Thursday, September 4, 2008

Of Goblins and Fairies


















Intrepid making her way out of the harbor, Port Moresby

Photo courtesy of Mr. Phil Sutton



G'day to all,



It's been a rather frustrating day here for us all, and even more frustrating for Zac who is having to deal with the current engine problem which is actually a fuel problem. I guess a good dose of prayer and supplication is in order.



Zac handled the engine failure of Intrepid very well and managed to get the vessel back into port without too much of an ordeal though perhaps a few premature grey hairs. Currently he is back at the harbor dealing with the latest saga. It might well be mentioned that the problems that Zac has encountered are no reflection on the engine which is a 30hp Yanmar. Both situations were extenuating circumstances that resulted in engine failure or more like the engine was deemed inoperable for preservation (not run to save the engine from damage).


The water in the oil has been written about in detail. The fairies were dealt with and promise that the problem will not happen again. The fuel situation is different, so here is my understanding of the problem and the solution: goblins entered the tank some years ago and have gone undetected until recently. Now that they have been detected, swift action must be taken before they take over the vessel.


Actually, the fuel issue is fairly simple. Something had been clogging Zac's fuel line on and off since the engine change was made. Before Zac left, samples of his fuel were taken and the fuel tank was declared clean by those involved. However, little thought had been given to the fact that the fuel had been changed from gasoline to diesel. The clogging could have been caused by gasoline residue that was lining the tank being partially disolved by the diesel causing gunk to build up in the tank which in turn clogged the line. The gunk could have been caused by other factors as well but we may never know what.


The solution is to evacuate fuel from the tank, clean any remaing residue, vacuum tank, clean fuel line, put filtered fuel back into tank and tallyho away he goes!


I appreciate all your questions and enquiries. Intrepid does have double Racor 500s in line. For those of you that don't know, Racor 500s are not goblins or fairies, they are fuel filters.


Why so much frustration? We have spent a lot of time on the phone trying to engage help from local companies. It has a lot to do with people saying they will do something and then doing another. The following explanation sheds some light: "Mr. Sunderland, have you ever been to Papau New Guinea?" "No, actually, I have not." "Mr. Sunderland, do you know what a third world country is?" "Yes, I do." "Well, Papua New Guinea is like a fifth world country." Doesn't really matter how frustrated you are, the situation is what it is.


Zac has taken upon himself to deal head on with the situation and was up early and on the phone and into town buying the vacuum and other materials to tackle the task. As I write, we are waiting to hear if he was successful or not. Many thanks especially to Phil Sutton and his wife Janelle and all that have been helping Zac through this crunch. I just wish that I could have been there to help. The yacht club has really been a safe haven for Zac and we really appreciate their hospitality.


Zac is eager to get out on the ocean again. Please pray that God's will would be done and that Zac would be able to continue on and have a successful passage through the Torres Strait and on to Darwin.


Cheers,


Laurence








39 Comments:

Blogger Anita said...

Laurence,
Many thanks to you for keeping us all up to date. How frustrating it must be for you to be so far from Zac! As a parent myself, I know we like to be able to swoop in and lend a hand when-ever we can!

PNG worse off than a 3rd world country....gulp and yikes! Wow, I guess for most of us Americans we really never give too much thought about what goes on in the day to day life of ordinary people far away in little places. Sure we look at the big issues, but I am willing to bet that before we started following along with Zac most here didn't know much if anything about conditions in PNG.

I will continue to keep Zac and Team Sunderland in prayer. It sounds like you just might have the solution and Zac may soon be on his way. Everything happens for a reason, perhaps this was a friendly reminder from God, that He is in control and it's best just to "roll with it"!! LOL.....a very difficult task for most of us, me included!

God speed to our brave captain Zac, blessings to his amazing family and the rest of Team Sunderland.

Anita M. Miracle
Captain SV "Wombat"
Waterloo, New York
USA!!!

September 5, 2008 at 3:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Zac,

Glad to hear you are finally solving the engine problem. Frustrating as blocked fuel lines/filters are, and as tedious as their cleaning is, at least they are fixable in a '5th world' country. Imagine if the engine needed spares or a major overhaul.

Glad to hear that Rich Norman is not a troll - the tone of his post certainly sounded trollish to me (very sandy-esque)! It was moot anyway since afaik Zac has not been towed at any stage in his voyage to date in or out of harbour.

