The solo around the world yacht race and other sailing related items.
Trading places
Skippers log #22
04 06s 35 26w with T-3,348 miles to Charleston
Minoru and I continue to trade places. I have turned the corner and now heading towards Charleston. I was able to cut the corner and get around the top of Brazil, pulling many miles out on Minuro and regaining my lead over him. There is a strong current helping me. Many thunder squalls and rain today.
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Skippers log #23
02 25s 38 14w with 3,153 miles to go.
I set a new personal best 24 hr record. My previous best was 194 miles, set 4 years ago on this leg, north of the equator. The new record for this boat is now 201 miles. Had good following winds last night and helmed through some of it in the middle of the night. This afternoon I came to an abrubt stop when I hit the beginning of the doldrums. The next couple of days will be challenging to say the least to get by here. To celebrate the new record, I had one of Gwen's stews.
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Skippers log #24
I have a major disaster on board. Most of my food rations for the next two weeks, and some for the rest of the trip has been ruined. A food crate somehow broke, containing the supplies. All the rice and pasta for the rest of the trip was destroyed. I have a little left from this week's supply. The next two weeks of chocolate is destroyed, the biscuits and cereal. I have eaten the last of my fresh fruit. The food that has survived are a few cans and 4 of Gwen's meals. I am doing an inventory of what supplies are left aboard and will have to figure out how to ration the last of the supplies. I need to consider the idea of going to port to restock as an option, or going on a diet.
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Skippers log #25
00 22n 40 12w wi7th T-2,957 miles
Today became my sixth equatorial crossing, five of which have been solo in this boat. I crossed the magic line at 12:35 GMT, with cameras rolling. Soon there after was the ceremony to Neptune. As I now need to fish, I decided to give Neptune something live to look favorably on my fishing need. Last night I caught one of Cockie's young and kept it in a jar. This bandit roach was my Neptune offering. I have taken stock of all the food on board. If for the next 10 days I go on half rations, and I make port the weekend of May 21, I will be able to eat a good meal everyday the last week. If I am at sea a bit longer, which I will know in about 10 days time, then I might need to stay on half rations a few days more. The biggest set back is that I have only 3 bars of chocolate on board. A bar a week. I do have plenty of liquid, the best being enough milk for 25 days at sea, drinking a liter a day. Now if we can just get through the doldrums and be on our way again.
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Skippers log #26
01 32n 41 04w with T-2,872 miles to Charleston
It looks like we have broken through the doldrums into the NE trades. Having many squalls and fresh wind in the squalls, with decent breeze all day. I am hungry. Today is a non meal day. I ate a few crackers and cheese, a piece of pepperoni sausage and I am drinking milk. No fish strike yet. I have managed to get Gwen's computer powered up on the boat, so I am able to work on the new book again, but I do not have the software to load the communications package over. Sorry, you will have to read my coded e-mails to the finish.