Monthly Archives: April 2019

 

Total miles sailed on this passage=6317 nm.(in miles 7269.4)

Miles sailed last 2+days=241 nm.(in miles 277)

Day-46.

  24 hr.Run: 115 nm.  Pos. Lat. 22*57′ N. Long.108*45′ W.

Weather:Winds from several directions at 3-17 kts. W-N-S. Seas: 2-4 feet. Course 84*T Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp. at 7 am:71*. Bar: 1010 mb up 2-mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today I closed on Cabo San Lucas as evening fell and enjoyed the glow from all the lights that shine out upon the sea. I seen considerable marine traffic in the area and many of the vessels were not equipped with AIS. I even seen a large cargo ship with no AIS.

  The winds were light much of the day and I was forced to motor for 3-hrs during the night when becalmed. I dumped the 12-gallons of diesel into the tank that I had been carrying in the cockpit. I have plenty of fuel but wanted to take advantage of the calm conditions. I no more completed that project and the winds came out of the south at 17 kts and we were sailing fast once again.

  The temperature is a pleasant 76* as I write this and the boat is drying out nicely.

Looking very much forward to getting in & doing some walking for a change.

                                        Cheers, El Jefe’

Day-47+3.5 hrs.

  24hr Run +3.5 hrs: 126 nm. Weather; Light winds and very small seas. Course 88*T. Speed:4+kts.Bar.1010 mb. and steady. Cabin Temp at 7am=75*

Day 47+. The Last of the Story.

  The last Day+ involved about 15 hrs. of motoring in non existing winds. Now we had to have one last ship drama as after all I’m close and almost have it made.

 My alarm went off on the AIS and I stumbled about the cabin trying to wake up and see what was going on now,”My Last night” at sea. It really didn’t surprise me to much that there were two cruise ships Royal Princess and Carnival Splendor running along my same course line. It appeared that the 1,000 foot Royal Princess would go right over the top of me and the other one passing 1.5 nm on my port side. It was time to hail the ship as it was just 30 minutes away doing 18-kts. I asked the skipper if he seen me?  he asked me what my position was and I gave it and there was another pause, then he says I will be passing to port of you. Hmmmmm. Now this seemed strange as had happened once before as there was little room for that ship to go there with the Carnival Splendor already headed there. I say ok I will hold my course. Fifteen long minutes pass and I’m still getting collision warnings from The Royal Princess and the ship is still bearing down on me. Once again, I call and ask the skipper “DO YOU SEE ME” as it appears you are going over the top of me. He assures me he sees me and soon will be altering course and passing on my starboard side and for me to maintain my course and speed. I thanked him and it all went well and now I’m approaching the Marina and looking very much forward to splicing the main brace and getting a full nights sleep. “YAHOO”!!!!

  Originally I had estimated 50-days for this passage and we got here with a couple of days to spare, so feeling pretty good about that as I had my doubts about how well this voyage might turn out.

  Thank You all for riding along and I hope to get this out as I go into the Marina Mazatlan as once inside it becomes difficult to get out on my radio.

        Until Next Time Your Amigo EL Jefe’ and my ground support Debbie.

Miles sailed so far=6076 nm.(in miles 6992)

Miles sailed last three days 407 (468)

Day-43.

  24hr.Run: 166 nm. Pos.Lat.25*06′ N. Long. 114*03 W.

Weather: Wind:15 -18 kts N. Seas 6-10 feet N.Course=112*T.

Speed: 6.5 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=65*. Bar: 1008 mb.down 4 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Still dodging ships on the Baja Coast and having some fine sailing as well. We are approaching the area of light winds on the Baja Coast that is the area south of Bahia Santa Maria to Cabo.

I hold out hope that we might luck out and get to Cabo with out losing our wind. Next is crossing the Southern End of the Sea of Cortez. I’m hoping for some northerly flow down from the Sea of Cortez, of course only time will tell on that.

  Food continues to become more scarce aboard Sailors Run. I finished off the last of the potatoes at breakfast and there is but one onion left aboard. Yesterday I consumed my last diet coke and now I will be forced to drink healthier juices. I have two apples left and that is pretty good as I hope to have but 3 more days yet to go in this voyage. All of these great estimates are based on the fluky winds in the area at this time.

