A sign in the local park. We think at the end it should say, "and fronds."
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Dinghy-ology: lessons 1 and 2
I've used these pictures before but they will help to illustrate these two incidents.
24 May: We stayed downtown too long and got back to where the dinghy was tied up. The tide had come in and the surf was bigger than usual. The dinghy had been pulled back toward the water, the bow line was stretched tight. Someone had rescued the oars and set them in the grassy area. The back 1/3 was filled (as in FILLED!) with black sand and sea water. Dick used an oar to dig out the sand but it was a losing battle. The sun was going down. Thank goodness, three local outrigger club members came over and the five of us managed to turn the dinghy over on its side. Most, but not all of the water and sand fell out. We had to get back to the boat as quickly as possible. As Dick rowed, I knelt in the stern and bailed and bailed, water was seeping in. The dinghy was bent a bit out of shape and Dick had to make additional repairs to keep it from leaking. Since then we pull the dinghy up as far as possible.
26 May: Rowing to shore, the waves were much bigger than what's seen here and we weren't tuned in to watching for a big wave coming up on the stern AND we got a little crooked to the wave. This resulted in the dinghy going sideways and rolling over. We were both thrown out, I landed on my back, the edge of the dinghy landed on my left cheek and ear leaving a scrape and bruise. Dick was under the dinghy but scrambled out quickly. We were soaked and covered in sand from head to toe.
We managed to get most of the sand off at the county park outdoor shower, then limped to a nearby restaurant for breakfast - a restaurant with vinyl (not cloth) cushions on the chairs, we left puddles behind when we left, still very wet. People have given us some funny looks since and Dick has imagined they are thinking, "He leads with a right hook." We are now serious wave-watchers whether we are coming or going and getting better at our timing.
24 May: We stayed downtown too long and got back to where the dinghy was tied up. The tide had come in and the surf was bigger than usual. The dinghy had been pulled back toward the water, the bow line was stretched tight. Someone had rescued the oars and set them in the grassy area. The back 1/3 was filled (as in FILLED!) with black sand and sea water. Dick used an oar to dig out the sand but it was a losing battle. The sun was going down. Thank goodness, three local outrigger club members came over and the five of us managed to turn the dinghy over on its side. Most, but not all of the water and sand fell out. We had to get back to the boat as quickly as possible. As Dick rowed, I knelt in the stern and bailed and bailed, water was seeping in. The dinghy was bent a bit out of shape and Dick had to make additional repairs to keep it from leaking. Since then we pull the dinghy up as far as possible.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Day 2 on land
The heck with the rules, I went to shore. It’s about ¼ mile to the black sand beach.
Dinghy tied to railing along Bayfront Highway.
Yippee! Terra firma.
First stop: we bought two used bicycles.
First restaurant meal. Delicious!
We were soon legally back in the USA.
Going back to the boat was a bit of an adventure. With the bikes heavy in the bow, waves lapping bigger than what’s seen in this picture, and climbing in from knee-depth, it was hard and took more than one attempt.
Dinghy tied to railing along Bayfront Highway.
Yippee! Terra firma.
First stop: we bought two used bicycles.
First restaurant meal. Delicious!
We were soon legally back in the USA.
Going back to the boat was a bit of an adventure. With the bikes heavy in the bow, waves lapping bigger than what’s seen in this picture, and climbing in from knee-depth, it was hard and took more than one attempt.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Aloha from Hilo Hawaii
Views from our anchorage (moving from ENE to WNW). Coconut Island:
County park, row upon row of outriggers belonging to local clubs, a kite-surfer about to take off:
Bridge over Wailuku River:
Overhead, many airplanes flying in, especially between 4-10 pm but who cares? We’re here.
Time for officialdom. The rules say only the skipper goes ashore and straight to customs to check into the country within 24 hours of arrival. But first, a little repair to the stern of the dinghy was needed.
Although Dick was at the Customs office during official hours, the door was locked, and stayed that way. After an hour, he gave up and went in search of a grocery store and fresh food.
