News

Saturday April 3, 2004
Got up early as usual again.
Took IT to the dock where I gave her a complete scrub and washed her off with fresh water. Filled up all containers with fresh water, added the chlorine tablets etc.
Topped the tank with diesel.
Bought some emergency bottled water and soft drinks from the yacht club too.
Took off at 8:30, passed close to Americo's "Buzz" and shouted "Adios Amigo !!!
"He waved back and shouted "God Speed, my friend !!" Americo will leave on Tuesday for Tahiti, also non - stop.
So, here I am, alone again, heading for the Galapagos Islands. I will pass just south of them ,still 650 nm away. I then head for the longest trek, 3000 nm to the Marquisas Islands, take a turn, sail between the tiny Caroline and Vostok Islands, then straight to the American Samoa Islands.
Please God, give me the strength and stamina !!

Position at 9:00 hrs your time in Texas
8-16 N
79-56 W
C.o.g. 5. 5 knts
C.o.g.180 degrees
Wind 11 mph
Wind dir. North

Friday pm
Charl is still in Balboa, he only received his exit Zapata yesterday afternoon. He said that it was too late to leave at that time and still have enough daylight to navigate past the islands. There is still some business that needs to be taken care of (more paperwork), so he might leave this morning, (Saturday), or he might only be able to leave on Monday - he will let us know.
The Pacific is waiting!
Bev

Friday April 2, 2004
Woke up early as usual, took a cold shower, no hot water here at the Balboa yacht club!
Waited and waited until 11 am. Nothing! Went to take a nap and around 13:30 Peter woke me up and told he had everything ready. Still groggy from sleep I looked at the papers and almost had a heart attack when I saw the bill !!
$500 Canal tolls
$50 inspection
$50 security charge
$10 bank commission
$20 visa fees
$29 authorization to issue clearance
$5 clearance fee
$553.85 ship stores in transit (the 4 packages I received )Can you believe this ?? !!!!!!!
$105 agency fee
$5.25 gov tax on agency fee
A total of
$1328.10

Then there was still my cash and credit card expenses:
$260 linehandlers
$200 slip fees in Christobal
$100 taxi and internet cafe
$20 for the tires
$20 for extra water containers
$40 diesel
$60 sail repair
$200 total on a hot meal and some cold ones every day
$110 extra food etc
$ 50 souvenirs for family
$20 washataria
$20 taxi and internet cafe in Balboa
$60 total of a hot meal and some cold ones while in Balboa
$15 post office fees to mail package
$150 slip fees, diesel and cold drinks and bottled water in Balboa (the linehandlers drank almost all of my cold drinks)
A total of $1325
Holy Smokes!! A grand total of around $2650

A quick dash to the internet cafe to let Bev know they do not take credit cards and that she must wire the money to them.
Then off to the hotel where they let me use their washing machine to do my last load of laundry.
Got hold of Americo (he was also charged $190 for one 6 lb package!) and we went to the island and ate our last meal together. Adios Amigo !!

Went to sleep early, still reeling from the shock of the bill !!!

Thursday 4/1/04
Got up early again !!
Took the crew boat to the dock, but was stopped by an inspector. Went back with him to IT and he had to do a complete check. He checked to see what food I have on board, animals? etc. I filled out the necessary papers and sign its a case of sign here and sign there. He told me to stick to the boat as an agent would come to see me soon. Peter and the agent showed up some time later, but I was very confused about all this, due to lack of communication. Peter was being very helpful again, but I had to deal with this agent for a while, as he was getting my passport work done.
Went back with the agent onto IT, filled out more paperwork, sign here and sign there! He told me not to leave before I had exit clearance.
Peter said he would get with me as soon as he got things finalized.
Will have to wait again !!
No way that I will be able to go and do any final shopping, have to wait for the agents.
Checked out the internet cafe (in a dash,) sent Bev an e-mail, explaining, mailed my package which contains the cameras, video footage and souvenirs from the post office - registered mail.
The winds are blowing and waiting for me !!
Well, here they have you in a Half Nelson (by die balle) ?!!!
Very frustrating - this waiting game.

