Day-37.

 24 hr.Run: 120 nm. Pos. lat.33*06’N Long.125*37’W.

Weather: Winds 7-12 kts. Southerly. Seas=3-5 ft. Southerly.Speed=5.6 kts

Course=118*T. cabin Temp at 7 am=62*n Bar.=1016 mb.Up 2-mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Once again I’m plagued by the center of the high that has moved in close to Sailors Run bringing light air with it. It would appear that in 24-more hours I will be in nice trade winds bombing down the coast of the Baja.

  The Pacific High that has been very illusive is intensifying and starting to look like the Pacific high that provides nice winds along the coast of California and Mexico this time of year.

  Since there is little to write about aboard Sailors Run I will share some information with you about this route from the Marshall’s to Mexico. The route is not to bad with one exception. The NW corner of the route near 170*E and 35*N  can be challenging as well as dangerous. Having sailed it my recommendation is to try and stay below 34* North. The reason being is the lows that form by Russia in the Bearing Sea tend to move down into that area and intensify. They produce Hurricane force winds then seem to move off to the NE, but occasionally move due East as one such storm did to me and the conditions were miserable with winds exceeding 50-kts and seas up to 35-feet. Once east of the 155* West Longitude these lows seemed not to go there at least not this season March to April. The good thing about coming over the high in March-April is it is less developed and easier to sail through as it comes and goes.

  I believe I have reached the bottom of water tank #1, meaning I still have 75- gallons of water left for the remainder of the voyage and that is more than enough.

                          El Jefe’ singing “How dry I am”.

Day-38.

  24 hr.Run: 96 nm. Pos. Lat. 32*25′ N. Long.123*57’N.

Weather: Wind:0-10 kts. S. then W. and at last NW. Seas: 2-4 feet NW.

Temp at 7 am=66* Bar=1023 mb. up 7 mb.

The Rest of the Story:

  It was about noon when I splashed up the diesel in dying winds and a rising barometer. What was happening is I was being caught in to close to the center of the Pacific High that was intensifying.

I know the winds I need to propel me down the coast lay just to the east of me and the surest way to get there was turning on the motor, something I dislike very much. My boat speed had dropped down to under 2-knots and was still going down leaving me little choice. I putted along at just under 4-kts. at 1400 R.P.M.

  It wasn’t until near the end of this day, that the winds at last returned filling in from the NW.

Now I find myself at the same Latitude or slightly south of San Diego about 350 NM. off shore, and looking very much forward to a good romp down the coast to Cabo San Lucas, before turning east for Mazatlan.

                            It’s all just part of getting there. El Jefe’

Day-39.

  24 hr.Run: 146 nm. Pos. lat.31*20′ N. Long.121*24′ W.

Weather: Wind=10-18 kts N. Seas= 4-6 feet N.  Speed= 6.2 kts

Course 112*T Cabin temp at 7-am=64*. Bar.=1020 mb. down 3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  This am I’m some what shocked to hear the San Diego Coast Guard issuing a security warning. There is a gale rapidly moving into the area that may produce winds of up to 47-knots. They recommend all small vessels seek shelter as well as people that have little experience with these types of conditions.

It is funny how an announcement like that can effect you. Even though the system is 10 hours out you feel like reefing even though you are only sailing at 6-knots.

  I have learned a long time ago to never underestimate what might actually develop and make a plan where you go from one step to the other reducing sail and strain on your rig early rather than later.

  Currently it appears that we will pass east of Guadalupe Island putting us closer to the Baha Coast on the way down.

  It is amazing now when I look at my AIS it and shows 50-targets yet only 4 of them come anywhere near me. Possibly many are at anchor in San Diego or Ensenada.

  My dinner last night was a can of tuna, oh,well so much for the Jefe’ being the gourmet cook. Actually it’s the rum that pulls it all together.

               Starting to feel the confines of civilization once again. El Jefe’.

Total distance sailed so far=4,883 nm.

Distance sailed last 3-Days=391 nm

Day-34.

  24 hr.Run=91 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*23’N Long.133*19′ W.

 Weather:Wind=0-10 kts from South.  Seas: 2-4 ft. Speed=5.2 kts

Course=095*T.  Cabin Temp at 7 am=60* bar.=1024 mb. down 2 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today i find myself struggling to keep Sailors Run moving towards our destination in light to non existent wind. I actually have to run the motor off and on through the wind holes and end up putting another 7-hours on the engine. Sailors Run have managed to consume about 30 gallons of her 90-gallons of fuel thus far. Fortunately as this day was ending some winds seemed to be filling in at about 10 kts. from the south.

  I feel pretty good about my provisions going forward. I have yet to use up the 75-gallons of water in tank #1 meaning we have at least 75- gallons for the remainder of the voyage that I now believe to be 3/4 completed. My only regrets is not having gotten that second bottle of ketchup that was on my list and 12-packets of Swiss Miss Coco mix that I’m soon to consume the last packet.

  Today was my second worst day mileage wise of the voyage do to the light winds and I look very much forward to finding those coastal winds that will hopefully zoom me down the coast to Mazatlan.

       El Jefe’ keeping an “eye out” on to the Eastern Horizon in search of wind.

Day-35.

  24hr.Run=142 nm. Pos, Lat.34*46’N Long.130*40W.

