News

ETA Panama 3/20/04
ETA One hour!
17:00 hrs your time
Will write tomorrow

Saturday 3/20/04 am
POS 10 - 24 NORTH 80 - 09 WEST AT 06:00

Friday 3/19/04 pm
Hit waypoint # 5 at 2:00 this morning. Sailed almost 140 miles in 24 hrs. Everything is running smoothly. The heat is terrible. Ran out of bottled water 3 days ago. My water in tanks is dirty! Tried to boil it first, but does not taste good. Colddrinks are warm and yuckee.
I took out all the food stored in the refrigerator and put all coldrinks and canned fruit in and started it up. Within 2 hrs I had my 1st cold drink since I left and it tasted like heaven!
ETA is around noon tommorrow morning till late afternoon. Please let the agent know. I will need a slip in the marina, 'cause I need power for the Brownie to work on the centerboard. Also need to stitch up genoa, check spreader arm, fill up with diesel, cook a T-bone, mail cameras and video film, etc,etc.
I have figured the centerboard out now. Due to restrictions on the travellift and the shallow marina, it never occured to me that the centerboard can swing that much forward, but I will make modifications once in Panama.

Position Friday March 19 at 17:45
11 deg 25' N
80 deg 34' W
C.o.g. 165 deg
S.o.g.6.5 knts
Wind 19 mph
Wind dir NE
Temp 82

Thursday 3/18/04 pm
Since last night, have been sailing well North West of the Gorda Bank. Just 9 more nm. to go to waypoint # 4. IT slowed down, I though she was heaving to on herself, speed dropped from 6 knts to 0.2 knts. I went outside to check. I could not find anything wrong until I checked the stern. There it was, 3 white markers under the water. We had snagged a crabline. I took out the hook pole and hooked the line but the force was too great. My mainsail was still up, however, I could not get her down. The wind was from behind and there was no way I could turn because we were being held from behind. I tried various techniques, but the waves keep hitting us on the stern. Eventually, very frustrated and angry, I dove in and cut the line, and we were free! It was very scary diving into the pitch black waters. By feel I found the line and the sharks were never out of my mind. Sailed until midnight and reached waypoint # 4 and set sail for waypoint # 5. First daylight hove to and took the main down, set sail with the genoa only, still sailing with it, speed averaging 6.5 knts.

Position at 18:00 hrs
13 deg 40 min N
81 deg 15 min W
C.o.g. 165 deg
S.o.g. 6.4 knts
Wind speed 22 mph
Wind dir NNE
Temp 85

Wednesday 3/17/04 pm
Sailed all night and all day very well, despite a tear in the genoa, but it is holding. Hit 2 squals this afternoon with 35 mph winds. Wind changed and have been sailing on a close beam reach with speeds up to 6.6 knots with a double reefed main and full genoa. We are passing the Gorda Bank and we still have 25 nm to hit waypoint# 4. Depth is reading 74 feet.
Position at 18:00 Wed March 17 2004
15 deg 41 min N
81 deg 56 min W
C.o.g. 140 deg
S.o.g. 6.3 knts
Wind speed 22 mph
Wind dir ENE
Temp 80

March 16 & 17, 2004
Thank you for your prayers, Charl made it safely through the night and what a day he had yesterday! I am thinking we will have to rename him when he returns! God is good. -Bev

