Mauritius - Photos
Some photos from Jen Edney:
Zac up the mast and Laurence keeping a watchful eye.
Zac up the mast and Laurence keeping a watchful eye.
The infamous boom(s).
The old and the new...
Sunset in Grand Baie, Mauritius
posted by Zac at
7:22 AM
37 Comments:
OHHH Photos!!!!
Thank you Jen, they're wonderful!!
Anita Miracle RDH
Waterloo, NY
great shot of Zac up the mast!
who is Jen, and can she make the photos expand to a larger size?? I think it's all on how you save them.
thanks for the ride!
Mike a new fan!
Jen/Marianne - Great photo's! The stick on Intrepid looks tall for a 36' vessel, thus, the great hull speeds Zac is achieving... Plus his fine sailing skills of course!
I just can’t imagine the emotions that Laurence had seeing Zac when they arrived, my gosh……..
All – I wanted to see if there’s an interest in me doing a webinar (a visual web meeting where you can view my computer screen and we speak on a conf call dial in #) and I show people how to download, install and use the Ugrib NOAA Global Wind & Weather product…
I believe that everyone will have a much greater appreciation for Zac’s day to day conditions visually with this tool
Let me know, I can setup a web link and conf call # for this if there’s interest… We'd only need about 10-15 minutes...
Daveh & Skipper
Zac, Here is another plea from us in Simi. Please write on the blog! I have spent years on boats as a young man and their was always time to write. Rough water, repairs, and busy work always are there, but also, their are many times where a note or two would be nice.
Many crave what you have to say.
Red sky at night, sailor's delight!
Beautiful shot of Intrepid at sunset. Thanks to Jen for the great photos.
I hope all is going well with repairs. Sorry to hear you have a cold Zac. No fun!
I'm really enjoying following your progress around the world - I'm learning a lot of geography that's for sure.
Sally
Annapolis
Thanks for the photos Jen! Wow, Port Baie is beautiful! Glad the repair work is coming along well!
Prayers and blessings as always,
EmilyAnne
Fayetteville, NC
Homeschooler
Sir Captain Zac, you are "THE" man
wonderful wonderful, all of us so "Full of Wonder and Wander"
thanks Jen, for all the great shots,as always... :-)
we're all so so appreciative of you being there and documenting it all...so we "catch" a glimpse
the "Zac Pac" boom lookiing good and i'm sure a perfect fit for the
Lady "I" as you're preping her for these next legs...
it will be her greatest challenge
as well as yours,
but your up to it Zac...
you've grown incredibly over these last 154 days and still two weeks away from number one and seven, and we don't even know the half of it...
thanks Zac, for letting us be a part of your extended family,
you have lotsa new uncles and aunties and cousins..
"For then i will give to the peoples purified lips,
That all of them will call on the name of THE LORD,
To serve HIM shoulder to shoulder"
Zephaniah 3:9
The FAQ'S just excellent
Jeremy Camp..."fabulous", can we book him now for the "MDR" party?
"super great energy"...
the moon's been full over the last few days should be excellent sailing to Durban...
don't forget Zac
"the Kitten Zac,the Kitten"
sudafed for the cold works wonders
BTW get a few sailor's needles and some extra sailing material,
store the old boom as well,
even a wooden plug as made for you in "CK", and stainless fasteners..
giant Mahalo to Team Zac Mauritius
Zac,your hair looks G R E A T !!!
always in our prayers and thoughts
mark n adino
Vicksburg,Mississipi via Hawaii
yeah i know go figure...God knows!
Wow! Zac is pretty high up there. How do you climb up the mast? I could see why you wouldn't dare do that on the open sea. Unless its in a movie. :)
I agree with Mike and Jennifer. The photo resolution is so small, you can't really view them at all close up. Maybe that is for copyright purposes though.
Love the picture of the boom, a "hero" honoring a real hero! Enjoy your time in Mauritius Zac...
Ali
Hey Peter, hope you’re doing well…
Getting up the mast… There are two ways…
METHOD #1 - Some people actually drill holes in the mast and put sort of a step, that looks a bit like a horse stirrup and they climb up the mast… I don’t propose this method because I don’t like holes in my mast, no matter how small. Additionally, different metals don’t get along well, especially with salt, so an aluminum mast with a zillion stainless steel screws in isn’t appealing to me personally either. However, there are a lot of people who does this because METHOD #2 often requires two people.
