News

Saturday May 15, 2004 pm
Noon to noon run today - 120 nm.
Wind still steady, average sog is 4.2 to 5.2 knots.
Barometer is falling
No fax yet
I am watching the stormy clouds behind me.
Will have to take action soon.

Saturday Morning May 15, 2004
Smooth sailing all night.
Finished Captain James Cook.
Had a good sleep.

Position at 0630 hrs
13-21 S
157-40 W
Cog 260
Sog 3,7 kts
Wind 7 kt
Wind from the East

Friday May 14 2004 - evening
Never took the spinnaker out. Wind increased to 16 knots. Sailing on a dead run, headsail goosewinged to port. Mainsail to starboard. Going 5.5 to 6.5 knots. Bearing 270. Smooth sailing all day long!
At noon I calculated my 7 day run from Hiva Ou. We sailed 1059 miles in 7 days. Distance made good, 1026 miles.(as the crow flies). A difference of 33 miles. Can anybody out there tell me if this is good or what?!

Friday May 14 2004
Since my log, sent last night, the barometer dropped again and the wind increased to 36 knots. Donning my foul-weather gear I set out and got the main down and tied it down to the boom. My advice to first timers, do not look at the seas as it scared the ^&@! out of me. Rather keep your eyes focused on the job you are doing and hold tight! With the wind shifting, blowing from the East, I set course, bearing 270 with the tiny staysail only, making 5.5 knots. Not waiting for the wind to go down, I dropped a mattress on the floor and fell asleep.
I estimate the largest waves must have been 20 to 25 feet, breaking at the top. This was the BIGGEST one for me so far. It all fell into place, it was a low pressure system that we went into. I received a weatherfax from New Zealand, but it was very blurred. I could however make out the low pressure system faintly. Well, IT rode it out well, taking most of the waves at 20 degrees. Have very good footage of the system taken. This morning the wind is down to 10 knots. Will get that spinnaker out.
Position at 0630 hrs
13-28 S
155 35 W
Cog 270
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 10 kt
Wind from E

Thursday May 13 2004 - evening
This morning, with the wind shifting and blowing from the NE, I got the spinnaker pole down from the headsail. I set the sails and we were soon galloping at 6.5 knots on a beam reach, bearing 270 on a starboard tack!With my nose buried in Alan Villiers' "Captain James Cook" book we sailed like this, dodging two squalls until 1400 hrs when a one finally caught us. It was still very hot and as soon as the wind calmed down, I took a cool shower in the cockpit under the downpour!
The squall was over in 10 min. We then found ourselves in very calm conditions and I knew the wind would soon be back. We even started to drift north at 0.5 knots. Two brown birds kept cicrling us and for 15 minutes and I tried to catch them on video.
It was not long before the wind picked up and I tried to sail west, but this wind was coming from the west! We were sailing back! A dark cloud was coming closer and I rolled up the headsail, keeping the storm staysail up in a hove to position and bang, 35 knots hit us! Keeping a luff in the main, we crept slowly forward while nature's fury unleashed herself on us for the umpteenth time.
This was not a squall, this was a gale as there was little rain. The wind has shifted and is coming from the south now. At present it is still blowing 30 knots, gusting to 35 knots. This is very strange weather and it baffles me. This is not what the trades should be, but this does happen and I must just accept it. Experience is still the best learning tool.
It is now 30 min later and it is still lashing out at us. I have taken some video footage of this storm, hard to keep the camera still.
It has been now one hour and it is still hell out here. The waves have since increased in size and every now and then one hits us square on the port side which releases an avalanche of water all over the deck and it is creeping into the companionway on my leg, where I am sitting typing on the laptop now.
16:20 We are moving forward at 3.5 knots now. This IS a gale, my first one, the other two storms happened at night and there was lightning present. This one has no lightning and the rain is moving horizontally. It is not a pretty picture outside! Took more video of this gale.
17:00 The wind is the same. Caught the windspeed on the monitor with the video camera 38 knots max! It is getting scary out here, I must admit. Moving at 4.5 knots now, bearing 247 degrees.
17:30 Waves starting to break. Wind 36 knots max. Barometer starting to rise. I hope this will soon be over.
18:00 Wind back to 38 knots. Everything is back on the floor. The cabin is a complete mess again.
18:30 Wind down to 30 knots.
I am going to try to send this log now
Position
13-24 S
154-47 W

