0 DAY 128=5TH &FINAL AT WEST CAPE,NEW ZEALAND

THE BIG YELLOW WIDE SMILE FACE ON THE RIGHT IS WHERE WEST CAPE,NEW ZEALAND IS AS THEY SAILED BY

MADE IT TO OUR 5 TH CAPE AS WELL AS THE LAST ONE ON MY ADVENTURE-YAHOO!!  

24 hr. Run=126 NM.

Position: Lat.47*02’S Long. 168*10 E. Weather: Wind=N 8-30 knots Seas. N 6-10 ft.

Cabin Temp=58-60*. Bar=999 mb

  TODAY IS A MONUMENTAL DAY OF THE VOYAGE,AS SAILORS RUN PULLS ABEAM OF WEST CAPE,NEW ZEALAND AFTER 127 days,11 hrs and 55 minutes.

THIS BEING OUR 5TH AND FINAL CAPE AND NOW I MUST SAY “DEBBIE I’AM COMING HOME” KEEP A LIGHT ON

AS WE CAME IN UNDER THE CAPE,WE WERE ABOUT 8-MILES NORTH OF THE SNARE ISLAND & I COULD ACTUALLY SEE THEM.

THIS BEING THE FIRST LAND I HAVE SEEN SINCE CAPE HORN & I MUST ADMIT ALTHOUGH THEY ARE NOT SO LARGE THEY WERE GREEN & LOOKED PRETTY INVITING FOR THIS SAILOR IN OFF OF THE “BLUE”.

SNARE ISLAND AS THEY SAW IT AS THEY SAILED BY

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 124,125,126

Showing Sailors Run & Jeff going to be sailing by Stewart Island,New Zealand

Total Miles Sailed So Far=16,744 NM

Miles sailed last 3-days=267 NM.

Miles left to go to West Cape New Zealand =150 NM.

Top speed so far for trip= 14.1 kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

DAY-124= 24 hr.Run=69 NM.

Position: Lat.46*58’S. Long.158*01S. Weather=Wind: 0-15 kts. N Seas: 8-12 feet

Cabin Temp=56*-64*. Bar=1014mb

It was about midnight on a restless night aboard Sailors Run, and I was having trouble sleeping, as the air had become light and the sails were banging about top side, caused by the continual rolling on the seas.

I had finally had enough and rolled out of my bunk, dragging the spinnaker out from under the chart table and wrestling it up the companionway stairs and out over the top of the three storm boards into the cockpit; now that “will get” your heart pumping.
This spinnaker is a very large one which is off a Gulf Star 50 that my son owned and he had given it to me, knowing I needed one. Plus, it was brand new.
Debbie and I had had it cut down in Argentina to fit the Sailors Run. The sail is amazingly powerful with very broad shoulders, and will move Sailors Run at 5-6kts in 10-knots of breeze.
I launch the spinnaker and soon we are moving at near 3-knots and the wind vane is able to just barely steer with a little help from the mizzen trim.
I finally crash out below and dream of the spinnaker wrapping itself tightly around the forestay, and me aloft in the boson chair “franticly” slashing away at it with a butcher knife trying to cut it in the clear.
We sailed under Spinnaker for 9-hours before the winds increased to 15-knots and it was time to snuff the spinnaker, no easy feat for sure.
Once up on the fore deck I clip in after having already releasing the spinnaker sheet line and start the tug a war to bring the sock down over the “wildly popping and snapping” spinnaker.
Only by standing up on the foredeck and taking three wraps around my hand and falling back using all my weight and ending up laying on the deck do I at last get this monster contained in the snuffer once again.
I must “admit” it is times like this that you wonder if flying a spinnaker is the best idea for the solo sailor.

Day-125 =24 hr.Run=73 NM.

Position:Lat.47*10’S. Long.159*42’E. Weather=Wind: 0-12 kts. from all directions.

Seas: 4-8 feet N. Cabin Temp=58*63*. Bar=1010mb

Today was a light air day once again and we were becalmed [no wind] for 8-hrs. At last we are moving along with a favorable breeze that filled in from the north.

It is times like this that I get a little nervous lingering in an area of notoriously bad weather and having to struggle to get out of here. If I was not sailing unassisted around the world I would have that motor on and scooting out of here, but that is not what this voyage is about.
Today I sewed on “Patches” for 7- hrs. Then I got my weekly shower, something that really makes me feel so much better.  I have eaten up the last of the potatoes although I do have some instant mashed potatoes, and tonight it will be a can of “Chunky clam chowder” and a can of corn for dinner.

