Seascape for Mary

It's Coby's Mom's birthday -- and she collects seascapes. So we are resuming uploading.

Here's to you, Mary. Happy Birthday!

Interior of Snookums

This is how Snookums looked below decks at the end of a month at sea.

Climax of Sunset - last night out

7/10/2009

Video of sunset off Oahu -- Coby's last night before landfall. He decided to head out to sea, in order to thread through the coral reefs in daylight. He reported how difficult it was to see the lights recede as he turned away. I saw this sunset from another angle. It was exciting to know that he was so close, and hard to wait until another day (except it gave me time to find him leis).

Later in the night, a wind so strong it woke me rose up, along with a wall of rain. Coby said that it literally hit him - he could feel the edge of the wind as it slammed into his shoulder. Perhaps his roughest and scariest ride was that last night, so very close. I awoke many times, knowing that we were in the same storm system. In the morning, it was clear and beautiful. Very early, he made the turn towards land.

Snookums Sailing today

Coby is sailing Snookums to the leeward side of Oahu, about a 50 mile journey. He is accompanied by John, Al's son, who is a wonderful sailor and knows the area well.

Safety systems, innovations, etc.

Coby has read for years about sailing. The last two, he was focused on nothing but. He consulted with many wise people, and tried out many systems. Being the inventive soul he is, some are things he created. Mostly, he tried to create a boat that could avoid what caused many adventures (read disasters). Below is what he decided on and installed in Snookums. Soon I will post the page of evaluations and corrections. Most of what he decided worked wonderfully - he never had a drop in the bilge -- but there are a few things he would do differently.

This is all for sailors. If any of you landlubbers are curious, ask and we will translate. You can get a sense of his deep preparation, and why I had such confidence in him. He wrote this all before he left.

Note: most of these systems are things I've read about, heard about, thought about, invented, and was happy with in the river. Reviews to follow after offshore trip.

SAFETY SYSTEMS

Piracy

I'm not going anywhere that there are any reported pirates. That's mostly the horn of Africa, and the Straits of Malacca between Indonesia and Malaysia. Of course, there are robbers everywhere, more where there are more poor people. Lots more on land than at sea.

I'm not carrying guns – just like on land, there are a few cases where having one was effective but far more that resulted in more death, not less. The piracy cases I've read about ended up with dead sailors who brandished or fired a gun, and live sailors who put up with being robbed. Even in Somalia, the most dangerous area, the pirates are unlikely to kill sailors, for fear of retribution.

Coby overboard

Got lots of systems to have this not happen:

– Lifelines of course – steel cable "railings" around the sides of the boat.

- A harness, with tether, that I wear all the time I'm on deck. The tether is connected to jacklines, that I clip into before I step on deck. The jacklines are ½ inch lines that run bow to stern on either side, fastened to the toe rail. They run on the outside of the shrouds and everything else, so that if I fall off the bow, my tether slides on the jacklines, and I float to the stern. I have a quick-release rope ladder on either side at the stern so I grab that and climb back aboard (I also have foot–loops at the bow hanging over to climb up)

-- I have two 4' tethers, so I can clip on forward of the shroud before unclipping aft. The second tether is also handy for clipping around the mast while reefing. When on the foredeck, I clip into both jacklines, and can move between the mast and bowsprit, but not far enough sideways to fall overboard. Handy for doing my Qi Gong practice on the foredeck.

(the old school, no harness method)

I also tow 200' of line with a small buoy at the end, knotted every 18." Which is my "last chance" safety system, if something goes wrong with my harness, and I fall, and don’t catch myself on the lifelines, and don't grab the side of the boat or the "footrope" and don't grab the rope ladder at the back, I still have rescue system. Grabbing the line will release a snap shackle, disengaging my wind vane self'-steering. That should let Snookums round up into the wind, and I’ll pull myself back aboard. Haven't checked how this affects my speed, but then I'm not in a hurry.

