Around the world days 40,41,42
Total Mileage so Far=5694NM.
Total miles last 3-days=423 NM.
Miles to go to the Horn=501NM.
Top speed so far=12.2kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
Day-40: 24hr.Run=127 NM.
Position: Latitude 53*52’S. Longitude 89*1’W
Weather: Wind=8-20kts.SW
Seas: 8-12ft.SW.
Cabin Temp=45-51*.
Bar.1004 mb
The weather looks good for next three days, but down here don’t trust it!
I tried fishing but the birds were all over my lure, I pulled it in rather than catching one. The Albatross and Terns are fun to watch as they glide over the large waves, with little effort. I was putting the cover on the Mizzen and a Sea Tern flew up and hovered about three feet from my face and watched me as he exhibited no fear.
The other thing about catching a fish is trying to filet him as you both slide around the cockpit with a very sharp knife in your hand. The Tuna in the can is looking better all the time.
Day-41: 24hr.Run=154 NM.
Position: Latitude- 54*30’S. Longitude- 85*05’W.
Weather: Wind SW. 30-45+kts.
Seas=15-30ft.
Cabin Temp=42-44*
Bar=992mb
Fishing again this am while the barometer plummets and it is very cold at 42*.
When I was here 6-years ago the coldest temperature I recorded was 45- degrees. I also had hail in the cockpit in the am and it was snowing an icy Snow when I was on deck making sail changes. Now with “Global Warming and El Nino” what is going on????
Another interesting phenomenon is the cooking oil I bought in Ecuador now has jelled out and you must shake it out of the bottle like ketchup. Possibly I just need to add 15% antifreeze to remedy the situation and it no doubt would help reduce cloistral build up.
One of my greatest fears is becoming injured or ill while far out to sea, I must admit the heavy clothing I must wear adds protection for those short flights across the cabin by Rogue waves.
Today I took a knife and went to free a beer from a plastic wrapped, 6-pack in the beer locker, when suddenly Sailors Run dropped off a wave causing me to slash a 5 inch gash in the side of a beer that I will never get to drink, and I got a shower all at the same time. Now the boat smells like one of those Pubs I use to frequent.
A gale blew up about 4pm and the seas began to build. The wind vane was steering and I was below when suddenly the boat turned up towards the wind and was laying abeam to some very large waves. I dashed into the cockpit just wearing my jacket and notice the steering line to the wind-vane had come off the drum at the wheel. I disengaged the wind vane and spun the wheel to steer downwind putting these monster waves on our stern, then locked in the electric auto pilot to steer the safer course, while I figured how to remedy the line coming off the drum.
The Gale was bad as there were many powerful squalls within it pushing the winds near 50-kts at times, and some of the waves appeared to be a good 30 feet high. I decided to stay on the electric auto Pilot overnight hoping to get some sleep. The night went ok but at 6-am we were hit by a large rogue wave coming in on our beam. I had just set down in my berth with a cup of coffee and had one foot on the seating around the table and one on the table. The next thing I know I’m standing straight up and things are flying everywhere. I could see the port side windows down by my feet awash, and then Sailors Run righted herself, just as quickly as she had been knocked down. I figure we went over no more than 90* and doubt the mast went in the water, but it was pretty unnerving and unexpected, Now I had a huge mess to clean up and one drawer that had flown out had cracked the wood on the face of it, some water came below through the main hatch but it was minimal.
The outlook is for the weather to calm down over the next 24hrs.”Hope so”.
Day-42 24hr.Run=142 NM.
Pos. Latitude 54*25’S. Longitude 81*14’W
Weather: Wind=10-15 Kts from S.
Seas: 6-8ft.SW.
Cabin Temp=73*-76*.
Bar=990mb
I remedied the drum problem at the wheel by using smaller line at that location and it seems to be working. I hoisted the reefed staysail and rolled the Genoa all the way in until weather conditions improve. I got the hose back on the exhaust to keep waves out and did a temporary fix on mizzen goose-neck.
It is still snowing a sort of sleet in the squalls and I will just be glad to finally reach the Horn and be able to get a little bit north and out of this coldest of cold conditions. It is nice to get the Horn out of the way early.
Hanging in there the Jefe’
A picture showing how many friends we have to get on the bow of the boat having a great time
Jeff and batteries area keeping them watered
This is Iguazu Falls in Argentina,but to show you how rough the waves he is going thru looks like
This is how jeff stays in shape for this trip he is enduring,
Jeff on boat concentrating about what to do next when things start happening