News

Sunday August 1, 2004
Position at 0800
13-49 S
117-19 E
Cog 265
Sog 6.2 knots
Wind 10 knots
Wind from the South

On a beam reach, port tack.

Total run past 24 hrs------141 miles

Saturday July 31, 2004
One week has gone by already and I am still stuck in the northern sea of Oz!
The calms with light winds can drive you nuts !
Wind is up a bit now and we have passed the last of the westerly reefs (Hibernia,Ashmore,Seringapatam and Scott Reefs) and for sure we are out of the Timor Sea and in the Indian Ocean now.
Swells coming from the SW indicates wind from the SW soon.

Position at 0800 hrs
13-31 S
119-45 E
Cog 260
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 6 kt
Wind from the South
On a beam reach, port tack.

Total daily run-123 miles

Friday, July 30, 2004
Since yesterday's log the wind has not held well and we were soon back to 3 knots again, with the headsail poled out, running. I ran the main engine for one hr to charge batteries for the night.
Large school of dolphins joined me briefly, got some on video.
Read mostly, Coles and Bruce's "Heavy Weather Sailing"

Position at 0800 hrs
13-00 S
121-48 E
Cog 265
Sog 4.5 knots
Wind 7 knots
Wind from the South
On a beam reach, port tack
Daily run ---100 miles

Thursday July 29, 2004
The doldrums can be very boring and depressing. Spent the day reading and sleeping.
Position at 0800
12-58 S
123-28 E
Cog 265
Sog 4.5 kt
Wind 6 kt
Wind from the South
On a beam reach, port tack.

Total 24 hr run - 74 miles

My radar with the bedshaker works like this ---
First I set a guard zone, anywhere from 5 miles to 24 miles.
Second I put the "watchman" on as it is impossible to run the radar continuously all night. It can be in 5,10 or 20 minute intervals. With the watchman on 20 min, it goes on standby for 20 min and then comes on for one minute, then goes on standby for 20 min again and so on. With the guard on, and the watchman on, the alarm or bedshaker goes off when the radar detects anything inside the guard zone, as that is when the radar comes on.

Wednesday 28 July, 2004
Position at 0800 hrs
12-44
124-42
Cog 260
Sog 2.5 kt
Wind 2 kt
Wind from the SE

Total run past 24 hrs - 64 miles

Woke up last night when the super shaker went off.
For the first time the radar alerted me to a ship heading my way, while I was sleeping.
It was about 5 miles from me and heading east.
I know now that the super shaker works!

Tuesday July 27, 2004
And I thought the doldrums were only in the Pacific !

Sailed almost all day with the blooper's (asymmetrical spinnaker) clew tied down to the bow, acting as a giant genoa on a beam reach to close reach in the very light wind of 6 knots.
Whipped two more ends of rope and built my first eye splice on a double braided line. Thanks to Dave and Sharon's ditty bag book and kit. The product came out at 90% and was smeared with blood as the sharp pusher slipped a couple of times and ended up inside two of my fingers !
Got mail from Hans on Joy who is about 600 miles NW of me and he is running in 20 knots of wind ! (he left 6 days before me ) And here I am trying every trick in the book, to move faster than 3.5 knots.

Woke up this morning with wind zero, the seas flat and not a ripple in sight.

Position at 0800 hrs
12-42 S
125-46 E
Cog 260
Sog 1.5 knot ( drifting in the current)
Wind 0

Total run past 24 hrs - 85 miles

Monday July 26, 2004
With the wind down, I hauled up the asymmetrical spinnaker and we sailed all day on a beam reach, speeds from 3.5 to 4.5 knots.
Whipped 12 ends on my new rope, which was just taped up with electrical tape.
At nightfall, I took down the spinnaker, ran the motor for two hours to charge the batteries and unfurled the genoa.
Went to sleep after setting a 15 mile guard zone on my radar and the super bed shaker, which acts as my alarm, tied to my wrist.
Position at 0800 hrs
12-49 S
127-15 E
Cog 260
Sog 4.5 knots
Wind 7 knots
Wind from the S
On a beam reach, port tack

Total run 0800 to 0800 - 100miles

15-May-2005   14-May-2005   02-Apr-2005   26-Mar-2005   26-Feb-2005   05-Feb-2005   22-Jan-2005   
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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