04/23/2011, Out on the ocean
We've just completed our first two weeks at sea having covered 1723 nautical miles out of the approximately 3000 to get us to the Marquesas. Our weather router has us going just about due west till we hit a longitude of 130W before we start heading South to the equator. It's about 36 hours before we get to that point. We're currently at 07 22.667N 127 00.636W on a course of 250 T making about 5 to 6 knots depending on what face of the swells we are on. We made 135 nautical miles in the last 24 hours so we are just zipping right along. Still making(on average) 5.1 knots per hour so I can't complain. According to our chart plotter, we have been moving 337 hours 55 minutes since we left La Cruz with probably a good 10 to 12 days left before we get to the islands. Not bad for such a heavy boat with one on it's primary sails not being able to be used. I'm still waiting for the calm seas the weather man promised me so I can get up the mast safely. Each day it gets warmer and we won't even discuss the humidity. Tracy has a nice bit of sunburn since she started wearing sleeveless shirts. A nice bit of burn that will take a while to heal.
To continue my post from yesterday, another important piece of equipment we have on board is our DuoGen. This makes our electricity to keep all of Zephyr's systems up and running. I've commented before on it with not the most glowing reports when used as a wind generator. As a drag behind the boat electric power generator, it's amazing. It's kept all our house batteries full so that we never lack for power to run what we need to run. Now we don't have the expensive systems like many boats but we do have a refrigerator/freezer that requires a bit of power to run as well as our chart plotters and computers that we need. Plus, we need a good bit of power for transmitting on our SSB radio several times a day. Add in running lights as well as other necessities and the DuoGen does the job. Google it to see more about it. Wind, not so good. Drag in the water--very good.
Tracy's two cents: We have been on the same tack for a day and a half and I'm so ready to be on a more gentle one. The waves are from the NE, but the swell is from the North. We ride up and over most, but every couple of minutes we get a side rocking that is most uncomfortable. I haven't gotten any real sleep for over twenty four hours.
The clouds have left us and the sunny blue skies are a beautiful contrast to the dark blue ocean and frothy white tops on some of the waves. It is really wonderful despite the wave action. I was looking out over the water and saw a whale, small one about three wave sets over. He or she just kept on going, then about a half hour later what I thought were dolphins riding the front of a wave came to within 50' of the boat. They weren't dolphins, but pilot whales. Three of the gliding down the faces of the waves, I got a picture, but we'll see what it looks like when it gets uploaded into the computer. I was beginning to think flying fish and squid were the only living things out here.
Flying fish :3 Squid:2, one we have to pick off our mainsail, ugh.
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04/23/2011, Out on the ocean
We've just completed our first two weeks at sea having covered 1723 nautical miles out of the approximately 3000 to get us to the Marquesas. Our weather router has us going just about due west till we hit a longitude of 130W before we start heading South to the equator. It's about 36 hours before we get to that point. We're currently at 07 22.667N 127 00.636W on a course of 250 T making about 5 to 6 knots depending on what face of the swells we are on. We made 135 nautical miles in the last 24 hours so we are just zipping right along. Still making(on average) 5.1 knots per hour so I can't complain. According to our chart plotter, we have been moving 337 hours 55 minutes since we left La Cruz with probably a good 10 to 12 days left before we get to the islands. Not bad for such a heavy boat with one on it's primary sails not being able to be used. I'm still waiting for the calm seas the weather man promised me so I can get up the mast safely. Each day it gets warmer and we won't even discuss the humidity. Tracy has a nice bit of sunburn since she started wearing sleeveless shirts. A nice bit of burn that will take a while to heal.
To continue my post from yesterday, another important piece of equipment we have on board is our DuoGen. This makes our electricity to keep all of Zephyr's systems up and running. I've commented before on it with not the most glowing reports when used as a wind generator. As a drag behind the boat electric power generator, it's amazing. It's kept all our house batteries full so that we never lack for power to run what we need to run. Now we don't have the expensive systems like many boats but we do have a refrigerator/freezer that requires a bit of power to run as well as our chart plotters and computers that we need. Plus, we need a good bit of power for transmitting on our SSB radio several times a day. Add in running lights as well as other necessities and the DuoGen does the job. Google it to see more about it. Wind, not so good. Drag in the water--very good.
