News

Saturday noon
Noon to noon run - 140 miles

We are now inside the Bligh Entrance. It is a type of short cut for small yachts. Depth is only 25 feet. We are heading to the channel which is still 10 miles from here. The wind will not be in our favor and we will probably use the 5th sail the rest of the 120 miles through the channel to Thursday Island.

Two tankers passed us this morning as they came out from the channel, heading east.
Have not seen any other yachts yet.

It is very tiring sailing as you have to be on full alert all the time and there are restrictions for dropping anchor to sleep.
I hope the Coast Guard visits me before nightfall, so they can explain the do's and don'ts to me.

Saturday June 26, 2004
And the squalls marched by.....by.....bye.....bye......(sarcastic smile)

"Whether the weather be fine, Or whether the weather be not;.....We'll weather the weather, Whatever the weather; Whether we like it or not !!" Traditional British School Rhyme ( sarcastic grin )

Sailed all day on a broad reach, bearing 298 degrees, until midnight when we passed the Portlock Reefs (as per chart) just north of it and we took a new bearing, 265 degrees, for Bligh Entrance, which at present time is still 16 miles from us.

Position at 0700
9-14 S
144-16 E
Cog 265
Sog 6 Knots
Wind 15 knots
Wind from the SSW
Sailing on a close reach, port tack, staysail and full main

Friday noon
Noon to noon run - 140 miles

My log was late this morning because I had some problems with Obelix in the furling system. It took a while to get that big sail off.
Then, after dumping it in the front hatch, I took out the old 150 genoa which had been altered to a storm sail. I was ready to clip on the head when IT went sliding down a big wave and I had to grab the railing so as not to get jetttisoned off the bow. When IT leveled out, I got back to the task just to find out that the sail went overboard ! As we were going at 7 knots the sail was quickly out of sight and sinking ! Man oh man !! Donkey doodle shit !
I hoisted up the staysail, using the spinnaker halyard.
I am plotting every two hours now as we are approaching the Eastern Fields reefs. Then IT will be on to the north side of the Portlock Reefs. After passing it I will turn, going 270 degrees to Bramble Cay and Bligh Entrance which are the beginning of the channel through the Torres Strait.
I plan to stop at Thursday Island Harbor to go up the mast and replace the lost halyards and staysail block, also tighten up the starboard spreader which is very loose at the moment and to get up the mast in these 15 footers is out of the question.
The squalls are still coming, but with less rain, still with 30 to 35 knots of wind, which means I have to alter the wheel every time they come and go.

Friday June 25, 2004
And still the squalls keep marching on............

Am now in the Gulf of Papua

Position at 0700
10-05 S
146-35 E
Cog 300
Sog 6.2 kt
Wind 18 - 35 kts
Wind from the SSE

Thursday noon
Noon to noon run - 110 miles

And the squalls keep marching on...........

I cannot believe that this series of squalls does not want to stop. We are getting on average one every hour and half.
Winds up to 36 knots and they usually last for half an hour.
I am doggone tired of this and it is starting to get on my nerves.

Thursday June 24, 2004
Just as you think the weather is going to get better..........
It does not, in fact it gets worse first........
Sailed all afternoon and night through squalls, all standing in line behind us, each waiting for his turn to have a shot at us!
With the SE trades we are sailing on a broad reach and running, bearing 280 degrees.
When the squalls hit, we will be going on a beam reach, bearing 220 degrees!
It has been very tiring the past 5 days, the rocking and rolling motion and
the terrible weather can really dampen your spirits.

Position at 0600
11-10S
148-42 E
Cog 285
Sog 5.5 kt
Wind 12 kt
Wind from the SE
On a broad reach, running, port tack.

Wednesday June 23, 2004
I spite of bloody shins and bruised elbows, we are still going strong in these SE trades. Have not seen the sun for 4 days now. The cabin is a mess and it won't help getting it organized again as the next rolling wave will take care of it.
The roller furling is without sails at the moment as Obelix is too huge for this 20 knot wind now. I still have the old (smaller)modified genoa and might try it as soon as the seas settle down. Still sailing with full main and Asterix (the staysail).
I am getting closer to the Straits now and have to be alert more. Looking at the charts of the straits, I wish I had taken the eastern route past Cape Horn instead. No reefs and shipping to worry about, just big towering water.