I've tried all these systems in the Columbia River – they work great. Hope I never need them again!

One last safety item – never be afraid to crawl, not walk, when it's rough.

Katja post script: Larry, Coby and I sprinkled sand and paint in three layers to make a non-skid surface for Coby. He reported feeling like a gecko – good grip.

Drinking water\

• 30 gal. stainless steel tank, with manual hand pump faucet, in the non-engine compartment.

• PUR 35 manual watermaker 1.3 gal/hr

• PUR 06 backpacker watermaker 1 pint/hr.

* Reverse- osmosis watermakers have a membrane so fine that water molecules can pass through, but not the salt. Fresh water from seawater. Pretty cool. However they do recommend not using the 06 during the day in the tropics – you sweat more than you make!

• Materials for a solar still – a pan of seawater with a cup in the middle, covered in clear plastic, with a weight in the middle of the plastic. Seawater evaporates into fresh water vapor, condenses on the plastic, runs down the underside of the plastic and drips into the cup. Not recommended for choppy seas – hence the watermakers.

• I have a raincatcher tarp, made by my friend Adele – 3'x4' vinyl with grommets, that I hang in the cockpit to catch rain. ¾" through hull fitting in the middle, with a hose long enough to reach my tank fill (or give myself a bath!)

• I've read after a rain, when it's calm, the fresh water floats on top for a while – hope to scoop some soon.

Rough Weather safety systems (Coby spend much effort helping Snookums take care of him)

• First, all the safety harness & tether systems I'll be wearing all the time.

• A set of knee pads when lots of crawling around is required (low center of gravity, less windage) My pads are flat on the bottom and soft rubber for more stability.

• A willingness to heave-to, and wait out the storm, rather than najub gnire iels and more danger.

• A drogue, to slow me down if I do have to run with the storm.

• Heavy storm jib, and a heavy storm trysail on a separate track at the mast. The track goes about halfway up the mast to a block, so I can use a dedicated halyard. I plan to keep the trysail packed & on the track – perhaps the jib hanked on as well.

• 4" window in my top hatchboard so I can see the windvane etc. without opening up.

• Manual bilge pump in the cabin so I can pump without opening up

• Lots of different seasickness medications

• I built one large lower hatch board – as big as the lower two originals. This stays in all the time, so if the cockpit floods my hatch is the highest edge not the lowest. Deadbolts on all hatchboards to keep them in. Stairs built into lower hatchboard.

• I cut 2"x7" scuppers through the stern, filling between the double-hull with fiberglass. ¼" EPDM rubber flaps on the outside to keep out following seas (and I hope they will!) These plus the 1 ½" cockpit drains should empty it quickly. (heavy-duty hose, and bronze fittings & through hulls for the cockpit drains.

• Got rid of all through-hulls but the cockpit and bilge drain (and these are above the waterline--barely). I've got a shoots-through-the-hull depth sounder, and will get my speed from GPS, or watching the foam go past & estimating speed by that. No more sink. drain-a-bucket in the sink. No head. No holes.

• Inside the cabin, netting covering all shelves & galley stuff (milk crates full of dishes (non breakable). Netting tied on at the bottom, hooked into cuphooks at the top. Cuphooks underneath the overhang far enough not to be a hazard.

• All locker tops, including icebox, fastened down with brass dogs – 1" x 3" x 1/8" thick oval strips, drilled at one end for the bolt, that rotate overtop the lid. Similar teak dogs for the galley drawers and door.

• I'll sleep in the starboard settee. Adele made me a lee cloth – 2'x 3', to keep from rolling out—clipped to padeyes below shelves. Also a seatbelt – airline type from Dan's Classic Auto- to keep me in bed even if I roll over. My head is aft on the settee, so that it's my feet that hit the bulkhead if I zoom down a wave.

• Petzl mountaineering helmet – I tend to bang my noggin a lot anyway, and 6' Coby in 5'11" cabin could be uncomfortable in a rough sea. Also, a concussion is a common injury in knockdowns, etc.