Weather: Wind=WNW. at 15 kts.  Seas WNW at 4-6ft. Speed:6 kts.

Course 132*T. Cabin Temp at 7 am=60* Bar.= 1013 mb. Down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today the winds filled in nicely and it was late in the day that I gibed to the SE and headed for sunny Mexico, Yahoo!

  I have still failed to hook a fish so now I’m getting creative with my dinners. I opened up a tin of “Spam” and was pleasantly surprised that a slice of that browned a little bit and cooked with cabbage and onions in some sort of a saute’ wasn’t as bad as it first sounded. I think having little choice goes a long ways towards what’s good and what is not.

  Debbie is at home with the grand kids, and is getting some tomatoes and watermelon started in pots in the kitchen to be planted once I get the garden in shape for the coming spring and summer in Albuquerque.

Debbie is singing in a group now as time allows at places like the veterans home and the airport. She has our grandson Jacob playing the piano and organ. She wants me to hang up a heavy bag for the youngest one to take out some of his energy’s on. I use to help train amateur boxers with Joe Clough out of Tacoma Washington, so this is all a pretty natural path for me to go down.

                           Just “jabbing” my way across the Pacific. El Jefe’

Day-36.

  24hr.Run =158 nm. Pos. Lat.33*56’N Long.127*46’W.

Weather: Wind:12-17 kts. SW becoming NW. Seas 4-6ft. SW becoming NW. Course=122*T. Speed =7 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62* up 2-degrees and Bar.=1014 mb. up 1-m b.

The Rest of the Story.

  It’s April and spring is upon us. I personally love this time of year as everything seems so fresh and new. Even this passage is bolstered by warming temperature and favorable winds with the likely hood of some big days ocean miles wise to help the Sailors Run and Crew arrive at our destination at Mazatlan.

  Still no fish but I did see one encouraging sign and that was a pink squid that had flown onto the deck. Now, that happens to be the color of the one I’m dragging astern, so lets see what happens.

  The eggs I purchased in the Marshall Islands are not holding up so well as the yokes are getting runny and break often. The problem is that the eggs are pretty old when you purchase them in the store because they have already been shipped from some place thousands of miles away. I break them into a bowl before putting them on my food. So far they have all been eatable.

  I have had two more very large ships hauling hazardous waste pass very close to me over the past 24 hrs. Possibly, all ships say they are hauling hazardous waste just to fake out the pirates, or possibly in today’s world all things are considered “hazardous waste”.Hmmmmm!

                      Trying not to get “wasted” in the Pacific El Jefe’.

Total distance sailed so far: 4492 nm.(in miles-5169)

Distance sailed last three days=371 nm.(426.9)

Day-31.

 24 hr.Run: 116 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*57’N Long.139* 50′ W.

Weather: Wind: 7-12 kts .South. Seas 4-6 ft.S. Course=104*T

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62*. Bar.=1012 mb. down 1-mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today was just smooth sailing in the right direction in light winds. I had the fishing line out yet again but no joy. During the day it did warm up to 66* and with that warm air from the south coming in over these cool waters I found myself immersed in advection fog with 100 yards of visibility in all directions except up where I could see quite clearly the sun 93-million miles away.

  The ship traffic is starting to pick up seeing three ships on AIS today and during the night one huge ship a 1,000-feet long and 150-feet wide came within 1.5 miles. That ship received a radio call from Sailors Run to be sure they seen us out here. They assured me they did and said they would be passing on my starboard side and with that I said fine I will then maintain my course and all worked out well. The ship was hauling hazardous waste from the west down to Panama, and it made me wonder what it was and where it came from and where was it going. I just couldn’t bring myself to ask those questions that I doubted very much would be answered or if they did they might have to alter course a few degrees and “take me out”.

                  Staying out of the way out here in the Pacific, El Jefe’

Day-32.

24 hr.Run=135 nm. Pos. Lat.35*14’N Long.137*32’W.

Weather: Wind: WNW 7-15 kts.  Seas:WNW 4-6 ft. Course: 083*T.

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin temp at 7 am=60* Bar=1016 mb. up 4 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Sailing nicely in light winds and decided once again to put the not so effective squid lure out again. I had grabbed a quick nap about 2 pm, now things are getting strange out here time wise as I’m still on Marshall Island’s time. It’s light at 3 am and dark just after 4 pm on my clock.

  After my one hour siesta I went on deck to have a look about and it was then I noticed that the “meat line” had been yanked clear of the deck and was pulled up tight around a cleat it was wrapped off on. We have had a strike and this is one of the problems that can occur when fishing in a vast fishing hole where the size of the fish is a mystery. This mystery is pretty much solved as my 150 lb. test line on the bungy cord has been snapped and all the gear lost. Hmmm!

 This occurs out here on a regular basis as the size of the lure does not dictate the size of fish that will hit it. Let’s compare it to trying to stop a submarine once hooked in about three feet,”not going to happen”. Now with a powerful real with lots of line and distance to slow it down you might have better success. At this point I have to chock this one up to another one that got away. I rig up another lure and toss it back out, hoping that the next victim will be of a size that is manageable. Sometimes I think I would sooner starve than play this game, but out here that could be the actual reality so I will keep just keep on trying.

                          What lurks beneath the sea? El Jefe’

Day-33.