Tracy's two cents: We have been on the same tack for a day and a half and I'm so ready to be on a more gentle one. The waves are from the NE, but the swell is from the North. We ride up and over most, but every couple of minutes we get a side rocking that is most uncomfortable. I haven't gotten any real sleep for over twenty four hours.
The clouds have left us and the sunny blue skies are a beautiful contrast to the dark blue ocean and frothy white tops on some of the waves. It is really wonderful despite the wave action. I was looking out over the water and saw a whale, small one about three wave sets over. He or she just kept on going, then about a half hour later what I thought were dolphins riding the front of a wave came to within 50' of the boat. They weren't dolphins, but pilot whales. Three of the gliding down the faces of the waves, I got a picture, but we'll see what it looks like when it gets uploaded into the computer. I was beginning to think flying fish and squid were the only living things out here.
Flying fish :3 Squid:2, one we have to pick off our mainsail, ugh.
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04/22/2011, Out on the ocean
Another day has passed and with it, more water and ground. We made 124 miles over the last 24 hours and we've come 1588. We're at least past the half way point(we think)after 13 days at sea. We may have as many as 14 more days depending on what we run into farther South. The winds have stayed the same--about 12 knots out of the Northeast and the swells are at 5 to 7 feet with an occasional BIG one(up to about 12 feet) coming through. Zephyr rides right up and down the other side as they pass. We on the other hand get tossed about like drunken sailors. We learned long ago to hang on to everything and anything. Ever try to get dressed one handed. The first few times it is a bit of a challenge. So as of now, we're at 07 44.059N 124 51.969W headed for about 08 North and 126 West. That's where we will try and head as far South as possible to get through the ITCZ(InterTropical Convergence Zone).
As Tracy and I sat in the cockpit discussing what we found important for our trip, a list began to form. Here's the MOST important of the things we have on board the we BOTH feel are important. Number one===Our Hydrovane self steering system. It attaches to the stern of the boat and has a rudder on the bottom. The top section has a cloth covered(keep a spare cloth) that you angle into the winds as your boat moves forward. If the wind is too strong over one side, it pushes the vane to the side activating the gears on the rudder to shift the boat back on course. Not really sure exactly how it works(lots of expensive parts in there) but it does. Once set, it requires a minimal amount of care. A glance or two every now and again to make sure it keeps you on course. It doesn't eat, sleep, or drink. It does it's job and our has been wonderful. There are several different types and manufacturer around--Monitor, Sayes, Aires to name just a few. Now lots of boats only carry electronic ones but even if you have spares, they all depend on your electrical system and your ability to make the power to run them. If your generator fails or your engine doesn't like to start(to keep your batteries charged) you could be in a bit of a pickle. If(God forbid) your boat gets hit by lightening, all your electronics will be fried. With our Hydrovane, he just keeps on working. We call him "James"because he always takes us where we want to go--"home James". We can't imagine hand steering for the three weeks plus it takes to get to the Marquesas.
I'll post more over the next few days until you have a better idea of what we use out here and what doesn't work out here.
Tracy's two cents:
The clouds are thickening up again and it will probably rain sideways again, hey the windows in the dodger need to be washed again, they were so sparklely clean for a whole day! The lumps and bumps in the boats motion made doing dishes an unbelievable chore today, nothing would stay put, I have to figure out a new way to make the microwave stay put, right now we have velcro on tabs attached to the counter, but the motion is too much for it and the whole thing goes flying. Right now, I shoved the handle of a putty knife under it to wedge it, and so far so good.
Yesterday, I got really sunburned. I don't even remember the sun shining, but there you go. My back and neck are seared. Lying in bed hurt, the heat of the cabin felt throbby hot, so I finally resorted to a trick I did while at Lake Powell during late summer. I laid a wet washrag that had been wrung out over my burnt skin then I spritzed myself with water and went to bed with a fan straight on my shoulder and neck. With occasional respritzes of water, all was well. Today, it's tolerable.
Oh, we are having more and more difficulty getting through with Sailmail to post this blog and emails in and out, so if there is a day or two or three you don't hear anything, don't freak out, it's just because we can't connect with Sailmail.
Squid count yesterday: 2 Flying fish: 1 Only one boat of the 10 that left Puerto Vallarta the same time we did has caught any fish, and it wasn't us!
