News

Saturday April 10 2004
Sailed well all of last night, bearing 243. Had a bag of boiled rice and fully cooked ground beef in a bag, mixed together and ate it out of the pan, just like Trinity in the 1970 Western movies!
At 10:00 a freighter passed me at 2 miles. First ship I have seen in more than 72 hrs. Stayed up all night, keeping watch, occasionally lying on my back in the cockpit, studying the stars. I have heard stories that sailors in the old era used plumb bobs, a procedure still being practiced today, lying on their backs, with the plumb bob above them, using their eyes to get a vertical shot, thus getting a fix, and being able to navigate that way. Awesome!
At 06:00 we approached a squall, heavy rain in the distance. I quickly rolled up the genoa and waited and watched it getting closer and closer, and jolly jokers, it changed course and passed me by half a mile!
This morning at 07:00 hrs wind shifted and I took a tack, bearing 180 deg.
At 09:00 hrs another shift, another tack, bearing 240 deg.
It is 10:00 hrs now S.o.g. 7 knts. Wind 10 knts!!.
11:00 hrs I spotted a dark cloud on the horizon, bearing 290 deg. Looking carefully with the binoculars, I saw it was not a cloud. Land Ahoy!
Checked the coordinates on the GPS and plotted my position and checked the chart. It was the Isla Culpepper. Turning the radar on, to see if I could catch it, saw a small speck showing up on the screen. Using the cursor, the radar gave me an exact distance and bearing. It was 20 nm away, but the bearing was not the same as mine! By using the dividers it showed 50 nm away. Baffled, I kept on. At noon I saw what it was and checking the chart again, it was a smaller island, which I could not see an hour ago, but my radar saw it. It was the Isla Wenman. Both islands sit just northwest of the Galapagos Island, which is also part of it. Culpepper rises about a 1000 feet above sea level.
Plotting again, I saw I was on the correct path. Looking southeast, I hoped to see the Galapagos Island, but it was too far away. Using my dividers, the nearest land south of us was 60 nm.
At 14:00 hrs wind 12 knts s.o.g. 6.5 knts bearing 244 deg.
It is our first cloudless day and it also hot. Temp 88 deg. I have since turned on the refrigerator and put some sodas and bottled water in the freezer compartment. I have just had a soda, ice cold!
Will have to shut it off soon, to conserve battery power.
I have been trying for the last 4 hours to restore power, but to no avail. I installed the spare alternator, but has a different wiring system from the present one, so I put the old one back just to find out it has absolutely no power output too. This must be a wiring problem as all my instruments for the engine are dead also the tachometer is pfft! I am presently studying the Boat owner's Mechanical and Electrical manual and will tackle the problem at first light tomorrow. I have enough battery power to last the night, in fact I am using my brand new back-up battery to use the laptop now.
Position at 18:30 Saturday April 10, 2004
0 deg 58 min N
92 deg 05 min W
Will hit the equator tomorrow!
C.o.g. 240
S.o.g. 4 knts
Wind 7 knts
Happy Easter !!

Waaksaam, die stille, donker nag aan
die sterre skitter,
wagstaan, die hele nag aan
my ooglede flikker,
hier gaan ek, eensaam, aan en aan......
Oor die Stille Oseaan.
Silentvoyager 10 April, 2004

Sat morning April 10 2004
Position at 06:30 hrs: 01 - 31 N and 91 - 10 W
C.o.g.245 deg
S.o.g. 6 knts
Windspeed 12 knts
Temp 80
Rain squall approaching