Bridge over Wailuku River:
Time for officialdom. The rules say only the skipper goes ashore and straight to customs to check into the country within 24 hours of arrival. But first, a little repair to the stern of the dinghy was needed.
Although Dick was at the Customs office during official hours, the door was locked, and stayed that way. After an hour, he gave up and went in search of a grocery store and fresh food.
Blog updated 11 April-20 May
I’ve gone back to 11 May, reread my journal, chosen the best pictures and added details to what has already been posted to the blog regarding our first blue water passage.
It took 45 days leaving from Guaymas, 33 days leaving from Cabo San Lucas - our last sight of land. It was a passage with many ups and downs. Things seemed to break far too often, although we were once told that for each day on passage one thing can be expected to break. Dick did quite well although fatigue was a big factor. He said it was much more difficult to do a passage with just two people compared to his passage to the Marquesas last year with Darren and Haruka on Cool Cat. To be honest, emotionally I had more downs than ups, although (Dick said) I stepped up when help was needed. A quote from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle! by Barbara Kingsolver: “It’s commonly said that humans remember pleasure but forget pain, and that is the only reason women ever have more than one child.” So my hope is I will remember the good parts, and in time, be able to try another blue water passage.
Big thanks to Phyllis who received a satellite phone text message everyday and posted our progress to the blog.
It took 45 days leaving from Guaymas, 33 days leaving from Cabo San Lucas - our last sight of land. It was a passage with many ups and downs. Things seemed to break far too often, although we were once told that for each day on passage one thing can be expected to break. Dick did quite well although fatigue was a big factor. He said it was much more difficult to do a passage with just two people compared to his passage to the Marquesas last year with Darren and Haruka on Cool Cat. To be honest, emotionally I had more downs than ups, although (Dick said) I stepped up when help was needed. A quote from Animal, Vegetable, Miracle! by Barbara Kingsolver: “It’s commonly said that humans remember pleasure but forget pain, and that is the only reason women ever have more than one child.” So my hope is I will remember the good parts, and in time, be able to try another blue water passage.
Big thanks to Phyllis who received a satellite phone text message everyday and posted our progress to the blog.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Day 39 - HILO HARBOR
8:29pm - Arlete sent a message - "Anchored in Hilo Harbor. Hooray!"
I'm sure she will be posting something soon.
I'm sure she will be posting something soon.
Day 39
Todays reading:
19.53215,-155.32281
Distance traveled since yesterday: 195 miles
Distance to destination: 20 miles
Arlete said: "GPS says just 30 nautical miles to go, hope wind holds out to arrive before nightfall."
-----------------------------------------------
Land ho? We were 6 nm out and we still weren’t sure.
Where, oh where?
We sailed to anchor and breathed a big sigh of “we did it!” It was 8 pm, time for a good night’s sleep.
19.53215,-155.32281
Distance traveled since yesterday: 195 miles
Distance to destination: 20 miles
Arlete said: "GPS says just 30 nautical miles to go, hope wind holds out to arrive before nightfall."
-----------------------------------------------
Land ho? We were 6 nm out and we still weren’t sure.
Where, oh where?
Yes! The excitement began to build. And then … the outboard would NOT start.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Day 38
Todays readings:
20.17354,-152.40884
Distance traveled since yesterday: 144 miles
Distance to destination: 179 miles
Arlete said: "Arrive tomorrow? Yee-haw!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to self: when keeping watch from cockpit, at the first hint of rain, get moving!, take electronics first. The briefest heaviest downpour I’ve ever witnessed, like pouring a bucket of water over one’s head. The Kindle was saved, BTW. We should arrive in Hilo tomorrow. Dick successfully test-fired the outboard. Hurray!
20.17354,-152.40884
Distance traveled since yesterday: 144 miles
Distance to destination: 179 miles
Arlete said: "Arrive tomorrow? Yee-haw!"