Day-12= 24 hr. Run=125 NM.

Position: Lat.47*10’S. Long.162*22’E. Weather=Wind=N 8-25 kts. Seas:6-10 ft.

Cabin Temp=57*62* Bar=1007 mb

So far for us the weather looks great for getting around West Cape New Zealand, although possibly a little light at times.

I put in yet another 8-hrs sewing on “Patches”, and there is still no end in sight to this project. All of this hand work truly “sucks and blows”, oh wait a minute, possibly just possibly I have defined the “sex life of the single hander”!
Wait a minute, now getting back to the sewing; I think the fingers on my left hand have more needle holes in them than a Bears paw stealing Honey from a bee’s nest.

Now practicing the 3-SSS’s-Sun-Sailing and Sewing.
The Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 121-122-123

Total miles sailed so far=16,477 NM.

Miles sailed last 3-days=326 NM.

Distance left to go to East Cape, New Zealand=445 NM.

Top Speed so far= 14.1kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:
DAY-121= 24hr.Run=78 NM.

Pos. Lat.45*41’S. Long.150*58’E. Weather=Wind=5-15kts. from all directions. Seas=8-15ft. S. Cabin Temp=58*-65*. Bar=1020mb

Have you ever had one of those days you just wished you had just stayed in bed?

For me it was day #121.
This day was dominated by light winds out of the SE, the direction we needed to go.
I consider myself a pretty good sailor, but in my life on several occasions I have found myself not being able to get there from where I was under sail.

This night the air was light on the nose with a 15 ft southerly swell with some current against us. I have no Genoa to put up yet, and the main boom is broken. With the wind vane I need about 7kts of wind for it to perform and we have 5. The only two directions it seems I can go is either NE or NW and I want to go SE. The wind will eventually fill in from the north, but in the meantime I’m going the wrong way.
I took the helm and if I was really careful I could go SW-SSW which was better than nothing, but it was now dark and I needed to sleep. It seems after about an hour of experimenting with different sail trim and adjustments on the Monitor wind vane I at last was able to get the boat sailing itself to the SW, and knowing the wind was going to fill in from the North I could at last get some sleep.

It finally got light and I decided today I would pull “Patches” [the genoa] down for repairs. I grab a quick cold cereal breakfast and then set about gathering up what I needed to patch the sail. Once up on deck I noticed the sheet line to the staysail was failing as it was down to the center core.

Now I must pull everything out of aft compartment, the 60lb CQR Anchor, 1000 feet of line, and miscellaneous other apparatus, to get the much needed replacement sheet line. I replace it and reverse the other one as it seems in the past storms it chafes on the forward lower shroud on the main mast.
I get the caulking gun with silicone and suddenly here this POP and there goes the main, as the main sheet had parted and the 4-inch block that is attached to the clew is flying wildly about. This is an easy fix as I have plenty of main sheet and only lost about 7ft of it.
At last I roll out “Patches” and get her down on the deck. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that she only has the one rip in the sail not like usual where I find 2-5 more once it’s down.
Soon the patch is back on and I begin to feed the sail into the furler foil, this is not easy single handed, and after about 6 trips to the foil and back to the mast, I have the sail about half way up. I pull more slack and line up the luff cord so it will enter the foil once again and go back to the mast and start to crank it up, when suddenly a gust of wind about 15 knots hits us, and blows the sail off the deck and over the side.

At first I’m not too concerned as I believe there isn’t enough sail to even reach the water, but much to my surprise we roll to starboard as a 15foot swell is coming through and patches scoops up a ton of water and disintegrates right before my eyes.

I mean she tears all along the foot just above the UV cover of the sail, and up the leach of the sail, she blows a seam in the middle of the sail and another section just rips from foot to leach,so I drag the pieces aboard and look at the tatters and the bottom paint all over it, and for an instant I can see me throwing the whole “damn thing” over the side.

No! I can’t throw the sail away, so now I have about 60 feet of repair work to do on the sail. This might take a week, but we can do it, so why not?

DAY-122 =24hr.Run=121 NM

Pos. Lat.46*23’S. Long. 153*43’E. Weather=Wind=N 12-20kts. Seas=6-12 ft N

Cabin Temp=58*-67*. Bar=1012mb

Today Sailors Run is sailing along nicely on course for West Cape New Zealand. I spent over 8 hrs sewing on patches making some progress. Today was also the warmest day I have seen in the Southern Ocean 67*.
I have a very interesting study going on with various types of mold found aboard, and have come to realize there are some major differences.

