Last night we passed the quarter-way marker. Our day's run was 131 miles. We are now 1966 miles from Honolulu.
We are all alone out here, at least as far as we can tell. We have seen no other vessels in the past 24 hours, either by AIS or with the naked eye. When you consider that the AIS is working to 20 or 30 miles out here, the isolation is rather awesome.
The last few days have been overcast much of the time. The solar panels, consequently, have not been producing as much electricity as I had hoped. I have now had to run the engine twice to charge the battery banks and it appears I will have to continue to do this every other day. Fortunately, we have plenty of diesel fuel for this and while charging batteries but not propelling the vessel at the same time, the engine runs cool.
I bought a lot of very delicious tomatoes in Cabo San Jose. They are, unfortunately, all gone now, mostly spoiled. I wish there had been a convenient source of green tomatoes. I have also lost a couple of carrots and a couple of grapefruit, but the apples, cabbages and oranges are doing well. We will not starve, however, even if all the fresh produce goes bad because we have lots of dried and canned goods.
At 1800 UTC on June 9, 2012, our location is 23 05.908 N, 122 38.282 W
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Saturday, June 9, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
Noon Report -- Cabo-reHawaii Day 5
We crossed the 120th Meridian this morning and finally the wind is coming from east of north. Little by little we move into the trades. Our day's run was 130 miles, the best yet.
The morning was overcast, but now there are a few hints of blue. Maybe there will be some clearing this afternoon. We are traveling across a true oceanscape, with the wavetops of the swell being separated by several hundred feet. With the true wind on the beam, it is rare now that we hit a wave so hard that it causes the boat to shudder.
It had seemed to me that our consumption of electricity was a bit more than expected. Gazing at the electrical switch panel last night, I noticed that the small bilge pump was going on and off quite regularly. Then I remembered the bow anchor which is installed in a roller right through the stem of the boat, inside a baffled ventilation box. If water enters around the roller, most of it is trapped in the ventilation box and flows out a drain hole at the bottom. When water is entering with a lot of force, as it would if the bow were plowing into a wave, some water might flow over the opening at the top of the back of the box, where the chain exits over a second roller. I crawled over sails, duffel bags and provisions to get right up into the bow of the boat, opened an access door, peered right at the back of the box and observed that about a pint of water was pouring down every 15 seconds or so. I then cut a piece of foam and was able to force that up into the space under the roller. That cut the flow more or less in half. The boat is in no danger from this. The small automatic bilge pump is capable of 800 gallons per hour. A foot above it in the keel is the large automatic pump which can handle 2200 gallons per hour. That pump is 2.5 feet below the cabin sole and if it were to start up, a siren would sound. We are a long way from that happening. If the large pump ran, it would probably mean that the small pump had worn out. We carry a complete replacement on board. In a few more days we will be running and the bow will not be nearly so wet. If the problem does not go away, I will go to the bow and stuff foam all around the anchor opening. In Hawaii, I will make some sort of a plug so that we are ready for the Sitka leg.
Our current location, at 1800 UTC, June 8, 2012 is 22 36.223 N, 120 17.902 W
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The morning was overcast, but now there are a few hints of blue. Maybe there will be some clearing this afternoon. We are traveling across a true oceanscape, with the wavetops of the swell being separated by several hundred feet. With the true wind on the beam, it is rare now that we hit a wave so hard that it causes the boat to shudder.
It had seemed to me that our consumption of electricity was a bit more than expected. Gazing at the electrical switch panel last night, I noticed that the small bilge pump was going on and off quite regularly. Then I remembered the bow anchor which is installed in a roller right through the stem of the boat, inside a baffled ventilation box. If water enters around the roller, most of it is trapped in the ventilation box and flows out a drain hole at the bottom. When water is entering with a lot of force, as it would if the bow were plowing into a wave, some water might flow over the opening at the top of the back of the box, where the chain exits over a second roller. I crawled over sails, duffel bags and provisions to get right up into the bow of the boat, opened an access door, peered right at the back of the box and observed that about a pint of water was pouring down every 15 seconds or so. I then cut a piece of foam and was able to force that up into the space under the roller. That cut the flow more or less in half. The boat is in no danger from this. The small automatic bilge pump is capable of 800 gallons per hour. A foot above it in the keel is the large automatic pump which can handle 2200 gallons per hour. That pump is 2.5 feet below the cabin sole and if it were to start up, a siren would sound. We are a long way from that happening. If the large pump ran, it would probably mean that the small pump had worn out. We carry a complete replacement on board. In a few more days we will be running and the bow will not be nearly so wet. If the problem does not go away, I will go to the bow and stuff foam all around the anchor opening. In Hawaii, I will make some sort of a plug so that we are ready for the Sitka leg.
