THE ADVENTUROUS STORY:
DAY-136 24 hr. Run=99nm.
Pos. Lat.45*30’S Long. 176*30’W. Weather= Wind=8-12 kts. W. Seas=4-6 ft.
Cabin Temp=60*69* Bar=1010mb
Today was good sailing in sun shine, although rain is expected overnight, so possibly I can collect some much needed water.
Yesterday while replacing the failed hose clamp on the wind vane that was holding the two washer half in place that insured a good mesh to the gears, I noticed many goose neck barnacles attached to the stern of the boat and decided it was time to try and scrape the bottom where I could reach. I went to get the boat hook that I had planned to attach my scraper to, and decided to look over the side to see what kind of a job was ahead of me.
I could not believe it! there were absolutely no barnacles on the sides and the bottom paint appeared clean. Yahoo!!. So I left the barnacles on the stern for now as I have too much to do already with “Patches” getting nearly 8-hrs. of my day already.
While on deck I noticed a pod of approximately-30 dolphins circling a school of fish and going after them. The dolphins were perhaps the largest fattest ones I have ever seen, looking like small killer whales
DAY-137 24 hr. Run=105nm.
Pos. Lat.44*31’S. Long.174*51’W. Weather=Wind 3-25kts. E-SE-S.= Seas8-10 ft. S.
Cabin Temp=59*-62* Bar=1012mb
The winds were light overnight, then picked up to 25 kts about daylight, and Sailors Run was happily bounding across the Pacific once again.
Today I sewed for 7- hours on “Patches” and was able to complete 18 inches of the 18ft 6 inch tear, I actually think I’m getting faster.
It started a steady rain in the morning and I got up on deck and was able to collect 15-20 gallons of water.
I have been being Jefe’ the “chef”, and made up some chicken spaghetti, and was amazed how much noodles I ended up with. I had a good lot of it for dinner and still had enough for the other 3-days. I put the leftovers in the refrigerator “that doesn’t work”, and at least that made me feel better about saving it.
Tonight was the fourth night of the well fermented spaghetti and I noticed it was mostly noodles so added a can of mixed vegetables and a can of tuna and walla!! we were back in business. I know I must be making you very hungry and I’m “so-so sorry”.
Today we passed 40 nm. South of Chatham Islands a group of Islands claimed by New Zealand, where only two of the 12-islands are inhabited, and do to the windy rainy weather there, the population is only about 200 people.
THE CHATHAM ISLANDS EAST OF NEW ZEALAND
BOATS AT CHATHAM ISLANDS
DAY-138 24hr Run=117nm.
Pos. Lat.44822’s. Long.172*15’W. Weather=Wind=SE-SW 10-15 kts. Seas=6-8 ft.
Cabin Temp=58*-62* Bar=1015mb
Last night I chatted with a Kiwi fisherman by the name of Rex on the Thomas Harrison a very large commercial fishing boat. We were passing like two ships in the night within 6 nm of each other and he gave me a call on the VHF radio. He explained it had been a long time since he had seen any boats out here and was curious about where I might be headed, well as you can imagine he got very interested in the voyage as I shared with him.
I asked him how the fishing was and he said it was great, as the New Zealand fishery does a fine job of managing the resource. He also said to keep a look out for a very large Sperm Whale that hangs out in the waters we were passing through. He had seen him many times over the last thirty years of fishing, and he said the sperm whale is after the same kind of fish he is fishing for.
It was some time later after getting off the radio that I wondered to myself how does the giant Sperm Whale catch the fish, “by sneaking up on them”???
Out sailing and making new acquaintances, in the remote Southern Ocean, the Jefe’.
TRAWLER “THOMAS HARRISON” WHOM JEFF HAS BEEN SPEAKING TO
Total Miles sailed so far=18,028 nm.
Total miles sailed last three days =321nm.
Total miles to go to turn North=3518nm.
Top speed so far=14.1kts.