           Looking into my “crystal ball” for more wind in the area, El Jefe’.

Day-44.

  24hr.Run: 130 nm. Pos. Lat. 24*09’N. Long..113*09′ W.

Weather:Wind:10-15 kts.N. Seas:4-6 feet. Course=115* T

Speed:4.6 kts. Cabin Temp.=68* warming up nicely and bar:1008 mb. Steady.

The Rest of the Story.

  I’m closing with the baja Coast and now in the proximity of Bahia Santa Maria, the winds are dying down as is to be expected in this area. The other major change is that there are more boats that do not have AIS transmitters.   During the night I seen three vessels in my close proximity that were only visible on radar. The key thing here is do not rely on AIS for your total safety at sea. You must also consider that reefs and Islands do not emit an AIS position single nor do military vessels or pirates of the sea. Radar is as good as it gets for letting you be aware of hazards along your course line, and some times that is not enough if it is a small fishing vessel made of fiberglass displaying a light, You must look into the inky darkness of the night to avoid collision.

Here along the Baja Coast my awareness is at a heightened level all the time and I’m sure I will be exhausted upon arrival at Mazatlan, Mexico.

                        Keeping a “sharp eye peeled” El Jefe’

Day-45.

 24hr.Run: 111 nm. Pos. Lat.23*15’N Long.110*37′ W.

Weather:Wind 5-12 kts wind direction variable .Seas:2-3 ft.

Course124*T. Speed 4 kts.Cabin Temp at 7am=68*. Bar: 1008 mb. Steady.

The Rest of the Story:

  Temperatures are warming up and I enjoyed 75* today and had a rum drink out in the cockpit. I was just sitting there sailing along when suddenly I heard this strange rush of water sound and looked over the port rail to see a large Hump Back Whale coming from the opposite direction right next to the boat when it rolled on its side holding up one of those great white fins and it was bent over towards me like he was waving at me. I have to admit that got my adrenaline running and as I looked forward I seen a second whale coming straight at me when suddenly he blew and dove going Directly under sailors Run “Holy Crap”. It makes you wonder what you miss when you are below decks in cold weather.

Today I hauled the anchor chain out of where I had it stored amid ships and put it back in the forward chain locker as my rough weather is behind me now.

 It is looking like My arrival in Mazatlan will most likely be on Tuesday the 16th of April.

                        Getting closer, El Jefe’.

Total miles sailed so far=5,669 nm .(in miles-6523)

Miles sailed over past 3-days=424 nm (in miles-487)

The Rest of the Story.

  Today finds us in deteriorating conditions. The gale is moving upon us, approaching down the coast from California. The amazing thing is that I have listened to numerous May Days off the California coast and messages from US Coast Guard that Epirbs have been set off by various boats. Much of this is happening before the “Gale” reaches Sailors Run.

  Today the “Gale” engulfs us. I’m running a reefed main and genoa about 50% rolled out and it has become to much. I scramble on deck and role the Genoa all the way in, so now we have just the main up and slip below to have my morning coffee. Soon I decide to have my shower a once every 5-days event. The main reason being that a large wave had  broken over the stern of Sailors Run filling the cockpit and drenching me to the skin.

  Once out of the  shower the likes of which no human being would except ashore I feel refreshed and great. I sit with my coffee cup in hand and realize this is not working as I’m rounding up in the gusts of 35 knots and the staysail needs to go up to Give Sailors Run Balance. “Shit” I’m clean and dry and once again must venture top side. I strip to just my jockey shorts as I’m running out of dry alternative clothing and pop on my mustang suit.

  Once on deck I hoist the stay sail increasing our speed to way to much, then drop the main all the way down. Now we have a manageable sail plan for the Gale Force conditions.

 Once below I watch our boat speeds and even though we are hitting 11.5 kts surfing down the larger waves for the most part it looks do able. The really cool thing is after all this time out on deck I never got hosed down by a huge breaking wave, and many were lurking about.

