Land Ho!
Current Position (as of 4:56 UTC): 21.28N, 156.56W
Note from Mom: These posts are getting later and later as Zac travels across the Pacific! I post his blogs for him and copy, paste and forward many of your comments and emails to his on board email. We have had some technical difficulties on our travels but will do our best to get these blogs posted most days while he is here in Honolulu. I was pretty excited this afternoon to get a call from Zac on his cell phone! I looked down and there was his photo ID.
From Zac:
Okay...now I am excited. I spotted the outline of the island of Molokai early this afternoon. I hadn't really thought to be looking and was up on deck securing some lines with the constantly shifting winds I've had today when I looked up and there it was! No, I couldn't smell land as some people have done. That is probably because the wind is coming from the seaward side not offshore. I am currently about 10 miles off the shore of Molokai, 50 miles from Diamond Head and 55 miles from The Hawaii Yacht Club.
I was busy most of the day changing sails. I'd just get the sails set wing and wing, which is when the wind is directly behind you and you set one sail out to port and the other out to starboard. It is a tricky point of sail if the wind shifts so you have to tie down eveything. I'm sure I looked like a three ring circus up and down all day long. I've been studying my charts and cruising guides to know the best route into the marina. There is a lot of coral around Oahu that can do serious damage to your boat. The channels are all well marked as long as you know what you are looking for. I've been less careful about using power and microwaved some oatmeal today. It was my first breakfast at sea besides my bacon and eggs in Emerald Bay. I was saving the rest of my bacon and eggs for later in the trip but then ran out of alcohol for my stove!!
Mom and dad have been busy in Honolulu. They went to the chandlaries today to pick up my list of supplies: 3 gallons of stove alcohol, a gas tank for my outboard motor, 2 DC powered fans, a wind scoop which is a nylon 'sock' that attaches to your boat hatch (little door/window in the deck) to pull wind into the boat while at anchor and a few other minor things. can you tell that it is hot here? We will shop for food in a few days.
Don't know how much sleep I'll get tonight. There is a lot of boat traffic tonight and, wouldn't you know, the wind is finally picking up.
Cheers,
Zac
Note from Mom: These posts are getting later and later as Zac travels across the Pacific! I post his blogs for him and copy, paste and forward many of your comments and emails to his on board email. We have had some technical difficulties on our travels but will do our best to get these blogs posted most days while he is here in Honolulu. I was pretty excited this afternoon to get a call from Zac on his cell phone! I looked down and there was his photo ID.
From Zac:
Okay...now I am excited. I spotted the outline of the island of Molokai early this afternoon. I hadn't really thought to be looking and was up on deck securing some lines with the constantly shifting winds I've had today when I looked up and there it was! No, I couldn't smell land as some people have done. That is probably because the wind is coming from the seaward side not offshore. I am currently about 10 miles off the shore of Molokai, 50 miles from Diamond Head and 55 miles from The Hawaii Yacht Club.
I was busy most of the day changing sails. I'd just get the sails set wing and wing, which is when the wind is directly behind you and you set one sail out to port and the other out to starboard. It is a tricky point of sail if the wind shifts so you have to tie down eveything. I'm sure I looked like a three ring circus up and down all day long. I've been studying my charts and cruising guides to know the best route into the marina. There is a lot of coral around Oahu that can do serious damage to your boat. The channels are all well marked as long as you know what you are looking for. I've been less careful about using power and microwaved some oatmeal today. It was my first breakfast at sea besides my bacon and eggs in Emerald Bay. I was saving the rest of my bacon and eggs for later in the trip but then ran out of alcohol for my stove!!
Mom and dad have been busy in Honolulu. They went to the chandlaries today to pick up my list of supplies: 3 gallons of stove alcohol, a gas tank for my outboard motor, 2 DC powered fans, a wind scoop which is a nylon 'sock' that attaches to your boat hatch (little door/window in the deck) to pull wind into the boat while at anchor and a few other minor things. can you tell that it is hot here? We will shop for food in a few days.
Don't know how much sleep I'll get tonight. There is a lot of boat traffic tonight and, wouldn't you know, the wind is finally picking up.
Cheers,
Zac
posted by Zac at
11:33 PM
23 Comments:
Zac
Thanks for the update. We are getting excited for you and can't wait tell you get to Hawaii. Im going to look up what that wind sock looks like and how it functions. Just another thing that we get to learn about. Charley and Joshua.
Zac,
Aloha Dude!
Destination: 21.28429N, 157.84133W
Ala Wai Harbor, Waikiki
Refresh & Replenish.
Neo
Zac,
I can well imagine how excited you must have been to have smelled land. I've heard of this before from some friends who are avid sailors... Though being from a cooler place than you are... When the weather conditions are just right I can smell "snow" on its way.
I'm sure that with the heat you are now experiencing you will appreciate a cold shower...
Have a great reunion with your folks... and then sail on!
And the land comes in sight! Have a good time in Hawaii.
When you're back out on the open ocean, though, make sure you don't use up too much power on those fans. That'd be bad.
Safe journey,
~Kate~
You should visit the Maritime Museum near the marina in Honolulu. It is small but has some impressive artifacts on the history of sailing and Hawaii. I believe they also have some artifacts from "The Dove", too.