Zac keep smiling, keep sailing and remember nolli trolli carborundum!

September 5, 2008 at 3:56 AM  
Blogger Willyboy said...

Oh, Laurence, you and your goblins and faeries... Good to hear again from the ever quiet Dad. Sorry it's to recount an ongoing saga of trials and difficulties, gunk and residues, goblins and faeries.

Zac, keep the faith, deal with the goblins and faeries and take advantage of the "down time" to get rested up and well fed - and as always stay hydrated. Torres Strait, Darwin, the Indian and Atlantic oceans won't be going anywhere anytime soon; they'll be there waiting for you.

And the Zac Pac - and of course your family - are here sending out prayers, good wishes and positive energy your way; we also won't be going anywhere anytime soon and will be here for you.

Hope the hand is healing well...

Cheers,

willy
milford, ohio

September 5, 2008 at 4:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)

"Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

You're doing GREAT Zac! Keep up the good work and you WILL succeed!

We continue to cheer you on and pray for you in TN!

September 5, 2008 at 4:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nothing worth having ever came easy. Zac has many angels sailing with him and we all know he will fulfill his dream. God's Speed Zac!

September 5, 2008 at 5:32 AM  
Blogger Daryl said...

I was very pleased to hear there has been a promise by the fairies. I just hope they are trustworthy in this regard! Now the issue of goblins must be addressed. I'm very sorry there is so much frustration going on. I'll do the prayer thing and know that will help.

from Iowa

September 5, 2008 at 5:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

@ Clay
Hi
I apologize if I stepped on somebody’s toes. I am German living in he US – but it helps to be able to laugh about yourself sometimes.
The Netherlands is great for boating. Just think about going shopping and tie your boat up in the mall. Very dangerous. You have a boat to fill up instead just a trunk LOL BTW Holland is a province in the Netherlands
Have a nice weekend
Axel
Heye@madisncounty.net

September 5, 2008 at 5:58 AM  
Blogger Clay said...

Zac is in our thoughts and prayers everyday, ESP now that he is having issues with his motor fuel. Anyone who has ever had a vessel knows of his frustration with engine troubles.
I have confidence in Zac that he will resolve the mechanical issues with his motor before heading out to sea again. I will pray for his hands to be guided by the lord and pray that ZAC has great weather while continuing on to Darwin.
I sure am proud of you Zac. You came into my dream last night, I shook your hand.

Cheers

September 5, 2008 at 5:59 AM  
Blogger Douglas Pistone said...

Hello Zac, Laurence, & Everyone,

It's always great to hear from Laurence again for the second time. Thanks for the explanation on the exact problems with the fuel tank and fuel lines. Hopefully everyone here on the blog will understand this current situation and relax a little.

Thanks Laurence again for all your expert help and guiding Zac the best you could from thousands of miles away. I know this must be frustrating for you not being with Zac during these times. I know you did the best you could from home and everything happens for a reason. It's all in God's hands.

Zac, good luck getting out of PNG and hopefully this will be the end of all your engine problems. Be aware other trials will challenge you but your a wise man and you will take them on one at a time. Solve each problem to the best of your ability and follow your instincts. Be wise and always think ahead.

Sail On,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California

September 5, 2008 at 6:15 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

I totally agree with the theory having experienced it myself. Drs did not understand a condition I had until I explained that I was abducted this spring by aliens and they had implanted themselves under my skin. My delight was the expression on their faces when they couldn't say anything because they wondered if I might actually believe what I was telling them. Though I'm a schoolteacher, I decided not to tell them otherwise.
This adventure is more gripping than any book I could read. i love the attention to detail you folks help us with. Zac is a damned good writer himself and only 16. Sounds more like an adult than my most gifted kids.
But I am relieved and glad he is on his way again. Now that I am caught up on my research on Papua, what an I get a head start on now? can you safely reveal a destination?
-Charlie, the old duffeer in Maine

September 5, 2008 at 6:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laurence, Zac, and Marianne,

Hang in there. Your post made me laugh as I have spent a great deal of time in lesser developed countries. Improvisation and going with the flow is all you can do sometimes. I know that's cold comfort to someone who's trying to make it through an insanely dangerous part of the trip and with a difficult time and climate schedule for the Indian Ocean. In some ways it's another factor, like the weather, that you just can't control.

