0 AROUND THE WORLD DAYS 52,53,54

Total mile sailed so far=7027 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=299 NM.
Miles left to go to cape of Good Hope=2450 NM..
Top speed on trip=12.2kts.

The Rest of the story:

Day 52:

24hr.Run=144 NM.
Position: Latitude 54*30’S. Longitude 53*01’W
Weather: Wind-3-30 kts NW.
Seas: 7-10ft.NW.
Cabin temp 47-50*
Bar-990mb

Today was an amazing day as I had no projects to do, so in the morning I cleaned up the boat, and decided to take a shower. The showers are only being done every fourth day now to conserve water, and I’m still trying to figure out how to take one with my long-underwear on, but still no luck on that.
I felt great after the shower, and had gotten the dishes all washed up and put away, and it seemed like a good time to set down with my kindle and read a mystery story.

After what must have been twenty-minutes I noticed the boats motion had changed and it seemed that the wind vane might not be steering.
Once out in the cockpit I was shocked to see what looked like a large silver salmon swimming just behind the boat. Upon closer examination this was no salmon at all, it was the shinny servo rudder off the wind vane, trailing behind on the safety line.
Now this was all as it should be as the thinner coupler tube connecting the rudder to the wind vane had broken off as it should when something rolls up from under the boat, like a log etc. I just hoped it wasn’t my rudder leaving that had done it, as I had not heard us hit a log.
I dug through my compartments and on the third one I came up with a couple of replacement pieces of stainless steel tubing to make the repair
Once again with the Makita cutting wheel leading the charge and the Milwaukee drill, punching out the holes, soon a replacement appeared right before my eyes.
Bolting it back on was the interesting part as we were sailing fast and the stern wake was up around the bolt that had to be removed then replaced after new tube was inserted in the hinge socket Once again I find myself tethered off hanging by my knees off the back of the boat working in frigid waters to make the installation happen. “Fixed”!

It appeared the breaking of the wind vane was metal fatigue, more than any one big hit.

Day 53:

24hr.Run=56 NM.
Position Latitude 54*23’S Longitude 51*43’W
Weather: Wind light and variable from all directions.
Waves: 2ft.
Cabin Temp. 47-49*
Bar=990mb

Today the Sailors run is challenged by light and variable winds from many different directions, and this always makes for lots of work trying to keep the boat moving in the right direction. It appears that we are in the middle of a low and must wait for it to move over us, hopefully taking off on the back side of it.
I installed a new LED light over the nave station, after finding the fixture yesterday, while digging through the compartments.
I’m a grandfather once again as our daughter Heather just had a New Baby Boy that came a little early, weighing in at 6 lbs.1oz. The name is Brayden Lucas Thornton, sounds like more crew for the future.

Day 54:

24hr.Run=99 NM.
Position-Latitude 54*15’S Longitude 49*06’W
Weather: Wind-8-12ktsNE
Seas: 2-4ft.
Cabin temp=44*-49*.
Bar.986mb

The winds seem to be on Christmas break, so first let me wish all of you out there a “Merry Christmas and Happy holidays”. Now for me I have a card to open from Debbie and I hope Santa swings by Antarctica, dropping off some fresh breezes that will allow me to get crashing along to where I’m going.

I’m still undecided what will be on the menu for Christmas, but Roast “Albatross” sounds intriguing!! HA HA!!

I have seen 3 ships since the Horn. Two of them were at the Horn, and were small 90-meter passenger ships, the “Plancius and the Polar Princess that both appeared to come up from Antarctica and went to the Horn for photos. The third ship a much larger freighter by the name of “Britannia” was paralleling my course just to the south of me, other than that alls been quiet in the South Atlantic.

Looking for wind your Amigo the Jefe’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 50,51

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Total miles sailed so far=6738 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=411 NM.
Distance to go to Cape of Good Hope=2690 NM.
Fastest speed so far=12.2kts

DAY 50- 24hr Run=102 NM.

Position: Latitude 55*28’S Longitude 60*23’W

Weather: Wind-NNE3-12 kts

Seas: 2-4ft.