 24 hr.Run: 120 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*26’N Long.135*10’W.

Weather: Wind:5-12 kts N. Seas=3-5 ft. N. Course=90*T

Speed 5 kts. cabin temp. at 7 am=60* Bar.=1016 mb. Steady.

The Rest of the Story.

  The winds have remained light over the past 24 hrs. We are able to sail the course although slowly at times.

  I’m trying to figure out where all my energy is going as I have not had much to do the past few days and seem to want to eat like a horse. The strange thing is I seem to gain no weight and the only reason I can think of for this to be the case is the cold.

 You see the boat has become very damp inside with cool temperatures no heat and fog. I feel I’m burning lots of energy just trying to keep my core temperature up. I must admit I’m looking very much forward to taking a plunge to the south and the warmer temperatures that should start coming my way.

  I was thinking about the miles I will have sailed over the past 13.5 months upon arrival in Mazatlan. The total mileage will be about 14,000 nm.(in miles-16,110) and the amazing thing is out of the 13.5 months I spent seven months was home with Debbie.

 So I guess I have been living a leisurely cruising life style where I happened to sail 14,000 nm. in 6.5 months.  No”freaking” wonder I need to return to Mexico and “chill” for awhile.

                      Trying to get there El Jefe’.

Distance sailed so far: 4,121 nm. (In miles-4742.3)

Total distance sailed last 3-days: 410 nm (In miles-(471.8)

Day-28.

  24 hr.Run: 158 nm. Pos. Lat.34*12′ N. Long. 146*18 W.

Weather: Wind: 15-25 kts.SE.  SEAS: 6-8 FT SE. Course 060* T.

Speed: 6.6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*. Bar: 1013 mb. down-2 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today sailing fast and being forced to the North some what by SE-winds but feel the need to get some northerly.

  It’s funny but no matter what one of the things I pride myself on is how well the solar panels and wind generator do to keep my batteries charged.

Well, today when I took a look at the battery voltage it seemed to be down. Hmmmm! A quick glance up at the wind generator and it appears to be stopped or spinning slowly. I look at my solar charge controller and it shows the batteries at full charge. Hmmmm! I start the engine and run it at about 1200 rpm and I can see the voltage indicator showing the batteries being charged. Hmmmm!  It is now late in the day and winds are picking up so I decide to charge for 1/2 hr. then charge again for one hour as I don’t want to not be able to start the engine and need to figure out just what the hell is going on with my electrical system.

                   Stay tuned to see if “Mc Giver” can figure this one out.

Day 29.

 24 hr.Run:122 nm. Pos. Lat. 35*09’N. Long. 144*32′ W.

Weather: Wind SE 20-35+kts. dying over night to near-0 Kts.

Seas=10-15 ft. SE. Course=094*T. speed 4kts. Cabin Temp=60*at 7 am. Bar.=1012 mb. down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today the low is upon us and pounding away. I’m trying to keep up the main with a reef in it and the stay sail,this seems like almost to much sail, especially since I have an electrical problem and need to get at my battery banks.

  Sailors Run has two banks of 6-volt golf cart batteries with four batteries in each bank. Now, these batteries are in the aft cabin under the bunk and that aft cabin is also the “garage where I store all kinds of things including my

18 hp.outboard. So picture sailing at 7 kts. in 10-15 ft seas on a close reach heeled over about 20* and its time to go to work.

Once I get to the batteries I take my volt meter and start checking voltages, because the charge controllers on both the wind generator and the solar panels say they are fully charged and the two banks are tied together through a main battery switch that can isolate either bank or turn them off entirely if necessary. I check the voltage at the solar controller on the out put and see that it is like almost 14-volts. Hmmmm! I go to the buss work where all the batteries and load are tied together and read the same high voltage. Hmmm. Yet my voltmeter on my breaker panel shows 12.3 volts. Hmmm. I check the voltage on each individual bank and one is at near 14-volts and the other is at 12.3 volts. and they are tied together through the switch. Hmmmm. I can see no sign of failed connection either at the switch or at the battery bank that is not charged and working conditions are “crap”.

So what I do is take a #6-stranded copper jumper and tie the two positive terminals of both banks together and suddenly both the wind generator and the solar panels start charging. Yahoo! as this will do for now.

  Now you must understand at this point I’m pretty happy and all things seem better aboard Sailors Run except there is this old saying that things happen in “Three’s”.

  It was later that evening while being hammered with 35+kts that I decided to drop the main. Soon I was up on deck all suited up in a cold driving rain struggling to stay on the boat as I tugged the main sail down. Finally, at last the headboard of the sail was in my hands. Suddenly, I realized the main Halyard had come free and was flying around up above me wrapping itself around all kinds of things. Now this is a you have got to be “kidding me” moment as that clevis has never unscrewed on its own ever in 25-years, but tonight it is off and running.

  Once below and changing out of my foulies, the boat suddenly is 40* off course. I mean what the “hell” is going on now. Once out in the cockpit it is very obvious what is going on.

 Remember that bolt I could not get a nut on and moused it in with wire. Well, it has escaped and the servo rudder on the wind vane is now dragging along astern on the safety line. I pull it in and drag it below after putting Sailors Run back on the electric autopilot.

              Now that we have adversity there is little left to do but overcome it.