METHOD #2 – There’s a device called a bosun’s seat, or bosun’s chair that you step into like a windsurfing seat harness and strap you self into. Then you hook a halyard (a long coming down from the top of the mast used for raising the sails up) so you hook a halyard into the front of the bosun’s seat and someone typically cranks you up with a winch, while you climb up like a monkey for a coconut… I usually have a chest harness on with a second line, so that God forbid, something happen to the bosun’s seat or first halyard, I have a backup harness that avoids a 65’ drop (the height of my mast), which I would likely not survive.
There are devices you can buy that allow a solo sailor to hoist themselves up using METHOD #2…
Believe it or not, during the Volvo Round the World Race, it’s not uncommon for someone to have to go up the mast, in the craziest of conditions, but there are lots of hands on deck helping, but it’s still quite dangerous…
Netflix has the Volvo Ocean Race, or Google the race and buy a DVD, fascinating stuff, especially the leg around Cape Horn, South America… CrAzY stuff…
Take care,
Daveh & Skipper
Thank you for the pictures! Those are some great shots! It's so funny how thrilled I get when I visit the blog and see a new update or pictures. Woo Hoo!
And, at discovery island...I am sure Zac will update on the blog as soon as he can. Although it is great that you always have had time to write, you aren't in Zac's shoes. We have all seen that he is a fantastic young writer and seems to enjoy updating the blog. Once he has settled back in with a repaired vessel and tackled his cold, I am sure we will hear from him. :-)
God Bless,
Jules
Great pic's Jen......... I too can't believe how high up Zac is. Makes me queasy just looking at it =)
Anyway, hope all goes well in Mauritius.
Feel better Zac!
Liz and Family
Great Stuff !!!
Can't wait till you reach the caribbean.
Josh
Barbados W.I
@ Daveh- Great idea, although what kind of computer set-up does one need. Does everyone need a webcam or what? I do think it might be a great "lesson" for the home-schoolers on the blog.
Great photos as always Jen!
@Discovery Island- I understand your point, I too would enjoy more "engagement" with Zac directly, although I'm happy to get news from Marianne or Laurence as well. Regular posts on a timely basis are more of a priority for me, not so much who is posting. That's my personal feeling.
@ Peter- See! I'm not the only one who missed you!
@ Zac Packers: Marianne, Laurence and Zac are very aware and very supportive of Mike Perham and his goal to accomplish what has not been done before. Mike's goal is very different from Zac's goal, since Mike is trying to accomplish the unassisted, non-stop around the world challenge for the youngest person yet to accomplish that goal. This is very different from the record that Zac is trying to break. Zac and the Sunderlands realize that Mike is a very talented sailor. Zac is appreciative of Mike's knowledge and skills. We don't want this blog to be a Zac VS. Mike competition. Let's support both of them, and hope that the wild seas keep both of them safe.
Marilyn
Woodland Hills
Hi Zac
Heavens to Mergatroid!
Even though you are not doing this at see, seeing the photo of you up the mast really brings home what an incredible thing you are doing out there alone, Hope you enjoy the time with your dad. By the way i was reading elsewhere where sailors have transponders that relay their location every 15 mins. Is this what the AIS does( ok i have no knowledge about this, maybe Daveh can answer this
Sherna
@ Sherna Taylor
AIS stands for Automatic Identification System…
It’s a great new technological advancement, for those that are using it… If you’re not using it, then you don’t show up as an “identified vessel” on radars that have AIS…
In the instance of Zac, most commercial vessels have AIS, so they see him on their radar as Zac Sunderland, Intrepid, Solo Circumnavigator, etc… Which is not only safe, but cool…
If you want to know more, Google AIS or Automatic Identification System
Regards,
Daveh & Skipper
Jen, thank you so much for the great photos. They are just beautiful!
Zac, I hope you feel better soon!
@Daveh, I would be interested but don't know if it would work on my computer?
@Peter, so nice to hear from you again!
@Mark and Adino, I always enjoy your posts!
Zac and the Sunderland family, you are always in our prayers.
Blessings,
Jennifer and Ben
Sherman Oaks, CA via Seattle
Good photos!
I'll bet Zac's going to love having a real boom again!
@Daveh
Is Grib getting their wind forecast from NOAA. Would be great if you could give me the Link to NOAA Global Wind. I heard the VOR is using that for their wind in the game. Are you in the game too??
Thanks for your help
Axel
Beautiful pictures! Thank you!
from Iowa
I haven't been keeping up with the blog, so I don't know if this has been mentioned or discussed.
Zac, what are your thoughts on the British teenager, Mike Perham, beginning his quest to become the youngest person to circumnavigate the Earth solo? Do you you think you can complete your trip by March, 2009?