Cabin temp: 44-51*
Bar: 995mb

Now after a day of “rocketing away” from the “Horn” in winds up to 30-kts that were created by a low that slipped below us to the south it is once again time to pay my dues.

On the eve of the heavy weather sailing day, during an inspection of the Genoa sail I noticed three new tears in the sail. I furled the sail in and buried the tear’s

Now down here it starts getting light at 1am Bahia Caraquez time and at 2:30am I rolled the Genoa sail out, and glued patches over the tears in the Genoa. I could just barely reach the tear’s while standing on the bow pulpit lashed onto the furled part of the sail with my safety harness. Once again I furled the sail allowing the contact cement to set up.
It was 6am when I pulled the Genoa down off the furler tube, and spread it out on deck where I could finish a proper repair. I glued patches backing the first patches on the opposite side of the sail, and then sewed the patches together, all the time sliding about on the fore deck, harnessed into my jack line and being very thankful for a high tow rail, to brace myself against and stop my slide off the deck.

After about one and a half hours the sail was back up and flying at 100% as we waited for the winds to build.

Sailing on a passage such as this is like having a new baby in your home, there is no set routine and you never know when nature [baby] will call.

I should mention that as of this day I believe we are nearly 30% complete on our solo circumnavigation. Yahoo!!

DAY-51 24hr.Run=144 NM.

Position: 54*49’S. Longitude 56*30’W

Weather: Wind=NW 7-15 kts.

Seas: 4-6ft

Cabin Temp: 47*-52*.
Bar: 996 mb

The sun is out and the winds have returned making this day tolerable to be outside. It seems when the wind comes from the north the temperature is nearly 10 degrees warmer than the southerly winds off of Antarctica.

I take advantage of the good conditions to put a fishing line out and do a much needed outside project. I moved the double cheek block that the control lines from the wind-vane pass through, aft about ½ an inch. I believe this change will stop the steering line from ever dropping of the wheel again.

The fishing lure a cedar plug was my choice as it runs a little deeper so the Albatross can’t get it as they do not dive below the surface.

Now you can imagine my surprise when I came on deck to see Five Giant Albatross all trying to get my lure. My first instinct was to grab the camera, but then I seen what these guys were up to. They would fly right up near the stern of Sailors Run where the line entered the water, and grab the fishing line in one of their beaks and the one with the line in his beak just slipped aft towards the lure as it was leveraged to the surface and all the birds could get after it.

I grabbed the meat line and started pulling it in all the time trying to scare the birds away, to no avail. Suddenly the lure got to the albatross and somehow hooked him or tangled him in the line. I knew the bird would surely drown if I did not haul him in and try and set him free.
I know from experience you do not want to attempt this without first putting on gloves because those “suckers “bite hard.

The bird was towing in pretty well when, suddenly it turned over creating a huge drag on the line. I was “shocked”, at what happened next, the bird reached out with his beak and bit the leader in half and suddenly took flight. Now whether he had the lure in him or not he flew vary well and circled the area looking perfectly normal.

That was the end of the cedar plug and my attempt to fish on this day.

From deep in the Atlantic, your amigo the Jefe’

One of the many wandering Albatross who love to get my fishing lure

Having a great time together on our boat

0 DAY 49: DECEMBER 19TH- AT CAPE HORN

“CAPE HORN AT LAST AND ONE CAPE DOWN!

After 49-days and 2hrs Sailors run arrives of the most rugged and beautiful Cape in the world. I can barely see it even though it is less than 5-miles away for the tears in my eyes.

I shudder when I think, I have once again been granted passage to this amazing place. It seems as though someone has caused me to linger along the Chilean coast as I beat my way to the Horn in Light winds. Being slowed by nature and forced north I got to see some of the most amazing sea life that presented itself to me as I “worried” my way down to the Horn.

Now I’m at last here which is amazing!! and I want to thank my wife Debbie for all her wonderful support and to all of our family and great friends for their prayers and emotional support in this huge undertaking.

I must thank Robert Perry for designing such an outstanding cruising boat, the Baba 40 ketch, and those of you that have donated gear, and money to help all this to be possible.

To all “MY Amigos much thanks”.

