News

Saturday, April 17, 2004
Ran with the wind all night with the genoa goose-winged. This morning the wind shifted and I took the spinnaker pole off the genoa
and paid the price by hitting the deck flat on my back. Never underestimate the strength of the wind!
Sailed on a beam reach all day long with Willie (windvane) steering. Andy (autohelm) stripped some gears and I will look at it later.
She is too light for this job. Modified the solar panel to catch the morning rays better.
Had granola bars and coffee for breakfast and spaghetti and meatballs for lunch. Depth here is 2700 meters. Watched some flying
fish, amazing to see how far some can go. Saw one freighter on the horizon today. Read most of the time sitting in the
companionway, where I have a clear view of the seas around me.
Position at 1700 hrs
3-11 S
103-2 W
COG 236 deg
SOG 6.5 knts
Wind 7-9 knts
Wind from the south
Temp 86

Saturday April 17 2004
Position at 06:00 hrs
2-46 S
101-53 W
Cog 242
Sog 7 knts
Wind 12 knts
Wind from the South
Beam reach on a port tack

Friday April 16 2004
Wind died down last night until this morning when we were just drifting with
the current. At 08:00 hrs a light squall came from behind and we sailed for
four hours with the main only at 6.6 knts. The squall passed and I managed
to catch 1.5 gallons of rain water. The wind died down again. Just 3 knts.
I took the spinnaker out, keep in mind that in my entire life of sailing, I
have never flown one. There is always time to learn and today was the day. I
got it up despite a lot of tangling, but worked things out and finally it
flew. Unfortunately the wind was still very light and there was only a 1.5
knt margin. The wind is also not constant but we managed speeds from 3.3
knts to 4.2 knts.
I have not seen a single ship. The water is 2600 meters (7800 feet) deep
here. Saw only a lone swallow making a pass low over the water. The rest of
the day I spent my time reading. It is too hot to cook anything, so I just
snacked out of cans, like sardines and kippers and crackers.
Position at 17:00 hrs
2-27 S
101-5 W
Cog 245
Sog 3.5 knts
Wind 3-4 knts
Wind from ESE

Friday April 16 2004
Position at 06:30
2-15 S
100-30 W
COG 237
SOG 2.2 kt
Windpeed 3 kt
Wind from the SE

Thursday April 15 2004
Sailed all night in perfect wind. A little light rain fell for about 30 min.
Cooked pap en vleis last night for supper. I mixed the meat with brown
gravy and water. The meat is fully cooked and comes in special vacuum bags.
I could not eat it all, but saved it and ate the rest for brunch this
morning.
I have since finished reading Wilbur Smith's "Blue Horizon" a fantastic
novel !
I am now reading Robert Ludlums's "The Altman Code". Had a quick nap this
afternoon and feel refreshed for the night. I have not seen any ship this
past 72 hrs.
We have, since this morning, sailed more than 60 nm in 10 hrs, still on a
port tack. I estimate the South Equatorial current speed at 1.5 knts. We are
now reaching speeds up to 7.5 knts. Winds are from 8 to 12 knts.
Things are more relaxed now. The engine has not run for 48 hrs. The
batteries are holding very well.
Position at 17:00 hrs Texas time
1-52 S
99-27 W
COG 245
SOG 7 knts
Wind speed 11 knts

Thursday April 15, 2004 am
POS 1 32 S 98 26 W 07:00 HRS

Wednesday April 14 2004
Since last night and making it through four squalls, the wind has changed
its mood and we have been going steady all day. Winds 7 to 10 knts. Speed 5
to 6.5 knts. Bearing 250 degrees.
During the first squall last night, I managed to keep IT steady through the
heavy swells and rain. Suddenly IT came to an abrupt stop, the wind shifted
so fast and caught us in irons. The whole genoa was stuck against the
starboard rigging. We were on a port tack, and no matter how hard I tried
to roll up the genoa, I could not get it done in the pouring rain and 24
knot winds. I had to start the engine and run IT up wind and back to the
original port tack to get the genoa off the rigging.
I managed to get the genoa furled up and turned with the engine on a
starboard tack I then unfurled the genoa,shut down the engine and struggled
to keep IT on her new heading. The wind was constantly shifting and in the
pitch black night it was really scary, because the radar only showed a
black cloud on the monitor. The squall passed and within 30 min another one
struck. This went on and on until midnight. We were in the fourth squall
when the Andy(the autohelm )blew up. It popped open and the belt fell off.
Locking the wheel, I put Willie(the windpilot)to work. But with the rain
and wind and me being dog tired, I called it quits.
This was too much for one night. So I hove to with the mainsail only and
fell onto the bunk. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow.
This morning the seas were dead calm and I checked our position. We were
blown back all the way to where we were yesterday afternoon!!!
I took Andy off and repaired her, using anything I could get my hands on,
even ducktape!
At 08 :00 hrs the wind picked up slowly and we were sailing again with Andy
and her bandages, steering. At time of writing we have been sailing on a
beam reach(port tack) all day long without changing course.
Position at 17:30
1 deg 20 min S
97 deg 20 min W
COG 250
SOG 6 knts
Wind 8 knts
Temp 81