We will keep you guys in our thoughts and prayers. Hang in there.

Brian in DC

September 5, 2008 at 6:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Thanks for letting us know what's going on Lawrence -- I can tell it's quite frustrating for you to not be able to be physically there helping your son with the engine & fuel issues. Even with the great support team he has, sounds like Zac is taking on quite a bit in his solo quest - to solo navigator we can add mechanic, ambassador, role model, inspiration, author, story-teller, and much, much more.

I really enjoy when mom and dad pipe in to give us updates -- the three of you each have your unique viewpoint and style, and we are so lucky to be given the varied accounts of this adventure.

Take good care – we hope and pray for good news on the engine soon!

Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher

September 5, 2008 at 7:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm no mechanic, but I'm good at improvising. Maybe this will help you. I had a similar problem with a Beetle gas tank. The car had been parked for 15 years, and the varnish was more than 1 inch thick. I added about a quart of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the tank, and then added a box of BBs. After about 15 minutes of shaking, the solvent and BBs had dissolved the funk entirely. After draining and rinsing with more solvent, it looked brand new inside. MEK is extremely volatile, so be sure to ground the tank while pouring and agitating.

September 5, 2008 at 7:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Still praying for God's protection for Zac...I so love to hear how God has taken care of him so far...Keep the faith....there are reasons why events happen in our life journey...it's God's hand of protection for Zac.

Trish
Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

September 5, 2008 at 7:35 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laurence,
Thanks for the update. I've heard it's hard to get good service, supplies, etc. in a 5th world country ! LOL
While this has been an unplanned and untimely stop perhaps it was helpful in providing Zac with a little rest (with one eye and ear always open) which has obviously culminated in his desire to get on with his trip and navigate the Strait onto Darwin.
Hope you're outta there soon!
Melanie in Torrance

September 5, 2008 at 8:11 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm not touching that frustration for a second Lawrence.
Nothing but good wishes from me, the task Zac is trying to accomplish is
very difficult. If you're flying to Darwin, Lawrence, should be a short hop to PNG for you to help sort this mess out.
On the upside, perhaps what Zac is doing will get the engine running again, somewhat reliably, but those gasoline additives, esp. from California, are everywhere in the engine drying, no? Seems much more complicated than just evacuating the gas.
This is too frustrating to even read, yet alone deal with. My thoughts are really with Zac staying safe there and working through this problem one step at a time. Zac, take your time. I guess no worries about that old sailing superstition about leaving on Fridays! Try exercising when the frustration hits the wall and there's no one to turn to, the good endorphins will help deal with the stress. You are impressive Zac, really one in a million at 16. Hang in there.
Kate

September 5, 2008 at 8:15 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laurence,
Thanks for the update.
A friend,who has a 70s era boat, ended up installing a new fuel tank to solve his dirty fuel problems. I hope Zac's problems don't require as drastic a solution.
Michael
San Diego

September 5, 2008 at 8:21 AM  
Blogger Mona said...

Laurence,
Thanks for keeping us abreast of the engine problems, hopefully to be resolved soon. So thankful Zac wasn't going through the Torres Strait when the "goblins" roared their ugly heads!
Hang in there Zac. You have many praying for your safety and success. You have the knowledge, experience and ability to make sound decisions.
Go Zac Go!
Mona,
Tucson, AZ

September 5, 2008 at 8:33 AM  
Blogger Rusty said...

Hey Zac,

I know exactlly what you are going through with your engine problem. It is an awful experience, especially when you are far from home. I have had the water back up the exhaust system more that once but never have had the fuel line going to the engine clog. My wife has had it happen to her (she is a single hander also) and finally changed out the fuel tank and did the Racor filter thing to stop it. She also added an additional electric fuel pump in the fuel line so she could prime the fuel line in a hurry after she changed filters. My plan on my boat, if I ever clogged the fuel line going to the engine and I was at sea, was to simply cut the fuel line (and return line) near the engine and stick them in a jerry jug of diesel fuel to get me into the harbor. My diesel burns 1/2 a gallon an hour so a 5 gallon can would do the trick. I had extra fuel line and fittings on board to replace the cut line when I got into a position to do adequate repairs.
Hang in there Zac. These events all make GREAT stories to tell when you get older.