                          Just Getting there El Jefe’.

Day-41.

 24hr.Run=137 nm. Pos. Lat.28*40’N. Long. 116*55’W.

Weather: Wind= N.25-35 kts. Seas=10-18ft .Speed 6-kts

Course=124*T Cabin Temp at 7 am=62* Bar: 1015 mb. down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  This day we sailed under stay sail alone for the entire day, and simply enjoyed a great sail in pretty heavy seas. Dinner was a tuna sandwich and I have found I prefer the Spam fried up with breakfast rather than for dinner. Nothing broke so little to report about on this day.

                                Just rolling down the Baja Coast El Jefe’.

Day-42.

  24hr.Run: 133 nm. Pos. Lat.27*16’N Long.115*00′. N.

Weather=12-25 kts. From North. Seas=8-10 feet N. Speed =6kts

Course=127*T. Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*.Bar:1012 mb. Down 3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today I switched up to the Genoa from the stay sail as winds were down a little and decided to leave the main down as I was sailing deep to maintain my course and the main would have blanked the Genoa setting into motion a bunch of uncomfortable sounds that make getting rest below tough.

  I had been in my bunk about 1-hour when the AIS-Alarm went off. I struggled to escape my dream world for what ever was to come next.

I got up staggering around the cabin to get myself in front of the AIS. The alarm was a-bit more alarming than usually as I had two ships approaching from the South on my starboard side and three ships coming up astern from the North. The ship that triggered the alarm was 8-miles out doing 16 kts and appears that he will run me down. Fortunately, we are going the same direction so I still have 42-minutes to live.

  I grab the VHF radio mike and hail the named vessel and after several minutes he answers. I say,that it looks like we are going to be passing very close,”Do you see me?” There is a pause and he comes back, Yes, I see you and will be passing on your starboard side. I question starboard side as I know there are already two ships there and they will be within three miles of me and there is nobody on my port side. Now, we have yet another pause, then at last he says “Oh” I see more clearly now I will pass you on the port side. I say,

“Thank you and I will maintain my course” as I have little choice being in the center of a BaHa Coast Sandwich. It all went down well and the 800 ft cargo vessel passed one mile to port of me.

  These last miles seem to be proving to be very challenging.

         Trying to just get in safely,  El Jefe’.

Day-37.

 24 hr.Run: 120 nm. Pos. lat.33*06’N Long.125*37’W.

Weather: Winds 7-12 kts. Southerly. Seas=3-5 ft. Southerly.Speed=5.6 kts

Course=118*T. cabin Temp at 7 am=62*n Bar.=1016 mb.Up 2-mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Once again I’m plagued by the center of the high that has moved in close to Sailors Run bringing light air with it. It would appear that in 24-more hours I will be in nice trade winds bombing down the coast of the Baja.

  The Pacific High that has been very illusive is intensifying and starting to look like the Pacific high that provides nice winds along the coast of California and Mexico this time of year.

  Since there is little to write about aboard Sailors Run I will share some information with you about this route from the Marshall’s to Mexico. The route is not to bad with one exception. The NW corner of the route near 170*E and 35*N  can be challenging as well as dangerous. Having sailed it my recommendation is to try and stay below 34* North. The reason being is the lows that form by Russia in the Bearing Sea tend to move down into that area and intensify. They produce Hurricane force winds then seem to move off to the NE, but occasionally move due East as one such storm did to me and the conditions were miserable with winds exceeding 50-kts and seas up to 35-feet. Once east of the 155* West Longitude these lows seemed not to go there at least not this season March to April. The good thing about coming over the high in March-April is it is less developed and easier to sail through as it comes and goes.

  I believe I have reached the bottom of water tank #1, meaning I still have 75- gallons of water left for the remainder of the voyage and that is more than enough.

                          El Jefe’ singing “How dry I am”.

Day-38.

  24 hr.Run: 96 nm. Pos. Lat. 32*25′ N. Long.123*57’N.

Weather: Wind:0-10 kts. S. then W. and at last NW. Seas: 2-4 feet NW.