I'm "on your crew" because you are traveling farther and in a much smaller boat, and apparently with a lot less money.
HI Zac and ALL
It is amazing that you are now half way..Congratulations. Considering all that you and Intrepid have encountered, it is a great milestone and accomplishment.
The photos are great to see.
Even though we all would rather read your words personally, we understand that this is not always possible.
TO DISCOVERY ISLAND...Zac is also continuting his studies; communing with family and friends; is often sleep deprived manning his ailing ship and testy weather conditions.
(You may want to read previous posts and it may help you understand why he doesn't have the opportunity to personally blog on a regular basis).
This is not a traditional blog, but it is a great community one. We have received info from Marianne, Laurence, folks from Zac's visiting ports, and so on.
It is the most interesting blog that I have had the pleasure of reading.
Everyone that is involved in this adventure has made this a great experience.
Zac we are all proud of you and support you completely.
Feel better soon.
I asked in an earlier comment if you could post a birthday "wish list".
Bill and Linda
Camaraillo CA
formerly Washington DC
Is there a problem with the new boom? I don't see it installed on the Interpid in the photos. She looks to be without boom.
marianne, i came across this this morning. didn't know if you all were aware or not? let us know what the out come for youngest sailor will be, if any to are zac. will ya plse. ronnie thompson.
So what do you need to become a round-the-world solo skipper? Years of experience? Steely determination? Heaps of financial backing?
The answer would be a "Yes" to all three, but Michael Perham, from Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, is determined to succeed despite only having the determination.
Sponsorship has been hard to secure for a trip costing an estimated £200,000 and Michael has only been sailing for nine years.
He isn't even allowed to drive or vote, because he is only 16.
Speaking on board his yacht, Mike told the BBC: "I really want to get round the world. At the same time I have the aim to get the record."
That record is to become the youngest solo skipper to circumnavigate the globe without stopping.
It's a massive feat, fraught with physical and mental challenges.
"The hardest thing is being away from friends and family - you struggle," Mike said. "It's hard - people aren't made to be alone for months at a time.
"I'm really a people person, I love having fun - that's the hardest part for me."
No support boat
Mike is currently studying for a sports qualification at college and his epic adventure could be seen as very adventurous coursework - it all contributes to his final mark.
There certainly aren't many teenagers prepared to take on such extremes.
It didn't take him long to say, 'Dad, I've done the Atlantic, perhaps we could go around the world.'
Peter Perham, Mike's dad
In January 2007, aged 14, Mike became the youngest solo sailor to cross the Atlantic.
Soon after that he told his dad, Peter, he was setting his sights further afield.
Peter said: "I always thought it's what he'd want to do.
"It didn't take him long to say, 'Dad, I've done the Atlantic, perhaps we could go around the world.'"
While crossing the Atlantic, Peter followed his son in his own yacht, albeit at some distance. This time Mike is on his own and his dad can't follow.
"People who go out sailing with him say, 'Yes, he's got what it takes'," Peter said.
"I think the difference [compared to the Atlantic crossing] is if you take two boats on a trip like this, one becomes a liability to the other."
Chocolate calories
Mike will set off from Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth well-stocked with supplies and communication equipment.
On board the yacht - which carries the branding of main sponsor totallymoney.com - there are satellite phones, cameras and the internet, although he doesn't intend to do much web surfing as the connection costs so much.
Also hidden away on board is Mike's stash of treats.
The first week is hell, but you get used to it
Mike Perham, on sleep deprivation
"I've got loads of chocolate - Dairy Milk, Toblerone, things like that are complete luxuries. Your calorie intake goes right up because you need it.
"It's so nice to know you can eat it because you'll never put weight on sailing - ever."
The circumnavigation will take Mike down the coast of Africa before heading east, crossing the South Pacific and the Southern Ocean.
It is estimated to take four and a half months - that's more than 140 days of snatched sleep, 20 minutes at a time, whenever he can get it.
"The first week is hell, but you get used to it, then it's really nice," he said. "You can wake up and feel really awake whenever you want and you can go to sleep just like that."
But Mike does have competition.
American Zac Sunderland is also 16. He's already set off, but isn't due to complete his circumnavigation until next summer and has stopped en route. If Mike's trip goes to plan, he'll steal the record from the American's grasp.
While the record may not be in the bag, the one thing which is guaranteed is Mike's determination to succeed.
It's not a challenge he's taken lightly and he has been meticulous in his preparation. His proud dad sums it up: "He's doing it because he wants to.
"It's a great demonstration that if you really set your heart on something you can make it happen."
