Majuro - Day 1
Latest Position August 2, 2008 1100UTC 7.08N, 171.22E
I spoke with Laurence briefly this afternoon. He had 6 minutes left on what ever phone he was using. He received a warm welcome at the Robert Reimers Hotel in Majuro. As you know, the hotel sponsored 3 beautiful rooms and a rental car during Zac's stay. Their web site has some fabulous photos. http://www.rreinc.com/rrehotel.html They even took Laurence, Greg and Jen out on their boat to meet Zac as he approached the entrance to Majuro. Then it was a 10 mile motor through the pass that leads to the main town in Majuro.
Laurence hooked up right away with the local cruisers. Journalist, Karen Earnshaw, has been a tremendous help in organizing for Zac's arrival including arranging for immigration officials to meet Zac on shore on Saturday evening. She is an excellent writer and has been covering Zac's story for weeks writing in the weekly Majuran newspaper. She also writes for Pacific Magazine and has forwarded her latest article fresh with photos! Click here to read all the details, first hand!
http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/08/03/american-teen-zac-sunderland-makes-it-to-majuro-on-solo-voyage
Laurence asked me to mention the kindness of the local cruisers who assisted Zac onto his mooring in the dark and are shuttling him to shore and back until he sorts out his dinghy. He says the hospitality of the local people is just awesome.
I'm afraid that is all I will hear for today. I am used to speaking with Zac twice a day and am missing talking to him (and Laurence)!
Many Thanks,
Marianne
I spoke with Laurence briefly this afternoon. He had 6 minutes left on what ever phone he was using. He received a warm welcome at the Robert Reimers Hotel in Majuro. As you know, the hotel sponsored 3 beautiful rooms and a rental car during Zac's stay. Their web site has some fabulous photos. http://www.rreinc.com/rrehotel.html They even took Laurence, Greg and Jen out on their boat to meet Zac as he approached the entrance to Majuro. Then it was a 10 mile motor through the pass that leads to the main town in Majuro.
Laurence hooked up right away with the local cruisers. Journalist, Karen Earnshaw, has been a tremendous help in organizing for Zac's arrival including arranging for immigration officials to meet Zac on shore on Saturday evening. She is an excellent writer and has been covering Zac's story for weeks writing in the weekly Majuran newspaper. She also writes for Pacific Magazine and has forwarded her latest article fresh with photos! Click here to read all the details, first hand!
http://www.pacificmagazine.net/news/2008/08/03/american-teen-zac-sunderland-makes-it-to-majuro-on-solo-voyage
Laurence asked me to mention the kindness of the local cruisers who assisted Zac onto his mooring in the dark and are shuttling him to shore and back until he sorts out his dinghy. He says the hospitality of the local people is just awesome.
I'm afraid that is all I will hear for today. I am used to speaking with Zac twice a day and am missing talking to him (and Laurence)!
Many Thanks,
Marianne
posted by Zac at
7:40 PM
32 Comments:
Hi Zac and 'Dad',
Welcome to Majuro... wish I could have been there in person to welcome you ashore.
Hope you have a great stay, get recharged, reorganized and re-everything else you want this layover to be!
And a special thanks to 'Mom' for keeping the Zac Pac posted on what's happening.
Best wishes for a wonderful stay... looking forward already to your departure to continue the hourney, but I know you need the time to get the gas taste out of your mouth.
Karl
Colorado Springs, CO
It's SOOO good to hear you are on land safely! Have a great time! Sleep well mate!
All right, Zac! Great pictures in the Pacific Magazine. Enjoy Majuro; glad you're there safe and sound.
Cheers,
willy
Great pictures and article.
Welcome to Majuro! Have a
wonderful week relaxing and
getting ready for the next leg
of your journey.
Jennifer
Sherman Oaks, CA
Oh, boy Zac, you look tired in the picture in the article! Rightly so after all the squalls, getting there to Majuro from HI! I wish you a week of deep sleep in the hotel, and lots of warm soapy showers! Enjoy!
Hello Zac
Good darned job, dude! You got us to Majuro as snug as a bug in a rug and happy as a bucket of clams.
Wonderful to see your dad, huh? Pity Mom didn't make it this time. She seems to be quiet a special lady. Does she plan to meet you on any of the subsequent legs? She will. May not plan to at this point, but she will.
Dad and Mom must be very proud of you and deliriously happy with your safe arrival. Also, your hair is fine, except that it's on the wrong head. I'll bet the chap giving you a hard time about hair is a "Comb-over King"! First the hair turns gray then it turns loose or that's my case. My head is much neater now! Shampooing is a snap and I can dry it by squeezing the cat. Convenient.
Have a memorable time in Majuro and tell us about it. The hotel who is talking care of you guys made a smart move. It's a lovely place per their website, which I have bookmarked. You never know.
Also, kudos to the journalist who assisted your entry and wrote the article for Pacific. Very entertaining and informative.
