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1,897 Posts
Maybe I'll just copy his posting and put it here. Mods if that is wrong, I can't tell if its wrong anymore, delete the posting not me. He has photos of his boat, filthy hull from sea scum.Is it Public? Or Friends only? If its public, could we have a link please?
Barry's post on facebook. And a link
https://www.facebook.com/adventuresofanoldseadog/posts/2034986693216438?__tn__=K-R
71 days at sea alone, I sailed across the Pacific
4,000 nautical miles to the French Polynesian Islands of the Marquesas.
2 times the size of the Atlantic with sixty-three million square miles covering a 3rd of the Worlds surface. In real terms I sailed half of it, but it is the hardest and longest part with no land for 3,800 miles.
During the trip I went ‘over due’ for 20 days. Although not listed ‘missing’, I was out of touch with the outside World of loved ones and friends who had no idea of where I was.
This is what happened . . .
I set off a day later than everybody thought I had. Being at a small island in the Perlas group off Panama I no phone or internet connection. I was waiting for ‘the weather’. Next to me was was my friend Mike, an ex Olympic snow board champion turned sailor, on his boat Easy. We had a fish dinner cooked on a drift wood fire on the beach. The next day I set off. Mike followed and was joined by the White Spot Pirate girls Nike and Maria on their boats Karl and Joana who, together with Mike were , heading for Columbia. By morning I was alone.
The next 18 days was a slow near windless trip to round the the north of the Galapagos islands arriving and crossing the equator in the early hours of Christmas morning. It was by now very rough and all I could do was heat up some noodles for my Christmas dinner.
This was the way it was going to be. The sea was like a washing machine, all angry and confused. Most of the time it was with 5 metre swells that broke at the top. As it was a down wind sail (Trade winds) the ‘weather’ was behind me. On White shadow I don't have power auto helm only a hydrovane wind steering system. normally it is a brilliant bit of kit but like all wind vanes doesn't like down wind sailing. The huge swell was pushing water past the boat faster than she was traveling, this meant that the rudder had nothing to bite into. The other major factor is that although the sea conditions looked and felt like we were in a storm there was effectually no wind. I’d never seen that before. Big sea no wind. I was making around 3 knots. I never saw 5 knots on the entire trip! During this time the boat motion was violent with constant rolling and side decks going underwater. At times we’d get a broadside hit. The sound of a ton of water hitting the side of the boast at force was an explosion inside the hull.
And so it was . . . for 6 weeks.
I’d torn the mainsail and bought that down. It had been boomed out to the side. Then the fore sail got damaged. While up on the foredeck I checked the forestay (front cable that supports the mast) and saw to my horror that the securing pin was half out. I was within half an inch of loosing the mast. After dropping all sail and Shaddie doing her usual thing of lying across the weather! I set to work trying to get the pin back in. There was so much load on the stay it was impossible to more than a half repair and only do a makeshift job of things. I judged it to dangerous for me to remain on the fore deck and returned to the safety of the cockpit.
So now under reduced sails my speed was now 2 -3 knots. I was lucky to be doing 50nm a day. To give you an idea, I should have been making 120nm per day. This brought about the next problem, growth on the hull. I’d heard about the Pacific and how quickly the sea here can foul a boat but never believed it. We started with a clean boat but now had 4’’ of goose barnacles covering the entire boat. The Hydrovane would now not work at all. To make miles and get across this huge ocean I now had to helm (steer) the boat by hand at least 9 hours a day. At night I’d layahull and stop for the night. I’d try to cook or at least heat up a can of beans but sometimes sleep was all I could do. I remember thinking ‘I still have a 1000 miles to do and Im doing under 3 knots’ Staying positive became my number one goal. I had to keep myself fit for the job. It was the tiredness that was the deal breaker. I was so worried that I was now well overdue. I felt for my sister, loved ones and friends who by now thought of me as missing. My friend Dave who is my ‘eyes on shore’ called the British coastguard who have an International rescue service. They called the French Polynesia coast guard.
Another day of fighting to get at least 50 miles a day. By now Im at an all time low. With only 200 miles to go it was still going to be a ***** to the last. No quarter given in this battle. Then I head a voice. “Ello Ello White Shadow” A French voice coming out of my radio. I looked around, no other vessels, I run down and answer “This is White Shadow’ “Zis iz der French air sea rescue”. As he said the words I looked out heard and saw a Lear jet fly past my mast at 180 knots WHAMMM.
I told them I could make port without assistance and thanked them for coming out and that I would be fine. After another incredible sea level fly past the guys left me alone. In the silence that followed, I had what I will only describe as an emotional moment.
With the knowledge that everybody knew I was safe and that I was not alone, my spirits lifted.
5 days later I put the anchor down at the island of Hiva oa.
I had sailed alone 3937 nautical miles in 71 days. 55.5nm per day at an average of 2.3nm per hour.
Could have swam it faster . .
Dreams can come true.
On a foot note; Thanks to Milf (Dave) Mate you are truly my hero.
Thanks to all those who sent comments and took time to be concerned for me.
Sorry to my lil Sis and family who I put though a bad time.
Love you all.