Rusty

September 5, 2008 at 8:44 AM  
Blogger Daveh said...

Did not know it was a gasoline tank, put's a whole new spin on the problem...

I had 2 fuel tanks in my last boat (a Beneteau 50) and cut 8inch access/inspection ports in both them, for viewing AND cleaning.

I know it’s a pain, but having clean and high quality fuel is paramount as any other safety device…

I would:

1. Remove the tank

2. 100% get rid of the diesel in there (don’t waste time trying to filter it) toss the garbage out

3. Fill the tank with 50% Lacquer Thinner (easier to get in PNG and less volatile than MEK, plus MEK is horribly bad for your lungs and brain cells).

4. Get a bag of large nuts, count them first, then put them in the tank

5. Shake the tank as much as possible for an hour or so

6. Let it sit for a few hours rotating periodically

7. Shake for 15-20 minutes

8. Empty the tank, Count the nuts to make sure they were all removed

9. Rinse with Acetone (should be very readably available in PNG also)

10. Re-Install the tank and fuel lines

11. Add fuel and run the engine for 2-4 hours on the mooring ball

12. Do a 1-2 hour test sail in rough seas, inspect tank and filters when back on the mooring ball

If possible in PNG isntall a large access port in the top of the tank, if it’s not possible, maybe try in Darwin…

Good luck, my WORST memories from my voyages are “nearly” all related to bad fuel problems!

Daveh & Skipper

September 5, 2008 at 8:54 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Laurence,

As a parent of a 16 y/o son, I can imagine your stress level knowing that Zac is on the shore of an underdeveloped country trying to complete the work of a seasoned mechanic - and that if you were there you could really help! A tough spot for a parent.

BUT - it is a blessing that he is young and fearless (like those that go off to war) and that he can and will be successful in fixing this fuel issue. I know that I am constantly amazed at the tasks accomplished and level-headedness of my 16 y/o when a challenge arises (he always says "just chill Mom, it's gonna be okay).

I will pray hard for Zac and know from all the reading that he is very capable and that you have taught him well.

September 5, 2008 at 8:58 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's crazy to even think about how truly vital an engine is to a Sail Boat. But their are times where sailing is not an option and the engine actually saves your life and the boat. Yikes what a dilema. Weird to think that last weekend while I was biking by the Yanmar dealer in Huntington Beach, I actually thought about going in there. Turns out that fuel, fairies and goblins are the problem. Well all things considered and having to deal with PNG, I guess you do the best you can. Well Laurence thank you for keeping a good face, and making such a great post. How very frustrating. The good news is I just prayed an awesome prayer and the zen beads I gave Zac will hex the goblins. No worries. Love ya be safe.

Chris, Alhambra, CA

September 5, 2008 at 9:07 AM  
Blogger Unknown said...

You know motorcylist use bells on thier bikes to keep the goblins away. Do they have something to keep the goblins away on sailboats? Someone Please let me know asap because I shove off to Catalina tommorrow from MDR.

Agoura Hills
Daze Off

September 5, 2008 at 9:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

>Anonymous DAN in Johannesburg SA said..
>Glad to hear that Rich Norman is not
>a troll - the tone of his post
>certainly sounded trollish to me

Huh ? Pointing out that the result could be disqualified despite all the hard work if the rules are broken makes someone a troll ? Are we supposed to just wish away the rules or are _you_ trolling ?

Rich was spot on in reminding everyone of the stakes and how "the record" could be taken away on a technecality.

Fair winds and clean fuel to you Zac !

-Sven in MDR

September 5, 2008 at 10:44 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Marilyn,
Just stopped back into to see the FAQ page again. Great work on your part in the organization of the page. I also like the addition of photos to make things interesting. GREAT JOB!
Melanie in Torrance

September 5, 2008 at 10:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Zac,
great job getting it back to the dock in one piece. We have a boat in HNL at Hawaii Yacht club that tends to either loose the engine or not go into gear. Had to tack that channel and sail right up to the dock...not amongst a bunch of commercial shipping though..just a bunch of drunk Friday night racers.