Wednesday "D-day" 3/31/04
Woke up at 03:00 hrs !!Checked my clock, and tried to get back to sleep, but no go. I was lying awake when Des knocked on the boat at 04:00 hrs to tell me my linehandlers were trying to call me via radio (figures) and that they were waiting for me at the yacht club. I then hauled up anchor, using my three speed winch, and took off to the yacht club.
Saw my linehandlers waving madly at me and I motored IT close to the dock, so that they could board and reversed back to open water. I went back to the flats and circled around for 45 minutes with all my navigation lights on. So were Des and Alison on Alii Nui, also circling were Ron and Suzanne on Tapasya from South Carolina, USA. Both boats are Warram catamarans, which they built themselves.
Soon a crew boat showed up, stopping beside each of us, so that the pilots could board. My pilot asked for my horn and told me to follow the cats. In the pitch black night, I ran the motor at 1700 rpm, but my pilot told me to give it more power, at least 6 knts! So I opened her up to 2000 rpm, and IT was running at 6.6 knts.
Following the lit markers, we soon approached the 1st set of brightly lit locks. We then slowed down, following the pilot's instructions. Yes, I have to steer, while he is the guide and gives out the orders!
Tapasya slowed down first and I came onto her port side and with 8 linehandlers working, they quickly secured us together. Then it was Alii Nui's turn, and Des came and docked on IT's port side, quickly tying us together. With IT in the middle, I had a lot of responsibility, steering and using IT's power to move all three boats together into the first set of locks.
If the boats move too much either to port side or starboard side, the pilots shout commands.Des had to reverse, Ron full speed ahead, and so forth, to keep us straight ! It was early morning and I was soaking wet from perspiration!!
We docked behind a big freighter from Singapore, not much space for us between her and the gates !! After all lines were secured the gates started to close, big powerful hydraulic arms pushing them closed. We then slowly started to rise !!
About 30 min, after being lifted 30 feet, we proceeded to the next lock to repeat the some process over again. Another 30 feet, another lock, another 30 feet then we were on the lake, freshwater !!
We then separated and unfurled some sails, but the motors had to run, speed at least 6 knots. We followed the pilots instructions and we took a short cut through the beautiful tropical forest islands. All the time sticking close to each other.
All the time I was wondering if Mike and myself had forgotten something when we overhauled the engine in my shop !! I had never run the engine at this high rpm and never this long before !!I
Soon I started to relax and focused more on video footage and taking pictures with my doos kamera ! After about 5 hrs, passing tankers and freighters and a Caribbean cruise ship, we approached the Pacific side locks.
This time I had to dock on Alii Nai's port side and Ron came over in Tapasya and did a neat dock on IT's port side.
We then proceeded entering the first lock. We had to wait for a while for some freighter from Singapore, which was behind at the lifting locks. As a precaution, a tug boat was sent in between us and the freighter, in case anything should go wrong. For instance, the cables on the locomotives that pull the freighter, could break. Her powerful reverse trusts were giving us all hell and we thought our rudders were going to break off !!
We then went through the same process, but this time the opposite, we were going down! Another set of 3 locks with the second lock located on a smaller lake.
As soon as we were through, we separated again and headed out into the new waters. My pilot shook my hand and welcomed me to the Pacific !
I went straight for the Balboa yacht club to offload my linehandlers and also the pilot.
Got a slip in the open water, so did Ron and Suzanne. Des and Alison decided on another location, further down. We said our good-byes and they were on their way.
As soon as I was secured, I hailed the crew boat, sort of taxi ,all boats are 100 feet or so from each other, and went to the dock.
Took a cab to the closest internet cafe and let Bev know I was safely here.
Walked back to the yacht club, taxis cost more on this side, (no Dracula!) and there were my other buddies ! Americo,Kevin,Russ and Becky !! Also there were Doug and Kyle Hopkins with their young daughters.
We all dined together, probably for the last time, at the yacht club.
Went to crash !! Doggone tired !!