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04/21/2011, Out on the ocean
We had winds through the night up to 37 knots and luckily we had taken two reefs in the mainsail. With that and the small forestaysail, we still managed to do 134 miles(total 1464) so we were cooking through the darkness. At dawn, the squalls hit and we were nicely cleaned by Mother Nature with LOTS of nice fresh water to get off all the salt residue that had been building p over the last two weeks. We spent most of the night heading South with the winds coming from the Northeast so a rolly down wind sail again as the swells were from the North. We're now at 09 13.747N 123 57.745W with the motor on as the winds have just about died and those that are left have no clue as to where they are coming from. Toss in the residual swell from last nights big winds and you have a mess out here. As much as I don't like doing it, we fired up the engine and took off for another of the waypoints furnished by our weather router. He wants us at 08N 126W to plan for our crossing the equator. The way the winds and swells have been, we have been doing a reverse "Z" course. Many hours heading a mostly westerly course and then a turn to the left and almost straight South for another mess of miles. Then right and west again. We've been doing this for the last several days and it's the only safe way to make headway Southwest to where we need to go. So, all the sails are down and we just do what we have to do. Not much more to say. It's just another day our here. Keeping alert to the winds and swells and trying to get where we have to go.
Tracy's two cents: It is really uncomfortable right now, rolling from gunwale to gunwale, I'm shocked the cat's aren't frothing at the mouth. I'm surprised I'm not frothing at the mouth! The wind gauge is just going around in circles as we pitch and roll. Before all this started, I took time and sort of defrosted the freezer and rearranged the meats, then I went through the refrigerator and took out all the old that needed to be pitched. We had a very simple lunch today, smoked gouda and crackers for me and leftover chicken curry salad on tostitos for Bill.
I just watched Snowshoe judge the pitch and roll of the boat then hike himself up the cat tree to the barrel portion where he lays down and hangs his head out the end of the barrel. He looks like a dead cat stuffed into a tube. So on and on we roll from side to side. I think I'll go back outside where there is fresh air. Cabin temp is 87.2, humidity is 70% water temp is 81.
Two flying fish last night and two squid...haven't had those for a while.
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04/20/2011, Out on the ocean
Another 24 hours gone and making progress across this BIG ocean. With the wind out of the Northeast and the swells out of the North, it continues to be a rolly and rocky ride. One minute you're healed over to 30 degrees to port and the next 25 degrees to starboard. Over and over and over all day and all night. Side to side with a bit of bow to stern action thrown in for fun. You lie in bed(if you can) with your back up against the side panels that hold the mattress in place and put a pillow in front of you and hold on. Or, if you have more guts, you lie on the port side settee cushion(only about 19 inches wide) and rock and roll there. Most of the movement is toward the port side so it may keep you on the cushion though if a really rough roll comes in, you are out of there and on the floor. Boy, sailing is fun! We did just 3 hour watches last night instead of 4 as conditions required you to be watching constantly for wind changes where it could throw Zephyr in the wrong direction.
We're currently at 10 42.510N 123 08.304W on a course of 250T. We're going to gybe and change course in a couple of hours to put us on a more southward course toward the equator. The wind will be over the port side but the wave will continue to plow into our stern. We've made good time over the last 24 hours covering 138 miles. Not bad at all. We've done 1330 miles so far out of the normal 3000 to get to the Marquesas so we are almost half way in 11 days. Another day or so and we will be half way. At least another 5 days just to the equator. The swells are at about 5-7 feet so we go up one side and down the other continually being hit from the stern. Man, let me tell you , it gets OLD!!!! You hang on to anything and everything to move around the boat. I've got the cuts and bruises to prove what happens if you loose your handhold.
Tracy's two cents:
I've thought and thought about what to do in this particular entry, so we're going to go into the galley (kitchen) and I'm going to let you know what works and what hasn't worked. It has been rough enough that really involved cooking just isn't going to work. I made up a meal plan, breakfast, lunch and dinner for four weeks. I look at it and laugh...what on Earth was I thinking???! I had down really involved meals that require lots of pots and pans. How dumb (or naive) was I?