A couple of things you might want to consider going forward...and keep in mind that unlike so many others I have been out there and sailed those same waters (Sydney to San Francisco the long way around)on a 40 ft cat back when there was no GPS and all we had for a time source was WWV on the short wave and a ham SSB for comms. No sat phones and all the nice toys that are out there now.
Spares for both engine and electronics will be (except for Darwin and Capetown) will be hard to come by (3rd world or 5th world countries makes no difference) What we did was to pack a couple of boxes with key spares other than what we carried on board and ship them ahead of us to the next port. Given that you have sponsors that can help defray the costs. Critical equipment you might just want to have a complete unit included and swap it out if time is critical.

I did check on the Sheila net on 8161 @ 22.00GMT and it is still running. I have access to remote radio's in various parts of the world so I was able to tune it in via one located in Queensland. I also sent you a list of other nets via direct email, hope they are helpful.

When in Darwin check out Casuarina beach at dusk (better than the harbor view)Mandorah Beach Hotel,and of course the Darwin Sailing Club which is just a great place for both resources and hanging out. Warning...watch out for large floating logs with eyes..they have large saltwater crocs in the harbor and surrounding area's. Fishing wise, ask the locals about Barramundi.

All the Best

MS

September 5, 2008 at 11:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I was reading resently about the problem caused by the ethenol added to gasoline and it's reaction to fiberglass. As I remember the article, the ethenol damaged the fiberglass creating a slime that damaged the fuel and clogged the system. Maybe your tank is fiberglass and damaged from when it contained gasoline.

September 5, 2008 at 12:00 PM  
Blogger Marilyn said...

Daveh,

Would you recommend macadamias, almonds, walnuts or pecans? Or maybe PNG has a special locally grown nut! In the shell, or out of the shell?

(Only kidding, I couldn't resist!)

Melanie,
Thanks for checking out the new FAQs. I hope the "newbies" go there before asking the same questions over and over.

Marilyn
Woodland Hills

September 5, 2008 at 1:57 PM  
Blogger Daveh said...

Question about Ethanol...


Not only is Ethanol one of the biggest scams and waste of billions of US Tax Payer dollars for the last 25 years, and it has driven up grain prices, food prices, fructose, etc.. etc… but you are also correct in it has wreaked havoc in the marine industry with older vessels that use gasoline vs. diesel

You raise a good question for sure, but I would suspect that based upon the original age of Zac’s Islander 36 that it had an aluminum fuel tank, possibly steel, but most likely aluminum. In the 80’s very few builders were putting in inline fiberglass tanks.

Additionally, if I remember correctly, that vessel had not been used much for several years, and marina’s were some of the last to be forced to use ethanol based fuels… In Florida, that enforcement just started…

Gasoline basically turns to varnish after 6-8 months and lines your tank, fuel-lines, injectors, etc… I made this mistake with a fairly new Yamaha 15HP 4-Stroke after a long trip and it sat on my dock for 6-8 months while I did a house project… A real pain in the neck to get it working correctly again, no simple fix, spray or trick for that problem…

Daveh

September 5, 2008 at 2:05 PM  
Blogger johnnyBgood said...

hello everyone: what a week for zac! i think this weekend calls for powerful prayer for our man zac. challenges built character ---remember zac ----"practice HOPE"
john baker/w hollywood/ca/USofA
jbaker1226@aol.com

September 5, 2008 at 5:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Zac and Team Sutherland!!

I hope maybe by the time this blog is read you are on your way and your engine troubles behind you. Wow, how incredibly frustrating! Nobody said this adventure was going to be easy, but your tenacity and positive attitude will get you through any obstacles you will encounter. I so enjoy the pictures you send, it makes me feel like I am right there with you! I think of you everyday and always wonder how your day and night went. I wish you nothing but smooth sailing and clear skies but reality tells us that the sea is a powerful force and must be respected. Thank you Marilyn for your video of the Oxnard Meeting. I enjoyed that as well.It was a little hard to hear like you said, but it downloaded just fine. Hey, everyone was happy and having a good time, the noise was to be expected!! Right? I am hoping I can come to the W. L.A. get together. It would be an honor to meet Laurence and Marianne.

Zac, keep the faith. You have a powerful force of prayers coming your way! You have so many people around the world and here in the good ole U.S.A., cheering you on. Sail on and keep those picture coming when you can. We love them!!

Stay safe You are always in my prayers!!

Debbie
North Hills, CA

September 5, 2008 at 5:55 PM  
Blogger Croaker of FrogPond said...