Wednesday 3/31/04
I am in Balboa.
Everything went smoothly with the transit. I will write about it tomorrow.
Will stock up with water and diesel, then I am off!
Will check mail here again before I leave.
I am dog tired.
The engine has been running since 4 this morning and I arrived here at 4:30 this afternoon! Engine held very well.
Will mail all cameras and video footage tomorrow.

Tuesday 3/30/04
Got up early as usual, showered and took a cab to the internet cafe. Checked my mail and website for the last time before transit through the Canal.
Thank you everybody for the e-mails and for signing the guestbook. I cannot reply to you all, but you surely lift my spirits !
Got back to the yacht club and took IT to the flats where I dropped anchor beside Des and Alison. Des brought over his strong generator and I hooked up the Brownie to check out the centerboard.
After 3 dives, I got the halyard loose and then I straightened it out by marking the halyard topsides, so as not to give it too much leeway next time. Winched up the centerboard and with one more dive, checked that everything was where I wanted it to be. Des gave me a ride in his dinghy, and I took a hot shower at the yacht club, to get rid of the saltwater.
Had supper with Des and Alison's on the Alii Nui. Real SA food !!
Got to bed early.

Monday 3/29/04
Another quiet day for me. Visited the internet cafe 3 times. In between times, I checked with my line handlers to organize Wednesday's transit seeking refuge from the heat in the air conditioned bar or internet cafes. I am alone now. Americo is through and so are Kevin, Becky and Russ. Hope to see them again on the other side.

This is the last time I will be checking my mail and so forth. Hopefully I will check again in Panama City for the last time before taking on the Pacific.

Sun, 28 Mar 2004
Not much happening today. Spent most of the time at the internet cafe and tried to reply to everybody. Please keep that mail coming in! I am still here for 4 more days and us "deafies" are never satisfied when it comes to news from home and friends!! The waiting is killing me and please write as often as you can, all your mail and news is keeping me sane!!

Last night, it finally sank in -
after 6 months of sweat, hell and tears, taking on the Herculean task of repairing and upgrading IT almost alone, worrying about money, almost throwing away the whole project too,
the 14 day non-stop shakedown through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, with minimal off-shore sailing experience - it all finally paid off.
I am ready to take on the World !

To my family and friends in South Africa, Pa, Marie en Ouma, Francois, Sus en kinders, Christo,Tannie Andy, Oom Alan, Alan jr, Oom George vd Merwe, Toni, Daleen en Gideon, Donnie en Noeline Botha en my pelle, Eric, Charmaine, from Messina, Nico and Morne, my groot pelle, Oom Piere Volschenk en Tannie Marie, the Moll's in Paarl, Karel Koster en sy paragliding pelle, Clive Ridley ex-golf partner, Michael Dovey, the Boyes family, Doug and Lucile and Grant Brook, Chris Ross, Andre Pretorius, Ari and Marietjie Badenhorst, Colleen Coetzee, thank you all for your encouragement and support.

To my friends and co-workers at Formosa Plastics, Mark Barefoot, hey Foot, your diving gear saved my day! Tons of thanks !!David Stanley, thanks for mail and encouragement, Ken and Ofie, thank you very much, Jimmy Wilson, thanks buddy, Richard Langston my co-welder, thanks for your prayers !! Jen and Mike, thanks.Ex-Formosa workers, Andy Bednarz and Scott Pena thanks and pass it on to the wife and kids !

To Jeff my ex-helper at Formosa Plastics, now in the USAF, and in Quator, Iraq, thanks for the kind words! Be safe, man.