• All my Rubbermaid tubs and 3 ½ gal buckets (w. Gamma lid screw-tops) are tied or strapped down. I drill many 5/16 holes in the V-berth insert, and use ¼ line for attachment loops.

• 406 EPIRB w. GPS – Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon – goes on manually, or automatically when very wet. In my ditchbag.

• Plastimo 4-man offshore life raft.

• submersible VHF Radio w/GPS – ditch bag.

• red flares, white flare, rocket flares, orange smoke, orange dye, whistle, signaling mirror – ditch bag

• pre-made (by my friend Larry) ¼ " plywood porthole covers, w. crossbar attached. One oval of plywood larger than the port, one smaller (to center it) Fits through the port sideways from inside, crossbar tightened w/attached 1/4" line. Similar cover for forward hatch.

• Katja my beloved (& my friend Holly Jo) covered my ceiling in ¼ cork, w/ additional pieces to cover bolts, padeyes, etc. I had removed the original vinyl/foam to inspect the mast support. Cork is better for insulation, resists mildew, no toxic smoke if it burns – and it floats!

• Full face respirator w. universal filters, to give me extra time below decks to fight a fire. Most boats burn because people are forced to the topsides by smoke and are unable to fight the fire.

• Two ABC dry chemical fire extinguishers on port bulkhead forward side, one at galley near companionway. One halon-type at galley. (I have a bulkhead at forward end of galley, as wide as galley).

• Earplugs, and also earmuff style hearing protectors. I read that one of the most debilitating parts of a storm is the noise – can scream at 130 decibels.

Comfort, Convenience

*Single burner SVEA kerosene cooker, on a SeaSwing mounted above icebox on port bulkhead (most Flickas don't have this bulkhead – don't know mine's history but I like it).

* backup kerosene stove – Dragonfly International

* milk crate in the hole where the old stove was – leaves enough room at the front for a Thermos bottle and Nalgene bottle & water spray bottle and fire extinguisher.

* bucket in the sink for dishes. I plan to use seawater for most things

• smaller milk crate for more dishes, etc, to port of 1st milk crate

• clear square Nalgene lexan bottles in various sizes for spices, oil, vinegar, etc.

* backup kero anchor light

* masthead LED nav (navigation) lights & anchor light

• LED bulbs in all original nav lights

• all LED cabin lights – 3 in overhead, one flexible map light. These switch red or white.

• 3 ½ gal food grade plastic buckets with Gamma screw on lids. Waterproof, airtight. 25 lbs of Quinoa, whole wheat flour, spaghetti, oats, nuts.

* The same type bucket & lid for my head – with enzymes to break down waste. Only for use in port – bucket and chuck it offshore. River rafters use these.

• Extra bar in sides of pulpit, added with dodger type fittings, so I can't fall through.

• Rubbermaid tubs in port ¼ berth

• too many cans of food in most lockers

• boat came with original main, 2 sets of reef points, full batten main with 2 sets of reef points, storm trysail (separate track), storm jib, 100w.1 set reef points, 135, 150, asymmetrical spinnaker. Mostly new.

• I put in twin headstays for flying 2 jibs. I like it, but won't know if it’s a good idea till later. More versatile, but more complex and possibly won't point as high.

• Aries standard windvane (big for a Flicka, but oh so salty.)

• Lowered my traveler to an extra tube halfway down the pulpit – the original was interfering with my backstay.

• Boomkicker to hold the boom up without a topping lift – more idiot proof and I like that.

Anchors

• 35# CQR

• Fortress, rated for 28-32' boat.