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to self: when keeping watch from cockpit, at the first hint of rain, get moving!, take electronics first. The briefest heaviest downpour I’ve ever witnessed, like pouring a bucket of water over one’s head. The Kindle was saved, BTW. We should arrive in Hilo tomorrow. Dick successfully test-fired the outboard. Hurray!
Friday, May 18, 2012
Day 37
Todays reading:
20.44691,-150.20871
Distance traveled since yesterday: 188 miles
Distance to destination: 322 miles
Arlete says: "Raining last 12 hours, now stopped, but still cloudy."
-----------
12 hours of light rain from 2 am-2 pm. Water dripped through one cabin-top hatch. Again, the nagging problem with me saying, “No, Dick, please don’t go up the mast to solve the genoa problem.” Below, tied tightly at lower end, unraveling and catching wind in the middle, torn section at top; sailing with staysail and main.
20.44691,-150.20871
Distance traveled since yesterday: 188 miles
Distance to destination: 322 miles
Arlete says: "Raining last 12 hours, now stopped, but still cloudy."
-----------
12 hours of light rain from 2 am-2 pm. Water dripped through one cabin-top hatch. Again, the nagging problem with me saying, “No, Dick, please don’t go up the mast to solve the genoa problem.” Below, tied tightly at lower end, unraveling and catching wind in the middle, torn section at top; sailing with staysail and main.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Day 36
Todays reading:
21.16665,-147.41256
Distance traveled since yesterday: 150 miles
Distance to destination: 509 miles
21.16665,-147.41256
Distance traveled since yesterday: 150 miles
Distance to destination: 509 miles
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Day 35
Todays reading:
21.45937,-145.10277
Distance traveled since yesterday: 139 miles
Distance to destination: 659 miles
----------------------------------------------
A quote from The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: “The color of monotony is blue.” I agree. Misty rain during the night, autopilot doing fine, watch-keeping from inside the cabin.
21.45937,-145.10277
Distance traveled since yesterday: 139 miles
Distance to destination: 659 miles
----------------------------------------------
A quote from The Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell: “The color of monotony is blue.” I agree. Misty rain during the night, autopilot doing fine, watch-keeping from inside the cabin.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Day 34
Today's reading:
22.10873,-143.05712
Distance traveled since yesterday: 171 miles
Distance to destination: 796 miles
----------------------------------------------
Three weeks since we left Cabo, we’re both anxious to get to Hilo. We sailed with staysail only, putting up the main didn’t seem to increase our speed at all.
22.10873,-143.05712
Distance traveled since yesterday: 171 miles
Distance to destination: 796 miles
----------------------------------------------
Three weeks since we left Cabo, we’re both anxious to get to Hilo. We sailed with staysail only, putting up the main didn’t seem to increase our speed at all.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Day 33
Todays reading:
22.43801,-140.41014
Distance traveled since yesterday: 135 miles
Distance to destination: 967 miles
Arlete said: "Yay! We're making progress."
----------------------------------------------------------
With increased wind, the genoa came partially undone. Dick talked about going UP the mast then DOWN the forestay to un-hockle it. I talked him out of it.
22.43801,-140.41014
Distance traveled since yesterday: 135 miles
Distance to destination: 967 miles
Arlete said: "Yay! We're making progress."
----------------------------------------------------------
With increased wind, the genoa came partially undone. Dick talked about going UP the mast then DOWN the forestay to un-hockle it. I talked him out of it.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Day 32
Today's reading:
23.11975,-138.42520
Distance traveled: 47 miles (from 2 days ago)
Distance to destination: 1,100 miles
Arlete said: "Sails went up at 0830. Thx for all the windy thoughts."
----------------------------
By 8:30 am, the sails were up and we were moving. With the rolling of the boat, the boom bounces around a lot. Another “high-level Macgyver” technique: attach a bag with weights to the end. It worked.
23.11975,-138.42520
Distance traveled: 47 miles (from 2 days ago)
Distance to destination: 1,100 miles
Arlete said: "Sails went up at 0830. Thx for all the windy thoughts."