                            Stay tuned and see how this all shakes out. El Jefe’

Day-30.

 24 hr.Run: 130 nm. Pos. Lat.35*43’N. Long. 142*07’W.

Weather: Wind: 4-15 kts.SE. Seas= 6-8 ft. Course=060*T.

Speed: 6.8 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=62*. Bar: 1013 mb up-1 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  The winds had diminished over night and the Genoa was now rolled out and the mizzen sail up and pulling, the seas of course are much slower about coming down and are still exceeding 10-feet this morning.

I know I have a halyard that must be retrieved and that means going up the main mast. Lucky for me it wrapped itself around the port spreader so I only have to go two thirds of the way up the mast. I look upon what appears to be a very strange sea as now the waves in my part of the ocean have become small “hay stacks”. Under these conditions these little hills come in under your boat at any given location lifting either the bow or stern or on the side where you just take a big roll to one side, not looking very conducive for going aloft.

  I instead tackle the servo rudder issue on the wind-vane. I decide to enlarge the holes in the break away tube by going to the next larger drill bit and reaming them out, hoping this will make getting that stubborn bolt to line up and go through. I’m actually amazed as after the drilling I have the rudder mounted back up and bolted on properly in just 30-minutes “wahoo”!

  I check my weather reports again and decide I must get that halyard down today as I will need that main hoisted for power over the next two days.

I drag my set of blocks forward, along with the bosun’s chair and pull the blocks up to the top of the mast on the spinnaker halyard.

Sailors Run is sailing along on a beam reach at about 4-kts in light winds and Hay stack seas. I have strapped on a full life vest for protection as I know I will be banged into the mast many times. I use two safety straps, one is a spare if I need it and the other one is wrapped around the mast twice to keep me close to the mast,decreasing the potential for large impacts from the roll.

  It takes thirty minutes to pull myself the thirty feet up to the spreaders and I can already feel the bruises on the inside of my legs where they have been wrapped around the mast trying to stop me from making revolutions around the mast. I at last get my hands on the halyard and shake it free of the upper “baggy wrinkle”[chafe gear on shrouds]. Soon I descend down the mast dragging the halyard with me and can hardly refrain from kissing the deck once down on it.

This is all part of a days work if your going to have a successful passage!

                          Sail on Sailor El Jefe’

Total distance sailed so far: 3711 nm

Distance sailed last three days: 379 nm. .

Day-25.

  24 hr.Run: 133 nm. Pos. Lat.33*16’N. Long. 153*33’W.

Weather:Winds: 10-15 kts NNE. Seas:  4-6ft .NNE. Course 075*

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=60* Bar: 1023 mb. up-3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  The winds have dropped way down and so have the seas so it was time for me to set about to fix that roller furling system. I had worked the project through in my head before ever heading up on deck. I redid the end on the genoa halyard as it was showing signs of chafe. Then I wrapped a grape vine knot on to the furler foil and winched it up from where it had broken. The foil slid up about 6 inches before stopping at the top of the mast. I grabbed the end of the broken piece that was still in the furler tube and could move it up just slightly before it got hung up. I then took a very large screw driver and pounded it down inside on the out side of the foil and against the wall of the tube, this allowed me to bend it in towards the stay. I also did the same thing on the other side of the piece of foil then reached over and pulled it out and off the stay.

 Next, I cut the end of the foil off square with my angle cutting wheel getting rid of the flared broken end then lowered the foil back down into the furler tube. It took some pounding to get it in there as it is a very tight fit, and suddenly Sailors Run was ready to have her most powerful working sail hoisted up into the foil.

  Wow, what a difference this made in boat speed as we went from 4-kts to 6-kts just like that and I felt a great concern was lifted off my mind.

                        Definitely time to “splice the main brace”.El Jefe’.

Day-26.

  24 hr. Run:146 nm.  Pos. Lat.32*57’N. Long.150*51’W.

Weather: Wind: 10-15 kts. NE  Seas: 4-6 feet NE.

Course 117*T  Speed=5.5 kts. Cabin Temp at 7am=60*.

Bar.=1020 mb. Down 3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today sailing pretty fast on a good course towards the east. My weather looks like light winds ahead,tomorrow as I sail into a wind hole. How long this will last is a good question but hopefully less than 12 hrs.

  Food supply’s continue to diminish aboard Sailors Run. I have but three chicken thighs left in the freezer and now am actively fishing, hoping to fill that freezer back up, but no guarantees out here. I have seen no birds on the sea the past three days and that is a bad sign for fishing.

 In the heavy winds and seas the Albatross were gliding about on every wave it seemed, I mean they seem oblivious to 40 knots and seem to take shelter in the troughs of the large waves.

 I have lots of canned tuna and Spam so will not go hungry. I have eaten the last orange yesterday and now have lots of apples. I also have potatoes,onions and two cabbages for stir fry’s just looking for some fish.

  I seem to keep being pushed further south and that concerns me. I will be sailing 70* to get some northerly when the opportunity arises.

                                Just “slip sliding” across the Pacific. El Jefe’.

Day-27

  24 hr. Run:100 nm. Pos, Lat.33*10N. Long.149*04’W.

