SimonV's Journey to Australia

[sailaway21]

Thanks Greg for the update and I'd echo Stillraining's remarks. It sounds very much like Simon chose wisely in whom he purchased a boat. Thanks again.

[Hartley18]

Originally Posted by sailaway21

Thanks Greg for the update and I'd echo Stillraining's remarks. It sounds very much like Simon chose wisely in whom he purchased a boat. Thanks again.

..and that they chose wisely in whom to sell it to - knowing it would have to carry it's trusting owner safely across the Pacific!

[KeelHaulin]

Originally Posted by gdavids

The first couple days were definitely on the rough side. Wind was in the 25 - 30+ knot range, and seas at least an honest 12' (maybe a bit more). There were a few times where he got slammed by some of these seas so that there was 6" of standing water deposited into the cockpit. Speaking for Melissa and myself, we put well over 7,000 miles on that boat and never experienced conditions putting that kind of water into the cockpit!

It sounds like he caught a breaking wave or three across the stern. The windvane could have been damaged by a breaking wave. This serves as a good reminder to everyone; have good cockpit drainage, a good storm door, engine panel that is water-tight, and be sure that the cockpit lockers can be sealed shut if you go offshore.

I think Simon underestimated the power of the Gale that was forecast; and we're all happy that he survived. However I really don't think he should have set off knowing there were heavy wind and seas coming in. He was warned (by me), rolled the dice and got lucky. If the seas were only 12' then there were worse conditions right behind and/or to the West of him; the OPC had 17-19' average wave heights predicted in the center of it.

Don't get me wrong; Simon is a great guy and I do respect his ability as a sailor. He just became a bit impatient; and patience is the game when it comes to going offshore especially along the PNW coast.

Greg-

What frequency/time are you talking to him on? I'd like to listen in sometime when I go out to my Uncle's place; maybe chat with him from there. You can send me the info via PM or email...

[bestfriend]

Enjoy...I will post the Position chart a little later tonight, unless someone else wants to do it. I am at work and a little busy.

The latest:

The plan was to leave San Francisco with my heart firmly in my chest, but at one point I thought I saw it land in the BARF bucket(more on that latter). back to the plan, I was to leave on the back of the slow moving low as it went south. Wrong with a capital W the slow moving low was too slow and I ended up smack in the middle of it. The report said 25 to 30 knot winds,(probably correct) and 12 foot seas (wrong) much bigger and or closer in frequency. Any way my hands were full tacking out the channel, rounding the last marker I tried to set up the wind vane steering, but being smacked around by the confused sea I broke the bottom 4 inches off the plywood vane, F#$%^. No big deal just hand steer to get some sea room while trying to think (those that have had that ailment of the sea will know thinking is not at the top of the priority list) anyway, hove too with tool kit one piece of ply wind vane(broken) and a bucket under one arm. Wedge self between cockpit seats and get to work with a handsaw at the same time trying to fill said bucket, sawing was not going too well as I needed four hands and an extra to hold bucket, discard bucket. some time latter the job was done but the slot was not a press fit, so down inside the cabin to find a wood screw, rush out of cabin collect bucket, take bucket inside and sit on floor, find screw fill bucket, fix vane in position set course and relax sitting in companion way enjoying the ride just me and my bucket. Two days of foul weather then today I was sitting in the cockpit wearing a T shirt in 79 deg F reading a book doing 6.5 knots. Larry the wind vane doing his job. Larry as in Larry the cable guy because he pulls all the strings. No doubt there will be more instalments to come.
Position N 29,24 W 129,22 Ber 180 deg speed 6.5 to 7.1 knots wing & wing.

[bestfriend]

Marquesas in the bottom left.

[T34C]

BF- Thanks for the update.

[sailingdog]

Thanks for the update BF... I think he's a bit west of what his track probably should be by the looks of it.

[jrd22]

Bestfriend- I'm enjoying following along with Simons' voyage, thanks for the updates.

John

[tdw]

Originally Posted by bestfriend

The report said 25 to 30 knot winds,(probably correct) and 12 foot seas (wrong) much bigger and or closer in frequency. Position N 29,24 W 129,22 Ber 180 deg speed 6.5 to 7.1 knots wing & wing.

Isn't local knowledge interesting ? Simon and I pretty much cruise the same waters here in the Land of Aus. His home waters are a bit further south than Sydney but close enough for comparisons sake.

25 knots of breeze is not any big deal to us. Prefer less for sure particularly an old fart like me but you will see this on Sydney Harbour on very many summers afternoons when the nor easterly pipes up, which in summer is nearly every day. Outside the heads there will be plenty of sailing boats out having fun and not overly concerned. So for Simon to head off into 25-30 knots is really no big deal. He might well have preferred 15-20 but I'm sure he wouldn't have been overly concerned about 20-25.

However, when we get 12' swell it is usually a longish well spaced wave pattern. not close. not lumpy. hop on board and surf the sucker down the coast if you have the right bit of kit or make an old girl like Raven lift up her skirts and pretend she's Hobart bound if only for an afternoon.

I'm not being gung-ho macho about this, just making the point that it's as much sea state as wind and if Simon was expecting NSW south coast he might have been in for a bit of a rude shock.

[denby]

Position N 29,24 W 129,22 Ber 180 deg speed 6.5 to 7.1 knots wing & wing.

BF, what time was that position? I'm plotting his course as he reports, thanks