Hi Zac,
exciting Hawaii aitye? im excited about it too even im just here to check the blog out everyday! well,
till next time
xoxo
mel
Bravissimo Zak, you made it. It's like everything else, the first leg is the hardest. The best is to come. Have a wonderful time with your family in Hawaii.
Zac,
Congrats on making your first leg of the journey. How exciting! We hope you have a great time visiting with your family in Hawaii. Once you've had time to visit, get a hot shower, and some rest you will be rejuvenated for the next leg of your journey. We have watched your blog daily since you set sail. How exciting it is to keep up with your progress. We will continue to track your progess and pray for safe travels.
Best Wishes,
The England Family
Brownstown, IN
YAY! You did it! Enjoy Hawaii and your family!
Lisa
Hello Zac,
Well your almost there. I'm so glad your first official stop will be Oahu since I'm not counting Catalina. I'm sure your getting very excited about hitting land especially since land now will be Hawaii.
It's great your parents are getting all your supplies before you even arrive. Sorry your feeling the heat right now but I'm sure the purchased supplies will help some in cooling you off. It's very hot in California right now. MDR and all the beaches are around 70 to 75 degrees but the valley is over 100 degrees. The last few days had Palmdale and Lancaster at over 110 degrees. I'm hoping this is making you feel a little better.
Have a great time in Oahu with your family and friends. Don't forget to visit Pearl Harbor & Hanauma Bay. I'm starting to be such a pain about these two places but they are amazing.
Please send us any links via your website if they do any interviews with you while your visiting Hawaii. It would be great to see some new stuff. Zac, you have done a great job so far. Keep it up and enjoy yourself.
Let's see some interviews!!!
Sincerely,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Zac:
Happy happy joy joy! I might be more excited for your mom than anybody else! Congratulations on getting through this leg of your trip. The Pacific is so vast; its nice to get some of it behind you.
Question: when our family is on the water (usually the river) for an extended time, whether we are boat camping or house boating (okay, that's on a lake) or even just out on a windy day, it takes time get our land legs back. How is it when you've been sailing the ocean, with much bigger water than we experience?
Awesome, Zac, just awesome.
Michele
Sacramento, CA
Glad you finally saw land and you should be in today. Hawaii is a pretty place and the last time we were there for a week we rented a Harley from the local shop for three days and really enjoyed running around the island at our own pace. But you have to be members of HOG to rent a harley. The tours are just too short at times. Rest and you will be ready for the second leg.
Gordon and Tina
atta boy zac! aloha and welcome to paradise. there is much to see and do on the island but i know you have your own priorities. you remain in our prayers.
john baker/hollywood/ca/USofA
Zac
Wow finally in Hawaii! That must be the coolest feeling- to be out at sea for that time you were and seeing land peaking up over the horizon. But that is just me. :)
Hopefully you will get some sleep, and you wont be to busy not to! Well all my friends and I are praying for your safety and for wind!
Safe travels,
Rebecca Z
Do you keep your AIS running 24/7 when at sea?? Do you have a boat ID for AIS? I am thinking about getting a tracker :-)
Thanks
Axel
Following your journey every day - glad the hurricane didn't get you! Have a great time in Hawaii!
Here's someone else sailing to Hawaii in a non-standard way:
http://junkraft.blogspot.com/?nid=45328
These posts are great, Zac, and what a teaching/learning tool for the kids who are following your voyage. A lot of teachers have checked in and it must be really cool for the students to get your coordinates and push pins on a map. And with the tools we have today, like Google Earth, it is almost like being on the voyage with you. Today, I sailed the channel at Waikiki, at sea level, with 3-D buildings in the background and pulled up to the pier at the Hawaii Yacht Club and saw much the same as what you will see (or have seen). It is fun for us to be on this voyage with you. Enjoy your family and Hawaii.
Lee/MDR
Zac!
Let us know how long you'll be in Hawaii. Also, do you happen to have a sailing schedule for the remainder of your trip? Do you know (aproximately) where you'll be and when? Thanks!!
John K
Hi Zac's Mom,
So, if I read you right, Zac only gets the comments that you cut, paste and forward to him?
Just wondering....
Thank you,
Tamara
Zac,
Do you plan to do any surfing? We have Bertha out in the Atlantic right now,and the waves off of Jacksonville, Florida, are larger for us. However, I am sure it is nothing compared to Hawaii. Have a great visit and get some rest. jbp
congrats to the entire sunderland gang!
Zac,
You have to read the book Molokai at some point in your adventure. Its about the Hawaiian Island and how it used to be a leprosy colony way back when. I don't know if you would be able to ever pick it up in a bookstore, but it's really good! Well I hope you have fun and get a lot of rest during your short time on land! I am sure it will be a good time to rejuvenate! All the best.
-Phoebe
Zac! dude so your pretty much amazing haha! keep it up man you are so on your way to breaking that record! Just ta let you know, charlie michnier has a bible study every sunday and people like me and my bro and brandon and josh and austin go n stuff. But ya anyhoo we all pray for you everytime we meet =) So ya, keep it up, and have fun! Oh hey do you have a facebook? Its way cool and a lot of us trinity people have it so ya you should get one and talk to us on there. The other day i searched for you on facebook and what poped up instead is a fan club for you! haha, this person just made a group called Zac Sunderland and its got a pic of u on yur boat lol. Anyway ya hit me back.
,Tucker
(also, my email is Deathtoyourpancakes@gmail.com)
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