Our current location, at 1800 UTC, June 8, 2012 is 22 36.223 N, 120 17.902 W
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Thursday, June 7, 2012
Noon Report -- Cabo-Hawaii Day 4
1800 UTC, June 7, 2012. Our day's run was 126 miles. After the first 10 hours, we were on track for a 150 mile day, but then the wind weakened. Earlier in the evening, the wind had increased into the 20 to 25 knot range and the boat was overpowered, so we took a second reef in the main and dropped the staysail. She was still going fast. Unfortunately, that did not last all night. We are still sailing with yankee and double-reefed main, but now we definitely need to make a change. The wind has dropped to an average of 15 knots and has veered to the north, so that we are finally on a beam reach. As we travel west, the weather charts tell us that we we will encounter winds that are progressively more and more from the east, until we are broad-reaching in the northeast trade winds. That might take three or more days.
In between trimming sails, keeping a lookout for dangers and steering (or tweeking the Monitor wind vane self steering), eating is one of the more important things we do. Not having been affected by queasiness on this voyage, one of my jobs is to get people to eat. When I woke up this morning, Pete was on watch in the cockpit, while Amy and Gay were asleep on the settees, port and starboard. Pete did not feel like breakfast yet, so I got him a granola bar and some orange juice. Following Pete's lead, I ate the same. When Amy woke up, after drinking lime gatorade she agreed that she could eat some orange slices, so we all enjoyed a couple of the very delicious oranges I bought in San Jose. I then decided that I personally needed more to eat, so I made a batch of oat meal, for myself of course, but twice as much as I would eat in the hope that I could induce others to partake. It worked. We all had oatmeal with apples and raisins. Later, when Gay woke up, he ate a bowl of granola. A little later, I made sandwiches for Amy, Pete and myself, but Gay declined, saying he had just had granola. But then, when he saw the rest of us eating our sandwiches, he asked me to make one for him too. Very simple fare, but its the only restaurant in these parts.
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In between trimming sails, keeping a lookout for dangers and steering (or tweeking the Monitor wind vane self steering), eating is one of the more important things we do. Not having been affected by queasiness on this voyage, one of my jobs is to get people to eat. When I woke up this morning, Pete was on watch in the cockpit, while Amy and Gay were asleep on the settees, port and starboard. Pete did not feel like breakfast yet, so I got him a granola bar and some orange juice. Following Pete's lead, I ate the same. When Amy woke up, after drinking lime gatorade she agreed that she could eat some orange slices, so we all enjoyed a couple of the very delicious oranges I bought in San Jose. I then decided that I personally needed more to eat, so I made a batch of oat meal, for myself of course, but twice as much as I would eat in the hope that I could induce others to partake. It worked. We all had oatmeal with apples and raisins. Later, when Gay woke up, he ate a bowl of granola. A little later, I made sandwiches for Amy, Pete and myself, but Gay declined, saying he had just had granola. But then, when he saw the rest of us eating our sandwiches, he asked me to make one for him too. Very simple fare, but its the only restaurant in these parts.
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Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Noon Report -- Cabo-Hawaii Day 3
We are now 2353 miles from our destination, having sailed 108 miles in the past 24 hours. As predicted, tne wind has veered enough to let us ease the sheets a bit. With 15 knot winds, we are now averaging about six knots and are not pounding into the waves as often. Lighter winds, in the ten knot range, are predicted for tomorrow. If that happens, we will still be able to make good time, if the wind continues to veer.
The AIS receiver is a godsend. The range out here is at least 30 miles and every day we see half a dozen ships. None has come closer than four miles, but knowing what their speed and direction is has provided peace of mind. Night before last we did encounter a sizable fishing vessel that was not transmitting AIS. It was brilliantly lit up and we could see it from many miles off, but its running lights, if it had them lit, were simply overpowered by all the other lights, so that we were unable to determine what direction it was going. We measured its bearing with a hand compass many times and came to the conclusion that we were on a collision course. We then altered our course 30 degrees to leeward and only then did the bearing change. We concluded that the vessel was either moving slowly or not at all.
