THE REST OF THE STORY:
Total Miles sailed so far=8327 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=454 NM.
Miles left to go to Cape of Good Hope=1496 NM.
Top Speed so far=12.2kts.
Day-61
24hr.Run=132 NM.
Position Latitude 49*01S. Longitude 26*57′.
Weather: Wind=12-40kts SSW.
Seas=SW. 8-12ft.
Cabin Temp=44*-46*.
Bar=997mb
Today the sun is out and the winds have moderated. It never ceases to amaze me, when I go out on deck and watch all the birds demonstrating their flying skills. Sometimes as many as 20+birds and usually three to five different varieties.
Today while washing dishes I happened to glance out the window and seen two birds floating up over a wave, and was surprised when they took off underwater as they were actually “penguins”. I guess they forage for food this far north from Antarctica or have an ice berg parked just over the horizon.
I try fishing again but must pull the line in as all the birds are attacking the rubber squid, and actually tearing the thing apart, and not even getting hooked
Overnight the winds go back up to gale force 35-40kts and I reduce sail to just the staysail and reefed main, and with that, it still feels like a bit too much sail.
Day-62 NEW YEARS EVE
24hr.Run=132 NM.
Position: Latitude 48*41’S Longitude 23*46’W.
Weather: Wind=12-25 kts.S
Seas: 6-8ft SW.
Cabin Temp=41-46*
Bar=1000 mb
The day starts out nice, sailing along in 25 kts
I have decided to stay home this year and avoid all the cops on the highway.
The really cool thing about sailing the Southern Ocean is you can get sloshed every day without drinking anything, not to mention staggering when you walk and things are always getting spilled, and it’s all free and just part of the experience.
I will be making some kind of Tuna fish spaghetti, with garlic, tomato sauce, onions, and Italian seasoning. I hope it turns out ok.
Overnight the winds crank up to Gale force once again. I prop myself up on one elbow so I can see the A.I.S. first to be sure there are no targets [ships],and then the speed which was 7-9 kts and the course which was about 40-degrees off from what I wanted but even with a jibe I would still be twenty degrees off, and the winds were forecast to shift favorably before too long, so I just curled back up with my “Hot Tequila” bottle and drifted off to sleep, awaking an hour later to see we were back on course.
I awoke to a very cool cabin at 41 degrees and was a little shocked when I looked top sides and found about one inch of slushy snow.
Now it’s summer down here with 19hrs of day light, and that makes me hope I get out of here before it becomes winter.
Oh well, I had a White Christmas thanks to the Ice berg and now a white New Year’s day with snow.
Day-63 HAPPY NEW YEAR
24hr.Run=161 NM.
Position: Latitude 48*37’S. Longitude 19*51’W.
Weather: Wind SSW.12-25kts.
Seas: 6-8ft.
Cabin Temp: 42*-46*
Bar: 1004mb
I want to wish you all a Happy New Year and hope many good things come your way in the New Year ahead.
Today looks like a good sailing day and it should put us beyond the half way point of crossing the Atlantic.
I fell about 4-days behind schedule in the Pacific due to adverse weather.
My hopes of making the Cape of Good Hope by the 7th are out the window and now it looks more like the 12th at the earliest.
When nature is your motor you just have to make the most of what you receive for power.
There is another low that appears will form directly ahead of me, although it is not intense, they are always like opening Pandora’s box full of unpredictability that “jumps” out at you.
Sailors Run “bumping along” on one “cold ass” ride, the Jefe’.
PICTURES OF NEW YEARS PARTY YR 2011 GRENADA ISLAND/S.E CARIBBEAN AT CLARKS COURT BAY MARINA
HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE CARIBBEAN YEAR 2011
NEW YRS EVE PARTY AT CLARK’S COURT
MARINA 2011
DANCING OUR LEGS OFF TO GREAT OLDIES MUSIC
JEFF WITH LANI FR SV ASTOR,HAVING A GREAT TIME
SUPER FRIENDS RICHARD AND WIFE LANI FR SV ASTOR ,NEW YRS EVE PARTY 2011
CLARK’S COURT BAY MARINA WHERE WE WERE ANCHORED AT YR 2011/GRENADA/CARIBBEAN