Temp at 7 am=66* Bar=1023 mb. up 7 mb.

The Rest of the Story:

  It was about noon when I splashed up the diesel in dying winds and a rising barometer. What was happening is I was being caught in to close to the center of the Pacific High that was intensifying.

I know the winds I need to propel me down the coast lay just to the east of me and the surest way to get there was turning on the motor, something I dislike very much. My boat speed had dropped down to under 2-knots and was still going down leaving me little choice. I putted along at just under 4-kts. at 1400 R.P.M.

  It wasn’t until near the end of this day, that the winds at last returned filling in from the NW.

Now I find myself at the same Latitude or slightly south of San Diego about 350 NM. off shore, and looking very much forward to a good romp down the coast to Cabo San Lucas, before turning east for Mazatlan.

                            It’s all just part of getting there. El Jefe’

Day-39.

  24 hr.Run: 146 nm. Pos. lat.31*20′ N. Long.121*24′ W.

Weather: Wind=10-18 kts N. Seas= 4-6 feet N.  Speed= 6.2 kts

Course 112*T Cabin temp at 7-am=64*. Bar.=1020 mb. down 3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  This am I’m some what shocked to hear the San Diego Coast Guard issuing a security warning. There is a gale rapidly moving into the area that may produce winds of up to 47-knots. They recommend all small vessels seek shelter as well as people that have little experience with these types of conditions.

It is funny how an announcement like that can effect you. Even though the system is 10 hours out you feel like reefing even though you are only sailing at 6-knots.

  I have learned a long time ago to never underestimate what might actually develop and make a plan where you go from one step to the other reducing sail and strain on your rig early rather than later.

  Currently it appears that we will pass east of Guadalupe Island putting us closer to the Baha Coast on the way down.

  It is amazing now when I look at my AIS it and shows 50-targets yet only 4 of them come anywhere near me. Possibly many are at anchor in San Diego or Ensenada.

  My dinner last night was a can of tuna, oh,well so much for the Jefe’ being the gourmet cook. Actually it’s the rum that pulls it all together.

               Starting to feel the confines of civilization once again. El Jefe’.

Total distance sailed so far=4,883 nm.

Distance sailed last 3-Days=391 nm

Day-34.

  24 hr.Run=91 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*23’N Long.133*19′ W.

 Weather:Wind=0-10 kts from South.  Seas: 2-4 ft. Speed=5.2 kts

Course=095*T.  Cabin Temp at 7 am=60* bar.=1024 mb. down 2 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today i find myself struggling to keep Sailors Run moving towards our destination in light to non existent wind. I actually have to run the motor off and on through the wind holes and end up putting another 7-hours on the engine. Sailors Run have managed to consume about 30 gallons of her 90-gallons of fuel thus far. Fortunately as this day was ending some winds seemed to be filling in at about 10 kts. from the south.

  I feel pretty good about my provisions going forward. I have yet to use up the 75-gallons of water in tank #1 meaning we have at least 75- gallons for the remainder of the voyage that I now believe to be 3/4 completed. My only regrets is not having gotten that second bottle of ketchup that was on my list and 12-packets of Swiss Miss Coco mix that I’m soon to consume the last packet.

  Today was my second worst day mileage wise of the voyage do to the light winds and I look very much forward to finding those coastal winds that will hopefully zoom me down the coast to Mazatlan.

       El Jefe’ keeping an “eye out” on to the Eastern Horizon in search of wind.

Day-35.

  24hr.Run=142 nm. Pos, Lat.34*46’N Long.130*40W.

Weather: Wind=WNW. at 15 kts.  Seas WNW at 4-6ft. Speed:6 kts.

Course 132*T. Cabin Temp at 7 am=60* Bar.= 1013 mb. Down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today the winds filled in nicely and it was late in the day that I gibed to the SE and headed for sunny Mexico, Yahoo!

  I have still failed to hook a fish so now I’m getting creative with my dinners. I opened up a tin of “Spam” and was pleasantly surprised that a slice of that browned a little bit and cooked with cabbage and onions in some sort of a saute’ wasn’t as bad as it first sounded. I think having little choice goes a long ways towards what’s good and what is not.