Weather: Winds: 4-15 kts. NE switching to SSW. Seas: 4-6 feet, Course=080*T. Speed 7 kts. Cabin Temp at 7am=62*

Bar.:1015 mb. down-5 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  A high pressure system has formed in my area and it became necessary to splash up the diesel as what wind there was,was 54 kts on my nose. I’m never anxious to burn fuel with still a long ways to go as you never know what kind of rigging failure could occur but it is reassuring to know you could motor for 5-6 hundred miles.

 I bit the bullet and powered for 10-hours until a favorable wind started filling in from the SW and soon we were sailing swiftly along.

  There is a low pressure area coming to my area and the winds should be up pretty good around 30 kts.

I noticed one of the steering lines on the Monitor wind vane was chaffing through the outer jacket and replaced it with a new line while conditions were still mild.

  Still no luck at catching any fish, but I know if I put it out there everyday sooner or later something is going to grab it.

  I want to thank all my friends in Majuro that have been staying in Radio contact with me up until now, and it seems that I’m just now to distant and our time differences is making it nearly impossible to hear each other. So please pass the word that I will no longer be on the radio and Thanks so much for being there, and all future communication will be via email.

                                  Sailing into Radio Oblivion El Jefe’.

 24 hr. Run: 137 nm. Pos.34*10’N. Long. 161.19′.W.

Weather: Wind: 20-30 kts. Seas: 10-15 feet. Course: 119*T –

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am:59* Bar: 1020 mb up 2mb.

 The Rest of the Story.

  Today was a decent sailing day and I hoisted a reefed main and reefed Mizzen to go with the stay sail keeping our speed up as the wind and seas are moderating some what.

  I also took advantage of this day to pull the Genoa sail out of the bag below decks and inspect it for damage and yes, I found some. One of the seams pretty high up on the sail and by the leech had let go when the sail had deployed its self in 25 knots and was popping up forward. Fortunately for me the seam was only 20-inches long and I had it patched within an hour or so.

  I also added another line further lashing the dinghy to the deck as it has the tendency to slide around up there causing chafe and wear.

  The next two days look good weather wise for good progress to the east.

  I have been reading lots of books on this voyage and they are of a good variety, like the God Father and Gangster stories. Of course, then I change to Nora Roberts where her stories have good sex and she brings out the good qualities in her characters in the stories and you can’t help but appreciate her writing skills. MY wife Debbie thinks the sex parts are way to much, but out here they seem “just about right”, making up a good portion of the sex life of the “single handed sailor”.

                              Sailing along nicely today in the Northern Pacific. El Jefe’.

Day-23.

24 hr.Run: 141 nm. Pos. Lat. 33*57’N Long.158*32’W.

Weather: Wind 18-25 kts. NW. Seas: 8-10 ft. NW. Course=077*T.

Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp. at 7 am=60* Bar: 1020 mb holding steady.

The Rest of the Story.

  It has calmed down enough where I can crawl out from under my “blanky”. My current situation is one where I see a high pressure system starting to fill in behind me, meaning I need to get east fast. I probably won’t quite get east soon enough and might get becalmed and this is the next worst thing from a storm. You end up rolling about in very uncomfortable conditions waiting for the winds to resume.

  If the calms do occur I will be able to fix the furler, I hope as it handles my most powerful working sail.

  I want to thank all of you whom have written and please understand that I’m pretty much maxed out just trying to keep the boat going and getting out the adventures, but do love hearing from you.

  I’m just happy we are still moving forward and also must thank Robert Perry for designing such a strong seaworthy vessel as the Baba-40 Sailors Run Never ceases to continually amaze me at her ability to survive the “savage sea” much to my benefit I must add.

                    The jefe’ studying what’s to come from the “barometer soup” next.

Day-24.

24 hr run: 131 nm Pos: Lat: 33’24 N Long: 156’06 W

The Rest of the Story.

  We are sailing in light winds from the NNE and have little choice but to sail south of east. We only have the full main stay sail and reefed mizzen to power Sailors Run at this time. We are doing the best we can to go east and are well aware of lows headed our way from the North West. Conditions are very comfortable and we hope to make repairs on roller furling soon to get Sailors Run up to full power. Possibly tomorrow will be the day where all things are  fixed and back to 100% on Sailors Run.

                    Anxious to get Sailors Run sailing at 100% El Jefe’.

 

Day-19.

  24 hr.Run: 118 nm.Po s.35*08’N.-Long.168*27’W.

Weather:Wind:30-50 knots.

Seas: 20-35 feet. Course=060*

Speed-5 kts. Cabin Temp at 7am=62*

Bar: 995 mb down 15 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

 Roughest day of the trip so far could only sail with staysail and eventually went to bare poles(no sails)when our speed surfing was up to 10+ knots.

  I’m seriously considering dropping down close to Latitude 30* where the winds seem to be less most of the time.

 Getting some pretty amazing footage on my camera. I will keep this short as writing is difficult.

                                  Hanging on out here, El Jefe’.

Day-20.

  24 hr.Run: 131 nm. Pos: Lat.24*52 N. -Lat.166*05 W.

Weather: Wind=45-50 kts. Seas: 25-35 feet all from NW. Course=111*T Speed: 6 kts. Cabin Temp: 55* down 7*. Bar.=1012 mb. up 17 mb.

The rest of the Story.