You new friend Carla ain't bad either. The ladies of the Pacific are beauties. Gaugin and the survivors of the Bounty got it right.
FrogPond
Hi Marianne,
I wish you too could have met up with Zac. I'm sure its hard for you not to. I'm sure you are glad he is there. The article was great in telling of his arrival. Zac looks great (a little skinnier?). It looks like he got his box of Volcum clothing to.
Enjoy his week in Majuro knowing your husband is there to look over him.
Best,
Peter
Well done Zac!
Just wondering if you saw the rocket launch from The Marshall Islands today? Must have been an amazing sight over the ocean!
90 foot, weighs roughly 103,000 pounds and a two stage liquid oxygen and rocket grade kerosene vehicle might have made for an interesting light show!
MW
Laguna, CA
Land ho!
Thanks for all the updates, Marianne. Zac can now have a much deserved break while he's in Majuro. He'll have plenty of maintenance issues to deal with before he can even get out and enjoy the island.
Don't worry about the posts, Zac. Have some fun and rest up before the next leg.
:)
Scott
Zac,
Good on ya mate! Rest up, visit with dad and have a great time.
No doubt quality sleep is on the "to-do" list!
Take care,
Anita
Waterloo, NY
USA
Zac, When you have caught up on your sleep and filled up with good food, how about describing your next leg and its challenges. Additionally, is there a particular leg, or section that you feel is more challenging than the others? I know what you have just completed was going to be the longest leg (Hawaii being a non-planned stop).
Have a good relaxing time before you set out again.
All The Best,
Peter Mercer
Way to go Zac! Enjoy your rest - you do look as though you need a bit! I suppose we'll hear from you again in a week?
Minnesota Family
Zac/Mom/Dad – I wanted to toss out these two ideas. In 2000, I had a 1996 Beneteau 50. I spent a year getting it rigged for single handling for an approx 10,000 mile trip in which I would largely handle the boat by myself.
These are just food for thought ideas, I think you guys are obviously doing an incredible job, both Zac and sea and the land based teams…
Idea 1 – You might already have this setup, but I thought I’d toss it out after reading about the bad fuel incident. I had two fuel filters installed inline so that I could inspect the one in operation and if it was getting dirty, I could ball-valve it off and turn-on the 2nd one (with a ball-valve) replace the dirty one and not have to bleed the engine. It’s pretty straight fwd if you have the right fuel mechanic. I’m also a big believer in an electric lift pump if you’re bleeding the engine alone, cuts the bleeding time by 90% and improves the accuracy by about the same in my experience…
Idea 2 – I installed a roller furling boom (vs. a roller furling mast, which I would never do and consider them a high-risk piece of equ.). The advantage of a RF Boom is you can reef and unreef the main from the cockpit. It’s not something I would suggest unless Zac has a good 2 weeks of sailing to get it wired. There’s a few tricks about them to ensure that when you’re unfurling the boom angle is in the correct position, but more importantly, when you’re reefing or furling, it’s in the correct “angle” position so the sail rolls onto the furler at the correct angle. Imagine a roll of paper towels, that only has ¼ remaining. You unroll it all the way, then when you start to re-roll it, the tube is off angle just a little, some of the paper towel will start to roll off the end. With a RF boom, this is pretty much the only thing you have to really be set on or it will tend to run off the front of the boom, or the aft of the boom. To solve this problem, I had two sharpe marks on a topping life, one for un-furl, another for furl… I LOVED this setup, I could reef to any point in the sail just by raising and lowering the main halyard (on the starboard companion way cabin-top) and cranking the furling line on the port companion way cabin top).
What I really liked about the furling boom was I NEVER had to go outside of the cockpit to adjust a reef settings. The other thing I really liked about it was that if something went wrong with the furling apparatus (which it never did) , I could just raise and lower the main they way I would a regular main, via the halyard.
It’s just a thought, you guys know what’s best for Zac, his comfort zone, etc.. I tend to think that maybe introducing a new piece of equipment mid way may not be a good idea, but I did want to share with you guys my experience with the furling boom…
Zac, we are all very impressed with you and admire you immensely… Be safe, you have an extended family out here wanting the best for you and your safety man…
Daveh
Congratulations Zac for making it through the second leg of your journey. We've enjoyed following your progress. My 4 y.o. son said to a friend the other day, "We're following Zac around the world. Are you following him too?" Have a great time in Majuro, and we look forward to tracking the rest of your round the world adventure.
Amy, Jake, Nicholas & Charlotte
Mont Vernon, NH
great news on the arrival to Majuro. the article in the Pacific Magazine is excellent as are the pictures. that is one very cool looking yacht.
reading the post and your reception in Majuro, it shows that you are an ambassador to the world and we are all pulling for you. you are an amazing young man, you do us all proud.
have a fun and relaxing time.
bob
College Station, TX
We are glad you made it safely Zac, looking forward to hearing what's going on in Majuro. Charley and Joshua
Yeah! Can you hear us all cheering for you? Well, we are.
