Skippers log #11
46 22s 157 54e at 20:45 GMT
The winds have gone to the SE and I am hard on the wind, beating. This is not supposed to be in the Southern Ocean. I am supposed to be running. A high pressure has developed south of me. Yesterday's forecast said it would develope to the north, so they got it wrong. Well, such is the weather. There are still warnings of severe gales for our areas as this high moves away. My life revolves around the weather. The only other people I know on land who live by the impact of weather as greatly as us at sea, are farmers. Last night it did get cold enough to and I had to turn the LARRY-eater (as I have nicknamed it after Larry at KZ Marine) on. Yes, the heater pumped warm air out straight away and too much as I had to turn it off. This is tempting fate, as when I am not going to want turning it off, it might act up. But I have confidence that Larry will be able to talk me through the heaters temperamentally. I hooked up with the radio stations and spoke with voices I am very familiar with now. I just wish that I got the CD player that Prudential gave me working again. I miss having no music.
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Skippers log #12
46 18s 156 46s at 08:10 GMT
Temp fate, and it will bite you. I thought the heater would keep working, but today it stopped. So I took it apart to try and fix it, but now it is worst. So I have put a call into Larry and waiting for his e-mail of ideas. It is cold enough to want heat, and I might have to start boiling water for the hot water bottles that Gwen and Springfield Elementary school gave me. Still have headwinds, though light and I have tacked south to try and get bellow this weak high. I am not taking miles off to the Horn right now. Frustrating as I want every day to count. I have found a stowe-away on board. I am not sure if I like the company, and thus I am not sure if the stowe-away will remain or swim. I have to think about this, and the decision will be made by the number of appearances the stowe-away makes. We are also starting to get onto the edge of the satphone satellite footprint. The phone is losing signal in the middle of conversations. I hope it last another week, but it is unlikely.
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Skippers log #13
46 55s 154 45w at 05:45 GMT with 3,100 miles to Cape Horn
It looks like I have sailed out of the satellite footprint and will not have the use of the telephone till I get to Cape Horn. I am sad as the phone gave me a link to Gwen, my family, the Hackets and the South African radio stations. So for voice contact, Neil Hunter is it, as I have also lost comms with Minuro who is having radio difficulties. And my stowe-away does not speak English, or any intelligible language. That is counting against the stowe-away. Also, strike 2, it likes the dark. Three strikes and its fish food. The cabin sole is grey-black. I took the heater apart, and tried to empty all the soot into a carrier bag, but in the process some still got onto the floor. Its slippery and I have cleaned it as best as I can. After re-assembling the heater, it was as dead as a door nail, so I sent a message to Larry for help. Well, in the middle of last night, I remembered that I had disconnected a set of wires, so I got up, took the heater apart, re-connected these wires, and what do you know, it pumped out hot air and smoke. So I quickly shut it down and re-installed it, but will not fire it up again till I really need it, then the big question is, can I keep it going? Out here one has to be inventive and adaptable. As I tell my audience on the speaking circuit, if you can't adapt and progress with changing times, you are in trouble. That is why we believe..."In life there are no barriers, only solutions."
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Skippers log #14
47 35s 151 10w at 04:50 GMT with 2,966 mile to The Horn
I am wondering if I was hallucinating when I saw my stowe-away. It has been hiding and I have not been able to take a picture or capture it on video, let alone capture it to decide its fate. As Captain of this craft, with the power invested in me by my crew, I am judge, jury and jailor. Oops, I forgot, I have no crew. So by the power invested in me by you...Hang on, I now remember, I paid for this power with money, sweet and blood, and don't forget the 120 days out here by myself. What does it matter, the fate of this stowe-away is in my hands, now if only I can get my hands on it to prove to myself that it is real. But I know it is here. I saw it once. It was no hallucination. It is on board and when I find it, I will make a decision. You will hear my verdict tomorrow night. Apart from hunting for this stowe-away, I have NNE wind and progressing towards the Horn. Some time mid March I will get there. The sooner the better. I have definitely sailed out of phone coverage, and already I am missing it. I will just have to get a few more speaking engagements signed up and make up for the lack of human company on the what already promises to be a hectic speaking circuit starting this summer. I have confirmed bookings now on three continents, and a forth continent pending. So far it looks like my heaviest schedule will be in South Africa.
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Skippers log #15
48 02s 147 17w at 01:20 GMT with Cape Horn 2,832 miles away.
The NNE wind still blows, but we were able to make 181 miles progress, which put me in a good mood. Now if we can only keep it up. Well, the verdict is in regarding our stow-away. Firstly, we did get several e-mails regarding this subject, including a request from our accountant, Danny Duke, which I have to take into consideration. As the stow-away prefers to keep to its own company, does not appear at meal times, and remains discrete, as captain, judge, jury and jailor, I have decided to spare the stow-away its life. It will not become fish food, and nor will I make attempts to imprison it, provided that the stow-away keeps its distance and does not interfere with the running of this vessel nor attempt mutiny. Hence I have decided to name the creature, taking into consideration its kind. The stow-away is now called Cockie, because it is a medium sized cockroach. Should it infringe on these rules, or should it produce companions, then Cockie and company will become the focus of a major cockroach hunt and fish food.