  This morning I was fooled by a slight decrease in winds and hoisted stay sail sliding around on deck all harnessed in but getting wet just the same. The sail was up for 15-minutes and the storm  force winds filled back in. Once I was back out on deck I was amazed to see that six of the hanks on the stay sail had released from the popping the sail was seeing. The damn springs in these Chinese hanks are just too weak to sail on the Sailors Run.

Getting the sail down was very difficult trying all the time to keep it on deck and out of the sea Thank God, it is a small sail.

 So for 23 & 3/4 Hrs we sailed under bare poles(no sails) covering 131 nm.

I was advised that this storm is now developing hurricane force winds and I’m very glad it is moving away from me. I would think over the next 8 hrs conditions for me should improve.

  It’s  amazing still no ships showing up on the AIS in my area. Hmmmmm!

                      El Jeffe’ just”keeping on”.

Day-21.

  24 hr.Run: 130 nm. Pos. Lat.34*24’N- Long. 163*49.W.

Weather: Winds:  25-50 kts. improving. Seas: 15-30 ft. dropping down. Course:088* Speed: 5 kts. Cabin Temp:57* Bar.=1018 mb. up 6 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today winds and seas began coming down and by noon I had the staysail up and we sailed with that through the remainder of this day.

  I had become extremely tired as it is hard to sleep when it feels like you have been hit by a freight train 15 times during the night and you are suddenly jolted awake to the sound of water crashing over the boat and dripping in around the companionway hatch.

 Now,you must go outside and see if there is any major damage. We have fared pretty well so far. The Bimini did get knocked loose by a large breaking wave and I had to lash it down with some line for a temporary repair. I later got it back as it should be. So far the amazing thing to me is that the large solar panels on the rail haven’t been damaged “yet”!

  I study the pilot charts once again and it appears I must stay this far north until the 130* longitude so will have to deal with mother nature on her terms.

  I did sleep soundly at times last night and it made me feel much better.

                        Come on 130*, El Jefe’

Day-16.

  24 hr.Run: 151 nm. Pos.Lat. 34*07’N -Long.175*12’W.

Weather: Wind NW at 30-40 kts. Seas: NW 20-30 feet.

Course:100*T.  Speed: 6+ kts. Cabin Temp=56* Bar: 1014mb. Up 4 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Yes, this is day 16 NOT “sweet-16”, or anything else sweet.! Much like it seems to happen the winds are stronger and the seas higher in my area than predicted. Like many of you know you don’t sleep well and the clock slows down and you get this knotted-up feeling in your stomach.

  You do this self quiz about have I done every thing I can and should have done? I had reduced sail to just a hanker chef size piece of the head sail rolled out and question if that is maybe not to much. I’m sailing on a broad reach down wind and praying the wind vane keeps me there.

 Its about 2 am and suddenly we are slammed by a huge wave on the beam. Thank God I have the shower curtain protecting my bunk as quite a bit of water breeches the seal on the butterfly hatch on the cabin top. I scramble out of my bunk sliding about in my socks on a wet cabin floor. Fortunately I have all three storm boards in and take no water through the companionway

 Once out in the cockpit the problem becomes real obvious why we are steering 30-degrees closer to the wind than we had been. Apparently a large breaking wave prior to this one had broken over the stern and snapped the wind paddle on the monitor wind vane and it is flapping around like a broken wing. I disengage the wind steering system and get the boat headed back down wind running with the wind and waves. Now, I turn on the below decks auto pilot and set a course that should be safe for awhile.

  Once back down below I wipe things down and crawl back into my bunk.[The safest place on the boat at times like this].

 Two more times rogue waves break on our beam and force us over at least 70′, not a knock down but pretty damn close. I must say there have been no ships out here during this day .Hmmm!

                Hanging on awaiting arrival of lighter conditions. El Jefe’.

Day-17

  24 hr.Run: 109 nm. Pos. Lat.33*52’N.-Long 173*12’W.

Weather: Winds: 25 kts dropping to about 5 kts by midnight.

Seas: 20 feet dropping down to about 8-feet overnight. Course: 109*T.

Speed: 5-kts. Cabin Temp at 7am=58*. Bar=1013 mb down 1 mb.

The Rest of the Story:

  This day started out looking much more promising than the previous one as the winds were now down to 25 kts and the seas running about 20-feet. I had patched a couple of small holes in the mizzen since it was down and needed the repair. I’m still moving along nicely with just a small amount of the head sail rolled out on the furler.

 It was now 1 pm and I decide to have a drink and celebrate coming through the gale just fine. I was covered up with a blanket as it seems to me like it is freezing at 56*, and sipping on my drink and reading a book on my kindle. Suddenly!  I hear this strange rumbling sound coming from the bow of the boat and hear and feel the Genoa popping and pounding up forward. I jump into the cockpit to see up forward the Genoa sail rolled all the way out in 25 kts of wind and dancing around up there like some kind of “Mad Demon”.   What the hell is going on I’m thinking as I slip forward staying low on the deck in the 20-foot seas that are running. It appears that the aluminum foil that holds the luff bead of the sail had failed where it went into the furler drum and let the sail go and it rolled out. This means there is no way to roll it back in.

  Once back in the cockpit I try to come up with a plan to get the sail down with out dropping it in the ocean. I must say this is a real”son-of-a-bitch” job to try and accomplish on your own in these conditions.