Now we rapidly sail clear of the Horn into the depths of the Atlantic and all it has in store for us.

The next leg will be about 3000NM to a point nearly 1000-miles south of the “Cape of Good Hope” at Latitude 48*south.

24hr.Run=165NM.
Position-Latitude- 55*38’S Longitude- 63*12’W.
Weather: Wind=20-30kts.NW.
Seas=8-10ft.W.
Cabin Temp=46*-51*.
Bar=994mb

CAPE HORN AND MY SECOND TIME AROUND

CAPE HORN ISLAND SEEN AS I GO BY

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 46,47,48

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’

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 43,44,45

Spinnaker sailing as a ship crosses Sailors Run bow

The ship got close as it turned towards us crossing port to port Notice the sailboat in front of the ship,the boat was actually on the other side of the ship

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Total miles sailed so far=5997 NM
Total miles sailed last three days=303 NM.
Miles left to go to the Horn=247 NM.
Top speed so far 12.2kts.

Day-43 24hr.Run=136 NM.
Position-55*26’S Longitude-77*57’W.
Weather: Wind=10-15 kts.SW.
Waves: 6-8ft.
Cabin Temp: 43-46*
Bar=990mb

The day started out nice, so it was time to try fishing once again.

It had become obvious that the water-maker is having trouble starting and I suspected a bad electrical connection. It was time to water the wet cell batteries anyhow, as I do that every two months. I emptied all the “stuff” out of the outside compartment to gain access to the water-maker, and of course had to empty out the quarter berth to gain access to the batteries.

Now it is simple to run two new wires from the water maker directly two the batteries. I touched the new wires directly on to the batteries full well expecting to hear the water-maker come to life,” WRONG”, the large electric motor will not go. It’s amazing how these things unfold as today is a great sailing day but I must reduce sail so I can pull the water-maker out, and tear into the electrical motor.

I lay out rags all over the galley floor and there beside me, the water-maker, and my tools all sliding around together I tear into it. This electric motor is a wet one meaning heavy oil inside of it,” A MESS”!!

The armature shows lots of wear from the past 14-years of making water, so I clean it up the best I can with a scotch pad, and the brushes still appear ok.
Seven hours later the water-maker is reinstalled and now it’s time for the smoke Yes you guessed it,the FxxKxxG thing does not work

So now I’m inquiring about “dry Martini “recipes and a way to cook rice without water. Possibly it is time to add 15% salt water to my remaining 80 gallons of fresh water to extend its “life”.

I just can’t help but wonder just how much fresh water I might be able to salvage out of those two big squash’s I have if I just beat the “shit” out of them with a baseball bat!!!

OK-OK I will catch water on deck, and Yes luckily I do have a Hand Operated Water-Maker in my ditch bag, but it is very small and very labor intensive.

Day-44 24hr. run= 96NM.
Position- Latitude-56*17’S Longitude-75*57’W.
Weather: Wind7-15 kts. SSW.
Waves: 4-6ft.SW.
Cabin Temp.43-50*
Bar=998mb

Wind has gone light 7-12kts. But there are still occasional squalls, so spinnaker remains below, “for now”!
It is frustrating being so close to the Horn and now just “creeping along”.
Debbie is doing great in Albuquerque, decorating the house inside an out with Christmas lights and many other decorations. Debbie says they actually got a blanket of snow the other night, so that’s pretty cool and she is all excited about cheering her Seattle SeaHawks on.

Day-45 24Hr. Run=71 NM.
Position=Latitude 56*17′. Longitude 7*33’W
Weather: Wind 0-12kts.W.
Seas=2-4ft.SW.
Cabin Temp.=44*-51*
Bar=996 mb

This am the Spinnaker went up as the weather here looks very benign and was the first day I nearly spent all day out in the cockpit. I Sailed for 10 hrs under spinnaker then at 6pm the wind just died and the ocean glassed off.

It was 2:30AM before the wind came back and now it is pretty much on the nose, so currently pounding to weather trying to get to the “Horn”.

Singing “How Dry I am” How Dry I am” ‘Nobody knows How Dry I Am”

Your Amigo the Jefe’

Jeff & I enjoying the evening in our cockpit

Bet Jeff right now would like to be enjoying the wonderful warm weather on the beach again?