Sailed close hauled all Monday night, using the genoa only, but was sailing south, the wind must have shifted, well that is what I thought.
Daybreak Tuesday, I tended to the galley, cleaning up the mess behind the stove and trying to modify it so that it won't hit the back when it is rocking.
I noticed that the radar reflector had lost a rope and was swinging madly back and forth.To my horror the spreader arm was moving back and forth too!
I hove to and got my climbing gear out, the wind was 18 mph and the mast was swaying a lot on the swells, but I was determined to go up and fix it.
I took a bungee cord with me. Climbing up the mast using the main halyard to lock my climbing gear onto, the trip up to the spreaders was painstakingly slow. I had to keep one arm around the mast all the time, and with the other hand, moved the climbing locks one at a time. I finally got there and secured the radar reflector with the bungee cord. I checked out the spreader arm and there was one bolt that needed to be tightened, not having the tools with me, I decided I would tend to it later. Getting down the mast was worse than going up. When I got down, I took the flag halyard and extended it with light rope and tied it to the railing at the stern to stop the spreader arm from moving back and forth.
I took a break and thought - what would everyone at home say if I told them I had climbed the mast in the middle of the ocean in winds 18 mph and swells up to 6 feet. They would probably snicker and call me a liar! So, I got my tools together, ready to fix the spreader arm. I took my leather helmet, used for skydiving, and with duck tape tied up the camcorder to the side of my head! I wound the tape all the way around my head and chin. A quick look in the mirror to check if the recording light was on, and I could not help but grimace. I looked like one of those Keystone Cops and Laurel and Hardy characters when those guys went racing in their topless model T cars!!
I hurried out, hove to again and got up the mast and tightened the bolt, getting it all on video. Back in the cockpit, I took a well earned break, went to plot my chart and saw it was time to tack.
We took a tack, (when you tack, there is about 45 degrees no go zone,) well my no go zone was 150 degrees!! Holy Mackerel!! Something was wrong, drastically wrong!
I hove to, again.
Got the diving goggles and swim ladder. I hooked up the swim ladder to the starboard side, and with a rope tied around my waist, got down in the water. Holding onto the ladder,I peeked under the water and I could see the keel and centerboard as if it was broad daylight. The water was crystal clear. I noticed the centerboard was hanging forward at a 30 degree angle. I got back topsides and sat down to think. The angle of attack on a keel or centerboard is very important, just like an airplane's tail. I thought, does this have something to do with my drifting sideways and not being able to sail to windward? Well, I was going to find out myself.
Got the Brownie Third lung's hoses out of its bag and using the diving gear regulator, made some modifications, so they could be compatible ( my generator is too small to run the Brownie's compressor), to use the breathing air bottle. I dove down using the Brownie's hose while the breathing bottle stayed topsides, and swam to the centerboard. Getting ahold of it, I noticed it was stuck into that position. Checking around occasionally for sharks, I got back up, got some docking line and dove down again, tied the line around the bottom of the centerboard, checking for sharks and went back up,leading the dock line to the stern in an attempt to pull the centreboard back. Just as I wanted to pull, the dockline came loose and I had to dive under again, this time with a quarter inch bolt ( there is hole in the front bottom of the centerboard). I got the bolt through the hole and tied the line in such a way that it would not slip off.
I got back topsides and tried to pull back the centerboard, but to no avail. Breathing hard, I clenched on my teeth and dove down again, grabbing the centerboard, flipping my body upside down, pushing my feet against the hull. I jerked and grunted, sucking up a lot of air.The hell with the sharks I thought, I need to get this baby fixed. Some small tropical fish come to investigate this Fred Flintstone character, upside down, barefooted ( I do not have fins and was wearing only rugby shorts), grunting and heaving, jerking, acting like a madman! With one hand I got ahold of the sheet and after a few more attempts the board come loose! The sheet was pinched between the side of the centerboard and the centerboard housing. The board was loose, but I could not get the sheet out. The current was too strong. We were drifting sideways at 2 knts.
Went topsides and pulled the line that is attached to the bottom of the centerboard, so the board was in the correct position. Dove down again to check the angle and to check there was plenty of space between the line and propeller. Got back up, tied the line a little more to the port side, and checked if the board was moving and so on. Dove down one more time trying to get the sheet loose, butno luck. Will have to do it in Panama when the boat is stationary.
Satisfied with my work, I was curious to see if it was going to work. Set sail again and within 5 minutes we were bearing 125degrees !!! A 55 degree difference against the old 180 bearing. Boy,I was relieved !!!
Been sailing all night straight for waypoint # 4


Position at 07:30 Wed March 2004
16 deg 18 min N
82 deg 41 min W
C.O.G. 124 degrees
S.O.G. 5 knts
WIND 18 mph
Wind dir ENE
Temp 80

The Charl Tracker web page has been updated with newer and better software....
Only problem...couldn't change the hurricane icons, so Charl and Island Time will be tracked looking like a hurricane symbol.