Now take the green mold that grows on the cheese and 4-month old bread, this mold has kind of a sharp bite to it, like extra sharp cheddar cheese, but let me tell you it is nothing compared to the black mold that was lurking in the bottom of my oatmeal box.

I took a bite of my charcoal colored oatmeal and “Holy Damn” that was a “Wild Assed” taste. I was spitting that stuff out and could not get that taste out of my mouth and throat. It was after about 15- minutes my lips started feeling numb and my face started to tingle. My hands even felt tingly, I was starting to get worried. I had already chucked the oatmeal overboard and had eaten a bowl of cold cereal, thinking that would absorb whatever little bit of this that went down my throat, but it seemed to be getting worse. I finally made myself a cup of lime juice and put a couple of shots of rum in it and guzzled that down and remarkably that seemed to make me feel much better. I don’t know what to say except to hell with that “waste not want not”, program I had going.

DAY-123=24hr Run=127 NM.

Pos. Lat.47*11’S. Long.156*30’E. Weather= Wind=N. 8-25kts. Seas=N 8-12 ft.

Cabin Temp=57*-63*= Bar=1005mb

Sailing along nicely today, and spent another 10hrs working on “Patches”. We did get some rain as some of the remnants of the cyclone Winston, that had hit Fiji drifted our way.
Other than that, mostly just pretty tired.
Just hanging in there the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 118-119-120

SHOWING THE 4 CAPES AS I TRACK SAILORS RUN & JEFF ON MY WORLD MAP (IN BLUE)

Total miles sailed so far=16,151 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=368 NM.
Miles left to sail to East Cape New Zealand=735NM.
Top speed so far =14.1kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

DAY-118.
24hr.Run=96NM. Pos. Lat.46*04’S. Long.144*23’E. Weather=Wind=45-60kts WNW. Seas=15-30ft.WNW. Cabin Temp=53*-60*.Bar=999mb

First let me say I shared some of this day in the last adventure, because I could and wanted you to know I was all right.

The winds screeched and howled throughout the night, and on many occasions Sailors Run was slammed by powerful breaking waves, but little water found its way below.

I rolled out of my berth at 3 am after riding to the drogue for 8-hrs, and decide to winch it in. Now I got to tell you this thing really bites into the sea and takes nearly an hour to get it back onboard.
I decide to remain under bare poles until the squalls subside a bit. Our run for this day was diminished because of the time under the drogue. It was very late in this day that the winds began to come down and the waves diminished at a much slower rate.

The only damage we sustained was the loss of a dozen eggs that were broken in the fridge, leaving me but three eggs left, and as it turned out these were also rotten so possibly they were all finished before the storm any way.

DAY-119.
24hr.Run=135NM.Pos. Lat.46*10’S.Long.147*23’E. Weather= Wind=30-45kts.SW. Seas12-20ft. SW. Cabin temp=56*-60*.Bar=1000mb

It appears today we will get a break from the severe weather with that severe weather returning once again tomorrow.

We find ourselves sailing along the bottom of Tasmania some 100+ miles to the south headed for the East Cape. It would appear that the Cape will not be reached on this day.

Late in the day the winds increase to 45 knots and very rough seas overnight, and we sail on under staysail alone.

DAY-120.
24hr.Run=137 NM. Pos. Lat.45*11’S, Long.150*10E. Weather= Wind=10-45kts. SW-S. Seas=10-18ft. Sw. Cabin Temp=53*-60.Bar=1016mb

After 119 days 4hrs and 11-minutes Sailors Run sails abeam of South East Cape Tasmania!!! “Yahoo” our FOURTH CAPE and now off to New Zealand, and Cape #5 about 850 NM to the ESE.

Tasmania is an Island State of Australia, where over 1/2 million people live. The Island nearly 100 mile’s square was first sited by the Dutch sailing captain Abel Tasman in 1642. He named the Island Van Diemen’s land after the prime minister of the Dutch East Indies whom he sailed for.
Tasman is believed to be the first European to site Australia, and it is also believed that the Aborigines had lived there for more than 40,000 years prior to that sighting.