0 AROUND THE WORLD DAYS 40,41,42

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

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-37,38,39

Day-37: 24hr Run=142 NM.

Position: Latitude- 48*38’S. Longitude- 98*17’W

Weather: Wind-W at 15-25 kts

Seas: 8-12ft.

Cabin Temp=53*-56*
Bar: 1016mb

Day 38: 24hr Run 158NM

Position: Latitude-51*26’S. Longitude- 95*28;W.

Weather: Wind W at 25-30kts.

Seas: 10-14 ft.

Cabin Temp=51*-55*
Bar=1016mb

Day 39: 24hr.Run=154 NM.

Position:Latitude 53*03’S Longitude- 92*19’W.

Weather: Wind SW at 20-25 kts.

Seas 8-12ft. SW

Cabin temp: 51-53*
Bar=1015mb

Total distance sailed so far=5271 NM.
Distance sailed lat 3-days=448 NM.
Distance left to go to Horn=891 NM.
Top speed so far=12.2 kts. New High

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day-37
I took the mizzen down overnight and this morning just sailing with double reefed Main and 1/3rd. of Genoa. It’s gusting over 25 kts I’m cold and down here anything warm to eat or drink helps raise the core temperature.

You have to give me some slack on typos, as most the time it is like trying to type on a trampoline, with a couple of people jumping on it.

Getting rest and sleeping is very difficult down here, because as you lay in your bunk you here about 15 different noises, like the cans shifting in the bilge, the water rushing by the hull, the block that pops on deck if the Genoa gets a little slack, the fire extinguisher that lets you know it’s there by banging on the cabinet it is hanging in, and it goes on and on. Once you have decided there is no new noise that might mean springing into action, you now tune all the above out and concentrate on your equilibrium and pressure placed on different parts of your body.
Once you have this down you can fall asleep as if the pressure anywhere on your body changes or your equilibrium picks up on a different motion you will wake up.

I have come to realize the tequila bottle is also a good clock as when it gets lukewarm, it is time to get up. The safest and warmest and my favorite place on the boat is in “Bed”.

Day-38

That low pressure that is coming back to take another shot at us is staying to the south and moving through below us and, we will only see 25-30 kts, but there is a severe weather warning associated with it for 40 kts gusting 50-60 kts and severe seas, which I hope not to experience.

The Horn looks to be about 1-week out, and if we are lucky we will arrive right behind a big low. The problem is we must get so far south that we will have to weather the low if it comes, but better before the Horn than at the Horn.

The gap between the tip of South America and Antarctica is just over 300 miles wide, creating a narrow area where these lows tend to pass through , and there is a shelf that extends out sixty miles off of the tip of South America that might want to be avoided in Severe weather.

Today I did two small loads of laundry, getting most of the water blown out of it before bringing it inside to finish drying. It takes days to dry at 51*.

Day-39

Sailors Run was driven hard before the wind with the mizzen back up, so during increasing winds this am I dropped the mizzen down. It was then that I noticed one of the small nylon socket pieces had disappeared and the boom at the gooseneck had come out of its socket.
Now I must manufacture another one or improvise, I have an Idea about using some hose material to pick up the slop between the bottom and the top of the boom jaws. I have a French rig and it is very different from most goosenecks on the mizzen. I had rebuilt the main goose neck less than a year ago and it appears now I should have done this one as well.

I also noticed that the 7-8 inch piece of 3 inch diameter fire hose that I had clamped on the main engine exhaust has been washed away by a large wave. I had hat there to discourage large waves from forcing water into the exhaust system. I will replace it but it means hanging by your toes over the stern of the boat and working in Icy cold water. “YUK”

I don’t remember mentioning that during that 50 kts in the low about a week ago my Windex wind direction indicator blew off the top of the mast, so now it is much harder to see the wind at night as I use to get a visual on that, from inside the boat with the try color illuminating it. Now we are back to “tell tales” on the stainless steel rigging.