Friday April 9 2004
Since writing last night, the winds have picked up and we sailed well 180 deg until 03:00 this morning when we had to alter course 130 deg as the wind had shifted. At 08:00 the wind shifted once more and the new bearing reads 143, a course we are still maintaining at time of writing.
It was beautiful sailing all day long! Sailing on a close beam reach to close hauled. Averaging 6.5 knts.
Had oyster soup mixed with instant lunch for supper last night. This morning it was coffee and granola bars for breakfast. I have been snacking throughout the day on pickled onions, crackers, sardines and kippers.
Washed 5 days of dirty dishes, pans and plates! The galley looks organized again. Have been cutting up plastic waste into small pieces and stuffing them in a trash bag. All metal goes overboard.
I am wearing rugby shorts today, I have not put on a shirt since leaving Panama. Most of the time I hang around in "Hanes his way" underwear! I use baby wipes to wash myself. Took a dip in the Pacific yesterday to check on the centerboard while we were in the doldrums. Everything looks OK. Water crystal clear !
Have not seen a single ship the past 72 hrs.
Bev, keep on sending me the news and guestbook entries. I got everything this morning.Thank you.

Position at 17 :00 hrs
01 deg 56 min N
89 deg 56 min W
S.o.g. 4.5 knts.
C.o.g. 243
Windspeed 6 to 8 knts. Wind down from 14 knts.

Friday morning 06:00 hrs April 9 2004
Sailed all night south until 03:00 hrs this morning. Noticed the wind has shifted and altered course.
Position
2 deg 29 min N
89 deg 00 min W
C.o.g. 230 deg
S.o.g. 6.5 knts
Windspeed 10 knts
Smooth long swells at last !!!

Thursday April 8 2004
My position this morning was 4 - 21 N 88 - 04 W. The winds had changed again and we were sailing close hauled to close reach, bearing 180 to 190. The wind was down to 15 knts and I had time to clean up the mess. Last night's storm, after the wind shifted so fast and I had to tack, was the worst storm we have had since leaving Texas. Winds were 28 to 33 knts!
Pots and pans, canned food, charts, almost everything had come loose. It was scattered all over the cabin. I managed to get the genoa furled up, but with the constant waves hitting IT from every side, it was impossible to get the main down. It was pitch black and I could not see anything. Lightning was a constant factor. I just went below decks and rode it out. The constant see-sawing and the crashing of IT's bow when we went down, hitting wave after wave, had me worried. Was she strong enough for her age to withstand this? That was going through my mind. Thinking back I remembered repairing her blisters and how I had made them a little thicker too! I was positive she could come through this. I threw a mattress on the floor, checked the radar and went to sleep! It was the only place to sleep anyway, the constant rocking and banging would have thrown any man from his bunk.
We were not moving fast, around 4 knts and I decided not to throw out a drogue. I have 3 drogues to slow us down from behind and also a para-anchor which I can use from the bow for worst case scenarios.
The day dawned and the calm came with it!
We sailed all morning in perfect weather, until 12:00 hrs........Welcome to the doldrums, Captain !!!
Motoring, bearing 233 degrees, sog 4.5 knts at 1700 rpm at 13 :00 hrs.
Wind was 3 knts, but from the wrong direction! I could not use the spinnaker. Need to get more south to catch the current and trade winds. Some bad news too, lost my Danworth,15 feet of chain, 200 feet of rode last night. Somehow the nut came loose from the bolt that held the anchor. My storm staysail's bag is also AWOL! I still have a spare anchor and 20 feet of chain and 700 feet of rode.
My spirits are still high! Always make sure you have backup !
It is 14:00 hrs now and I notice a shift in the wind, hopefully we will be under sail soon. Also, this is a good time to charge my batteries for nightfall.
It is 16:00 hrs now, wind has shifted, but not strong enough, still motoring, bearing 223 deg.
Well, here we are again,17:00 hrs, winds at 9 knts, full genoa, main and staysail. Yeah I am flying the staysail too, just in case I get caught off guard like last night, and I do not have to go up front to raise it, just roll up the genoa.
Yes, I have modified this sloop into a cutter rig, but no back stays, just a single midstay with a staysail. Have since reefed the main on its 1st reefing point, just in case, for the night.
Position at 17:00 hrs Texas time
3-31N
88-30W
C.o.g.182 deg
S.o.g. 5.3 knts
Windspeed 7 knts
Wind direction Who Cares!! My annometer is way out!!
Temp 90 degrees Fahrenheit

To Jim Campbell on Highlander
Thank you for your concern. As you can see from today's log, I did have everything on board. Also, I have practiced the procedure of throwing the para-anchor and I also repacked it myself, just like we did real parachutes in the old days, the round ones, tripping line included. I also practiced the hove to (heaving to) procedure, numerous times in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, on IT's shakedown towards the Panama Canal, when I had to make repairs to her. I must admit it is a very a simple task once you know how!
Best wishes on your sailing
Charl

To David Stanley
30 days alone? More than that buddy! This is the ultimate test.
Thanks for following me and remember news is always welcome.
Safe sailing
Regards
Charl.

