07/03/2009, 30 11.79'N:130 49.18'E, Heading in to Yaku Shima Island
Our unexpected weather hit us as we left the passage just NE of Amami-O Shima. We had looked at several weather sources the day we left Okinawa via internet, downloaded gribs from Ocens (our at sea weather source) all sources indicated a great smooth and on some days little to no wind passage. Out of about 5 sources non of them shown a front in our path. So to say we were surprised is an understatement. We had noticed a cell forming just South West of us and thought we had the sails reefed just fine. We were doing 7 knts with minimal sail out. Winds were high 20's to low 30's. Then the first gust hit us, I was down doing a last minute of "buttoning up the hatches" and securing loose items when I found myself almost sideways in the aft cabin - the boat heeled over and most of my efforts were for naught. Books went flying, a speaker and many items that never leave their safe hold took flight. I just held on till I could make my way up to help Steve control Equus. Within minutes the jib was shredded and flailing about creating a noise that felt like the boat was coming apart. I was so proud of Steve because he kept his cool and handled Equus like a pro. For over an hour he muscled the wheel while I muscled the jib in trying to bring in the shreds of sail so the rigging would not be damaged, ran on deck to secure our flying forestay which had let loose and bring in and what I could of the vang (a rope pulley system that secures the main boom). Our only control of Equus was running with the seas, which now had turned into a full gale. We took turns at the helm for over 5 hours; then the gale eased enough so we could put autopilot back on and float downwind of the waves heading due East - out to sea. Every once in a while a wave would break over our stern and give Equus a bath, I would say by this time the waves had build to 4 meters that is about 12 feet. Steve called Yasou and Ken, two Japanese men that have been so good to us and in this case we felt were life savers. We desperately needed an updated weather report, given that our downloaded grib gave us little to go on. We just were not clear on which way was the best to head, although until the gale lifted we didn't have many choices. We tried to head back to Amami-O Shima; even under power and main sail Equus wasn't budging and heading any direction but East. Equus would be broadside to 12 ft waves. So about 4pm the waves had subsided enough that we rolled and tossed our way to the north. Thank you Yasou and Ken for your great weather advice and assistance. Another Thank you to the Japanese Coast Guard. They were notified by Ken of our location and that we were not in an emergency situation however we were having some difficulties and just giving them a heads up on possible assistance needed. They were very kind and thorough when we talked to them. This morning like most others was so different than yesterday; flat seas and blue skies. We are currently heading to Yoku Shima the last of the islands before mainland Japan. We have to get down our shredded genoa off the furler before we can deploy our 90% jib and sail on. We fear this may finalize our options for heading to Alaska, which weighs heavy on us both. We so looked forward to being closer to the Pacific North West with Equus this year. But who knows, miracles do happen and our current blue skies may continue, and perhaps there is a Hood salesman on the dock in Yaku-Shima with a replacement genoa for us, and we can sail on East?
|
Comments [1]
07/02/2009, 27 28.75'N:128 35.14'E,
10:30 AM. July 2, 2009
A rolly night and morning finds us motorsailing, with a reefed genoa poled out to starboard, heading NE at 6 kts., hopefully to Shimoda, Honshu, Japan. Swell from west makes this an uncomfortable passage. We hope to more fully pick up the Japanese Current when we are past Yakushima, and make our destination in less than the full 7 days. Crew well, if hot, tired, sore from rolling; Equus her usual solid self. Heard some rumors about another tropical low forming SE of the Philippines - but do not have data on it yet. Have to keep going and get out of typhoon alley.
|
06/30/2009, Ginowan, Okinawa Japan
July 1, 2009, Ginowan, Okinawa Japan.
This is our first Ocens blog entry. We signed up just this morning to have a better way to track our passage home. We hope you will come along and join our journey.
We spent the morning shipping a broken camera back to the US, getting oil for the diesel, getting the LP gas tank filled and then a lunch stop at A&W Rootbeer Hamburger joint. Yes you heard right, what have I let him talk me into??? It was good, especially the rootbeer, a familiar taste of the USA-ahe.
The winds are up this afternoon and as soon as Steve returns with one last purchase we hope to slip our dock lines and head North to Norshi Saki, mainland Japan about 75 south of Tokyo. We will have about 750nm to sail. Well motor sail the winds will get quite light through the weekend. We are anticipating the passage taking us 5 to 7 days. We will add our positions underway. This is so exciting! Fair winds and seas to our fellow sailors and fair days to our landlubbers. Love Patricia and Steve
|
Love, Jake and Family
Love, Jake and Family