  Debbie is at home with the grand kids, and is getting some tomatoes and watermelon started in pots in the kitchen to be planted once I get the garden in shape for the coming spring and summer in Albuquerque.

Debbie is singing in a group now as time allows at places like the veterans home and the airport. She has our grandson Jacob playing the piano and organ. She wants me to hang up a heavy bag for the youngest one to take out some of his energy’s on. I use to help train amateur boxers with Joe Clough out of Tacoma Washington, so this is all a pretty natural path for me to go down.

                           Just “jabbing” my way across the Pacific. El Jefe’

Day-36.

  24hr.Run =158 nm. Pos. Lat.33*56’N Long.127*46’W.

Weather: Wind:12-17 kts. SW becoming NW. Seas 4-6ft. SW becoming NW. Course=122*T. Speed =7 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62* up 2-degrees and Bar.=1014 mb. up 1-m b.

The Rest of the Story.

  It’s April and spring is upon us. I personally love this time of year as everything seems so fresh and new. Even this passage is bolstered by warming temperature and favorable winds with the likely hood of some big days ocean miles wise to help the Sailors Run and Crew arrive at our destination at Mazatlan.

  Still no fish but I did see one encouraging sign and that was a pink squid that had flown onto the deck. Now, that happens to be the color of the one I’m dragging astern, so lets see what happens.

  The eggs I purchased in the Marshall Islands are not holding up so well as the yokes are getting runny and break often. The problem is that the eggs are pretty old when you purchase them in the store because they have already been shipped from some place thousands of miles away. I break them into a bowl before putting them on my food. So far they have all been eatable.

  I have had two more very large ships hauling hazardous waste pass very close to me over the past 24 hrs. Possibly, all ships say they are hauling hazardous waste just to fake out the pirates, or possibly in today’s world all things are considered “hazardous waste”.Hmmmmm!

                      Trying not to get “wasted” in the Pacific El Jefe’.

Total distance sailed so far: 4492 nm.(in miles-5169)

Distance sailed last three days=371 nm.(426.9)

Day-31.

 24 hr.Run: 116 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*57’N Long.139* 50′ W.

Weather: Wind: 7-12 kts .South. Seas 4-6 ft.S. Course=104*T

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62*. Bar.=1012 mb. down 1-mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today was just smooth sailing in the right direction in light winds. I had the fishing line out yet again but no joy. During the day it did warm up to 66* and with that warm air from the south coming in over these cool waters I found myself immersed in advection fog with 100 yards of visibility in all directions except up where I could see quite clearly the sun 93-million miles away.

  The ship traffic is starting to pick up seeing three ships on AIS today and during the night one huge ship a 1,000-feet long and 150-feet wide came within 1.5 miles. That ship received a radio call from Sailors Run to be sure they seen us out here. They assured me they did and said they would be passing on my starboard side and with that I said fine I will then maintain my course and all worked out well. The ship was hauling hazardous waste from the west down to Panama, and it made me wonder what it was and where it came from and where was it going. I just couldn’t bring myself to ask those questions that I doubted very much would be answered or if they did they might have to alter course a few degrees and “take me out”.

                  Staying out of the way out here in the Pacific, El Jefe’

Day-32.

24 hr.Run=135 nm. Pos. Lat.35*14’N Long.137*32’W.

Weather: Wind: WNW 7-15 kts.  Seas:WNW 4-6 ft. Course: 083*T.

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin temp at 7 am=60* Bar=1016 mb. up 4 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Sailing nicely in light winds and decided once again to put the not so effective squid lure out again. I had grabbed a quick nap about 2 pm, now things are getting strange out here time wise as I’m still on Marshall Island’s time. It’s light at 3 am and dark just after 4 pm on my clock.

  After my one hour siesta I went on deck to have a look about and it was then I noticed that the “meat line” had been yanked clear of the deck and was pulled up tight around a cleat it was wrapped off on. We have had a strike and this is one of the problems that can occur when fishing in a vast fishing hole where the size of the fish is a mystery. This mystery is pretty much solved as my 150 lb. test line on the bungy cord has been snapped and all the gear lost. Hmmm!

