Friday, June 20, 2008

A Good Day

Current Position (as of 7:43pm PT):
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=30.201,-122.4651&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1
Position link sent via Spot.

I didn't get much sleep last night because there wasn't enough wind to steer the boat with the windvane and the tiller pilot doesn't work well with the motion of the boat on the swells. I had another big green mile wide blob show up on the radar this morning with the accompanying big black cloud but nothing came of it. The wind came and went but mostly went. It is an unbelievable amount of work to continually tweak lines (ropes) on the boat and vane with this flukey wind. I'll just get everything set and the wind changes.
The swells flattened out some during the day. The calmer conditions allowed me to get some jobs done today. I cleaned up the whole boat and did some more reorganizing. I was totally psyched to find my bag of socks! I haven't been able to find them since I left and my feet were always cold. I have also fine-tuned the radar alarms so that I have a better balance between the 4 mile RayMarine alarm and the 50 mile AIS alarm. One doesn't give enough notice if on a collision course and the other was keeping me up all night letting me know every ship within 50 miles. I have set it up so that the AIS warns me at 50 miles out after which I hit a 'snooze' type button that tells the AIS not to tell me again until the ship is 10 miles out. Then for backup the RayMarine radar alarm sounds when the ship is 4 miles out.
I was able to check email and eat some good food but the highlight of the day was getting up on deck clinging to the boom in the swells with one hand (and yes I was harnessed and tethered mom) and jerking and whacking the main halyard with other. After about 45 minutes I was able to free the line from the mast step! This was the highlight of my day because I was not looking forward to going up the mast in these swells!
I became pretty good at being hauled up the mast when we replaced Intrepid's rigging. Whenever there was an issue at the top of the mast, I was called upon to take care of it. Nobody likes the job but I actually got pretty comfortable up there after awhile.
The forecast predicts that by this time tomorrow I will be cruising along with winds between 12 and 19 knots. I can't wait. I actually made good about 50 miles today which is a miracle in itself! Is it Friday night? I wonder what my friends are doing? I'll be glad to get some sleep and am crashing at 7:30!

Questions:
Where is your first stop, how long will it take you to get there and how long will you stay?

Check out my new Route page. It has a proposed itineary which means that it may change. For now, my first stop will be in the Marshall Islands in Micronesia. They are about 4,500 miles away. If I average 1,000 miles a week, I should be there in 4 1/2 weeks. My dad is flying out to meet me there to help with any boat work needed and help me reprovision. Because I left later than expected, I won't have a lot of time there. I hope to stay at least a week or two to rest and reprovision and see the sites. I need to make my way west in order to make my weather window in the Indian Ocean.

From Hazel Stange (8 years old): How long have you been planning to go around the world?

Because my family have always been sailors, we read a lot of sailing books. My favorite one was called The Boy Who Sailed Around the World Alone. It is the story of Robin Graham who sailed a similiar trip to mine a long time ago. (1966?) It made me want to go where he had gone. I was probably 7 or 8 when my mom read that to me. That is when I started thinking about a big sailing trip.
Caution: If your children read this book they will want to sail around the world!

Cheers,
Zac

29 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Zac, my name is Trevor I just heard about what you are doing and I have to say that you are absolutly amazing, your doing exactly what I want to do. I was raised the same way you were, sailing around the world from 4 to 13, being homeschooled for all that. But you take it up a to a totally different level, where I gave up you went right on. It won't be as lonely as you think, as long as you get in touch with other boaters. In the morning there is the Breakfeast Net, if you have a CB and you can get alot of information from it. I wish you the best of luck, and would love it if you emailed me everyonce in a while, at SatanicFayt@yahoo.com

June 20, 2008 at 9:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Zac, you're going to do this.
I'm with you all the way.
Never grow weary,never give up
this is your moment.

June 20, 2008 at 10:08 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I don't know what happened,
but i'm the above anon.
Do this!

June 20, 2008 at 10:12 PM  
Blogger Bob said...

Hi There Zac..
Your updates are the wind under the wings of everyone pulling for you. Great job in getting the coordinates posted with your position at the time of your updates. May this be a day of many blessings for you. Have you had a chance to fish yet? Looking forward to some photos from you. Have a wonderful day!
Bob

June 20, 2008 at 10:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Awesome Zac! Just saw you on Good Morning America today. I'll be following your posts and your location posts on this site with my kids. We'll enjoy seeing pics of all your fish caught and sites seens.