----------------------------
By 8:30 am, the sails were up and we were moving. With the rolling of the boat, the boom bounces around a lot. Another “high-level Macgyver” technique: attach a bag with weights to the end. It worked.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Day 31
I am assuming that the reading that Arlete sent today is wrong. She said "No wind - think windy thoughts". She has been sending the reading manually for the last week or so, as her sat phone is not sending it automatically as it was doing earlier in the trip.
Todays reading was:
30.03279,-138.02120
IF that were correct, they would have traveled 518 miles northward, so I suspect an error in the message today.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO wind all day. We tried to take down the genoa again. Dick even went up the mast, nothing worked.
Todays reading was:
30.03279,-138.02120
IF that were correct, they would have traveled 518 miles northward, so I suspect an error in the message today.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO wind all day. We tried to take down the genoa again. Dick even went up the mast, nothing worked.
Friday, May 11, 2012
Day 30
Todays reading:
22.50761,-138.09553
Distance traveled since yesterday: 51 miles
Arlete said: "No wind. Drats!"
Distance to destination: 1,114 miles
------------------------------------------------
No wind! Dick read the autopilot manual and checked out the workings in the helm pedestal. That’s when he saw the drive chain for the steering had come apart. This explained why tying the wheel and holding a course was impossible.
The repair was later explained to me as a “high-level Macgyvering” followed by “Don’t put that in the blog, people might think I was being serious.”
We called this a "Napolean's Hat Sunset."
22.50761,-138.09553
Distance traveled since yesterday: 51 miles
Arlete said: "No wind. Drats!"
Distance to destination: 1,114 miles
------------------------------------------------
No wind! Dick read the autopilot manual and checked out the workings in the helm pedestal. That’s when he saw the drive chain for the steering had come apart. This explained why tying the wheel and holding a course was impossible.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Day 29
Todays reading:
22.454110,-137.30330
Distance traveled since yesterday: 130 miles
Distance to destination: 1,164 miles
------------------------------------------------
Today was a huge turning point. We were sailing downwind, going slowly, with an almost-flat sea, blue skies, and sunshine. I asked Dick, “In these benign conditions, could we try the autopilot again?” OMG, it worked! It didn’t use too many volts of our solar-panel-generated electricity. We would use it day and night for the rest of the passage.
22.454110,-137.30330
Distance traveled since yesterday: 130 miles
Distance to destination: 1,164 miles
------------------------------------------------
Today was a huge turning point. We were sailing downwind, going slowly, with an almost-flat sea, blue skies, and sunshine. I asked Dick, “In these benign conditions, could we try the autopilot again?” OMG, it worked! It didn’t use too many volts of our solar-panel-generated electricity. We would use it day and night for the rest of the passage.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Day 28
Todays reading:
23.17391,-135.41739
Distrance traveled since yesterday: 207 miles
Distance to destination: 1,290 miles
23.17391,-135.41739
Distrance traveled since yesterday: 207 miles
Distance to destination: 1,290 miles
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Day 27
Didn't get a reading today.
8:30 pm: Arlete just manually sent their reading as of 12:30 today. She did say all is well. Usually, I get an automatic reading from their sat phone.
Todays reading:
22.19412,-132.35945
Distance traveled since yesterday: 205 miles
Distance to destination: 1,478 miles
8:30 pm: Arlete just manually sent their reading as of 12:30 today. She did say all is well. Usually, I get an automatic reading from their sat phone.
Todays reading:
22.19412,-132.35945
Distance traveled since yesterday: 205 miles
Distance to destination: 1,478 miles
Monday, May 7, 2012
Day 26
Todays reading:
21.404,-129.2825
Distance traveled since yesterday: 129 miles
Distance to destination: 1,674 miles
------------------------------------------------
The genoa unfurled itself partway so it had to come down. Dick went out onto the cross-tube to pull it down while I was at the mast with the halyard and winch. But, it wouldn’t come down. Perhaps there was a hockle (a kink in the luff inside the extrusion - aren’t boat words amazing?). So Dick had to tie it off as best he could.