The Jefe’ “Hauling Ass” for the “Horn”

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS-34.35.36

Around Alone Update:

Total miles sailed so far=4817 NM.
Miles sailed last 3-days=454NM.
Distance left to go to Horn=1327 NM
Top Speed so far=10.9kts a new high

THE REST OF THE STORY:

Day 34- 24hr.Run=151 NM.
Position: Latitude-45*21S. Longitude-106*28’W
Weather:Wind-15-35 kts.North West
Waves-10-15 feet
Cabin Temp=57*-60*.
Bar=999mb

I awoke this morning to the sound of water rushing alongside the hull, the boat was gyrating a lot as it was skipping up and over the waves that had grown overnight. A quick glance at the Barometer showed a substantial drop in pressure.
It appears that the low that passed over us two days ago was coming back for a second go at us, but this time it should be with a more favorable wind direction, helping drive us to the Horn. “Hang On”.

It seems very cool this AM as I put the coffee on a much needed “warm up”. What the “hell” the damn thing won’t light. I go out into the all to brisk 25-kts and hoist the tank “Huh” it has gas in it. Back down below I pull the fuse on the solenoid switch and it appears fine. Oh well its early perhaps I should try lighting it again, and I try to no avail, except I do smell gas, so shut of solenoid valve at the tank.

I rock the stove forward on its gimbals and inspect the gas line coming into the stove; oh!! my God the copper line that connects to the flexible hose has broken off. So when I turned on the gas it was flowing into the galley not into the burner on the stove. So I was just trying to light the wrong thing as if I would have lowered the lighter I surely would have been able to get things warmed up, now if that isn’t a near “Blast” I don’t know what is.
Bottom line after going out two times and reefing the main, finally taking it all the way down I get the stove fixed by using my Makita cutting blade, cutting off the copper pipe and slipping a piece of rubber gas line that I had onto the copper pipes and using sealant and hose clamps I now have a stove once more. A jury rig for sure but safe enough to get us home on.

I finally get coffee at 11am and breakfast by noon, plus I have a day’s work in.

Day 35-24Hr Run-149 NM
Position=Latitude-46*10’S. Longitude-103*28’W
Weather-Wind=15-35kts.SW.
Waves-8-13 feet South West
Cabin Temp=51*60*. Mostly sunny with one particularly nasty squall at 3am 35-40kts.
Bar=989 mb

Today the waves have come down a little and the ride has improved. The barometer has also fallen more.

It is interesting as I plot our course and progress on my old paper chart I see that we are on the same track for the run into the Horn, as the Vendee Globe Boats were in their solo around the world race back in 2008-09. We are right behind where Foncia was on 1/1/09, and just ahead of the boat Roxy’s position.

Last night I threw the heavy llama hair blanket; on my berth as it feels like it is freezing at night, of course not really, it just feels that way.

Debbie bought that blanket in Peru, and it is a life saver, especially when you throw that 1.75 liter of tequila bottle in there with you, to get things all warmed up.

Day 36-24hr Run-154 NM.
Position-Latitude-48*00’S Longitude-100*48’W.
Weather: 18-30 kts South West

Today finds us pretty much on course for the run into the “Horn” with over 1400 NM to go as it will be a long wild “Roller Coaster” ride.

I hope because I’m nearly a month ahead of the time when I rounded the Horn last time, I can make it before the first big summer storm. Down here they have the worst storms in the summer and I need to try and steer clear of those no matter what ocean I’m in.

The approach to the Horn from off shore is a big long commitment with 8-10 days being spent below 46*S, and each day the air and water temperature drops, then add 90% humidity and a chill factory created by 300-gales a year at the Horn, you got to figure out some way to keep from freezing that big set of “Balls” off that it takes to come this way in the first place

I have two beer koozies and sewing them together, maybe this will work.
Your Amigo,El jefe

Map of South America where Jeff is getting close to Cape Horn and it shows the wind direction,

One of the times we Sailed into Oahu,Hawaii

At La Boquita,near Manzanillo,Mexico

0 AROUND ALONE-DAYS 31,32,33

Around Alone Update:

Total miles sailed so far-4363 NM
Miles sailed last three days-395 NM
Miles left to go to the Horn-1749 NM.
Top speed so far=10.8kts.