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 am
So much for trade winds !
Wind on my nose all night, four squalls included.
Hove to at midnight .
No progress, were blown back to where I was yesterday afternoon.
COG 335 deg
SOG 1.8 knots (drifting)
Windspeed 2 knts

Wednesday, April 14, 2004 am
So much for trade winds !
Wind on my nose all night,four squalls included.
Hove to at midnight .
No progress,were blown back to were I was yesterday afternoon.
COG 335 deg
SOG 1.8 knots (drifting)
Windspeed 2 knts

Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Wow , what a place to sail! Since last night we have had to alter course 9 times!
First it was bearing 185 till 2200 hrs last night, wind shifted, then it was 243
degrees till 0400 hrs this morning. Another shift, going 270! At 0800 the
wind had died completely and we were drifting 270 at almost 2 knts. Wind picked
up slowly, going 3 knts sometimes, bearing 230 until 1200 hrs, bearing180 when a
squall hit us - not very strong, but tacked 3 times in 15 minutes. What a mess! Right now the wind is up to 19 knts, going 7 knts, bearing 251 degrees.
Yesteday, I altered the sun cover (bimini) which Sharon, Bev and myself made. It can be zipped to the dodger. First, I slackened it from the rear frame to make it
hollow, then using light rope, let it go through the grommets on the sides
and tightened it to form a dam. Two holes were already in the sun cover, caused
chaffing from the backstay when it was rolled up. Inserting the 2
fittings that Desmond gave me in the Panama through the holes, I coupled a pair
of hoses to it. We were sailing straight for a dark cloud late yesterday
afternoon and when it started to pour, the water ran down the hoses into
my empty containers. Using all my empty water bottles, I managed to catch 7
gallons of pure clean water! It tasted like honey! Using one gallon of rain
water, I washed my hair for the first time in 10 days, and then I washed myself. I
felt clean and fresh and danced a jig stark naked in the cockpit!

I spent most of the night at the navigation table, turning the radar on every 30
minutes, which is normally on standby, with my nose buried in Wilbur Smith's "Blue
Horizon".

I finally saw real swells today. When in the trough, it looked like you were
looking at distance hills, and when on top of the swell it was like looking down on a
beautfull valley! Every one a different picture. Beautifull and awesome but also very frustrating. The last 3 days we made little progress and we still have a very long way to go and I do not want to burn up my diesel - I need it to charge my batteries. My tri-color light is very important to me here in the deep swells; however it is drawing a lot of power. I can switch to my lower running lights which use half the power, but with these swells, I do not want to risk it.

The last 3 days have also been a good test for my patience! Patience dela vertue!
Position at 1800 hrs
1 deg 7 min S
96 deg 15 min W
COG 249 deg
SOG 6.5 knts
Wind 17 knts
Wind NNE
Temp 77

Monday, April 12, 2004
A very quiet day for me. Almost no wind. Average speed was 2.5 to 3.5 knts.
Passed the equator at 10:15 hrs this morning, took footage of the GPS
going through 000.00.00 at 94 degrees, 53 minutes, 7.45 seconds W
Opened the surprise box from Dave and Sharon and went through the ritual of asking Neptune for permission to enter the southern hemispere !! I went a
little crazy !! The surprise box included sailing magazines, nuts ,dried
cherries, sweets, a jester's hat, a toilet scrubber acting as a scepter
and a little bottle of rum, which I had to give to Neptune and spared
a tot for myself !
I have been sailing and motoring on and off heading straight south all day.
At 17:00 the wind shifted and picked up to 10 knts.