Thursday April 8, 2004 am
Had my worst storm since leaving Texas!
Will write about it in this afternoon's log!
Charl

Wednesday April 7 2004
I have covered 160 nm in the last 24 hours!
Since my position this morning, which was 5:17 N and 86:03 W, the wind died down to 8 knts and a while later it shifted to ENE and started to pick up. It has been blowing this way all day, gusting from 18 knts to 23 knts which makes things very unpleasant. I am trying to stay on course, which is almost impossible, sailing close hauled.
The swells are gone, replaced by waves up to 10ft. It has been that way all day long. The rocking and rolling of the boat makes it impossible to take care of chores. Occasionally we hit a big one and the water comes in under the dodger into the companionway. I have since cleaned up the mess and closed the companionway, but after I hit my head, I decided to keep it open, it is only water!
Last night around 22:00 hrs, we passed a ship, looked like a frigate, not sure. Since then I have not seen anything. Occasionally a pair of birds will fly by to check me out.
It was very pleasant sailing in the NNE winds for 24 hrs.
I now have to make up my mind. To tack or not to tack, that is the question! I have decided to keep this course which is 270 degrees, if the wind behaves!
I took a tack 5 minutes ago the wind shifted from ENE to SE!
Position
4 deg 55 N
87 deg 20 W
C.o.g 234
S.o.g 5 knts
Wind 15 knts
Wind direction SSE shifting

I have to go and tend the sails on this new course, time 18:30

Tuesday April 6 2004
Thank you all for your e-mails and visiting and signing the guestbook on my website.
Yes, Swazi and Syla, skop hulle gatte, moenie dat die span doodloop nie. Kwaggas, Go!!
Mark Mitchell,Thank you for your mail.
Dan and Jackie, thank you.
Dub, thanks man.
Mark de Kiewiet, yes it is a small world, thank you for your mail.
Lettie and Sampie, daar doer in die Bosveld, baie dankie vir die mail.
Sue and Dick, thank you.
Jean de Villiers in South Africa, thank you. I see your father every night when I look up at the stars !!
Kobus vd Merwe dankie vir jou boodskap.
Francois de Villiers jr of "Boeta", dis nog baie ver om GROOT te gaan !!
Kate, in Dallas, thank you for your mail. All the best running the marathon.
Sharon and Dave - sounds as though the house is coming along! Send some pictures to Samoa (only if we don't have to pay $500 for some agent to hold them for me!!!)
Clarike and Antonette, my niggies, baie dankie vir julle boodskappe!
I cannot go directly to my mail, as the Iridium is too slow. So Bev sends your mail to me.Thank you baby !!
Sorry to hear Dad (Tom)'s leg needs to be amputated. Dad, I will be praying for you, and for Mom.
So far, the pilot charts are correct - there do not seem to be any doldrums this time of year - hope not anyway! Well, I have enough diesel to be able to motor for 1500 sea miles if I have to!
The only problem I am having is that if the batteries drop to under 12 volts, then I have trouble charging the laptop. I may have to consider getting another 2 solar panels in Samoa, the type that rotate so that they always face the sun. The laptop charger could also be on the blink but I will try the spare and see if it makes a difference. Thanks Mr. Pearce (Dixie Computers) - could not have done this without the two laptops!
With the GPS and the autopilot operational, the solar panels alone keep the batteries at a constant 11.6 V (if the sun is shining!) I have to run the engine each day for a while to charge the batteries for the night.
Good sailing all day. Wind blowing NNE at 8 to 10 knts this morning and at 13:00 hrs gusting to 14 knts. We are sailing on a close reach, speed 6.8 knts to 7.2 knts.The seas are flat today, like Matagorda Bay, the color of the water is different. Almost no swells all day. It started to pick up after 14:00 hrs, smooth long swells! In Saturday's log I stated that I wanted to go south of the Galapagos Islands, well I have changed my mind as the wind is not in my favor. I am sticking to my path which is 253 degrees, going for 00 deg, 100 deg West.
Saw only one powerboat passing a half mile away today. Barometer falling, maybe another lightning storm on the way. I have not tried the weatherfax, as Sharon and Dave say, sometimes it is better to be in the weather than expecting it. Anyway I bought it for the Indian Ocean, when I will be entering the Cape of Storms.
The heat is terrible in the cabin, but the wind is cool in the cockpit. I tried to keep the front hatch open, but when we hit a wave, the water gets in. Have to keep it closed for now.
Andy, (tannie Andronette,) the autohelm, is steering very well with her new belt, Willie is taking a break.
For those who want to know:
Willie - windpilot (Pacific Plus model with it's own rudder, yes I have 2 rudders !)
Tilly - tillerpilot, can also steer Willie in light winds or when we are under power.
Bev - Cutting grass - please change oil and filter on the mower and remember the weedeater's gas must be mixed with 2 stroke oil. Remember Mike and Ken Byrd are there to help with mechanical stuff. (Thanks guys!)
Bev - A honeymoon in Samoa !! ??? Sounds good ! Anyway, did you handle the Panama bill? Managing with money ? If not - let me know and I will head for the nearest land and find a job!