• 15 # CQR, for kedge

• small fortress for Dinghy

• 300' 5/16 high test chain, stowed in the bilge when it was clearly too heavy in the bow. May change my mind, but still like it for the storm rode

• 50' chain w/250' ½ inch nylon rode

• 10' chain with 250' ½ inch nylon rode

• small grapnel hook

Dinghy

• Innova 2 – man inflatable sea kayak

(open – no skirts), w/ 3 paddles, & a round 4' sail

• lots of fishing gear – I know very little –

(2) 6' rods w. 30 # line, 80# leaders lots of tuna jigs, smaller jigs for baitfish & reef fish. 300 yards handlne, 1 gaff, I spear, big landing net, little net (for flying fish?)

• plankton net – one leg of panty hose (same mesh as the $80. nets) w/wire loop at the big end, collection bottle at the small. Tow behind boat, at night when there's much more plankton. Eat with or without Tabasco. Haven't tried this yet- hope it’ll be my super food – Dr. Alain Bombard survived for some months on it, as an experiment, catching phytoplankton (plants) and zooplankton (critters). Yum?

Journal

• for waterproof journal, bought a roll of Tyvek at Home Depot – 3'x 165. Cut into 3 pieces, which I'll use as scrolls.

Power

• (2) AGM jet ski batteries, strapped into starboard shelf.

• All LED lighting all backup equipment (GSP, VHF, flashlights, headlamps, kayak nav. lights) are hand-held, AA batteries.

• I have a holder for eight AA's so I can power the entire system back through the cig. lighter.

• Two folding (not flexible) solar panels – they go from big wallet size to 16x20 – 12 watts each.

• One Windstream bicycle pedal generator – 65 watts.

• Lots of rechargeable AA, lots of NiCads.

• Tiny backpacker solar panel for ditch bag – to recharge VHF, SAT. phone, etc.

Engine

Have an old Johnson 8 Sailmaster outboard. Built a shelf, w/lid in aft of cockpit, to hold two 3 gallon gas tanks. Shelf 5" above sole, so my scuppers will drain unobstructed ( added scuppers – rear of cockpit). Fiddles built into shelf lid.

Halyards

All halyards at mast. Tried cockpit controls – too much back and forth when reefing or hanking on new headsails. Two winches on mast, turning blocks at base of mast (single hander plate with attachment holes), stopper knots in all halyards. Jiffy reefing with hooks at forward end of boom, reefing lines on port side of boom. Separate cleats for each reefing line. As simple as I can get it. My friend Dave King gave me two pieces of line, to tie off clew cringle for extended reefing, so as not to chafe reefing lines. Hope I still like my system after being off shore.

Coby has comment to insert here.

• Six oval bronze opening ports

• Lewmar ocean hatch – ½ inch acrylic

• ¼ line in a loop, led forward, to steer from foredeck when attached to tiller.

• Bungee cords and lines made up, to lash the tiller and absorb shock if I back down a wave.

• Shock cord with snap hooks on each end to attach to both sides of the pushpit and hold the tiller in place.

• Plastimo compass that reads on both side of the bulk head.

• Bronze padeyes in overhead to hang lines, fruit hammocks, foulies on.

• Shelf liners made of 1/8 " or ¼ " plywood, for spare materials without using space.

• Twelve inch round buoy, so I can swim a kedge anchor out.

• 6' x 12" x 3/4 " plywood, on edge in port quarterberth to retain Rubbermaid tubs and be spare rudder, etc.

• Original hatchboards, just in case.

• Three spare windvanes, plus one larger and one smaller vane.

• Small (1/16" ?) stainless Tig welding rod for repairs and to use at turnbuckles instead of cotter pins.

• Lots of Gorilla duct tape.

• Lots of hand tools, and lots of WD40.

• Lots of spare screws, bolts, shackles, pins, etc.

• Various goops – 5200 Marine Goop, Epoxy, Antiseize, etc.

• No alcohol – affects my judgment way too much.

• 6/4 wetsuit with hood, gloves, booties—possible survival suit.

• 3/2 wetsuit, 2 pairs fins, 2 snorkels, 2 masks.