Thursday May 13 2004 - morning
Steady sailing on a run all night. A few squalls threatened to hit me, but they kept their distance. Light rain this morning. Wind has shifted and is from the NE. Will soon alter the sails and head 270.
Total run the past 24 hrs was 115 miles. Have not seen anything !!
Position at 0600 hrs
13-23 S
153-50 W
Cog 245
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 8 kts
Wind from the NE

Wednesday May 12 2004 - continued
Since sending my log this morning, I had to get busy as the weather was favorable. At 8 knts. of wind and 3 feet of seas I tackled the mess on the roller furling system. Using the telescope boating hook I tied a knife to the point with duck tape, then started cutting the knotted and ripped genoa 12 feet up. How the sail could get so knotted up, baffles me. I had to cut the sheets too. After two hours of frustrating work, soaking wet from sweat, I got the genoa off the furling system. Thirty to fifty percent of the genoa is intact and I can use it to modify it into a roller furling storm jib. Got the no 3 genoa out and hauled it up inside the grooves. Satisfied with my work, I tied the spinnaker pole to the clew and let it fly goosewinged. The barometer is dropping and I do not want to fly the assymetric(blooper) spinnaker now. It is hell to get it down without a douser or scoop, especially if your are alone.
With the sun out I got all the damp mattresses, towels, linens and pillows out on the deck to dry. IT looks like a Gypsy caravan (camper)!! I have some leaks on the headsail tracks, have since pumped silicone alongside it, but it is still leaking when it pours. Need to strip the cabin to get to the backing plates and nuts. Have to wait until I get to harbor and my hands on some 5200. Will have to remove the tracks and seal it with the 5200. I then took a well deserved bath using 5 gallons of fresh water in the cockpit. The salt water gives me a rash every time I use it to cool off. The heat is hell if you sail downwind in light air as there is no breeze on you at all.
Filled up the generator and started it up, charging the batteries and using the power to drive the laptop as well as the little fan, cooling me off!! At present, still sailing at around 5 knots, bearing 260.

Wednesday May 12 2004 - UPDATED
Back on line at last! Thanks Bev for sorting out the problem and the extra minutes!
The last squall passed at noon yesterday. For the first time in 4 days the sun showed its face again.
The wind has died down and with the genoa in tatters, I hauled out the assymetrical spinnaker. It took a while to get the spinnaker up and we we are making good speed again. I had to hand steer as the wind shifts occasionally and the spinnaker gets blanked by the main. As the sun went down I got the spinnaker down for the night.I do not have a dowser, and have to haul the whole thing in by hand. Not an easy task. Sailed all night at a steady 4.5 knots, a well deserved break for me, under full main.
Position at 0630 hrs
13-00 S
152-00 W
Cog 255
Sog 4.5 knts.
Wind 8 knts.
Wind from the East

Wednesday May 12 2004
Charl was still not able to connect to the computer by dark last night.
Hopefully he will get it going today.
It appears that he still has text messaging available for now.
Please keep the guestbook signatures and e-mails coming. I will forward them to him as soon as we sort out the problems.
Position sent at 9:00 last night was 13 S 151 W
Bev