Your parents are AMAZING for helping you do this.

June 21, 2008 at 12:01 AM  
Blogger Anita said...

Hi Zac,
We're all pulling for you! I along with countless others enjoy keeping watch of your daily progress.
God Speed.
Anita Miracle
Waterloo, NY

June 21, 2008 at 3:36 AM  
Blogger Vasyl Pawlowsky said...

Zac, a week ago I heard about your departure on June 14... and I wondered where will he be in a week?

Well now I know!

Your right about reading books that make you want to do things. I never read a book about cycling across Canada, but there were guys in the neighborhood who had cycled from Vancouver to Mexico...There personal experiences were enough to make me set out and do what I did.

God pray that you make it home from your perilous journey, and when you do I am sure that when you have the opportunity to tell your story, you will inspire many.

May the wind pick up in your favor.

June 21, 2008 at 5:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you using spot? If so why don't you use their map. Than we the "land locked" can track you all the time LOL.There is a guy in the seattle area which shows all his trips. His HP is:
http://captrichardrodriguez.blogspot.com/.
As we say in Germany: Mast und Schotbruch und immer eine handbreit wasser unterm Kiel.
In short: All the best - fair winds and always some water under your keel
Axel

June 21, 2008 at 5:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hey Zac,
just discovered about your adventure a couple of weeks back. Just wanted to say you're doing a remarkable job. I don't know a lick about sailing, but it has always been a dream of mine - you certainly are an inspiration. Keep up the posts and godspeed!!

June 21, 2008 at 6:19 AM  
Blogger Tom said...

I look forward to following you trip. You are an amazing young man, God speed and fair winds.
Tom
landlockedvasailor.blogspot.com

June 21, 2008 at 6:43 AM  
Blogger sloopy said...

Hi, Zac,
Lost track of you for a few weeks but found the site again. Good luck, fair winds and a safe passage to you.
Wish I was 50 years younger. I'd be right behind you! Hope you're keeping a daily diary of your innermost thoughts. Later you can write a book or keep it as a memory jogger. Again, best to you....
sloopy

June 21, 2008 at 7:06 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Zak.
Be sure that I am going to read your book to my grandchild Nash who is now five once you complete your voyage.
Get good rest when ever you can!

June 21, 2008 at 7:09 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hello Zac,

As a kid (30 years ago), I also read "The Boy Who Sailed Around The World Alone". It was certainly one of my favorite books, and it helped inspire my love of sailing. I admire your courage and the hard work you and your friends have put into this adventure. I wish you the best of luck (and weather) and look forward to following your trip with the aid of today's technology.

June 21, 2008 at 7:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zac,
Another great report. Thanks for answering some questions as I am sure most want to know. It was very interesting about the radar and set warnings, I had no idea that one could do that. I just went to E-bay and found the book you mentioned and ordered it. Can not wait until it gets here. Have you ever read Sail Far Away by Bob Carter. Wonderful book Also thank you for the up date on you location. It looks like a long distance but we have to pray for better wind. One question if you have time is how do you get e-mail service where you are?

Bill
Minneapolis

June 21, 2008 at 8:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zac-
Personally I would love to sail around the world! The biggest downside for me would be having no one to talk to! How do you plan to cope with that, and are you already having problems with that?
Yours
Devin (15, from Greenville, ME)

June 21, 2008 at 9:25 AM  
Blogger Anonymous said...

Hi Zac,

I'm so glad you got that line free from the mast. I know you could have done it, but I didn't want to hear you went up the mast. I hope you will sleep better tonight without alarms going off. And your friends? Don't worry about them. I'm sure they were thinking about what you were doing. Plenty more Friday nights in your young life. Have another great day!

June 21, 2008 at 9:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Zac, my name is Aaron, and I have been reading your blog entries since close to the beginning. I am really inspired by what you are doing, and think it takes alot of courage to go out by yourself on the water for that long like you are. I am 19 years old, and the closest thing I've ever done to that would have been walking home one night for about 4 hours.

I will keep up with your blog entries, and will pray you have all the wind at your back you could need. Good luck, and if you want to email me, you can reach me either dustybroom69@yahoo.com, or my work email aaron.weber@alliancedata.com. I'll return any emails, and I can give you information on what's happening on dry land if you are wondering.