I’m currently watching the barometer shoot up like it has a solid fuel booster rocket attached to it. This means we are approaching the high pressure that will eventually bring us northerly winds to take us SSE down around the high to get to New Zealand.
The 975 low that has been tormenting us over the past three days should move SE and away taking the bad weather with it.
Now I know there was another topic I was to explore but for some reason, possibly battle fatigue I can’t recall what it was.
Hmmm! 40,000 years ago, maybe we did all fall down from the “Milky Way”.
After that final Cape the Jefe’

0 DAY 119-FEBRUARY 27TH-AT SOUTH EAST CAPE TASMANIA

SAILORS RUN AND JEFF SAILING BY THERE FOURTH CAPE=SOUTH EAST CAPE,TASMANIA AUSTRALIA

MY FOURTH CAPE AND  ONE MORE TO GO:

After 119 days 4 hrs and 11-minutes Sailors Run sails abeam of South East Cape Tasmania!!! “YAHOO” OUR FOURTH CAPE and now off to New Zealand, and Cape #5 about 850 NM to the ESE.

24hr.Run=137 NM.

Position Latitude 45*11’S, Longitude 150*10 E.

Weather= Wind=10-45 knots  SW-S.

Seas=10-18 feet  SW

Cabin Temp=53*-60. Bar=1016 mb.

SOUTH EAST CAPE DOWN UNDER ,TASMANIA AUSTRALIA

SOUTH EAST CAPE AS IT LOOKS IF YOU WERE ON LAND ,ALTHO SAILORS RUN & JEFF SAILED BY FROM A GREAT DISTANCE

0 AROUND ALONE DAY 115-116-117

2013 September
Time we spent in San Francisco watching the most exciting race in history

Fine sailing on San Francisco Bay at the America’s Cup day

Total miles sailed so far= 15,783 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=389 NM.
Distance left to go to East Cape Tasmania=210 NM.
Top speed so far=14.1kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day-115.
24hr.Run=108NM. Pos. Lat.46*16’S. Long.135*36’E. Weather=Wind=0-20kts. WSW. Seas=8-12ft. West. Cabin Temp=58*-62*. Bar=994mb

It is Barometer Soup time as I watch the barometer as it plummets once again to 989 mb. A low has formed right in front of me and I have sailed into the center of it.

I go top side to harvest some much needed water as it is raining like crazy, and I get about 35-gallons before the rain stops.
I now wait for the wind to fill in again, and when it does I will probably have plenty.
It takes about an hour and the wind goes up to about 20kts or less for the remainder of this day
Day-116.
24hr.Run=139 NM. Pos.Lat.46*08’S. Long.139*06’E. Weather=.Wind=10-25kts. WNW. Seas=8-12ft. WNW. Cabin Temp=54*-62*. Bar=992mb

Today I awoke to sunshine and a NW wind that is driving me to the south so I jibe over, and get back on course.

I’m beginning to realize what it is like to live on a survival basis. It’s almost like an experiment, where you isolate yourself from all sources of replenishment, and interacting with other people hands on.
Mother nature provides the challenges you must deal with daily, and good planning on the food supply will determine how well you will be nourished over the planed duration of the voyage. What fascinates me the most is the opportunity to study survival up close on a personal level.
I know hunger is man’s strongest driving force with sex being the second strongest. I will cover “Sex of the single-handler” in the next adventure.

What I have learned out here so far is that with a year and a half to plan and obtain my needed supplies I still fell short in some areas, and that was with knowing I needed supplies for 5-7 months.
What is truly frightening about this is when you think of how ill prepared most families are for a prolonged isolation from food supplies. In the event of a catastrophe whether it be natural disaster, epidemic, war, meteor hits are planet, financial collapse etc.
I believe most people would be in trouble in three days and forced to go ask for provisions, and it would not be long after that, they would go take the stuff at whatever risk.
This is just food for thought, from an isolated sailor, with way too much time on his hands.
Day-117.
24hr.Run=142 NM. Pos. Lat.46*23’S. Long.142*25’E. Weather=Bar= Wind=45kts gusting 60+kts.WNW. Seas=15-30+ft. Cabin Temp=55*-58*. Bar=986 mb.

Today the winds are blowing 45 knots plus, and the seas are getting up to the twenty-foot range. I’m sailing under stay sail alone and exceeding 7 knots at times.The low continues to strengthen as it moves to the SE towards New Zealand.

At 1:30 pm I was forced to go to bare poles as the winds are gusting 60+knots and by 7 pm after recording 12.1 knots on the odometer, it’s time to set out the drogue.