Position as of 17:00 Tuesday March 6, 2004 your time in Texas
5 deg 42 min N
84 deg 34 min W
C.o.g.255 degrees
S.o.g. 7 knts
Windspeed 14 knts
Wind dir NNE
Temp 84 deg Fahrenheit

Monday April 5 2004
Sailed well all day on a broad reach, bearing 254 degrees.
Night-time the wind shifted and we were sailing on a beam reach, occasionally hitting speeds at a whopping 8 knts at winds of 15 knts (yes my weatherstation reads knts now, also in mph, kmh and m per second)
Early morning, winds shifted again and all day we were on a broad reach.
Cooked rice and brown gravy for lunch!
Late afternoon the wind died completely and I started the motor, running at 4.5 knts.
We ran straight into a violent lightning storm (that is why I did not send you my log last night )
Tried to sail, but the winds just changed too much. I gave up and ran the motor again, lightning everywhere and it was pouring too !!
At 4 am this morning we were out of the storm and the moon started to show its face again. I went to sleep and slept for an hour and a half
Position Tuesday March 6 at 06:00 hrs
6 deg 03 min N
83 deg 28 min W
C.o.g 255 degrees
S.o.g.4.8 knts
Wind 12 knts
Temp 81

Monday 4/5/04 am
POS 6 - 37 NORTH 81- 49 WEST

Sunday 4/4 2004
Just lost everything I wrote again!
Since last night, the wind has picked up and we sailed until noon today. I was close to shore and could see the waves breaking on the beaches! Have just passed Punta Morro de Puercos and am sailing away from land towards my next waypoint which is 5 deg N; 86 deg 50min W. I might change direction, it all depends on the wind.
Very hot today 105 degrees.
Two ships passed me, one in front and one from behind They were coming straight towards me and I watched them closely until they were a quarter of a mile from me. They changed direction to avoid me!
I am off the shipping lane now.
It is getting very lonely now, probably feeling the fall-out from all the internet cafe visits!
Bev. please send me whatever mail I get!!!
Not much happened today, took the spinnaker out and checked it. Will want to use it. Now is the time to learn how to use it too.

Position 7 deg N 80 deg 38 min W
Wind 2 knts
S.o.g. 4.5 knts motoring
C.o.g 254 deg
Temp 84
As of 17:00 hrs your time in Texas

Sunday 4/4/04 am
POS 7 - 37 NORTH 79 - 56 WEST AT 06:00 HRS

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