June 21, 2008 at 10:59 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zac,

Keep your eye out for a cute blond in a row boat. It looks like you're really close to the position of Roz Savage. For those who don't know, Roz is currently rowing across the Pacific solo. Yes, rowing...

http://www.rozsavage.com/blog

June 21, 2008 at 11:39 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zac, do U carry enough fresh water to take U all the way across the pacific or do u rely on rain water? Best of luck young man!

June 21, 2008 at 12:26 PM  
Blogger cj1944 said...

Zac:
Isn't it easier to go from West to East due to wind directions / speeds? If yes, why did you choose to go East to West?
Good luck!!

Chuck

June 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Zac, good job on taking care of your halyard; “it is the small foxes which spoil the vine”. Best to keep everything shipshape because you never know when your life will depend on it. I spent some time at the mast tops, under sail it is quite exhilarating! Sweet views! Thank you for the position; just think you are almost 10% towards your waypoint! You can doit!
From Keith in SoCal

June 21, 2008 at 2:33 PM  
Blogger Dexter Z. said...

Hi Zac, If you see any sea creatures, what kind do you see?
Dexter Z. age 9, Los Angeles

June 21, 2008 at 3:22 PM  
Blogger jim_g_fla said...

Zac,

I am keeping up with motorcycle adventurer riders all over the world and now one 16 year old guy in the Pacific ocean on Google Earth.

I greatly admire your courage. May the wind always be to your back.

Jim

June 21, 2008 at 3:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's been a week since we saw you on you way. We are so proud of you!
All three of us eagerly await each blog as if waiting for the next chapter of a really good novel. You are such an awesome young man and we love ya to pieces.
xoxo
DZ, TZ and RZ

PS..... We went to the scuba show in Long Beach today and Rebecca wore your tshirt. I'm sure you'll have more and more people logging into your blog as the months go by.
We'll certainly keep passing the word.

June 21, 2008 at 3:25 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Could you talk about your solar power / Wind power setup?

Thanks
Andrew

June 21, 2008 at 5:26 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Pretty spiffy there with the map position Zac. If I track west back from that point, I get to South Pasadena where it is 107 degrees today. Hopefully it is a bit cooler where you are. Perhaps you can give us a bit more about the weather besides the wind conditions.

Hmm, Friday night and wondering where the friends are? I can see the pangs of loneliness already. The movies, Disneyland, Magic Mountain, In n' Out Burger? All the mundane places that teenagers go. But where are you? Ah yes, you are where all of them wish to be. Free (well not quite so free, you still had to reassure Mom that you were wearing your harness,) with the wind whipping your hair and the world shaping your life. I have raised 40 foster kids Zac and hosted 53 exchange students over the years, with my 41st foster kid (a little older than you) coming on Tuesday. (www.barstools4u.com/Newsletters/Sept04.htm) I saw a lot of the them in you. The searching, the idealism, the dreams. I am sure that all of them will be following your exploits over the next year and a half, as will I. Everytime I open the L.A. Times and read about how screwed up the young kids are, everytime I hear the helicopter hovering over the latest gang shooting, everytime I read about how half of the kids in Los Angeles Unified will not graduate High School, I can log on to your blog and get reassured that there is still a future left in this world for young minds. As my Mom wrote in my Jr. High autograph book back in 1955, As the rivulets follow the waves to the sea, So may His blessings, follow thee. (Flora B. Mann). Smooth sailing there Zac. Bill Mann, So. Pasadena, CA bill@barstools4u.com

June 21, 2008 at 6:27 PM  
Blogger Loryn said...

Zac -

So, I'm sitting here, totally bored babysitting on a Saturday night, surfing the web for something interesting to keep me from going crazy, and up pops your story on Good Morning America or something like that.

All I can say is: WOW. I wish I was doing something that cool right now!

I'm seriously in awe of your determination and the huge task that you're undertaking. I'm backing you all the way! Good luck!

- Lauren

June 21, 2008 at 7:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

You are a brave ;)

June 21, 2008 at 9:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Zac,
I Home-scholl my girls and we are reading about you in God's World News. I have talked about you to my Awana class and they are exited to know someone so young is doing something so BIG. You are a blessing and an inspiration to so many God Bless and keep you. I think your mom must be awesome to let go and let you grow. I'm concerned about you and I've never met you, your mom's faith is inspiring too. Ruby and 3

November 12, 2008 at 10:49 AM  

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