To my family in the States, my in-laws,Tom and Joy Bryant from Olivia, Chris,Danese,Chris jr and Mary-ann Knott-Craig, from Oklahoma, thank you so much for your wishes and to David, June,Robynne and James Clark, from California, thank you for your encouragement and all the help over the years. Bless you all.

To my rugby friends from the Victoria Rugby Club,Tom and Judy Murrah, P-Nut, Jeff, Bob and April, the O'Neils, Rob Pupi and family and Canadian Neil Redfern thank you for your kind words and messages.

To my skydiving friends, Phil and Deb from San Marcos,Texas, Billy and Flo from Alabama, Marc Rubin, from San Marcos and Titch in South Africa, a big bright blue skies thanks !!!

To my co-referees from Texas, Chris Callan and Nora and James Wolfinger, hey Wolfie, it is going to take more than a pint to talk to me and my salty ass on my return !! Thank you all for your e-mails !!

To the Serendipity and Palacios Yacht Club members, Tommy, Ray, Norris, Mike, John and Darlene, Dennis,Truda, Dub, Donna,the
Mutaseks, Hartwell, Robert , Cynthia , Richard, Teresa, George, a big, big thanks for all your e-mails. Hey Ray, believe it or not, there is a crew boat passing every 5 minutes and I can't keep up!!!

To my South African friends and Kwagga players in Texas,
Swazi, Reka,Dini, Hugo, Heidi, Jessica, Luke, Gert, Maryke and girls, Mark,Tania, Emma, thank you so much. Hey Hugo, and M - your biltong is "koning!!" Jessica, enjoy your horse !!

To my fellow church goers and friends in Port Lavaca, Olivia, Lolita , Edna and the whole Texas area - Ron and Kathleen Shott, Sue, Dick and Tres Traylor, the Toombs, the Larkins, Dan and Jackie, Carl and Debra Critendon, Cyril, the Weavers, John, Joan, Holly and Brooke Behrens, Will, Linda Johnson, Mike Mondrik, the Benavides family, Vernon and Joyce Ruddick , Fred and Cathy, Wanda and Wyle Harris , Jerry Lawrence from Fuzzy's, thank you so much for keeping in touch.

The surveyor of IT, Mike Firestone, thank you, yeah, I got safely through the Yucatan Channel.

My other brother, Gary Woodring and his parents ,Ken and Betty, many many thanks !Hang in there Gary !!

The Waters clan, Randy, Cella, Cory and Hank, yeah it was fun and heartbreaking to part at the Port Lavaca channel !!

To the other Tartan 37 owners, Jennifer Dark, Anne Sieling,Tom and Sandy Wells I do no know you, but your mails are very welcome.

To the people around the States, Frankie Watson, Arnold Barrera, Doris and Lucian Russel, Juan Cobos, Judy Zwahr, FW Sellers, Dale Pigot, Bonnie Kimball, Ronnie Shea, Linda Rizpah, Carlynn Huffer, Kelly Diole, David Adriaan, Adeline and Sara Casper, Frank Tilley, Andy McComas, Doug Hillyer, Courtney of Palacios,
Youngbuck, Alan Albrecht, Randy Hamilton, Cyrill, Linda Johnson, Melanie Gage, Jamie Jones, Shawn, the Haydens, Randall Stolze, Robert Steed and Ann Hynes, Griff Griffin, JV Helms, Danny, the Wright family, thank you all !!

To my Tommie friend, in Seattle, Dave and Eileen Elley and kids, ye parle francais aussie, aujourd'hui. IT is surrounded by the French here at the marina !! Shocking to hear England lost the rugby against them !

To Dave and Sharon, keep writing, I am starving !!

To my wife, Beverly and my children, Sharleen and Gideon, I love you !!

Please forgive me if I have left anyone's name out, the list is just enormous !!!

That's it for today !

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27-Mar-2004   20-Mar-2004   13-Mar-2004   04-Dec-1999