When do you think you will finish your trip? We are going to be in California in next year and would love to see you pull in!!
I just heard on the t.v. this morning about Michael Perham. He is a 16 year old attempting to circumnavigate the globe. He set sail from England and is heading east (after sailing south along Africa).
See Zac, you set the bar. Not to worry though. Michael is younger (Mar. 1992), but His launch date was at 16 years 8 months exactly. Zac's was just shy of 16 years 7 months. Zac is the youngest to launch a circumnavigation trip.
Michael is planning on non-stop circumnavigating. I can't see it. I know he will have to stop for repairs, at least once.
Michael has major sponsorship, but Zac has us! I am going to purchase from Zac's online store. I want to help him into the history books.
So, I would like to wish Michael God's speed (but slower than Zac's "God's speed") and a safe trip. Zac can wave as they pass.
Good Luck Zac. Keep up the good work.
Tim - Palm Springs,CA
I've been following Zac from the day he left California. Quite a feat. Also I must comment on Mike Perham. I'm sorry, but Mike's quest by no means matches the challenge of Zac's. He may be passing in more dangerous waters at times, but he is also in a 'bucked up' boat lavished with money and being shadowed the entire trip by his father in another boat and crew. This is no way the adventure that Zac is following and will provide Zac with a much greater sense of accomplishment than Mike's.
Zac, Hope your feeling better. Rest up and good luck on your next leg.
Land Locked Okie.
Stay on target Zac ! Let your Mom be the scribe for you. She keeps us all on in prayer for you !! The path you've paved out of Port to Port sounds wise. God's blessings to you - count your blessings as you sail on !
Bill , Cathy and Allie in NH
GORGEOUS PHOTOS ! Wow .
Again, thanks for the geography lessons ...this homeschool family feels so educated now knowing where Cocos Keeling is...Port Louis and Rodrigues Is. are....and NOW the bottom of Africa and all its ports. Very cool.
ps. Do everyone and yourself a huge favor and don't fall overboard. Praying for you!!!
My biggest concern with Michael is that he is using a big sled with lots of cloth and the weather will not be easy. I wish him all the best but Zac is my favourite. I follow his blog too but nobody beats Marianne :-) as well as Zac when he has time.
I think that Zac now has a race on his hands with Mike Perham from the UK setting off on a similar record to be the youngest. Will Zac be spending less time at his ports-of-call from now on? Has a strategy been drawn up for him to beat Mike Perham to be the youngest to sail around the world? What is it?
Is the "youngest person" defined as the winner who crosses the **finish line** at a younger age than other contestants, or the **starting line?**
Who is the decider on these matters? Guinness? Someone else?
This comment has been removed by the author.
Apparently, I was the first to raise the issue of Mike Perham setting out on his attempt to be the youngest person to complete a solo, non-stop, circumnavigation of the planet. At the time, I did not realize that Perham is including the NON-STOP factor in his quest. I wish Perham well and hope he accomplishes his goal.
Personally, I would not want to sail around the world and not stop to visit some of the wonderful island and mainland places and meet the people there. Robin Graham is so much richer for taking five years to complete his journey. And I feel sure Zac will never forget the food or the beautiful people of Majuro.
Zac's answer in the FAQs under Record Breaking Facts explains the situation very well. Mike Perham is going for a different record. At the very least, Zac is trying to become the youngest American to circumnavigate the globe solo. If something should impede Perham, and Zac finish his trip on schedule, then he would also be the youngest person to circumnavigate the Earth solo.
Regardless of any record involved, Zac's adventure is extraordinary, and he and his family have allowed all of us to share and participate in it with him. It's wonderful, and I sincerely thank you for that.
Zac, sail on and enjoy!
Nicholas
Asheboro, NC
Hello Jen & Everyone,
Thanks for all those great pictures. We always enjoy seeing something new.
I hope all the repairs are going well. Good luck Zac and Laurence with all the work needed on Intrepid.
Take Care,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
to Land Locked Okie, please note that Mike is NOT being trailed by his father and support crew in another boat. He is going round the world alone, single handed, unassisted, non stop, via the three capes.
Anyone who thinks this is a walk in the park needs to do some reading up on previous circumnavigators to learn that the Capes are not to be sniffed at, especially cape Horn. Also, where as Zac in in the tropics for a great deal of his trip, Mike will be in the Southern Ocean, where it gets kinda cold and bergy bits and growlers can be a hazzard.
So to Mike and Zac, you are brave lads and each is doing something their hearts have told them to do and our prayers are with them both.
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