• 5 gallons kerosene, 1 gallon alcohol, 6 gallons gasoline (gas in cockpit).

• 200' spare 3/8 line for halyards, sheets, etc.

• Lots of 3/16 or ¼ inch line, 3 or 4 feet long, hung by girth hitches on lifelines, to keep handy for lashing, etc.

• Hawsepipes sealed with modeling clay on the bronze cap, plus duct tape, plus line from inside.

• Shore power inlet sealed with modeling clay and duct tape.

• Bronze manual windlass, just aft of bowsprit, for chain or line. 800 lb. capacity. A little bulky and in the way, but maybe well worth that if I need to kedge off a reef, or raise anchor with a stuck anchor or a bum shoulder.

• High sensitivity barometer, so I can really see a drop or rise.

• Sangean AM/FM/Shortwave SW/SSB receiver

• Grundig AM/FM/Shortwave SW/SSB receiver.

• Two backup Cobra GPS wrapped in lots of tinfoil for supposedly lightning pulse protection.

• One Garmin 76XCS GPS with Blue Chart chips of most of Pacific, East Australia, New Zealand.

• US charts from Oregon to Hawaii (new) New British Admiralty Charts of Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, etc, large and small scale, $1600. worth.

• Two Davis Mark 25 plastic sextant, tables and almanacs to go with (I need practice)

• Fourteen-foot aluminum and fiberglass rafting oar that breaks down into 2 pieces. Oarlock mounted on transom at starboard. Sculling only -- couldn't figure a good way for rowing from the side. Can do maybe a knot right now. Needs practice. Allowing the flex of the oar to work for you on the backstroke is important. Like a fish's tail, and not like a lever.

• 3'x 5' canvas, for shade etc. No dodger, I can't bear looking through plastic (hope that doesn’t mean I get to look through lots of water!

video of albatross at sea

Coby took a video of the albatross that came to rest on his rail one morning at dawn. It arrived very bedraggled. After about an hour, looking like a new bird, it flew off. 

It didn't exhibit any nervousness around Coby - only six feet away, with head and shoulders showing from the companionway. It did fly off once he came on deck. It is available in HD if you can figure out how.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLWVDuhThXY

TransPac Race & Snookums for Sale

Pictures  by our landlord in Kane'ohe, Uncle Dan, of our reunion. He and his wife had us over for a lovely BBQ. The Kane'ohe Yacht Club is very hospitable, and absolutely lovely!

Finally had enough energy to go over to Waikiki and visit the TransPac boats. One took just over five days from LA! Felt very good to have people who I considered to be real sailors shake my hand when they heard of my voyage. 

Listed the boat for sale today. Felt a little sad and very right. 

From Coby's heart to yours

I have chosen to bring my voyage to a close in Hawaii. It feels complete. The thing that I knew that I would regret on my death bed not having done, feels done. I feel free now to choose what I want to do, rather than the need to do what is necessary for the growth of my soul. I choose to return to my beloved Katja, and to see what life next brings us. Perhaps we will cruise the south seas together someday. Or not. My heart is full. My soul is at peace. 

Still to come: HD videos that Coby took at sea, his film pictures yet to be developed, Coby's musings and personal insights regarding the whole adventure.

For the salts, or the land-lubbers who want to know about Coby's extensive preparation, I am entering  information regarding his safety systems, sails, cooking systems, etc. that I will soon post. To these he will add his evaluations after the fact. 

And for anyone who would like to continue the saga of Snookums, she is for sale/sail.

If you want to talk to Coby for any reason, his number is 971-235-4268.

Coby arriving in Hawaii - Pix

I gave him lei -- the open green leafed one is called Maile -- it is from the mountain forest. It's  fragrant,  given usually to men, in honor of a major accomplishment. 

Coby checked and thanked Snookums, but waited until he recovered the next day to arrange her sails.  
It clearly took all his energy to tie her off well. Not a floating dock.  