The map looks better and gives you a better idea of the distance he has gone and the route he has taken....

www.texassampling.com/charl.htm

Wednesday, March 17, 2004 7:21 PM
Sailed all night and all day very well, despite a tear in the genoa, but it is holding. Hit 2 squals this afternoon with 35 mph winds. Wind changed and have been sailing on a close beam reach with speeds up to 6.6 knots with a double reefed main and full genoa. We are passing the Gorda Bank and we still have 25 nm to hit waypoint# 4. Depth is reading 74 feet.
Position at 18:00 Wed March 17 2004
15 deg 41 min N
81 deg 56 min W
C.o.g. 140 deg
S.o.g. 6.3 knts
Wind speed 22 mph
Wind dir ENE
Temp 80

Tuesday, March 16, 2004 6:34 AM
POS 17 - 18 NORTH 83 - 34 WEST AT 06:30 HRS
Please keep Charl in your prayers tonight. He sounds very tired after a very frustrating day. God keep him safe this night. Bev

Just lost the whole letter I typed, cannot find it, boat is rocking, must have pressed del ???? Will never know .
A lot of problems today, hove to 3 times to tend to it, took a total of 6 hrs, will write about it tommorrow, too tired to type again, problems are fixed.

Position as of 19:30 March 16 2004
16 deg 48 min N
83 deg 21 min W
Bearing(c.o.g.) 120
Speed (s.o.g.) 4.5 knts
Wind speed 16 mph
Wind dir ENE
Highs today 95

Lost 6 hrs heaving to, to tend to IT
All is well again
Charl

March 16, 2004
Sailed close hauled all Monday night, using the genoa only, but was sailing south, the wind must have shifted, well that is what I thought.
Daybreak Tuesday, I tended to the galley, cleaning up the mess behind the stove and trying to modify it so that it won't hit the back when it is rocking.
I noticed that the radar reflector had lost a rope and was swinging madly back and forth.To my horror the spreader arm was moving back and forth too!
I hove to and got my climbing gear out, the wind was 18 mph and the mast was swaying a lot on the swells, but I was determined to go up and fix it.
I took a bungee cord with me. Climbing up the mast using the main halyard to lock my climbing gear onto, the trip up to the spreaders was painstakingly slow. I had to keep one arm around the mast all the time, and with the other hand, moved the climbing locks one at a time. I finally got there and secured the radar reflector with the bungee cord. I checked out the spreader arm and there was one bolt that needed to be tightened, not having the tools with me, I decided I would tend to it later. Getting down the mast was worse than going up. When I got down, I took the flag halyard and extended it with light rope and tied it to the railing at the stern to stop the spreader arm from moving back and forth.
I took a break and thought - what would everyone at home say if I told them I had climbed the mast in the middle of the ocean in winds 18 mph and swells up to 6 feet. They would probably snicker and call me a liar! So, I got my tools together, ready to fix the spreader arm. I took my leather helmet, used for skydiving, and with duck tape tied up the camcorder to the side of my head! I wound the tape all the way around my head and chin. A quick look in the mirror to check if the recording light was on, and I could not help but grimace. I looked like one of those Keystone Cops and Laurel and Hardy characters when those guys went racing in their topless model T cars!!
I hurried out, hove to again and got up the mast and tightened the bolt, getting it all on video. Back in the cockpit, I took a well earned break, went to plot my chart and saw it was time to tack.
We took a tack, (when you tack, there is about 45 degrees no go zone,) well my no go zone was 150 degrees!! Holy Mackerel!! Something was wrong, drastically wrong!
I hove to, again.
Got the diving goggles and swim ladder. I hooked up the swim ladder to the starboard side, and with a rope tied around my waist, got down in the water. Holding onto the ladder,I peeked under the water and I could see the keel and centerboard as if it was broad daylight. The water was crystal clear. I noticed the centerboard was hanging forward at a 30 degree angle. I got back topsides and sat down to think. The angle of attack on a keel or centerboard is very important, just like an airplane's tail. I thought, does this have something to do with my drifting sideways and not being able to sail to windward? Well, I was going to find out myself.
Got the Brownie Third lung's hoses out of its bag and using the diving gear regulator, made some modifications, so they could be compatible ( my generator is too small to run the Brownie's compressor), to use the breathing air bottle. I dove down using the Brownie's hose while the breathing bottle stayed topsides, and swam to the centerboard. Getting ahold of it, I noticed it was stuck into that position. Checking around occasionally for sharks, I got back up, got some docking line and dove down again, tied the line around the bottom of the centerboard, checking for sharks and went back up,leading the dock line to the stern in an attempt to pull the centreboard back. Just as I wanted to pull, the dockline came loose and I had to dive under again, this time with a quarter inch bolt ( there is hole in the front bottom of the centerboard). I got the bolt through the hole and tied the line in such a way that it would not slip off.
I got back topsides and tried to pull back the centerboard, but to no avail. Breathing hard, I clenched on my teeth and dove down again, grabbing the centerboard, flipping my body upside down, pushing my feet against the hull. I jerked and grunted, sucking up a lot of air.The hell with the sharks I thought, I need to get this baby fixed. Some small tropical fish come to investigate this Fred Flintstone character, upside down, barefooted ( I do not have fins and was wearing only rugby shorts), grunting and heaving, jerking, acting like a madman! With one hand I got ahold of the sheet and after a few more attempts the board come loose! The sheet was pinched between the side of the centerboard and the centerboard housing. The board was loose, but I could not get the sheet out. The current was too strong. We were drifting sideways at 2 knts.
Went topsides and pulled the line that is attached to the bottom of the centerboard, so the board was in the correct position. Dove down again to check the angle and to check there was plenty of space between the line and propeller. Got back up, tied the line a little more to the port side, and checked if the board was moving and so on. Dove down one more time trying to get the sheet loose, butno luck. Will have to do it in Panama when the boat is stationary.
Satisfied with my work, I was curious to see if it was going to work. Set sail again and within 5 minutes we were bearing 125degrees !!! A 55 degree difference against the old 180 bearing. Boy,I was relieved !!!
Been sailing all night straight for waypoint # 4