THE REST OF THE STORY:

DAY 31:24hr.Run=125NM.

Position: Latitude- 41*17’S. Longitude-113*30′
Weather-Wind 15-20kts but gusting 30-50kts in the early morning
Seas-10-15ft.
Cabin Temp. 56*-72*
Bar: 994mb

The 964mb low is still nearly on top of us.

The worst of it came at about 1am in the morning until 3am when the winds were screeching at 50 kts, the only good thing to come out of that, was the winds seemed to flatten the seas somewhat so there were smaller holes to come “Crashing” down into.
The waves are still breaking into the cockpit at times, so repairs will not be attempted on steering cables until things moderate somewhat. It kind of makes me miss the nice winters in Mexico.

We are starting to sail over the top of the low as it is moving SW and can now at last steer the course to the “Horn”.

DAY-32:  24hr.Run=128NM.

Position: Latitude-43*03’S. Longitude-112*00’W
Weather: Wind-10-15 kts. WNW
Seas confused 6-8ft. from SW and West.
Cabin Temp-59*-67* Sunny skies most of the day
Bar:1008 mb

The winds were down and it was time to see if the steering cables can be fixed. I estimated if things went well,it would take about three hours, Hmmmmmm
The chain had spun off the sprocket and dropped down inside the steering pedestal. I removed the compass and disconnected the fuel and shift cable so I could pry that part of the pedestal up and get under it with my fish tape hopping to be able to hook the chain or a cable and drag it out. After about 20 minutes of being unsuccessful at dragging the chain out, even after it was hooked, because you have to get it around the sprocket and the steering shaft, then the break mechanism for the wheel. “IMPOSSIBLE”
So I stepped back and decided that possibly I could unbolt everything on top of the wheel tube and lift that off then I would have a four inch opening to drag the chain and cables out of.
Now you must picture we are sailing in some waves and two off my biggest compartments had to be emptied into the cockpit.
I mean there is 1000ft. of lines, different lengths of chain, a 60lb. CQR anchor, 5-gallons of oil and transmission oil, and hoses, electrical cords, Hookah Hose and many other miscellaneous I don’t know “Why the hell I have all these Shit Items”

Ok so you got the picture, all work is done with those hatches open and piles of “shit” everywhere, that you must walk on, and lay on, and most importantly trying to keep it from falling down into the open hatches where the bilge is and things can disappear forever.
Once I get all the bolts out of the steering shaft housing, there seemed to be no way to get it off the 4″ stainless steel tube. It is bronze and you can only pound on that stuff so much. Hmmmm! Three hours????
Well if you can’t get it from the top why not the bottom. So I crawl down in the compartment and take of the four nuts that hold the Bronze cable wheels and the backing plate for the steering pedestal.

Suddenly I have the chain and cables in my hand, as a matter of fact the cable that broke, broke at the chain and there was enough extra wire at the steering quadrant end to remake it on to the chain using two Crosby U-bolt clamps.
In the end it took 7-hours of steady work and no breaks but I can tell you I feel much better today knowing it is fixed. I believe why it failed was because the lines to the wind vane steering became to slack and allowed the rudder to swing back and forth and the wind vane would stop the wheel from spinning suddenly allowing the chain to cut into the cable, or possibly it was the result of the shaft sliding out of the coupling and back against the rudder causing a lot of extra pressure to turn the rudder.

DAY-33:  24hr.Run=14 NM.

Position: Latitude- 44*10’s. Longitude-109*15’W
Weather: Wind 12-15 kts NW
Seas:6-8ft.cabin Temp-59*-72*
Bar:1008 mb

A nice sailing day and I finally got up enough nerve to take the transmission out of reverse and let the prop spin while I ran the boat in neutral, circulating the oil and basically drying the engine it out for twenty minutes.
Next I started the water-maker up and ran it for an hour making water. The water maker produces about 7-gallons an hour.
I consume on average about 2.5 gallons a day.

Our first 75-gallon tank ran dry after thirty days, so now I will gradually top off both tanks once again.

It certainly feels good sailing once again with a boat I can steer.