Stay tuned - 

he is 

telling me far more detail, and has fantastic video to upload for you all. 

His eyes became blue!

Coby arrives (video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7l5XNJxW2A

Video by Paul Barrett, my chum from Interlochen Arts Academy, of Coby's arrival. He had to come at speed into a tiny berth, but it ended perfectly, with some help from Paul and Katja.

Katja didn't hear the question, but yes, she was and is happy indeed.

He made it!

He is here, wonderful and tired, on dry land. Walks funny, though. Much more later, including many pictures.

Turn

July 11, 2009

5:01 HST "Have made the turn. 33 miles away."

He is heading now to anchor for the first time in 31 days.

Friday night . . . a little farther

"Black cloud hit me with quite an edge. Whack on the shoulder. Strongest wind I've felt whole trip. Quite a ride."

"Need to go north to be away from shore and shipping for the night. It's hard to see the lights receding."

Very very close.

Friday 7/10 @ 14:31 PST

"I see Malokai ! and will look overhead for your plane ! "

7/10 @ 15:17

lat 21 34 N, lon 157 12.2 

"About 50 miles from you. Would put me at reef at sunset so will stay out one more night."

7/10 @ 16:49

"Just tried cellphone again. No dice. Can see Oahu."

7/10 @ 17:58 (2:58 pm local)

"I plan to heave to soon, park Snookums with plenty of sea room. Soon!"

Searoom: nothing to run into near you, because you have lots of sea around you. Some sailors, when a storm is coming, head away from port in order to be away from hazards. 

Heave to: "park" by having the wind be neutral to your position. You salts- correct me if I am wrong - Katja

Close

Thursday @ 20:31

latitude 22 04.1 N longitude 155 38.7 W 

close. soon. heading a bit south to make sure am out of lanes overnight.

He will be setting an alarm to look around quite frequently, just to make sure. 

Put the route to port on GPS -- shows up as pink line -- been looking and looking, and can't find it on the water! Where is it?

Coby will probably heave to Friday in order to not arrive after dark (which comes earlier in the tropics than Northern summer). I am flying to Hawaii early Friday morning with my miles, and should be there in Kaniohe, Oahu, HI to greet him when he comes in, si Dios quiere, on Saturday. Giddy. Need to stop blogging and pack.

Getting there

15:30 (3:30 p.m.)

Spent 4 hours trying for better faster forsail option but back to square one except lost spare halyard up the mast. Tired.

(translation for land-lubbers: he tried to get a large front sail made for speed in a good position, but he lost the tail of the extra line that pulls the sails up -- it slipped away and ran up out of reach (unless he gets out his climbing rigging. He is using an improvement over what is usual on boats by drawing from tree and rock climbers - Katja)

18:50 (6:50 p.m.)

Latitude 22 46.1N,  Longitude 153.32.8 

Moving right along. GPS says 300 more miles.

Look Back #2 - leaving portland

June 7th, 2009 photos of leaving Tomahawk Island to travel down the Columbia River to Astoria. Katja debarked there, and Coby sailed across the bar, which can be one of the world's most challenging locations, on June 11th.

Look back

As Snookums nears the Islands (Captain Coby predicts Sunday) we look back to her launching ceremony at Astoria.

For Coby as he sets sail

 

 

ON A DAY WHEN THE WIND IS PERFECT

 

On a day

when the wind is perfect,

the sail just needs to open and the world is full of beauty.

Today is such a

day.

 

My eyes are like the sun that makes promises:

the promise of life

that it always

keeps

 

each morning.

 

The living heart gives to us as does that luminous sphere,

both caress the earth with great

tenderness.

 

There is a breeze that can enter the soul.

This love I know plays a drum. Arms move around me;

who can contain their self before my beauty?

 

Peace is wonderful,

but ecstatic dance is more fun, and less narcissistic;

gregarious He makes our lips.

 

On a day when the wind is perfect,

the sail just needs to open

and the love starts.

