Around Alone Days-46-47-48
Total miles sailed so far=6327 NM
Distance left to go to Horn=13 NM.
Distance sailed last three days=330 NM.
Top speed so far on trip=12.2kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
Day 46 24hr.Run=120NM
Position- Latitude-54*25 S Longitude-81*14’W
Weather: Wind: 10-15kts.ESE.
Seas=2-4ft.
Cabin Temp=44*-47*.
Bar=1000mb
Still beating to weather to get to the Horn and can only steer within 30 degrees of course line on the good tack.
Today is a milestone for me, as back in 2009 after 45-days, I arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina after sailing from Lima Peru around the Horn Solo. I arrived at 1am in the morning and it was blowing a gale, I had broken my hand, and was to sail into the Marina through a very narrow gated entrance. All and All I was pretty much a basket case for many reasons, but I have to admit today on this Voyage a much larger one by about 4 -times I feel good.
Jeff in Buenos Aires,Argentina with Puerto Madero marina in the background
Sailors Run at Puerto Madero Marina in Argentina
Once I get past the Horn it will be a relief for me, as I can move a little further north where the temperature should warm up about 5-degrees.
Day-47 24hr. Run=114NM.
Position-Latitude- 50*33’S. Longitude- 81*14’W
Weather: Wind=3-15kts.
Seas=2ft.
Cabin Temp=44*-47*.
Bar=1004mb.
Land Ho,as now I can see the snow capped mountains of Chile. I have been forced North of the Horn, and now must tack along the coast to get to the Horn, this means less sleep and a much more intense watch system.
Chilean mountains as Jeff sails by Cape Horn
There is a low coming in to the south of me and by Day 49 we should have 30kts of favorable Breeze to sail past the Horn. The weather has been pretty much out of the norm with much calmer conditions than normal.
I had a problem with the way the wind vane was steering and determined the gears were meshing to loosely and causing it to be less responsive. Working on a wind vane at sea is not a good idea especially if you have to pull a shaft out, because there are lots of little roller bearings that can disappear on you. So to get the slop out of the gear on top of the servo rudder I cut a very large 2.5 inch washer in half with my Makita cutting wheel, then slipped both halves of the stainless steel washer under the gear, getting rid of the slop, then I took a hose clamp and secured the two halves in place and it works perfect. “Fixed”.
Day-48 24hr. Run=96NM.
Position- Latitude-55*59’S Longitude-67*44’W
Weather: Wind SE shifting N 0-20kts.
Seas=2-4ft.
Cabin Temp=44*-55*
Bar=1010 mb
This morning while tacking along the coast a very large Blue Whale surfaced and blew alongside Sailors Run, they tend to make your boat feel very small.
Some people have asked what I eat out here. Well it goes like this:
BREAKFAST is either: One egg, fried potatoes and onions+ 2-coffee or the coffee’s and one bowl of Special-K cereal with Granola mixed in, or the coffee’s with oatmeal and raisins.
LUNCH is just a snack and one adult beverage. The snack is usually a small package of crackers and a couple of slices of cheese.
DINNER is early about 4pm and has been stir fried cabbage and onions, with either a hamburger paddy, or chicken breast, or a filet of fish. This is all cooked in one small fry pan.
Now my diet is about to change as I only have 4-dinners left in the freezer. So soon it will be canned tuna canned veggies and canned soups and stews, unless I catch another fish.
I still have about 15-apples, onions, and potatoes, along with the two large squash that are stashed in next to the baseball bat, and I also have a cup of tea about 7-pm with a small package of cookies and read a book. I don’t think I have gained or lost weight so far, but expect to, before it is all over I will lose some. I’m just eating my way around the world.
Later in the afternoon I had a pod of very large dolphins with white bellies doing amazing jumps and flips out of the water, just off my bow.
Seeing those pod of dolphins is so exciting you never get tired of seeing them
It was some time later I noticed a fish jumping, but under closer observation, it turned out to be a “PENGUIN”. He hung around the boat for about an hour. I tried feeding him crackers but he was not at all impressed.
My Penguin or a picture of the Magellani Penguin around cape horn
Your Amigo the Jefe’