I use the fishing floats in the net bag with a swivel and about 30 feet of 3/8″ chain and 400 feet of 5/8 three strand and never exceed 5-knots after that.
At 3:30 am I drag the drogue back in as the fierce squalls have abated, and stay under bare poles for another 5-hrs in 45 knots We spent 18 hours under bare poles and eight of that was with the drogue deployed, and the drogue dug in and did a great job.

The difference with this storm from the last, is that it was of shorter duration, and the sustained winds were a little less, not producing the enormous seas. Although we were slammed many times by breaking waves, and it was extremely dangerous sailing.

The squalls were producing spray that moved across the ocean towards us that looked like a cloud of smoke, pretty freaky. Some waves were over 30 ft.

Hanging on once again, the Jefe’.

US WATCHING ORACLE-EMIRATES RACING ON SAN FRANCISCO BAY

ON OUR FRIENDS BOAT BEING SO CLOSE TO TAKE THIS PICTURE OF ORACLE ON THE BAY

ORACLE COMING TOWARDS US AS WE WATCH

MANY BOATS ON SAN FRAN BAY WATCHING THE AMERICA’S CUP

WALKED THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ACROSS FROM SAUSALITO TO WATCH THE AMERICA’S CUP

Saw Google’s co founder Larry Pages yacht on San Francisco Bay

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 112-113-114

Sailors Run anchored by Sugar Loaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Total miles sailed so far=15,394 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=421 NM.
Distance left to go to East Cape Tasmania=590 NM.
Top speed so far=14.1 kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Just a quick note I love to hear from you all, but please do not hit reply when responding to this email, as it sends the whole adventure back via a slow radio link. Thank You.
DAY-112.
24hr.Run=128NM. Pos. Lat.45*07’S. Long.127*05’E. Weather=Wind=8-25kts.WNW. Seas=8-12ft. WNW. Cabin Temp=56*-62*. Bar=1008’mb

Sailing along under mizzen main & stay sail in weather just a little too dicey to pull Patches off for repair. A cold front is sneaking up on us very slowly, making it difficult to judge when it will arrive.

Tasmania looms ahead, surrounded by treacherous bodies of water, such as Bass Strait, Tasman Sea, and The Southern Ocean where we will be.

Here we find ourselves with our back against the wall, as we have very little control over our arrival time, and this area to the south of Tasmania is the spawning grounds of many severe low pressure systems.

Here aboard Sailors Run we can only hope for a little good luck transiting this stretch of ocean.
DAY-113.
24hr.Run=149 NM. Pos. Lat.45*12’S. Long.130*29’E. Weather= Wind=10-25Kts.WNW. Seas=8-12ft.W. Cabin Temp=58*-62*. Bar=107mb

Today we are sailing fast along our course line, and it seems the high pressure in the area has stalled the cold fronts arrival. There is a low pressure trough up ahead that we might have the opportunity to collect some water in.

I have decided that I will strip down to my underwear and slip on my Mustang work suit [A suit used by fisherman and Coast Guard alike when working in cold water areas]. This is necessary because I’m getting down to my last warm clothing. Should I get a lot of water then I can get some clothes washed up. Today I wiped mold from some of the walls and oiled some of the teak wood below decks.

It’s funny how that before this voyage, I had a huge list of things to do to get the boat ready to go, and low and behold once again I have another large list of things that need to be done to the boat, a battle that seems impossible to win.
DAY-114.
24hr.Run=144 NM. Pos. Lat.45*45’S. Long.133*46’E. Weather= Wind=10-25kts.WNW. Seas=8-12ft. WNW. Cabin Temp.58*-60*. Bar=1004mb

Today I was pulling weather faxes and happened to notice a huge storm off Cape Horn, the likes of no sailor would care to participate in. It appeared two 964 lows had combined at the Horn and were tearing the place up.

My weather has been reasonably mild the past 5-days and it appears that will end tomorrow, when a big low moves up from the south onto the Sailors Run.

It appears now that I will be riding the northern top edge of the low in 35-45 kt gale force conditions, and that should be okay.  My only worry is if it comes in behind me and runs directly over the top of me meaning much more severe conditions for a longer period of time. “Feeling Lucky Punk”??

Feeling Lucky, the Jefe’.

PS.  Be sure and check out the blog at WWW.SAILORSRUN.COM as Debbie is posting pictures of our past 17-years of cruising.