 This occurs out here on a regular basis as the size of the lure does not dictate the size of fish that will hit it. Let’s compare it to trying to stop a submarine once hooked in about three feet,”not going to happen”. Now with a powerful real with lots of line and distance to slow it down you might have better success. At this point I have to chock this one up to another one that got away. I rig up another lure and toss it back out, hoping that the next victim will be of a size that is manageable. Sometimes I think I would sooner starve than play this game, but out here that could be the actual reality so I will keep just keep on trying.

                          What lurks beneath the sea? El Jefe’

Day-33.

 24 hr.Run: 120 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*26’N Long.135*10’W.

Weather: Wind:5-12 kts N. Seas=3-5 ft. N. Course=90*T

Speed 5 kts. cabin temp. at 7 am=60* Bar.=1016 mb. Steady.

The Rest of the Story.

  The winds have remained light over the past 24 hrs. We are able to sail the course although slowly at times.

  I’m trying to figure out where all my energy is going as I have not had much to do the past few days and seem to want to eat like a horse. The strange thing is I seem to gain no weight and the only reason I can think of for this to be the case is the cold.

 You see the boat has become very damp inside with cool temperatures no heat and fog. I feel I’m burning lots of energy just trying to keep my core temperature up. I must admit I’m looking very much forward to taking a plunge to the south and the warmer temperatures that should start coming my way.

  I was thinking about the miles I will have sailed over the past 13.5 months upon arrival in Mazatlan. The total mileage will be about 14,000 nm.(in miles-16,110) and the amazing thing is out of the 13.5 months I spent seven months was home with Debbie.

 So I guess I have been living a leisurely cruising life style where I happened to sail 14,000 nm. in 6.5 months.  No”freaking” wonder I need to return to Mexico and “chill” for awhile.

                      Trying to get there El Jefe’.

Distance sailed so far: 4,121 nm. (In miles-4742.3)

Total distance sailed last 3-days: 410 nm (In miles-(471.8)

Day-28.

  24 hr.Run: 158 nm. Pos. Lat.34*12′ N. Long. 146*18 W.

Weather: Wind: 15-25 kts.SE.  SEAS: 6-8 FT SE. Course 060* T.

Speed: 6.6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*. Bar: 1013 mb. down-2 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today sailing fast and being forced to the North some what by SE-winds but feel the need to get some northerly.

  It’s funny but no matter what one of the things I pride myself on is how well the solar panels and wind generator do to keep my batteries charged.

Well, today when I took a look at the battery voltage it seemed to be down. Hmmmm! A quick glance up at the wind generator and it appears to be stopped or spinning slowly. I look at my solar charge controller and it shows the batteries at full charge. Hmmmm! I start the engine and run it at about 1200 rpm and I can see the voltage indicator showing the batteries being charged. Hmmmm!  It is now late in the day and winds are picking up so I decide to charge for 1/2 hr. then charge again for one hour as I don’t want to not be able to start the engine and need to figure out just what the hell is going on with my electrical system.

                   Stay tuned to see if “Mc Giver” can figure this one out.

Day 29.

 24 hr.Run:122 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*09’N. Long. 144*32′ W.

Weather: Wind SE 20-35+kts. dying over night to near-0 Kts.

Seas=10-15 ft. SE. Course=094*T. speed 4kts. Cabin Temp=60*at 7 am. Bar.=1012 mb. down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today the low is upon us and pounding away. I’m trying to keep up the main with a reef in it and the stay sail,this seems like almost to much sail, especially since I have an electrical problem and need to get at my battery banks.

  Sailors Run has two banks of 6-volt golf cart batteries with four batteries in each bank. Now, these batteries are in the aft cabin under the bunk and that aft cabin is also the “garage where I store all kinds of things including my

18 hp.outboard. So picture sailing at 7 kts. in 10-15 ft seas on a close reach heeled over about 20* and its time to go to work.