Position at 18:00 Texas time
0 deg.26 min S
94 deg 54 min W
Sog 3.9 knts
Cog 200 deg
Windspeed 9 knts
Sailing close hauled on a starboard tack

Monday April 12 2004
Mother -
When I look upon the skies every night, I see your face and your smile.
Happy Birthday

Position 06:00
00 deg 10 min N
94 deg 38 min W
C.o.g. 250 deg
S.o.g. 4 knts
Wind speed 6 knts
Temp 76

Sunday April 11 2004
Since last night, I took the spare alternator off and replaced it with the old. However, I could not get the power restored. I tackled the book, Boatowners Mechanical and Electrical Manual, trying to understand how exactly an alternator works. I read and reread the chapter of alternators until I grasped it.There are two types, the N type and the P type. My old alternator is a P type and my spare an N type! I decided I would tackle the alternators again at first light. Seeing my batteries falling, I jumped into the hellhole and got everything out into the cockpit. I then took out the 1000 watt gas generator and with two battery chargers connected to the batteries, started it up. Getting power back into the batteries was slow with one 6 Amp and one 10 Amp charger, but we got the power back.
We were running under power at 5 knts, winds, zero knts. I saw only two small boats 2 miles away last night.
At exactly 01:00 hrs this morning, the main engine abruptly stopped. What now ,I thought,we cannot be out of diesel. With all my instrument gauges out, no alternator, I could not read the tank's level. With the generator still running, I hooked up my strong fluorescent work light and poured 10 gallons into the tank. I went aft, behind the engine and bled the filter, went to the port aft berth and removed everything to get to the injector pump. Loosening the bleeding screw, bled it until all air was out. Loosened one injector line and went back topsides and cranked the engine After a few cranks she coughed up and was running on 3 cylinders. I went down aft and tightened the injector line and she ran on all four again.
It was 03:00 hrs in the morning and I went to sleep.
I woke up at 05:30 hrs to find out the engine was not running. I made a cup of coffee and with granola bars sat outside, looking at the birds drifting with us, pondering my next move. We were drifting at 1.5 knt in a northwest direction. There was not a single ripple in sight, the seas were flat like a mirror.
Satisfied with my breakfast, I tackled the water strainer filter on the main diesel line first, and out came clog after clog of mud and water.Taking the filter out, I cleaned the unit with stove alcohol, installed a new filter and then replaced the main diesel filter too. Going through the same bleeding procedure, I got her running again.
Now for the alternators. I checked the old one for power, only 12.2 volts. I took it off and installed the spare N type again, going carefully through the book, made some wire connectors, extending some of the engines wiring too. I crawled for the umpteenth time through the small, 12 by 18 inch cabinet door, under the galley sink to get behind the alternator, whilst the engine was running. Using my tiny tester, I tested each connector, connected the wires. Peeking from under the galley sink compartment through the engine and alternator watching the volt meter on the navigation table, I touched the last wire to its connection terminal and whoosh, up shot the voltmeter's dial ! A whopping 14 volts ! Houston, we have liftoff !
Satisfied with my work , I sat in the companionway, eating two pieces of biltong, a few olives and pickled onions. My first food in 18 hrs .
Now for the next step, looking around the cockpit and cabin ,tools, rags ,oil smears, halyards etc were strewn everywhere. I tackled this mess, putting everything back, cleaning up the oil smears, gave the cockpit a complete scrub with saltwater and soap.
The engine was vibrating a little bit and I stopped, took a dive into the Pacific to check the prop, the water is clearer than the Caribbean !! Saw nothing wrong and checked the engine's mounting bolt nuts and found two were a little loose, tightened it and gone was the vibration.
The wind picked up at 11;00 hrs and I let go the genoa, bearing 243 degrees. I am trying to get south fast, but the wind direction prevents me. Looks like I will hit 00 tomorrow, not today as I thought.
I am starting to feel the current now, moving west. Both the main compass and autohelms's compass are starting to feel the equator. Gps reads 243 degrees whilst the magnetic compasses reads 225 degrees, maybe I am wrong, it could be the drift ??
Happy Easter !!
Position at 17:00 hrs
0 deg 22 min N
93 deg 49 min W
Wind speed 8 knots
S.O.G 5.5 knts
C.o.g. 245 deg
Temp 84

Sunday morning April 11 2000
Position
04 N
93W
C.O.G 270
S.O.G. 1.5 knt
Wind speed 0

I am in the doldrums, just moving with the current. Motor not running. Need to make repairs to the alternator etc.

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