’ time to get the main back up.

Once up on deck I remove the block that I use for my sea anchor and shackle it to the clew of the sail. I fit a new bolt into my double mainsheet block repairing it, then run the mainsheet line through the mainsheet block up to the block on the clew of the sail and back down to the becket on the main sheet block, giving me a two to one purchase and distributing the load over the mainsheet block.
I put the main back up and it looks great,and I feel that this set up will get us home.

Just a Little Clarification on all the Sail Issues:

A. The Main is brand new, but Lee sails chinced on the slides that go in the mast and they are pulling out in strong winds, and I have had to replace four of them that have failed, and now feel pretty confident that there will be no more issues with the main.

B. The Mizzen Sail is brand new and no problems with it

C. The Staysail is in brand new condition and no problems.

D. The “Genoa from hell”, is 5-years old and I totally overestimated its condition to be able to make this voyage. It obviously is suffering from UV-damage and can’t be flown partially rolled out, and I believe it sometimes is damaged when being furled in when winds began to increase. It is now sporting over 20-patches.

Day-74
24hr Run: 160 NM.
Position: Latitude 45*31′ Longitude 13*15’E.
Weather: Wind 18-25 knots WNW.
Seas: 8-12ft.
Cabin Temp: 46-55*
Bar: 1004 mb

Today is truly a great sailing day and the sun is out

I have had no luck catching rain water as it seems it only rains when it is blowing 25+knots and catching water is made impossible by salt water flying everywhere. I’m conserving water everywhere I can.
I have decided to build a water distiller, and I actually have the time to do it.

Day-75
24hr.Run 136NM
Position: Latitude 45*18’S. Longitude 16*15’E
Weather: Wind 20-40kts.WNW &SW.
Seas: 8-15ft.
Cabin Temp=48*-55*.
Bar: 1003mb

Today if I had been having the circumnavigation of my dreams, I would be halfway there
That is not the case, and it will be interesting to see when I reach that point mileage wise. Who knows maybe the second half will go faster.

Today I took two hours and built a water distiller and tomorrow I will bring it on line and see if it works.

I used two 5-gallon gas jugs that I only use for water.
One to hold the salt water and it will be wrapped in a black plastic bag, hoping to create heat. The other one will be the condenser unit that will feed water into a half gallon container, and this will all be lashed out in the cockpit. I’m hoping it works.

It was late afternoon when a cold front hit us coming in from the south west and I dropped the main out, as the winds were gusting to 40kts

The seas became very confused with the sudden wind shift, and the storm force seas coming up from the south were steep, and occasionally it felt like we were hit by a freight train. I saw lots of water come on deck, and it was very uncomfortable below decks as we “rolled “along.

It was frustrating to me, as the winds were perfect to sail the course line, but I had to sail NE to keep Sailors Run’s stern into the punishing waves.

“How dry I am, How dry I am ,nobody knows How dry I am”.  The Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 70,71,72

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 67,68,69

Total miles sailed so far=9193 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=455NM.
Distance left to go to Cape of Good Hope=789NM
Top speed so far=12.3=New Record

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day-67
24hr.Run=174nm.
Position: Latitude 47*22’S. Longitude 06*44’W
Weather: Wind=35-45kts West.
Seas: 15-20ft.
Cabin temp=44-48*
Bar=1014mb

A day of “kick ass” weather, and it was midmorning, and I was below decks, when suddenly the stay sail started luffing and banging up on deck. Once I was into my foulies and boots I ventured out on deck, and it was immediately obvious what was wrong. The wire pennant at the bottom of the staysail had parted and the sail was flopping its way up the stay. I grabbed a 1/2″ piece of line and crawled forward, replacing the pennant with the line and re tensioning the sail, an easy fix.
It was also obvious that the Sailors Run was now over powered, so I tied in the second reef in the Main sail. I now felt confident that I had the right sail configuration for the weather that was coming our way.