Tuesday May 11 2004 - UPDATED
Got the mainsail up, double reefed her and have been sailing like this since. Speed a little slower, but more stable as I needed a rest. Found the leak in the water tank. It is the port side tank's cap that is cracked and with both valves open the water from the starboard side was running to the port side when we were leaning. Have since corrected the problem. Keep only one valve open at all times and level tanks when conditions are calm.
Got hit by 6 more squalls today.It is never ending.The cabin is very moist and it is hard to sleep with the hatches closed. I always need a breeze over my burnt skin in this heat if I want to catch a nap.
Late afternoon the weather became somewhat better and I unfurled the genoa, winged to the port side, the spinnaker pole supporting it. Sailed all night on a dead run. At 0400 hrs this morning, lightning started to fill the night sky. Peering towards the east I saw a black cloud approaching us from behind. Got in the cockpit and started to furl up the genoa, too late, the wind hit us at a whopping 35 knots! I got the sheet in the three speed winch and slowly furled up the genoa about 75%. Somehow the starboard sheet got tangled up with the genoa. The sheet was stuck and with the remaining 25% of the genoa flapping madly around the roller furling, shaking the rigging voilently, I thought this was it. Nothing I could do. It was not long before the whole genoa blew up, ripped up completely at the top down to halfway. At the present time it is still tearing slowly, more and more. All I can do is to wait for calm conditions. We are sailing under a double reefed main, still making 7 plus knots on a dead run. Lightning striking close by, blinding me occasionaly, rain pouring down like hell. Have since got down into the cabin, nothing I can do right now, just have to ride out this storm.

Position at 0700 hrs
12-41 S
150- 13 W
Cog 230
Sog 6.5 kts
Wind 23 kts
Wind from the East

Tuesday May 11 2004 - continued
Charl is still not connected to the computer, but here is a summary of his messages sent today:

Position: 12:8 S and 150:34 W
Genoa in tatters!
Tell Pa - Happy Birthday!
Received all your messages Bev, will keep trying to connect computer.

With the genoa in tatters, I imagine the weather is not treating him too kindly. Please continue to keep him in your prayers.
Bev

Tuesday May 11 2004
Hi Everyone
I am writing a short message for Charl. For some reason the satphone cut him off at 709 minutes instead of 800 so until we get this problem cleared up we can't receive e-mail from Charl.
He can however text me short messages from the satphone itself. We therefore have minimal contact.
This is very stressful for Charl, as he depends heavily on the e-mail for daily contact and support. Please keep him in your prayers.
God Bless
Bev

Monday May 10 2004
The Day of Squalls !!
I counted 14 squalls over the past 24 hrs, with the longest one lasting 2 hours. I am miserable and tired. We are still sailing under full genoa and have made 155 nm the past 24 hrs. The seas are still rough. Wind is down though. We are sailing on a bearing 250 degrees and each time a squall hit us, the wind was up to 30 knots, and we would go on a bearing of 210 degrees, roaring sideways down some big waves, sometimes at speeds at 9 knots, just to lose it again in the trough. I came close to broaching numerous times but IT quickly corrected herself. Willie, the windvane is doing a remarkable job and only on a few occasions did I have to put my hand on the wheel to correct our course. Most of the night I had closed up the cabin and with rain falling, just dropped on the bunk and read some books under flashlight, occasionally checking the radar for other ships.
Position at 0630 hrs
12-25 S
147-42 W
Cog 254
Sog 6.8 kt
Wind 14 kts
Wind SE

Sunday May 9 2004
Position at 0630
12-07 S
145-07 W
Cog 255
Sog 7kts
Wind 18 to 25 kts
Wind from the SE

The Pacific has changed her mood and we are sailing in strong wind and pretty heavy seas.
Still under full genoa going on a broad reach. A total of 180 nm the past 24 hrs. Had a few good bangers that soaked the whole deck and cockpit. Willie, the windvane, is steering strong. Have to plot more often now as we are close to the atolls. There are also two tiny atolls on my way which we must be careful of.

I just want to thank everybody who wrote me e-mails and signed the guestbook on my website.
Will try to reply to everyone.
Please don't stop! Your prayers, messages and words of encouragement keep me going. Thank you.

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