Once I get to the batteries I take my volt meter and start checking voltages, because the charge controllers on both the wind generator and the solar panels say they are fully charged and the two banks are tied together through a main battery switch that can isolate either bank or turn them off entirely if necessary. I check the voltage at the solar controller on the out put and see that it is like almost 14-volts. Hmmmm! I go to the buss work where all the batteries and load are tied together and read the same high voltage. Hmmm. Yet my voltmeter on my breaker panel shows 12.3 volts. Hmmm. I check the voltage on each individual bank and one is at near 14-volts and the other is at 12.3 volts. and they are tied together through the switch. Hmmmm. I can see no sign of failed connection either at the switch or at the battery bank that is not charged and working conditions are “crap”.

So what I do is take a #6-stranded copper jumper and tie the two positive terminals of both banks together and suddenly both the wind generator and the solar panels start charging. Yahoo! as this will do for now.

  Now you must understand at this point I’m pretty happy and all things seem better aboard Sailors Run except there is this old saying that things happen in “Three’s”.

  It was later that evening while being hammered with 35+kts that I decided to drop the main. Soon I was up on deck all suited up in a cold driving rain struggling to stay on the boat as I tugged the main sail down. Finally, at last the headboard of the sail was in my hands. Suddenly, I realized the main Halyard had come free and was flying around up above me wrapping itself around all kinds of things. Now this is a you have got to be “kidding me” moment as that clevis has never unscrewed on its own ever in 25-years, but tonight it is off and running.

  Once below and changing out of my foulies, the boat suddenly is 40* off course. I mean what the “hell” is going on now. Once out in the cockpit it is very obvious what is going on.

 Remember that bolt I could not get a nut on and moused it in with wire. Well, it has escaped and the servo rudder on the wind vane is now dragging along astern on the safety line. I pull it in and drag it below after putting Sailors Run back on the electric autopilot.

              Now that we have adversity there is little left to do but overcome it.

                            Stay tuned and see how this all shakes out. El Jefe’

Day-30.

 24 hr.Run: 130 nm. Pos. Lat.35*43’N. Long. 142*07’W.

Weather: Wind: 4-15 kts.SE. Seas= 6-8 ft. Course=060*T.

Speed: 6.8 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62*. Bar: 1013 mb up-1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  The winds had diminished over night and the Genoa was now rolled out and the mizzen sail up and pulling, the seas of course are much slower about coming down and are still exceeding 10-feet this morning.

I know I have a halyard that must be retrieved and that means going up the main mast. Lucky for me it wrapped itself around the port spreader so I only have to go two thirds of the way up the mast. I look upon what appears to be a very strange sea as now the waves in my part of the ocean have become small “hay stacks”. Under these conditions these little hills come in under your boat at any given location lifting either the bow or stern or on the side where you just take a big roll to one side, not looking very conducive for going aloft.

  I instead tackle the servo rudder issue on the wind-vane. I decide to enlarge the holes in the break away tube by going to the next larger drill bit and reaming them out, hoping this will make getting that stubborn bolt to line up and go through. I’m actually amazed as after the drilling I have the rudder mounted back up and bolted on properly in just 30-minutes “wahoo”!

  I check my weather reports again and decide I must get that halyard down today as I will need that main hoisted for power over the next two days.

I drag my set of blocks forward, along with the bosun’s chair and pull the blocks up to the top of the mast on the spinnaker halyard.

Sailors Run is sailing along on a beam reach at about 4-kts in light winds and Hay stack seas. I have strapped on a full life vest for protection as I know I will be banged into the mast many times. I use two safety straps, one is a spare if I need it and the other one is wrapped around the mast twice to keep me close to the mast,decreasing the potential for large impacts from the roll.

  It takes thirty minutes to pull myself the thirty feet up to the spreaders and I can already feel the bruises on the inside of my legs where they have been wrapped around the mast trying to stop me from making revolutions around the mast. I at last get my hands on the halyard and shake it free of the upper “baggy wrinkle”[chafe gear on shrouds]. Soon I descend down the mast dragging the halyard with me and can hardly refrain from kissing the deck once down on it.

This is all part of a days work if your going to have a successful passage!

                          Sail on Sailor El Jefe’