Here’s what I do:

(1) I hoist the stay sail up front to help blanket the frolicking Genoa.

(2) I pull in the slack sheet line on the genoa while releasing the line slowly that has the tension on it. This gets the sail somewhat collapsed and behind the stay sail, finally I have all the strain on the slack sheet line and release the other one completely.

(3) I go to the mast and start lowering the sail a little bit at a time making repeated trips to the bow pulpit to tuck the sail in there keeping it from the sea. This all takes about 45-minutes and finally the sail is bagged and dragged below decks.Phew!

  It appears to me that I can use the Genoa Halyard with a grapevine knot on the foil to raise it up the forestay enough to extract the broken remnants of it out of the furler drum tube, this might require cutting it out in small pieces with my Makita cutting wheel.

 Then I will put a nice straight edge on the bottom of the foil and drop it back in the tube and sync it up with the clamp on top. The foil will be 6-inches shorter but I believe it will work just fine.

  I should mention when the wind died down overnight I went on deck from midnight until 2-am installing three patches on main sail.

               Waiting for calmer conditions to get to work on furler. EL Jefe’

Day-18.

  24 hr.Run: 142 nm.  Pos. Lat.34*21’N -Long.170*32’W.

Weather: Winds: 20-30+ knts. SW shifting to NW overnight. Seas:6-10 ft. Course: 054*T. Speed: 6-kts. Cabin temp: 62*. Bar: 1010 mb down 3 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Today starts out sailing along nicely with staysail, main with one reef and mizzen ,the winds start building about 11 am and the mizzen comes down once the winds start to exceed 25 knots. The conditions are much to rough to attempt a repair on the roller furler.

 There is something about standing on a plunging bow platform that will bring salt water up to your knees, while I’m holding an electrical cutting wheel plugged into a 120 volt extension cord in my hands trying to make very careful cuts so as not to nick the forestay that holds the mast up. That job must wait!     It was 11 pm when winds exceeded 30 kts and I crawled clear of my bunk and went on deck to drop the reefed main all the way down. Once back below in the safety of the main cabin we were still moving along at 6-knots under stay sail alone.

  The weather out here is perfectly “cold and crappy” and yes that 80* Mazatlan weather is playing hard on my patience to get there. You must realize there is no heat aboard Sailors Run and presently everything is damp or wet below decks.

  Now on the brighter side I do get to have a piece of chocolate every day and a rum drink or possibly two if I want to really indulge.

Afternoons usually involve either popcorn or crackers and peanut butter. Oh yes, and I have two cookies with that first cup of coffee every day. So never a day goes buy without the Jefe’ enjoying something good.

                Looking so forward to that 80-degreeeeees the Jefe’.

Day# 13.

  24 hr.Run: 162 nm.  Pos. Lat.32’24’- Long. 177′ 18’E.

Weather: Wind-15-18 kts SSE   Seas: 6-8 ft. Course 090*T speed-7 kts.

Cabin Temp at 7 am-67* Bar.-1012 mb down 4 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  The radar reflector is still banging around up on the Mizzen Mast and for now with the wind and seas up I’m not going up there after it!

  I have been having trouble hooking up on Sailmail with my current course but by gibing and heading North I can hook up, so that is the plan for the time being.

 We are sailing fast for the time being and I’m trying to avoid those areas with little wind and right now there is one forming just North of my position.

  Today I believe I’m almost 1/3rd of the way to Mazatlan. Other than that its raining at times & that is about all that is going on.

                        Trying to stay “dry” El Jefe’.

Day# 14

  24 hr.Run: 124 nm.  Pos. Lat.32’22’N Long.179’36’E.

Weather:Wind-SW 8-12 kts. Seas: 4-6 ftt from NW.Course:104*T Speed:5 kts. Cabin Temp at 7 am=67*. Bar=1010 mb down 2 mb.

The Rest of the Story.

  Sailing today in light winds yet find ourselves rolling around quite a bit from waves coming in from the NW. We have a “gale approaching from the west.   This one I have decided to stay low on my course line to avoid the brunt of it’s 40 kts. of wind and 28 ft. seas. I expect to see 30 kts and 20-ft seas where I am.

  I have dug out my storm boards for closing the boat up properly and my mustang suit that affords a lot of protection from the weather and I also pulled out my winter hiking boots that I like to wear in severe conditions, but was disappointed to see that all the brass islets had corroded away. Oh, well wool socks and tennis shoes work.

  I plan to get further to the north on the back of this low to attempt sailing over the high. Doing this will quite possibly put me in the cross hairs of the next low coming through unless I get real lucky.

       One eye on the compass and the other looking over my shoulder.

       Cheer,s El Jefe.

Day# 15

  24 hr.Run: 151 nm.  Pos. 33*40’N Long.178*01’W.

Weather: Increasing winds all day and through the night currently 30-knts gusting higher from NW. Seas running 15-18 ft.NW.

Course: 060*T. speed-6 kts. -Cabin Temp at 7 am=64*.

Bar: 1010 mb and steady.

The Rest of the Story.

  I have put in place the first storm board and start the process of managing Sailors Run in the on coming heavy weather. I visualize in my mind where every thing is should I need to set out a drogue.

 My predicted weather is for 30 knots but I have learned that some times these lows are miss judged by the meteorologists, not to mention there can be some intensified conditions lurking in a gale such as I’m faced with.