Always missing Debbie, El Jefe’

The Cockpit on Sailors Run,compartment on right goes deep down
Binacle (the green round stand in front of wheel that holds steering cables)

At Copacabana Beach in Rio De Janeiro
Jeff is gonna need all his muscles on this trip

Having a great time at
Restaurant Porlamar,San Lorenzo, Honduras

0 AROUND ALONE DAYS 28-29-30

Day- 28.
24Hr.Run=125NM.

Position: Latitude-40*29’S. Longitude-116*18’W.

Weather-Wind=10-30 kts.SSW.

Seas=8-10ft. SW. Cabin Temp=56*-61*

Bar=1006mb.

Day- 29.
24hr.Run=125NM.

Position: Latitude- 40*46’S. Longitude=116*30′.

Weather-Wind 30kts gusting 45kts.SE

Seas confused sw 8ft-SE-10-15ft.

Cabin Temp=67*-72*

Bar=1010mb

Day- 30.
24hr.Run=78NM.

Position: Latitude-40*27’S. Longitude-115*46’W.

Weather-Wind=30-50 kts.

Seas=12-15ft. Very rough.

Cabin Temp=59*-65*

Bar=994mb

Total miles sailed so far=3968 NM.

Total miles sailed last 3-days=328 NM

Total miles left to go to the Horn=2,117 NM.

Top speed so far. 10.8 kts. New High.

Day- 28.
Welcome to the Roaring 40s,and yes they are Roaring at times, and right now I’m just trying to get the boat dialed in.

The hardest part about that is here the squalls are packing 35kts, and I’m trying to sail in 10-15kts. I have pulled the Mizzen down as it tends to make the boat corkscrew around too much in the squalls as they come in over our stern. I reefed the staysail giving me lots of options up there and last night at 3-am in an exceptionally bad squall I double reefed the main. We are definitely starting to have fun now. We half filled the cockpit twice today.

Day-29
Today was the hardest day of the trip so far; the reason being there is a 964 millibar Low that has formed just several hundred miles NE of me and I’m getting hammered with SE winds and severe seas making going towards my destination nearly impossible.

After sailing 125NM we only made good about 25NM toward our destination to the Horn.

Along the way the rope drum on the steering wheel, was falling off as two of the three hose clamps that hold it on had broken, and there is no way to replace those clamps when the wheel is spinning back and forth.

What I did was put the boat on electric auto pilot and took the wheel off. Now that became rather painful as the last time I tried to pull the wheel off in Argentina it would not come off. So anticipating the problem I took the nut off, and set myself down behind the wheel and gave it my very most powerful “yank” I could come up with. I could not believe how easily it flew off the shaft and smacked this “Yank” right in the head, “holy shit” I seen stars for a minute, but luckily I have a hard head. Once I got the wheel below it was easy to replace the broken hose clamps.
Later in the afternoon I altered course to SW as it looks like the low is dropping down on me and I’m going to get out of its way and jump on the back side of it as it comes down and that will allow us to have favorable winds to head for the Horn.

Day-30
Worst day of the trip so far as the low has moved right down on top of us and we are seeing 30- 50 kts and “Rough Ass” seas

They are not so big that I fear being rolled but they have done some damage. We are currently hove to with broken steering cables, but I still have cabbage, onions, potatoes, squash and apples, and oh yea a extra couple pieces of steering cable. The steering wheel spins now much like the “wheel of fortune” and I have just won another non paid repair in confined spaces.

Oh and by the way the steering cables were replaced just 8- months ago and I have never ever broke one before in 22 years, and regularly change them every 5- years

I cannot use the wind vane now until repairs are made to steering cables so that puts it pretty high on the priority list.

I can steer with the electronic auto pilot and once this low gets off us and we are sailing towards our destination and not taking seas aboard in the cockpit i will make the repair.

Things are getting wet below as the waves that are breaking on the boat,are breaching the seal on the overhead butterfly hatch. If it gets much wetter I will have to wear my rain gear to set at the table on the not so dry cushions.
After one month starting to grow gills, El Jefe’

Found this on the streets of Uruguay 2010, so now El Jefe signs his name this way

Us in Uruguay 2010