The Famous Christ Redeemer(christo redentor) we visited in Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Looking down on the city of Rio De Janeiro

Jeff in Rio & Sugar Loaf Mountain,Brazil

Jeff with local portuguese fishermen on the street of Rio de Janeiro,Brazil

Guess Who? happy in Brazil

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 109-110-111

SAILORS RUN,JEFF SAILING BELOW AUSTRALIA, THEY ARE RIGHT WHERE THE “I” IS OF THE WORD ‘BIGHT”

Total miles sailed so far=14,973 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=414 NM.
Miles left to go to East Cape, Tasmania=1000 NM.
Top speed so far=14.1kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
DAY 109.
24hr.Run=127NM. Pos. Lat.46*01’S. Long.118*40’E. Weather=Wind=7-25kts. Seas=8-12ft. Cabin Temp=55*-57*. Bar=1012mb

Just wanted to mention Cape Leeuwin is the south western most point of Australia, and it is named after the Dutch ship Leeuwin (Lioness)that charted much of the west coast back in 1722. The ship is believed to be the first ship to ever visit there.

Many things seem to be happening today, first the light in the galley mysteriously turns on by itself, and it is a new Led light. Upon closer examination it is obvious that salt water is getting into the fixture and is creating a path for current to flow.
While unscrewing the fixture Sailors Run is slammed by a large wave and I get tossed across the galley, and slammed into the door frame, with my right shoulder blade and head taking most of the impact. My stocking hat goes flying along with the battery light I had strapped on my head. I see stars for a minute then regain my senses. After a few choice words, I realize although nothing is broken I still feel a serious pain in my shoulder and have a pretty good naught on my head. Serious personal injury is very high on the not to do list for solo sailors.
Soon it began raining hard outside and I went topside to collect some much needed water. I got about 10-gallons before the rain stopped. While crawling around on deck I noticed a screw in the Genoa track was pulled up, meaning the track was coming up while sailing with the genoa, not a good sign.
As it turns out the loose track was the source of the leak that was messing with the light in the galley, and this problem was actually created by me 11-years ago.

PICTURE OF JEFF AFTER HE REMOVED THE TEAK DECKS ON SAILORS RUN IN AUSTRALIA

See in 2004 in Australia I removed the teak decks on Sailors Run, and when I put the track back down where the genoa block goes there were two bolts that went through the deck, and the nuts on those bolts were under the piece of wood that the light in the galley was screwed to. Apparently, when I caulked those bolts in I never pulled that light down to put the washer and nuts on so for the past 11 years the lag screws in the deck carried the load, but were finally failing. Lucky for me I found it before the track was broken.
The next thing that happened was the coffee pot was launched off the stove by a wave and spilled water and coffee grounds all over the galley, this is the second time this trip this has happened. Fortunately, the stove had not been lit as yet so the water was not hot, and I hadn’t gotten the bungee cord on the pot. Now when I finally do get the coffee going the second propane tank goes empty on me so number three and my last propane tank is hooked up. Now I’m hoping this one can get me home.

The winds have gone light so I roll out Patches, only to discover another rip in the sail, so I immediately roll it back up. I would have pulled it off but feel my shoulder needs a day of rest before further abusing it.

Later in the day I hang over the stern tying new stopper knots on the servo rudder of wind vane, just a precaution so the old knots cannot fail.
DAY 110

24hr.Run=148N.Pos, Lat. 46*07’S Long.121*58’E. Weather=Wind=20-25kts WSW. Seas=8-12ft.Cabin Temp.=51*-56*. Bar=1012mb

Today cleaned ground connections on SSB radio for better performance and installed additional heavy copper ground lead from batteries to the engine, as it seemed the engine was having trouble cranking over. The additional lead solved the problem and the engine fired right up for its by-weekly 15- minute oil circulating and dry out run in neutral.

DAY 111

24 hr.Run=139NM. Pos.Lat.44*45’S Long.124*21’E. Weather=Wind=20-25W .Seas=W. 8-12ft. Cabin Temp.=55*59*. Bar=1000mb

Today winds are 20-25 knots and we are getting some warmer air possibly off of the great Australian desert. I like the warmer temperatures but my eggs don’t, as now it sees every other one must be tossed. I don’t eat them if they are cloudy or smell too bad. They can stink a little bit.

My variety of foods is dwindling, not to mention cookies. I got a shower today and that goes a long way in propping up one’s spirits.

Doing the “Coffee Ground Shuffle” in the galley, the Jefe’.