 It was late afternoon on this day with winds already at 25 kts and having recorded a surf down a wave at over 11-knots I dropped the mizzen sail down and lashed it to the boom.

  It was just after dinner that I went forward on deck and put a reef in the main. Now, I was running the reefed main with my 110% Genoa all the way out. Several hours later the winds dropped somewhat like they do at night sometimes and I was able to sleep comfortably while broad reaching away from the wind. I did have several ships show up on AIS and one tanker passed within 5-miles of my position.

  It was 4:30 am and the winds were starting to build rapidly. Suiting up I climbed out into a dark hostile environment where spray was starting to fly and waves slopping aboard. I first rolled the Genoa in 75% of the way and that slowed us down just a touch but the main was forcing us around into the wind and that caused the waves to be coming in on the beam and slamming us pretty good,it was time to drop the main down and I did. Wow!  what a difference and now the boat was manageable and the wind vane could hold us more down wind and we were still going 6-kts, and the conditions below decks were now very comfortable.

 It was time for coffee and the start of a new day.

                        Riding the crests in the Pacific, El Jefe’

Day#10:

  24 hr.Run: 69 nm.  Pos: Lat.27*43’N. Long. 172*32′ E.

Weather: Winds:NE 30-50 kts. Seas: NE 19-15 feet.

Course E-SE 2-3 kts. Cabin Temp=69* at 7 am down 6*.

Bar.=1020 mb. up-4mb.

The Rest of the Story:

  The past 24-hrs has been by far the most challenging and worst part of the voyage, “What Happened”?

 The conclusion of day -9 found us hove-to in 40-50 kts. This lasted for close to 4-hrs. My interpretation is a cold front,proceeding a 180* shift in wind direction. Unfortunate for me as now the wind is blowing out of the NE the direction I want to go. I must hold my ground if possible. At first heaving to was good as we were only going astern at about .5-kts. The problem and a very serious one is as time goes on the height of the waves continue to increase and heaving-to can end in a roll over by a breaking wave on your beam that’s height is greater than your beam.

  It was after 4-hrs of heaving-to and the winds had abated to 35-40 kts and the waves were steadily getting larger,I hoisted the staysail and Sailors Run began close reaching under staysail and reefed mizzen. This is much safer as the bow is always into the waves. Sailors Run can do this in up to 45-knots of wind.

  We spent this day sailing into an adverse current coming from the east at about 2-knots, allowing very little favorable progress, yet not yielding any ground.

                    Help ” Mr. Wizard” time for this “one” to come home.

                            Far from Paradise, El Jefe’.

Day# 11:

  24 hr.Run: 140 nm. Pos: Lat. 29*41’n Long.172*46’E.

Weather: Winds=30 kts NE shifting early to ENE at 10-12 Kts.

Seas=15 feet NE, remaining very confused through out the day but eventually dropping to 4-6-feet from ENE.

Course shifting early from SE to OO1* speed going from 2.5kts to 6 kts.Cabin Temp.=66* Bar=1020 and steady.

The Rest of the Story:

  It was after breakfast and the radio net when I set about hoisting the main with a reef in it and rolled the Genoa 1/3rd of the way out and soon we were moving along very nicely headed North.

 It was while standing in the cockpit I heard an unfamiliar noise coming from aloft. Looking skyward I seen the source of this strange noise!  It appears that one of the wires that hold the radar reflector aloft has parted and now the reflector is swinging around beating on the mizzen mast with the broken stainless steel wire flopping about below it. The wire appears to come dangerously close to the whirling carbon fiber blades on the wind generator.  For now with rough seas and sailing close to the wind heeled over there is little I can do but pray the other wire fails and the radar reflector blows clear of the boat. If conditions allow I will pull myself aloft and cut it in the clear, but for now that must wait.

  I can only say what a difference a day makes when it comes to sailing conditions. Yesterday, it was pounding rain and spray with little chance of going where I wanted to go. Today the sun shines seas are abating and we are moving along our course line nicely.

  Have you ever noticed when “Mother Nature” becomes angry the clock seems to slow down and minutes can seem like “forever”.

                    Enjoying the sail now in my thermals, El Jefe’.

Day# 12.

  24 hr,Run:158 nm.  Pos: Lat. 31*37’N Long.174*36’E.

Weather:Winds SE at 15-17 kts. Seas:SE at 4-6 ft. Course 061*T. Speed=7.1 kts. Cabin Temp.=68* up 2. Bar=1016mb down 4mb.

Miles sailed last 3-days=367 nm.

Total miles sailed so far=1704 nm.

The Rest of the Story:

  Sailors Run is presently making good time on a Broad reach. The ride is quite comfortable and the sun is out. Things have warmed up two degrees with the winds now coming up from the south. I have however thrown a second blanket in my sea berth and it is definitely needed at night.

I have seen several ships on AIS but none have came within thirty miles of us.

  The Radar reflector still is hanging and banging on the mizzen mast and all the paint is off where it has been pounding. I’m looking for that opportunity to sneak up there and cut it down.”Maybe Today”.

  I want to thank my friends in Majuro for keeping Debbie appraised of how things are going out here when I can not hook up on sailmail because of the heading I’m on.

                Heading for the top of the high, I hope El Jefe’.