Today is beautiful and sunny. We are cracking along on the starboard tack, over brilliant blue seas, heeled 15 degrees with the leeward rail occasionally awash, making six knots.
Our current location, at 1800 UTC, is 21 58.808 N, 115 45.327 W
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The AIS receiver is a godsend. The range out here is at least 30 miles and every day we see half a dozen ships. None has come closer than four miles, but knowing what their speed and direction is has provided peace of mind. Night before last we did encounter a sizable fishing vessel that was not transmitting AIS. It was brilliantly lit up and we could see it from many miles off, but its running lights, if it had them lit, were simply overpowered by all the other lights, so that we were unable to determine what direction it was going. We measured its bearing with a hand compass many times and came to the conclusion that we were on a collision course. We then altered our course 30 degrees to leeward and only then did the bearing change. We concluded that the vessel was either moving slowly or not at all.
Today is beautiful and sunny. We are cracking along on the starboard tack, over brilliant blue seas, heeled 15 degrees with the leeward rail occasionally awash, making six knots.
Our current location, at 1800 UTC, is 21 58.808 N, 115 45.327 W
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Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Noon Report -- Cabo-Hawaii Day 2
With 2461 miles to go, our day's run was 108 miles, with 106 of those miles "made good" (in the direction we wanted to go). We are still sailing close hauled in 15 to 20 knot breezes. The wind has shifted more to the north, but we are still sailing about 13 degrees south of the desired heading. We are hoping the wind will continued to veer as, in fact, the weather forecast indicates that it should.
The high point of this 24 hours was a visit by a blue footed boobie, a sea bird with long elegant wings but with a rather comical face. Our boobie landed on our solar panels and rode for a few minutes. I did not want the bird to stay very long, however, as boobies are notorious for fouling the decks and appendages of boats with their excrement and boobie poop all over the solar panels would definitely hinder their performance. Not wanting to have to climb up on the stern arch in a seaway to clean the panels, I asked Gay and Pete to shoo the bird away. The boobie was hard to get rid of, and it kept coming back, only to have every attempt met with waving arms and seat cushions. It even tried to land on the leech of the mainsail, but could not hold on and could not avoid bumping its wings into the backstay. Ouch!
Our current position, at 1800 UTC on June 5, 2012, is 21 44.524 N, 113 49.457 W.
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The high point of this 24 hours was a visit by a blue footed boobie, a sea bird with long elegant wings but with a rather comical face. Our boobie landed on our solar panels and rode for a few minutes. I did not want the bird to stay very long, however, as boobies are notorious for fouling the decks and appendages of boats with their excrement and boobie poop all over the solar panels would definitely hinder their performance. Not wanting to have to climb up on the stern arch in a seaway to clean the panels, I asked Gay and Pete to shoo the bird away. The boobie was hard to get rid of, and it kept coming back, only to have every attempt met with waving arms and seat cushions. It even tried to land on the leech of the mainsail, but could not hold on and could not avoid bumping its wings into the backstay. Ouch!
Our current position, at 1800 UTC on June 5, 2012, is 21 44.524 N, 113 49.457 W.
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Monday, June 4, 2012
Noon Report -- Cabo-Hawaii Day 1
Noon, Day 1. 2567 nautical miles to go. When we started, the distance to go was 2690 miles. Since the start, we have only knocked 123 miles off the total we need to achieve.
Our noon-to-noon run over the ground was 104 miles, but the distance "made good" was only 90 miles, because a west-northwest wind is forcing us to sail to the south of the great circle route. We have been sailing close hauled under main, staysail and yankee for the entire 24 hour period. Slowly the wind has veered, lifting us closer and closer to the bearing of Hawaii. According the weather information (grib file) that I downloaded this morning, the wind will continue to veer and we will soon be sailing towards our destination and may even be able to ease the sheets a bit. We are not complaining, however. The weather charts that Gay was looking at for a number of weeks were indicating much lighter winds in this area.
