News

Text Received 8:55 am Sat.
FORCE OF WATER WHEN WE SLIDE SIDEWAYS DOWN WAVE CAUSED RUDDER TO STRIP FROM
SHAFT. SAME THING THAT BROKE AUTOHELM. I ALSO SUSPECT OLD AGE. WILL FIX IN CAPETOWN

Text Received 7:35 am Sat.
COG 270. SOG 6KT. WIND 15KT. BROAD REACH. STRB TACK. JURY RIGGED RUDDER TO SHAFT. LAPTOP IS A WRITEOFF. NEED TO KNOW MAX WIND SPEED AT LOW
I AM OK STILL GOING FOR CT. SAY HI TO ALL AT BRENHAM

"Thank you Lord for Charl's safety and your love. Thank you for always hearing our prayers. We are so blessed to know You. Remind us to share this Love with others."

Is Charl just awesome or what! Our Family will join many other South Africans this weekend in Brenham, for the Potjiekos Festival and we will most certainly say Hi on Charl's behalf. Thank you for your prayers and your many phone calls and e-mails of encouragement. We are blessed to have so many new friends. Have a wonderful and safe long weekend. Bev

Text Received 9:53 pm Fri
POS 28 38S 49 45E

Message from Bev
Please continue to lift Charl up in prayer. This must be his worst storm ever.
"Dear Lord, please hold Charl and IT in Your hands and please send extra Angels to help. Please comfort Charl at this time and encourage him and strengthen his determination. Please guide him as he thinks of a way to repair the rudder situation."

Text Received 8:48 am Fri
WE ARE ROLLING VIOLENTLY BOOM IS DIPPING IN WATER

Text received 7:15 am Fri
HOVE TO. GOT INTO WATER. CUT EDGES OFF. USED HOSE CLAMP TO TIGHTEN RUDDER TO SHAFT FOR NOW. OK SO FAR

Text Received 6:50 am Fri
LAPTOP NOT BOOTING UP AM OK STEERING MYSELF
Thank you for your prayers. God is so good.
"Dear Lord thank you once again for your protection and your love."

Text Received 4:19 am Fri
SHAFT NOT BROKEN RUDDER CAME LOOSE ON WILLIE

Text Received 11:11 pm Thurs
SEA BAD CANNOT STAY ON COURSE

Text Received 11:05 pm Thurs.
WILLIE S RUDDER SHAFT BROKE

Text Message from Charl 9:04 pm Thurs.
POS 27 37 S 51E LAPTOP DOWN LOST WILLIE
This is bad news indeed. Without Willie, the selfsteering unit, Charl will get very little rest as the autohelm is also out of action. He must be in some rough water and this is only the beginning. Please lift him and IT up in prayer.
"Dear Lord, please, please keep Charl safe. Please keep IT strong. Dear Father please strengthen Charl's courage and his faith as he struggles in the storms. Let him know that he is not alone. You are with him, always."

Thursday September 2, 2004
Position at 0600
26-52 S
53-03 E
Cog 270
Sog 6 kt
Wind 10 kt
Wind from the NNE

On a broad reach, starboard tack.

Total daily run--141 miles

Sailed all day on a run. At noon the wind veered some more and I took a jibe in the headsail.
For the first time in weeks I could sleep in the port aft berth again, It is in fact my favorite place !
Bumped my second toe on my right foot and the cabin sole was a complete mess covered with blood.
After I dressed the wound, it took me a while cleaning up the cabin sole. I am wearing a sock to keep the dressing in place..
Did not sleep very well, the throbbing pain kept me awake.
Saw my first ship, actually its navigation lights, this morning at 0500 hrs. It is moving in a northerly direction. Must be a fishing boat as I have seen some marked buoys.
Seas calm, smooth swells, no horses, sky is cloudy with light scattered rain.

Wednesday September 1, 2004
With the wind veering, I decided to stay on a broad reach, even though it meant going off course.
At 0500 hrs this morning, I jibed the main and we are running again.
Not much happened yesterday. Between noon and 1600 hrs there was no wind and we just drifted aimlessly in the current.
It is very hard to stay on course when running in light wind, due to the apparent wind that has no effect on the wind steering system.
With the autopilot and the tiller pilot out, I had no choice but to steer by hand.
I got my break after 1600 hrs when the wind picked up slightly and I decided to sail on a beam reach, the new apparent wind controlling the windvane more efficiently.

Position at 0600 hrs local time or 0200 hrs UTC

25-40 S
55-18 E
Cog-270
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind-12 kt
Wind from the ENE

Running......

Tuesday August 31, 2004
Position at 0600 hrs local time
23-50 S
57-07 E
Cog 265
Sog 5.5 kt
Wind 12 kt
Wind from the SSE
Still on broad reach, port tack.

At first light yesterday, I took the reef out of the main and poled out the jib.
The hills and valleys returned, the sun came out and it was a beautiful day for sailing.
Sat most of the day in the companionway, shirtless and slurped up two more books.
Wind is down, so is our speed.
This morning I can see stormy clouds on the horizon, barometer still at 1026 MB
Had stew for lunch and mushroom soup for supper.
A quiet day
Total daily run---145 miles

Monday August 30, 2004
Position at 0600 hrs local time 0200 hrs UTC

22-34 S
59-23 E
Cog 255
Sog 6.5 kts
Wind 20 kts
Wind from the SE
On a beam reach.port tack.
Still under no 3 jib and triple reefed main.

Total daily run 6 to 6 ---- 140 miles

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