I brace myself against the wall opposite the stove. This gives me access to the stove and the counter that houses the refrigerator. Bill made up a board (made of a plastic cutting board) covered with drilled holes and then made pegs to go into the holes where ever I desired, so I can put all the ingredients of a dish on this board so everything doesn't slide all over. It is my extra hands. This board fits over the sinks, so if anything spills, it doesn't matter. I use the pressure cooker as my "pot" of choice. It has steep sides, so nothing sloshes over and if I boil any water, I just put the lid on and twist it to lock it so if it does leap off the stove I don't get burned. I have found that dinner has to be really a simple affair. Try and not use more than four or five ingredients. My spices are in racks from Cost Plus that fit my spice bottles exactly and they are within easy reach just behind the refrigerator. That way, I don't have to get into the spice cabinet under the companionway stairs. I made lists of where all our food is in the boat, but if I had it to do again, I would have put all ingredients together for any given meal. Just going under the settee cushions is an ordeal and I've found that I'll do almost anything not to have to spend more than the absolute minimum time having things fall into the hole just created by moving a bin of food. I do try to have all my meats in one spot and all the fruits and veg in another dedicated spot.
One thing that has worked for me is a wire basket about 15X8x7" high. I have it right next to the microwave. This actually came out of our wine refrigerator in Denver. In it I put often used things,like our insulated glasses (Costco), tea bags, garlic bulbs, fresh ginger, etc, just to keep them handy. I put some no slide fabric under and it does an admirable job. The key is to stay out of the cabinets as much as possible.
Doing dishes...I heat my water in the teakettle and then put 5 sec. worth of boiling water into the left sink with a squirt of detergent then count to ten with the cold water faucet into that sink, just the right temp for washing dishes. All the dirty dishes are piled as securely as possible again the fiddle rail next to the stove. I put the clean dishes, but not rinsed into the right sink. I then empty the left sink and put the remaining boiling water into the left sink then cool the water down with cold water. I gimbal the stove and put my collapsible dish drainer on the stove, I then rinse the dishes and place them into the wildly swing drainer. It is hard to think that the stove is always level and you and the rest of the boat are not, but nothing falls out and it is easy to dry the dishes. I store our plastic take out dishes in the microwave. These have worked out really well, no breakage. Applebees and Chicken Teriyaki places and BIll's favorite--Tokyo Joe's have wonderful bowls and covers that we use as plates.
Anyway, that's a peak into the inner working of a galley slave.
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04/19/2011, Out on the ocean
It's been a tough last 24 hours with winds in the upper teens to low 20's and primarily from the North. Swells are coming from the Northeast so we are rolling quite a bit as we head South. We're at 11 30.851N 121 06.399W on a course of 173T doing about 5.5 knots in 5 foot swells. We actually covered 130 miles in the last 24 hours so that's a nice improvement. I'd take a few less miles for a smoother ride though. We've now covered 1192 miles of a trip that is about 3000 so we are getting there though not even half way in 10 days. Due to the wind, we are actually heading back East slightly so that the waves are hitting our stern at a better angle. We took down the spinnaker late yesterday afternoon once the winds started hitting 20 knots and put up the main and forestaysail for the night. The winds took us more west than south so we gybed about 0030 and headed farther south. We've left the sail in that configuration and will change them in an hour or so so that we start heading more west and south. Our router wants us to head for about 8 degrees North and 126 West to prepare for crossing the equator. We haven't gotten his latest forecast--due yesterday so we will see what new insights he has for us when I get on the SSB radio in a few hours.
About 0800, one of the blocks that controls the boom vang, a set of block and tackle that pulls the sail down toward the deck exploded just as we were having breakfast. Too much strain and perhaps some age thrown in for good measure. I pulled out one of our spares (can't carry too many parts you know) and snapped on the life jacket and went forward to the mast and replaced it. Took longer to find the replacement part than it took to replace it.
Not much sleep last night due to the winds and unruly seas so both of us are quite tired today. Still too rolly and hot for a good nap but we will try this afternoon so we will be ready for the night.
Tracy's two cents:
There really isn't much to add, Bill covered everything. Blue was nervous because of the noise from the washing machine of an ocean we are in, so she wanted to cuddle and knead on my arm, with her claws out. Ouch! I gave up sleeping on the settee, so I put the seat cushion on the floor and tried again to get to sleep. I think I finally between a couple of installments slept about 2 hours. Not nearly enough for this 8 - 10 hour a day normally for me.
We played a few games of dominoes yesterday while we under the spinnaker, but all that stopped when the boat broached with a 27kt. wind gust, then we changed the sails. Hopefully, more sleep tonight and we'll all be in better humor and spirits.
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