10 Dec What a Difference a Day Makes
Back in Business
What a difference a day makes. I should remember that next time I feel like throwing a hissy fit when the wind evaporates abandoning me to the mercies of the swell.
All day long we’ve been doing an easy 6 or 7 knots chewing up miles in an hour or two that we struggled all day yesterday to get. It’s been so slack aboard that I sidled up to Salty for a nap.
Conditions down south continue to concern me as there looks to be no break in the series so swirly red monsters parading their way down to the Cape. For now, however, all that may as well be a world away. I am here, they are there, and that is
Last night, I duly recorded having sailed 5000 nautical miles in 40 days in the log. That’s a little less than 1/5 of the distance I’ll need to cover. I’ve been slowed this past week or so with light and contrary winds so I’m feeling pressed and expecting to make better time down south. On the other hand, I’m being careful about driving the boat too hard. I’ve got a long way to go.
It is strangely desolate here. There are few, if any birds. I last saw a pod of porpoises 8’days ago and they were headed the other way. The flying fish that seemed to leap out of every wave face only to crash land in the next are no more. Yet all around me is pristine.
I wonder if it is something we’ve done. Nani tells me that Henderson Island, an uninhabited desolate coral atoll that is part of the Pitcairn Archipelago, has one of the highest concentrations of plastic detritus in the world. Some 13000 pieces find their way there every day. And the only ships I’ve seen since San Francisco are three Asian fishing trawlers in the past 5 days. They have numbered names that have ended in 122, 68, and 73. I ask myself and wonder in what far away remote places the others are plying their trade.
But for now, we sail fast still pointed at the Horn. And still hoping it is looking elsewhere.
Follow my tracks in real-time:
https://bit.ly/svseaburban
BT
Posted at 10:41h, 02 JulyBert, you are amazing! Following you progress and posts with great admiration for you courage and wishing / willing you success. You are on the downhill run now. All the best from an Aussie follower BT ( 2 degrees of separation from your Uncle Joe).
Sandi Lyon
Posted at 03:20h, 06 JulyThat looks about right. When it’s hot out in the ocean, its foggy and wet on the Wet Coast. That means you’re on the right track, heading the right direction. Finally. Woohoo.
Anita Kuntz
Posted at 00:10h, 08 JulyFollowing you journey and am truly amazed.
Suzan Persons
Posted at 15:43h, 09 JulyWhat an amazing journey!!
Karin Hill
Posted at 15:27h, 13 JulyBeen following you for a couple of months now. What an amazing journey! Your blog is insightful and humorous. Almost home. Safe travels!
MountainJack
Posted at 19:52h, 14 JulyHas to be an amazing feeling to be so near home, Bert.
Have spent months at sea “steaming”, not sailing, gaining my sea legs with the constant motion just became second nature. Getting back to a stable platform at dockside or over on the beach left me wobbly for a day or two. Cannot imagine how you’ll feel after a year of hardly ever being stable. There is that other thing having been on your own for that long; the familiarity of constant aloneness , the feeling of approach avoidance, being forced back into humanity. Might feel as though you could just extend a little bit more and savor the experience just a little longer…naw, probably not.
Welcome back home, Bert. You’ve completed one heck of a feat.
Arthur Oliver
Posted at 04:33h, 15 JulyGetting oh so close. What’s the ETA?
estelle C whiddon
Posted at 02:58h, 16 JulyBert, your homecoming Saturday will be a joyous occasion! I have followed the voyage daily and hope your arrival home brings much joy.
Peter Jungschaffer
Posted at 07:19h, 18 JulyThis has been so great. Thank you!!!
BT
Posted at 09:50h, 18 JulyHi Bert, you are just a few hours away from home. We are cheering for your most successful journey. We are especially amazed at the sailing conditions below Australia and New Zealand, as we can have some very big polar blasts hit us at this time of the year. Cannot imagine what it was like to sail through that type of weather. Can only take of hats off to you I amazement. Hope that you make it to Oz for a visit. What a wonderful achievement you have accomplished. /bt
Antonio Corbelletta
Posted at 16:15h, 18 JulyCongratulations! What an adventure! Well done. I have enjoyed tracking your voyage everyday just wish I would have know about it earlier, from the beginning.
Suzan
Posted at 18:13h, 18 JulyYeahhhhhhhhh Bert!!! You have done it!!!
Happy Homecoming – And stay safe!!!
It isn’t the same world that you left!!
I’m going to miss reading your travels and your adventures!! But thrilled that you’re home (almost) safe and sound!!
Next trip around the world, hope that you’ll stop along the way and post your photos of the locals and the ports!!
Raegan Elford
Posted at 19:23h, 18 JulySoldier who has logged more sea time than this Navy sailor.
What an incredible accomplishment (the journey vice logging more sea time than I)
BZ
Marianne Scott
Posted at 18:25h, 19 JulyCongratulations on your accomplishment! I guess we will have to put up a plaque commemorating your voyage on the Victoria Harbour wall.
Hope to see you this week.
Marianne Scott
Tom Cory
Posted at 07:40h, 23 JulyCongradulations Bert from Annapolis MD. A Great Adventure.
Mark
Posted at 12:24h, 29 JulyI don’t think that anyone that attended Estevan Junior High could have imagined that this was in the future for one of it’s students. I checked in at different legs of the journey and was fascinated every time. Congrats!