Great article, written very nicely.
Have a peaceful stay and don't forget to give thanks to Our Lord and Savior.
You are truely blessed.
xoxo
Dawn Z
Have fun in the Marshalls Zac! Cute girl. Will she be the guide then? :)
I have long wanted to visit the Micronesian Islands including the Marshall Islands and when we do, Hotel Robert Reimers has our business without a doubt. Beware, we'll have our 3 daughters in tow.
Scot
California
Zac! Congrats on making it to Majuro! Have a great time! We loved the article and pictures! Get some rest, eat well and have fun while your there. My kids are learning a lot about Majuro as we have been studying it before your arrival. Thanks for getting them off the Wii and interested in the world! Karen...Guy, Emma and Sophia PS.. We are going to the White House today!
Sunderland Family,
So nice to hear about Zac's arrival via Marianne. I also enjoyed the article and the accompanying photos. You look great Zac! You also look like you could use a few juicy burgers and pizza's! I see that the RRE can take care of that. HOWEVER, you must let me know if you make it to Andy's restaurant for the "mystery chicken" dish. Enjoy your stay and we look forward to the next leg of your journey!
Melanie in Torrance
I wish I could have been there to welcome you into the island.
Rest up, clean the boat, provision, work on the next leg, then rest up some more.
You're doing a great job Zac!
Hi Zac,
Glad you made it to Majuro, safely. Like everyone said,"Rest, eat and have a wonderful time."
Enjoyed the photos and magazine article. Wish we could have been there for your arrival, which sounded pretty exciting.
Well, enjoy your visit with your dad and the rest of the crew. Have a grand time in Majuro and take care!
Dick & Gin
Upland
Have a good rest Zac. Great job with your crossing!
This to FrogPond - It is 'happy as clams at high tide'. I do not think clams would be too happy in a bucket. :)
Hi Zac!
I am very impressed with your expedition! I am a student at Los Angeles Valley College, and I am following your expeditin and sharing your story with fellow students of mine. I had a question for you as I was wondering if anything has been an utter surprise to you at this point? Also have you had any encounters with unique marine animals?
congrats zac. having great following your adventure with my son. we hope to follow in your brave footsteps soon. fair winds, mo and ryder
Sunderland Family
Thanks ever so much for keeping us posted on Zac's journey. I had butterflies in my stomach until I read that Zac had made it to Majuro safely. Good Job!
Get some needed rest and have some fun for a week.
God Bless
Barb
Zac,
As everyone has said welcome to Majuro. One question. You had to go through customs. Where is customs? At the airport? Is there a book that tells you what to have with you so you can clear customs? I am sure you have a passport, but what about a visa? Do you even need one?
If you have time.
Bill
Minneapolis
Have had this dream a couple times now of Capt. Zac sailing a 3 mast'er (tall ship?) w/a small crew & his parents around our home planet. Our Capt'n is a wee bit whiter (not too much thinner) on top, but the determination & fierceness of his eyes are oh so eagle-eyed apparent. In the dream I'm reminded of his single-handed voyage (the first time). The many peeps he meets and the many nations/tribes he visits. FUnny that I also seem to recall a face-to-face bow/hand-shake w/the UN Pres during the same circumnavigation.
None-the-less, welcome to shore Capt'n Zac. Enjoy your rest, the most excellent food, the beautiful peeps & their historic stories. I hope you're jotting down some of them for your future book for we land-lubbers who may never make it past the choppy port/bay waters.
In closing - HUGS from all of us in the ZacPac! We (your ZacPac) eagerly await your next post, "be it by land or by sea". (School lesson: who wrote that originally? in what year? What was the reference to WHY it was stated that way?)
PS -
To Glen/SA,
Sus publicaciones (independientemente del idioma utilizado) me recuerdan a menudo de Altos Pedro. Mantener la fe en el hombre y mantenerlos próximos. Gracias por compartir su profundidad de pensamiento.
PSS -
Lady Marianne -
When you have the link ready for we, in the ZacPac, to purchase those "extra" shirts - just post it - we'll be buying!!
HUGS!
Tomi
Hey Zac Pac-
Thought you might enjoy this....
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&VideoID=36883781
I worked with what I could find. Wish I had other photos to work with but it is what it is.
ENJOY!
Dang Dawnz - that's some post/link! Much thx!
HUGS!
tomi/ATL
Great pic of Zac and the "Island Princess." I'm glad he's there, safe and sound.
From Iowa
Hello Zac & Everyone,
Well it finally happened, Majuro!!! It sound like your going to be in another Island that will take great care of you. Rest up, get the repairs done on Intrepid, pick up all the supplies you'll need, eat well, rest up, and get ready for the next leg.
Loved the picture that was taken of you and the Island girl. It's getting a little scary because it sounds like your turning into a celebrity!!! Have a great time on the Island and take lots of pictures and video's.
Take Care,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
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