THIS SHOWS THE WIND AND DIRECTION OF THE WIND OF WHAT JEFF IS GETTING, AT 46’S 77 E
THAT BLACK DOT IS SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS AND HE IS JUST EAST OF IT IN THE YELLOW AREA
Total Miles sailed so far=12,820 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=433 NM.
Miles left to go to Cape Leeuwin=1,500 NM.
Top speed so far=New Record=14.1kts
THE REST OF THE STORY:
DAY 94
24hr.Run-147 NM. Position= Lat.46*16’S Long.71*3’E.
Weather= Wind=W 8-25kts. Seas=8-12 ft.W. Cabin Temp=46*49*. Bar=1002mb
Today we find Sailors Run sailing over the top of the Island Kerguelen some 130 NM to the south of us. Kerguelen is a French Possession and geographically a very interesting Island, because of all the amazing amount of waterways and anchorages all around it. The Island is very large some 70 miles by 60 miles, making it much larger than Hawaii. It is volcanic and popped up out of the ocean 35-million years ago, shortly before I got my first boat. The Island has a very harsh environment, with snow and glaciers as well as winds that are clocked at 105-kts regularly every year. Mostly scientists and a few tourists visit each year.
The sailing has been good the last three days but another low will arrive tomorrow.
Also the cargo ship Tokyo Bunker passed 18 miles north of me on this day bound for Australia.
THE ISLAND OF KERGUELEN WITH IT’S RUGGED SNOW PEAKS
Day 95.
24hr.Run=153NM. Position=Lat.46*46’S. Long.75*04’E.
Weather= Wind=20-30kts.NW. Seas=8-15 ft. Bar=994mb Cabin Temp=46*49*
Today A gale approaches and I drop the main and hoist a double reefed mizzen and run the stay sail and we are now sailing pretty well in 30 knots.
I replaced a chafed line on the wind vane and when I went to use the electronic auto pilot it now doesn’t want to work, it appears that it is jammed and kicks it’s breaker like it does when it is hard over and can’t steer. I will have Debbie call on this one and see what she can find out.
Later in the day I popped my last popcorn and enjoyed it very much. I was kicking myself for not bringing more as my crackers are also almost gone. Then I decided to take one more look in the popcorn locker and there at the very bottom I discovered 5- more bags ‘Yahoo’!!
As evening came on so did the storm and this is much worse than predicted. I got soaked getting the mizzen down and the stay sail so I could run under bare poles.
DAY 96
24hr.Run=143NM. Position=Lat.46*51’S. Long.77*41’E.
Weather=Wind=W 50-65Kts. Seas=20-40+ft Bar=990mb
The storm rages on and it is sustained 50+knots and gusting 65-knots.
I have gone to the drogue as I was hitting 9 knots bare poles. The drogue a 6 ft. delta slowed the boat to about 3-4 knots and made things seem a little more under control. One large breaking wave took away my man overboard pole, fortunately I had no name on it. Another breaking wave tore one of the struts off the solar panels so I improvised another one out of schedule-40-PVC
This is by far the worst storm I have encountered at sea, the waves are getting monstrous at 40+ft. and the wind is screeching and howling and I pray it will let up soon. I see a slight rise in the barometer and pray it keeps moving up.
Hanging in there in the “Big One” The Jefe
THE STORM DROGUE THAT JEFF IS USING BEHIND SAILORS RUN
SHOWING HOW THE STORM DROGUE IS USED