Laurence:

Thanks for an informative post. It's becoming redundant, but Zac is a cool head. He may be 16, but I'd follow him into battle. He has logic, reasoning, and an instinct for when to charge and when to retreat. He can obviously devise a plan of attack and execute it while under fire. The "Desirata" ends with a statement to the effect that "if you can keep your head while those around you are going crazy, you are a man my son." Sounds like he's talking about your son.

I hope that the Suttons and the yacht club in PNG are aware of the positive feelings they've created with everyone keeping up with this blog. All the Zac-Packers appreciate them and thank them.

The Croaker

September 5, 2008 at 6:28 PM  
Blogger Barb said...

Zac
Each Friday we have a quote of the week that is sent to us at work. Well today's quote you have heard many times, but I couldn't help but think of you. "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do, then by the things you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream and discover".

Mark Twain

Also, as we wait for tropical storm Hannah to arrive in our little corner of the world, I'm reminded of your courage and your faith in God to carry you through this adventure. Be safe and God Bless

September 5, 2008 at 7:09 PM  
Blogger Patrick said...

I read about the problems with switching from gas to diesel and the reverse all the time in BoatUS magazine. It seems the tanks DON'T like the switch! Hopefully the vacuuming and cleaning will do the trick. I have a fantastic filter on my boat and plenty of EXTRA elements. Make sure Zac gets extra elements Lawrence! Also, it wouldn't hurt to get that diesel additive to remove water in the tank and lines. Hopefully Zac will be underway soon but safer with this discovery. Hurray for you Zac for tacking through those reefs and wrecks without an engine. I think I would have had a heart attack. I know when my engine has died (or I had to turn it off from seaweed-plugged intake lines) and I was going through some tough areas, I would totally freak out. I can't even begin to imagine how you felt when that Yanmar decided to go to sleep. They are great engine however. I have one myself. You just have to keep everything TO the engine super clean with lots of good filters! Now you can have another great steak!!

Patrick

September 5, 2008 at 8:05 PM  
Blogger Fulgum said...

Lawrence, Zac and Marianne:
Oh, man! All these engine problems! That's really frustrating!!! But on the other hand, it's good that everything is happening now rather than when you're 30 or 50 miles out to sea. That would be a bit scary. Since you're in a pretty well equipped area, you can do whatever is necessary to fix the gremlins bugging the engine. I'll send loads of positive mojo to PNG!

:)

Hang in there, Zac--and Lawrence and Marianne as well!

Scott

September 5, 2008 at 10:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

If anyone is interested they can send an email to the Royal Papua Yacht Club in PNG (in support of Zac), their web site is http://www.rpyc.com.pg/

September 5, 2008 at 10:53 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

YEAH!!! Way to go Zac. Thanks to the Suttons for the beautiful pictures of Zac leaving PNG!! I noticed he is getting quite a bit of green algae on the bottom of his boat! Yuk! I guess that is to be expected~ The panoramic picture of Zac leaving, was a reminder that his boat is just a little sailboat in a huge ocean!!

Sending nothing but good wishes for a safe trip through the strait. I purchased my t-shirt today, so I am anxious to get it and proudly wear it and show it off.

On to Darwin. I will be with you in spirit! Keep up the good work! You are a remarkable young man.

Debbie
North Hills, CA

September 6, 2008 at 1:47 AM  
Blogger Heidi Ribkoff said...

I am constantly impressed with how Zac and you, his parents, handle the things that have occurred so far. Granted things have gone fairly well, but as a sailor, I know well how quickly conditions change, ho easily one can lose focus and how FRISTRATING it can be as the shore-side contact many many miles from the person you are trying to help.

I see a book in this for you.... something that we will all read, veteran or newbies cruisers.

September 6, 2008 at 10:04 PM  
Blogger Blundstone said...

Congratulations Capt. Zac. Job well done. And, to think I complain when I have an engine/gas problem with my lawn mower! :-) Can not wail to read about your trip to and stay in Darwin.

Question: In the latest pictures, it show you have a 35 horse outboard motor now on board? Did you always have that? Or, was it just added, to possible that the place of your engine if it fails again?

God's Speed Zac.

-Greg, Minneapolis, MN

September 7, 2008 at 12:36 PM  

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