21.404,-129.2825
Distance traveled since yesterday: 129 miles
Distance to destination: 1,674 miles
------------------------------------------------
The genoa unfurled itself partway so it had to come down. Dick went out onto the cross-tube to pull it down while I was at the mast with the halyard and winch. But, it wouldn’t come down. Perhaps there was a hockle (a kink in the luff inside the extrusion - aren’t boat words amazing?). So Dick had to tie it off as best he could.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Day 25
Todays reading:
21.4115,-127.2746
Distance traveled since yesterday: 112 miles
Distance to destination: 1,803
----------------------------------------
The clew tore off the genoa, the sail now ruined. We hove-to for about 1½ hours to get the genoa rolled up and tied off and hoist the main.
21.4115,-127.2746
Distance traveled since yesterday: 112 miles
Distance to destination: 1,803
----------------------------------------
The clew tore off the genoa, the sail now ruined. We hove-to for about 1½ hours to get the genoa rolled up and tied off and hoist the main.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Day 24
Todays reading:
21.3557,-125.544
Distance traveled since yesterday: 217 miles (Yeah, finally a day where they made their goal of 200 miles for a day)
Distance to destination: 1,915 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
A cloudy, cold day with occasional rain. The sea was rough and the boat hard to steer. **NOTE: Cool, I didn't know we had a 200+ mile day until I read the above (on 24 May).
21.3557,-125.544
Distance traveled since yesterday: 217 miles (Yeah, finally a day where they made their goal of 200 miles for a day)
Distance to destination: 1,915 miles
----------------------------------------------------------------
A cloudy, cold day with occasional rain. The sea was rough and the boat hard to steer. **NOTE: Cool, I didn't know we had a 200+ mile day until I read the above (on 24 May).
Friday, May 4, 2012
Day 23
Todays readings:
21.1440,-122.188
Distance traveled since yesterday: 121 miles
Distance to destination: 2,132 miles
------------------------------------------------
21.1440,-122.188
Distance traveled since yesterday: 121 miles
Distance to destination: 2,132 miles
------------------------------------------------
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Day 22
Today's readings:
20.5130,-120.439
Distance traveled since yesterday: 131 miles
Distance to destination: 2,247 miles
--------------------------------------------------
Hand steering still required but the sea state has moderated a bit so it’s not quite as exhausting.
20.5130,-120.439
Distance traveled since yesterday: 131 miles
Distance to destination: 2,247 miles
--------------------------------------------------
Hand steering still required but the sea state has moderated a bit so it’s not quite as exhausting.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Day 21
Today's readings:
20.370,-118.4210
Distance traveled since yesterday: 65 miles
Distance to destination: 2,379 miles
------------------------------------------------
A better day until dinnertime when Dick looked out and saw the staysail had come out of its tied-up bundle and had partially fallen into the water. Out onto the cross tube again for the rescue.
20.370,-118.4210
Distance traveled since yesterday: 65 miles
Distance to destination: 2,379 miles
------------------------------------------------
A better day until dinnertime when Dick looked out and saw the staysail had come out of its tied-up bundle and had partially fallen into the water. Out onto the cross tube again for the rescue.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Day 20
Today's readings:
20.2851,-117.43
Distance traveled since yesterday: 13 miles
Distance to destination: 2,443 miles
-------------------------------------------------
Dick went up the mast to rethread the halyard for the roller furler. Then the genoa had to be fed into the slot (called the extrusion) and pulled upward. Dick was perched on the cross-tube doing the feeding, I was at the mast on the winch. The first week since Cabo has been slow-going to say the least.
20.2851,-117.43
Distance traveled since yesterday: 13 miles
Distance to destination: 2,443 miles
-------------------------------------------------
Dick went up the mast to rethread the halyard for the roller furler. Then the genoa had to be fed into the slot (called the extrusion) and pulled upward. Dick was perched on the cross-tube doing the feeding, I was at the mast on the winch. The first week since Cabo has been slow-going to say the least.
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