Position at 07:30 Wed March 2004
16 deg 18 min N
82 deg 41 min W
C.O.G. 124 degrees
S.O.G. 5 knts
WIND 18 mph
Wind dir ENE
Temp 80

Monday 15, March 2004 at 18:30
Sailed all night with reefed main and staysail. Started the engine to charge batteries, just to find out the alternator was not charging anymore. Took the gas generator out of the hell hole, filled it up, coupled the wires to the batteries and started it up. Let it run for 8 hrs. Waited for daylight to tackle the alternator (I have a spare). Daylight, the seas becalmed and the wind went down to 18 mph. What a relief!
Took the staysail down and unfurled the big boy. Smooth sailing all day long!!
Well, checked the alternator and found the belt was loose. Using a crowbar, I retightened the alternator and presto we have power again. I was very relieved!!
Cooked a whole pot of oatmeal for breakfast and ate it all.
Hit my 3rd waypoint at 10:00 this morning, sailed through the Rosario Reefs, plotting every 30 min. At 12:00 hrs we were through and we set course for waypoint # 4, which is just east of the Gorda Bank. Coordinates are 15 Deg 20 min N , 81 deg 39 min W.
Took the main down, it lost 6 more slugs from the bad weather and replaced them with the old main's slugs.
Got a welcome visitor this afternoon, a swallow, came to sit on my shoulder which startled me and I yelped! It took off, but was back in a few minutes, sitting on the three speed winch. Took some pictures and video footage. I offered my hand and it got on and I have it all on camera to prove it! At time of writing he is still here, made himself comfortable under the dodger. I put some water and crackers close by.
Took a 3 hour nap this afternoon, the rough weather of the past three days has really tired me out. Took a saltwater bath in the cockpit, showered in fresh water and I am ready for another long night!!

Wind is strengthening now, up to 20 mph. We have a 1.3 knot current against us.

Position at 18:30 Monday 15, March 2004
18 deg 07 min N
83 deg 47 min W
Speed 5 knots
S.o.g. 3.7 knots (current against us)
C.o.g.140 deg
Wind speed 20 mph
Wind dir East