Position at 0600
11-41 S
150-35 E
Cog 250
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind 22 kts
Wind from te SE

Tuesday noon
Noon to noon run - 160 miles

Have since hauled up Asterix and tackled the roller furling system. Alas,the clamp for the torque tube came loose and went for a swim. I hope they have parts in OZ. Have taped it up with duck tape. It will work, but only with sail all the way out or all the way furled up. Have not decided what to do. The wind is still pretty strong and the seas not comfortable.
A tanker passed us on the bow about 10 minutes ago. Only a quarter of a mile from us. Have watched it for the past hour and half. Not on the same bearing as we are, probably on the way to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. It is the first ship I have seen since leaving Pago Pago Harbor.

Still 460 miles to the Torres Strait.

Tuesday June 22, 2004
With Obelix pulling all afternoon, we made up some good lost miles, however the wind picked up to 30 knots late afternoon. Furled Obelix up until 20% stood out. Sailed on until around 20:00 hrs, when the whole rigging started to shake as if a giant dog had hold of IT, shaking her if it was shaking and tearing up a slipper. I got topsides and saw that Obelix was all the way out of the roller furling. Checking the halyards in the cockpit, relieved they were all are OK, I donned my foul weather gear and went up front to the bow to find the problem. The halyard had snapped off at the drum. It was too dark to see well because the decklight had blown. After a hellish effort and with water crashing over me all the time, I managed to get Obelix off the roller reefing system and dumped him into the front hatch.

At the moment I am waiting for broad daylight, so I can go and see if I can fix up the drum again. I wanted to put Asterix (small, but very strong, staysail)up, but to make matters worse, the halyard came off on the mast. Have to wait for calm conditions before I can climb up the mast again. The wind is down now and we are still under full main, broad reach on a port tack. The seas still look very angry with 15 to 20 footers passing underneath us.

Position at 0600
12-25 S
152-44 E
Cog 280
Sog 6 knots
Wind 21 knots
Wind from the SE

Monday noon
Noon to noon run -155 miles

With Obelix doing most of the pulling, IT is galloping happily at 7.5 knots. I found out that if you sheet Obelix in too much, IT starts to yaw heavily.
Have since lashed the wheel to help counteract in this strong 20 knot breeze. Willie, the windpilot is doing all the steering.
Obelix is really too big and not ideal in winds higher than 15 knots. Well, it is the only headsail left and I have to make do with it for now !
Had spaghetti and meatballs for breakfast!!!

Monday, June 21, 2004
Position at 0600 hrs
12-58 S
155-28 E
Cog 275
Sog 5.5 knots
Wind 15 knots
Wind from the SE

Sailed all day till after midnight on a close reach with the Big Boy, the 180% something plus genoa. The wind picked up and I went up to the bow to unclip the tack, then back to the cockpit, used the three-speed winch to furl up this big monster!
Let's call this big genoa Obelix and the small staysail, Asterix, after those comics that portray them as the tough Gauls, always giving the Romans a headache.
Well, this morning the wind has shifted and we are on a beam reach, port tack with the main only.Will soon unfurl Obelix and see what he can give us on a beam reach. I am still learning how to use this big sail.

Sunday noon
Noon to noon run 99 miles

Thanks to the new monsterous genoa, we have been picking up the miles in this very light wind of 8 knots.
Have been practicing with this big genoa all morning. I am getting the feel of her. My biggest concern is that if a squall creeps up on me with this big genoa all the way up, then we will be in some trouble! Practice, practice.....I am working on it to see how fast I can get her furled up, first I have to go up front to loosen the tack and clip it on the furling system, then rush back to the cockpit and furl her up. Her luff is too long !
Winds are still light, seas smoothe and calm almost no clouds, wind still from the SW, bearing 275 on a port tack.

Lost a part on the furling system, used "duck" tape to fix it.
Ah! Duck tape, a mariners fix all in a roll !!

Sunday June 20, 2004
With the wind down to 5 knots, the batteries fully charged, we were drifting, sailing at 1 to 3.5 knots all afternoon and all night.

I have since found a way to furl up the big genoa on the furling system. The sail is really very big, I quess it must be a 200% genoa. It's clew runs all the way to the companionway.

The wind has picked up a bit and we are moving again.

Two birds (duck type) settled on the bowsprit last night and this morning they are still here. I watched them sleep with their heads tucked away under their wings, but how they kept their balance, baffles me! I need a book of birds of the oceans.

Position at 0600 hrs
13-00 S
157-40 E
Cog 280
Sog 4.5 knots
Wind 10 knots
Wind from the SW
Sailing close hauled on a port tack.

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