WINDS THAT JEFF & SAILORS RUN ARE HAVING ON BOTTOM LEFT HAND CORNER AT 45′ & 130′ BELOW AUSTRALIA

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 106-107-108

THE SAILING JOURNEY CONTINUES ON MY MAP IN BLUE FOR JEFF & SAILORS RUN

Total miles sailed so far =14,559 NM.
Miles sailed last three days=441NM.
Miles left to go to East Cape Tasmania=1,320 NM.
Top speed so far=14.1kts.
THE REST OF THE STORY:
DAY-106.
24hr.Run=142 NM. Pos.45*41’S. Long.108*59’E. Weather=Wind=15-35kts.WSW. Seas=12-18ft. WSW.  Bar=1012mb Cabin Temp=53*-60*.

Today was water the batteries day, something I must do every two months, and they are in the aft stateroom, our garage so to speak, with lots of things stored in there, not to mention all the black plastic bags full of plastic containers and wrappers that are piling up, as the voyage continues.
I also put in place the third storm board to eliminate the inboard waterfall. I had been reluctant to do this as it makes opening the hatch much more difficult, not to mention climbing in and out.
It’s Valentine’s Day and I’m celebrating with an extra ration of chocolate bar, and the beautiful card that Debbie had stashed aboard for this special time, as she knows Valentine’s day was always my favorite day, as it was the one holiday that I felt like I could afford.
DAY-107.
24hr.Run=152NM. Pos.Lat.45*40’S. Long.112*30’E. Weather=Wind=WNW 15-20kts.Seas=8-12ft.WNW.  Bar=1001mb.  Cabin temp=56*-62*.

Today is nice sailing with winds down and “Patches” up. I pulled everything out of the back locker to gain access to the autopilot ram so I could set it at the center steering position for more ohm readings and to get model and serial # off unit. Now I wait to hear from the manufacture.

This afternoon the sun is out as we skirt along the southern inner edge of the high hoping to stay out of the calm center. I’m getting great weather faxes out of Australia, so now there will be fewer surprises, weather wise.

There is a cold front that will hit tomorrow early and bring gale force winds forty knots or better.

Day-108.

24hr.Run=147 NM. Pos. Lat. 46*08’S. Long.115*55’E. Weather=Wind=20-40ktsWNW. Seas=15-18ft. Bar=1006mb

AT THERE THIRD CAPE GOING FROM INDIAN OCEAN TO SOUTHERN OCEAN, AUSTRALIA

Today is a very special day as we sail along in yet another gale, and what makes it so, is we will at last have Cape Leeuwin abeam, our Third Cape of the Five.

Debbie and I would like to put a special shout out to all of our Aussie friends up there in Australia. As we met many wonderful Aussies when we cruised there in 2004-2005, and have met many others in anchorages all over the world. You have a great country Mates!
It’s amazing to think that here we are sailing under the folks from down under.
The next and last two capes are not so far away now, there is east cape Tasmania just 1400 NM.  and West Cape New Zealand just about 850 NM. beyond that.
These last two capes are very challenging as the weather in that area is notoriously difficult and once again you are down near the screaming 50* latitude, off of New Zealand to clear that one.

I must say a bit of good luck would go a long way’s towards easing the challenges that lay ahead for Sailors Run and crew. You can trust, I’m already watching the weather around those two capes.

“Scared Skinny” the Jefe’.

0 DAY 108: FEBRUARY 16TH-AT CAPE LEEUWIN

SAILORS RUN AND JEFF GOING BY HIS THIRD CAPE= CAPE LEEUWIN, AUSTRALIA

MY THIRD CAPE AND 2 MORE CAPES TO GO:

Today is a very special day as we sail along in yet another gale, and what makes it so, is we will at last have Cape Leeuwin abeam, our Third Cape of the Five.

Debbie and I would like to put a special shout out to all of our Aussie friends up there in Australia. As we met many wonderful Aussies when we cruised there in 2004-2005, and have met many others in anchorages all over the world. You have a great country Mates!
It’s amazing to think that here we are sailing under the folks from down under.

The next and last two capes are not so far away now, there is East Cape Tasmania just 1400 NM.  and West Cape, New Zealand just about 850 NM. beyond that.

24 hr.Run=147 NM.

Position: Latitude  46*08’S. Longitude 115*55’E.

Weather=Wind=20-40 knots WNW.

Seas=15-18 feet

Bar=1006mb