Charl and Island Time

Monday 3/15/04 am
POS: 18 - 42 NORTH 84 - 16 WEST AT 0700 HRS

Sunday 3/14/04 pm
Since last night the wind picked up again. Furled up the genoa which was reduced to 50 % already. With the main only, I hove to again to take a break. I used Willies's rudder and let him keep himself amidships. I got the staysail up and we were rocking and rolling again!
No more cooking until the weather gets better. Eating out of cans now since a whole pot of stew flew off the stove when a monster hit us and I have not had a chance to clean up the mess.
I only saw 2 ships passing. Checking the radar, I noticed a dark spot on it and I thought, rats, now my radar is packing up too. Took the spotlight and went to check, peeking up the mast. I checked the radar again and I saw the spot was still there. The wind then died completely and seconds later it was pouring. Yippee!! Rain! The dark cloud on the radar was rain all the time. It poured for about 20 minutes and IT got her first bath for free!There was completely no wind at all, the annometer read zero. As the rain passed, the wind picked up again and it was not long before it was going 26 mph gusting 33. Sailed all night with full main and the staysail.
This morning (granola bars and coffee for breakfast ) little has changed, the seas were a sight to look at and IT buried her bow into oncoming monsters on numerous times, which resulted in water pouring under the dodger and found its way into the companionway. I had to slow her down, and went up and took a reef in the main and she slowed down and things became more comfortable too.
While taking down the reef the genoa unfurled all the way and all hell broke loose. Somehow the sheet got loose, it sounded like World War 2 again. Even though deaf, I freaked out just at the boom of the sound of it. Anyone who has experienced a 150% genoa loose in 30 mph wind will know what I am talking about. I quickly got back in the cockpit and used the big port side three speed winch to roll the genoa up. I usually use muscle power to roll her up, but this time it was a different story!!! The process took a lot of effort and was painstakingly exhausting due to force of the wind. I was panting and sweating when finally got the chore done. Another lesson learned!
Checking my work, I noticed the main lost 4 more slugs at the top, nothing I can do much about it now. I tightened the main halyard and things look OK for now. Got the old main out of it's bag and am cutting out some slides, just to get ready when the weather cooperates then I will fix up the main again.
Have been sailing close hauled the past 24 hour I and I checked the chart and my bearing. I am changing my 3rd waypoint. I had planned to sail east of the Misteriosa Bank, but with wind not cooperating, will not be able to make it and I do not want to tack and sail NE again. My change of plan is to go west past the Misteriosa Bank between the Rosario Reefs.
My new waypoint # 3 is 18 deg 32 min N 84 deg 10 min W
I have since altered course and set the sails, sailing a little off close hauled, which also is more comfortable now.
Checking the fax, there is no change in wind speed and wave size for the next couple of days. I hope the weatherman is wrong!!
Slept very well for 2 hrs this afternoon and am ready for the night again.
We are sailing steady with a reefed main and staysail at 4.5 knots occasionally hitting 5 knots. Good speed for this awful weather. Safe too.
My weatherstation is a household unit and it reads windspeed in mph, not knts.
As you can see, IT is keeping me awfully busy. This is a real test for her and keep in mind she was never seatrailed. This is her seatrail!! Also mine!!
Position at 18:15 Sunday March 14 2004
19 deg 33min N
84 deg 45min W
Bearing(c.o.g) 152 deg
Speed (s.o.g.) 4.5 to 5knts
Wind 24 mph
Wind dir. E
Temp 81 deg F

Sunday 3/14/04 am
POS 20 - 12 NORTH 85 - 09 WEST AT 07:30 HRS
WEATHER VERY ROUGH

15-May-2005   14-May-2005   02-Apr-2005   26-Mar-2005   26-Feb-2005   05-Feb-2005   22-Jan-2005   
15-Jan-2005   08-Jan-2005   01-Jan-2005   25-Dec-2004   18-Dec-2004   11-Dec-2004   04-Dec-2004   
27-Nov-2004   20-Nov-2004   13-Nov-2004   06-Nov-2004   30-Oct-2004   23-Oct-2004   16-Oct-2004   
09-Oct-2004   02-Oct-2004   25-Sep-2004   18-Sep-2004   11-Sep-2004   04-Sep-2004   28-Aug-2004   
21-Aug-2004   14-Aug-2004   07-Aug-2004   31-Jul-2004   24-Jul-2004   17-Jul-2004   10-Jul-2004   
03-Jul-2004   26-Jun-2004   19-Jun-2004   12-Jun-2004   05-Jun-2004   29-May-2004   22-May-2004   
15-May-2004   08-May-2004   01-May-2004   24-Apr-2004   17-Apr-2004   10-Apr-2004   03-Apr-2004   
27-Mar-2004   20-Mar-2004   13-Mar-2004   04-Dec-1999