 

 

Today is such

a day.

 

Jalaludin Rumi (1207-1273)

Bird, Moon, Destination

Tuesday, 2:30 Frigate and some other bird this morning.  I'm on course for Kaneohe, Oahu.

(I figure 420 miles as the crow flies. -- Katja)

Monday 7/6 

Spent 3 hrs plotting position w. sextant, only off by 600 miles! sheesh. normal 1st time though.

Monday 7/6

6:49 a.m. Wind changed, angle of boat to waves woke me. Jibed to get back on course. Moon close to setting. 

Lime & Seabird

Sunday noon:

as i tossed a too old lime overboard, i called out to the predators "goes good with fish!"

lat 24 54.4N lon 147 01.1W

Sunday 17:21

going good. saw another white brd with  long very thin tail. 

lat24 41.3N lon148 23.9W 

Shaving

I use leftover water in the thermos, still hot, for shave and face-wash in the bowl you found me.

He's getting closer - less than 700 miles to go. Picture of Coby shaving on the Columbia River on our way to Astoria

Ship

The only wind Coby could find out of the shipping lanes is slightly SE. It is not enough for the windvane, so he was at the tiller 10 hours straight.  Exhausting. He felt safe, ready to go to bed, and took one more look at the horizon --- and for the first time in two and a half weeks, there was a ship! Startling with its immensity and bright lights. But it was well within the shipping lane, where it belonged, on a parallel course.

Picture of his tiller

I still don't have my ticket to meet him in Hawaii -- we're waiting to see when the wind brings him closer before I buy a ticket. We are also debating which island, which moorage. Thank you to Dave, Roger, and John for your advice. 

Racing & Pink Umbrellas

Thursday July 2

morning call:

No wind – barely enough to keep going if stay on the tiller. Can draft north or south at half a knot.

                                                                                                                                           Hot & sunny. "Don't want to put up canvas, in case I need to put up sails. So I'm using a fuchsia travel umbrella while sipping tea." (Snookums indeed! I cracked up for at least a full minute- Katja)

"Clouds on the horizon with rain. May be coming here soon – might mean wind. Right now I'm in a neck and neck race with a piece of styrofoam, but I'm slooooooooowly pulling ahead." (repeated mirth)

Photos: the canvas he is not putting up, the barometer, the wind-vane & anemometer.

Evening text: maybe 10 min left so will text. (we're about to get more minutes)  winds 2 lite 4 Aries so on tiller all day. ( I think Aries is the name for the wind vane) tired. lat26 13.7N lon145 34.5. 

Frustration & Wonder

Wednesday, July 1 @ 22:52

Picture is of Coby on our trip down the Columbia from Portland to Astoria, June 7, 2009 

Wind is from the south. Trying to make way. Traveled just 15 miles, but made only 2 miles headway. One of the banes of having a GPS – could see this wavy line going back and forth over the same place, like an etch-a-sketch.

Hard to concentrate. A result of the solitude?

There is a fish hanging out for protection next to the really big fish that is Snookums. Amber translucent body,  dark stripe outlining  the fish shape in reflective blue.

He saw for the first time a wonderful sight: the Milky Way reflected in the ocean.

7/1 @ 17:41

"moving along pretty nicely now. lat26 28.2N lon145 30.5W had a shower and some tea." 

Genoa up.

7/1/09 @ 12:46 text via sattelite

Up till 4. have big genoa hdsl up, moving slowly. 

Flying Fish & motoring

Satellite Call Tuesday night.

The flying fish are eight inches long or more, with silver bellies and blue above. The water where they are coming from will ripple. They swim rapidly just under the surface and then emerge at speed. They zoom like dragonflies over the surface. They are not just jumping, but gliding and flying -- they will flap a time or two, and can change directions in the air. Sometimes they touch the surface of the water just for an instant, reminiscent of skipping stones. 