In the early afternoon I was reading below decks when “Suddenly” Sailors Run turned up into the weather, this indicating a steering problem.
I scrambled into my foulies once again and leaped top side. I gazed at the wheel and seen it was moving with the rudder a good sign, but the steering lines from the wind vane were all slack. A quick look over the stern reveals that one of the knots had popped off the servo rudder disabling the steering.
I hurry below to get my trusty piece of coat-hanger that I use to fish the steering line out of the wind vane. It is after closing the boat up and as I turn to go aft, that Sailors Run is engulfed by a very large breaking wave, and I grab on to two stays for the mizzen mast and hang on.

I’m waste deep as the wave washes over the cockpit filling it, and my boots at the same time. “Holy Shit”. I hadn’t clipped in yet as I wanted to be clipped in at the stern of the boat, to be able to hang off the back and repair the steering vane. I was very fortunate that I had seen the wave just before it broke, and I hung on for dear life as my feet were washed clear of the deck for just a second or two.
Fortunately I was able to retie the stopper knot in the line before being engulfed by another wave.

The weather has deteriorated to where it is has been blowing consistently at 35-45 kts and the seas are running up to twenty feet high.
I get below and ring my socks out putting on a dry pair and drain the water from my boots.

Evening comes and the gale rages on, and now I’m trying to get some sleep in my berth, suddenly I hear the roar of a breaking wave, and Sailors Run is engulfed by a huge breaking wave and I’m sprayed with a blast of “icy salt” in my berth. The spray had managed to squirt from under the butterfly hatch.
I immediately grab my pillow jerking the pillow case off of it, and hang the wet portions of my bedding out over the side of the lee cloth to drip on the already wet cabin sole.
Fortunately I keep the computer in a plastic bag, strapped on the chart table.

Day-68.
24hr.Run=142NM.
Position: Latitude 46*57’S. Longitude 003*28’W
Weather: Wind=15-40kts West.
Seas: 12-18′.
Cabin temp=46-49*.
Bar=1001mb

Thank god the winds are abating now down to 25kts and the waves are also dropping. I go top side to shake out a reef in the “new Lee” mainsail and am very disappointed to see that three of the slides on the mainsail have actually bent because they are so “cheap” and thin that they popped out of the sail track on the mast and are permanently useless. This means I must now replace them with spares that I have.
During the shaking of the reef out I discover yet something else and a shadow of dread engulfs me.

The new goose neck I had fabricated in Mazatlan,Mexico is cracking and threatening to fail. There are two cracks in the end fitting of the boom that they made. One at the top eye hole where the connection bolt drops through and another about 1/3rd of the way up one side of the two inch plating that is welded to the axel that the boom swings on.

I spend about an hour brain storming this one and another hour trying to fabricate a reinforcement strap, but in the end I decide “screw it” I will baby it as long as it lasts and when it blows apart I can only hope I don’t get the boom in the “nuts”, as I’m pretty sure I will with the way things have been going so far.

When it breaks I will simply remove the boom and grind a sharp point on it and strap it on deck just in case I ever hit a whale and it attacks the Sailors Run, then I will harpoon the “Son-of-a-bitch”.
Without the boom I will just free fly the foot of the main from the sheet block on the main traveler. I should be able to fly the main full out on all points of sail except hard to weather where it will have to have one reef in it, due to the length of the foot of the sail. “Problem Resolved”.

Day-69
24hr.Run=139NM
Position: Latitude 46*59’S. Longitude 000*46’W
Weather: Wind W.10-30kts.
Seas: 8-15ft
Cabin Temp=46*-50*.
Bar=100mb

Today finds us running before a gale out of the west blowing 35-50 kts and rugged seas to 20+ feet, under stay sail alone making over 6-kts most of the time
.
What has happened, a high pressure system to the north and on the 40 degree’s latitude has intensified and is moving east over the top of me.

I have installed the second hatch board after taking in some water through the louvered doors in the companion way. The seas are very steep and hammering in over our stern at times, other than occasional wild surf down a wave the ride is pretty good.

Rocketing along on a “Kick Ass” ride. The Jefe’