The boat is just jogging along. Very comfortable except for the heeling. We are getting used to it. Everyone is eating and feeling pretty good. So far a turtle, a dolphin and an albatross have been sighted. Since we cleared Cabo Falso, the wind speed has continued to vary between 12 and 18 knots.
Our current location is 21 51.564 N, 111 53.286 W (GoogleEarth compatible format).
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Our noon-to-noon run over the ground was 104 miles, but the distance "made good" was only 90 miles, because a west-northwest wind is forcing us to sail to the south of the great circle route. We have been sailing close hauled under main, staysail and yankee for the entire 24 hour period. Slowly the wind has veered, lifting us closer and closer to the bearing of Hawaii. According the weather information (grib file) that I downloaded this morning, the wind will continue to veer and we will soon be sailing towards our destination and may even be able to ease the sheets a bit. We are not complaining, however. The weather charts that Gay was looking at for a number of weeks were indicating much lighter winds in this area.
The boat is just jogging along. Very comfortable except for the heeling. We are getting used to it. Everyone is eating and feeling pretty good. So far a turtle, a dolphin and an albatross have been sighted. Since we cleared Cabo Falso, the wind speed has continued to vary between 12 and 18 knots.
Our current location is 21 51.564 N, 111 53.286 W (GoogleEarth compatible format).
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Sunday, June 3, 2012
Hawaii Here We Come (half day zero)
Norwegian Steam left the dock at the Marina at Puerto Los Cabos very quietly at 1201 AM, June 3, 2012, bound for Hawaii. Amy, Pete Libbey, and Gay Morris had arrived by air and taxi a bit before five. After stowing most of their gear, we had a Mexican meal at the Container, a very good restaurant in the marina. Then the wait began. Our exit papers stated that we would leave on the third, so that is what we intended to do. Gay was able to get a bit of sleep. Pete took a walk. Amy read. I (Alan) did a little more stowing.
As we slipped away from the dock there was almost no wind and no other people could be seen. When we passed La Playita, the fishing village on the north side of the estuary that forms the marina, however, music and speech erupted from loudspeakers. I am sure it was not about us. Just a Mexican party scheduled to start at midnight. Very typical. For once, loud music late at night was welcome.
My reason for leaving around midnight was to give us time to get past Cabo Falso before the afternoon wind could build. Cabo Falso is notorious for turning back small boats attempting to round it.
There had been a strong sea breeze blowing into the marina during the afternoon, but it had died out by dinner time. I had hoped that the sea outside the marina would be calm too, but that was not be. Instead the water was very choppy which impeded our progress, and gradually, over a number of hours, a head wind built up. When we got to Cabo San Lucas, the wind really began to blow. We raised the main, double reefed, and by the time it was all the way up, the wind speed was 26 knots. A little later, we hoisted the staysail. We then had enough sail up to make about five knots without the engine running, but to do so we had to revise our course to the south. I was willing to do that because a more southerly course put distance between us and Cabo Falso.
In spite of sea conditions rougher than anticipated, none of us suffered from seasickness. Pete and Gay used the patch while Amy and I took Bonine. Both approaches seem to have worked.
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As we slipped away from the dock there was almost no wind and no other people could be seen. When we passed La Playita, the fishing village on the north side of the estuary that forms the marina, however, music and speech erupted from loudspeakers. I am sure it was not about us. Just a Mexican party scheduled to start at midnight. Very typical. For once, loud music late at night was welcome.
My reason for leaving around midnight was to give us time to get past Cabo Falso before the afternoon wind could build. Cabo Falso is notorious for turning back small boats attempting to round it.
There had been a strong sea breeze blowing into the marina during the afternoon, but it had died out by dinner time. I had hoped that the sea outside the marina would be calm too, but that was not be. Instead the water was very choppy which impeded our progress, and gradually, over a number of hours, a head wind built up. When we got to Cabo San Lucas, the wind really began to blow. We raised the main, double reefed, and by the time it was all the way up, the wind speed was 26 knots. A little later, we hoisted the staysail. We then had enough sail up to make about five knots without the engine running, but to do so we had to revise our course to the south. I was willing to do that because a more southerly course put distance between us and Cabo Falso.
In spite of sea conditions rougher than anticipated, none of us suffered from seasickness. Pete and Gay used the patch while Amy and I took Bonine. Both approaches seem to have worked.
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