Previous day he only traveled 30 miles - slower than a walk, when one figures it was 24 hours. It is making it hard for me (Katja) to figure when to meet him in Hawaii. 

To travel to where there is wind -- south -- he motored all day long. Hot. Had to mind the tiller the whole time. Last night he was in the middle of the LA/Honolulu shipping lane, so he needed to keep going -- though he hasn't seen any ships since his 2nd day out. He has the radio at hand, and sends out frequent notices  "SECURITE" to let any big ships know his location and heading. The trade winds await.

Thanks Jeff, and all you other helpful sailors. What a community. 

Flying Fish

"flying fish! wow!"

Getting there...

Monday evening:

Coby estimates eight days to Hawaii. 

text at 19:05:

lat27 25N,  lon145 01.6W sails slatting, zephyrs toying, maybe wind soon.

Weather & 2/3

Sun June 28 @22:07

Very often, perhaps always, when it is cloudy, the only bright spot visible also happens to be right where Snookums is heading. 

Coby saw cirrus hooks - mare's tails beginning to be blown apart.  These are the wispy, very high clouds. When they are not in the same direction as the surface winds, it means something is in opposition.  Indicates cross winds in the jet stream, activity that can mean storms. Sailors sometimes call cirrus clouds serious clouds, harbingers of bad weather. 

He readied the storm jib and the trysails. He prepared a hot beverage to keep in the thermos, and at a good hot meal. Everything is already battened down, due to the continued turbulence. 

The weather blew elsewhere. It did feel good to be ready. 

22:15  Text from Snookums: 2/3 of the way!!!

Saturday in the Tropics

Position at 18:16

29 45.5 N,  142 20.4  W 

"I'm in the tropics!! Less washing machine action now, too."

The gap in sail boat icons is partly because I didn't plot his position on Friday, and partly because he is making good time.  

Life

Two very different calls from Coby today:

First: Reports: "Very bumpy lurchy jerky. Need to keep putting head up to see horizon --since 4 am, shipping lanes again, and to quell possible seasickness." Observing the horizon can calm whatever causes motion sickness. 

The pictures are of ways things are kept secure in such motion. Two are for things. The other two are to keep Coby safe as he moves around. One is the cork ceiling, to keep Coby's noggin safe. The circles are covering protrusions such as bolts.  He is notorious for hitting his head on things, and the cabin ceiling is rather low. Another photo is of tennis balls covering the bolts for the portholes. They are at the level of the back of the head when you sit in the cabin. 

He asks: "Where are those famous pleasant tropical rollers?" (OK, I won't wait for Hawaii to read him the earlier comment about this time of year in the higher latitudes)

We are starting to wonder where in Hawaii he should put in. He initially planned Honolulu. But after all this time in solitude, the urbanity, even Island style, will probably be too much. We are thinking Hilo. Any leads welcome. We have been directed to Radio Bay. Sound good still these days?

Second: Feels better now that the sun came out. Realized hadn't slept much the whole night. This shipping lane between  Panama and Asia -- but hasn't seen a single ship. Has three more lanes to go through: Frisco/Honolulu, LA/Honolulu, Panama/Honolulu. Since the weather is fairly mild, the big ships won't need to take detours, and should remain on predictable paths. When he is within 30 miles of a shipping lane, he really begins a careful watch. In worse weather, it might need to be much farther out. 

Morning and night, he sees an albatross. Is it the same one? It only landed once. He has also seen one that he knows was a different one, because it was smaller. Its mate? The albatross is an amazing flier. It tilts at an angle, one wing almost, or barely touching the water - Coby imagines the tip is slicing through the top quarter inch of the water.

He decided not to think about whether he wants to continue after Hawaii. He wants to be involved in what he is doing right now, rather than "investing in an invented future." He will decide what he wants to do after a rest with me on the Islands. Whatever he chooses to do will be fine "because there is nothing wrong with being who you are." Truer words were never spoken.