A quick update from homebase before we head off to bed for the night...
Zac is about 20 miles from Port Elizabeth and has about 15 knots out of the SW. He has hopped off of the current and is heading in to the bay hoping to break some of the opposing wind behind Cape Recife. He is well though very tired after a night with little sleep. Looks like he'll have at least a few days before he can even think about heading on towards Mossel Bay and or Cape Town.
A nice photo and interview from East London (Thanks Will!)
http://www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=286385From Marilyn:
Here is another group of questions and answers from Zac, Marianne and Laurence, as we try to catch up on questions that our dedicated bloggers asked in the blog comments. Be sure and check Zac’s FAQs for previously answered questions.
Q Do you ever run into fog out there?
A Yes, it’s sometimes foggy, and I just work off my radar. I had an unusual situation in Papua New Guinea where it was not only foggy, but very windy at the same time, which is not common.
Q Is it hard to find food provisions for restocking that you find appealing?
A Yes, it’s very hard to find good food that I like in remote countries. I bought some canned curried meat in Mauritius, which was horrible! I’m saving that for my dad, since he likes curry. I also tried some canned Mac ‘n Cheese, which was so bad, I couldn’t eat it! The chocolate is nothing like the chocolate in the US; but worst of all I couldn’t find any jerky, which has become pretty much a staple of mine until I arrived in South Africa.
Q What are you reading/studying when seas are calm?
A I’ve been reading Singlehanded Sailing by Richard Henderson and I've been rereading Tania Aebi's book Maiden Voyage. It is interesting how the book reads so much different now that I am out here. I'm also reading a book that was sent to me by Mike Williams called The Chronicles of the Schooner Lusty I. It is great to read about other circumnavigators.
Q Are you in contact still with any of the cruising folks you've met along the way?
A Not too many. Mom & Dad are in touch with Karen and the other cruisers from the Marshall Islands. I spoke to Chris and John (from Moana) who are back in Australia, and I hope to reach them on their land line when I return. I lost contact with Lady Sara.
Q At this point are you behind, ahead or just about right on your originally planned schedule?
A I’m pretty much on schedule.
Q Just wondered if you'd ever tried using that Dryel dry cleaning product while at sea?
A No I haven’t. Perhaps it’s something I should look into.
Q Does sailing with only the genoa actually reduce your speed?
A Not necessarily. It depends on the wind direction and speed.
Q Can’t you use the microwave when you can’t get your alcohol stove to work?
A Yes, but it isn’t mounted and easy to just pop something in and turn it on. I have to move a bunch of stuff, get it out, and it takes up a lot of space while I’m using it. Then, I have to store it away after I use it. It’s quite a hassle, especially when I don’t feel much like cooking.
Q Will you have to motor through the Panama Canal?
A Here are some interesting links about traversing the Panama Canal.
http://www.czbrats.com/PanCanal/Canal_Transit.htmhttp://www.cruisingconnections.co.za/sailinglogs7.htmhttp://www.karlbuhl.com/Central%20America%20Logs/Log39_PanamaCanal.htmhttp://ezinearticles.com/?Panama-Canal-Transit-by-Sailboat&id=1418314http://www.noonsite.com/Members/doina/R2008-03-21-1http://www.pmbc.ws/htmls/brokenboat.htmlQ How long should the whole voyage take?
A A little under a year
Q Do you have a thermos on board?
A No, I don’t
Q Did you talk via radio with the other sailing boats you met in Cocos Keeling as they sail toward Mauritius?
A I didn’t. Most of them left several days before I did, because it took so long to fix the boom, so because of the delay, I lost touch with them.
Q That's cool that you can hold your breath longer in warm water... have you any idea why?
A Body temperature plays a big part in the use of oxygen. If you are cold or shivering you heart must beat faster and use more oxygen to keep you warm. In warm water, your heart beats slower, and therefore you require less oxygen, so you don’t need to take breaths as often.
Q What was the main problem with the engine? How was it fixed?
A The problem wasn’t the engine, and I still have a few unresolved issues. The problem is in the fuel tanks. They used to hold gasoline fuel, and we switched to diesel when we installed the new engine. There may be a coating in the tank left by the gasoline that the diesel is dissolving, and it clogs in the fuel pick-up line. This is very difficult to access. The ideal repair would be to take the tanks out and replace them, but that’s very time-consuming and expensive because they are underneath the engine which would need to be removed as well. Another potential fix is to cut a hole in the tanks and clean them completely, and then seal the hole. This also is not easy to accomplish, given my schedule.
Q Do you think the top decking is alright or did the furling motor damage it when it got loose?
A It’s fine but the pulpit (stainless steel on the bow) needed a major repair in Mauritius.
Q Does the genoa have any hardware at the ends which get fatigued or can damage the boat when its whipped around in the wind?
A The roller furling drum at the end of the forestay damaged the stainless steel pulpit. That was repaired.
Q So what do the Rodriguens do on their little seamount?
A The main occupations are farming, fishing and handicrafts. The island is heavily impacted by climate change--farming and fishing in particular. Local people report less rainfall, with winters becoming colder and summers becoming hotter. Soil fertility is decreasing, and livestock growth and food crop production have been negatively affected. There is a noticeable loss of biodiversity, while formerly eradicated insects and parasites have returned, all combining to increase farmers’ poverty. As for fishing, there are reports of rougher seas which hamper fishing, cooler waters, and more energy and money expended on smaller catches. They complained that the sea is more polluted, and that the island’s major lagoon is virtually without fish, while some fish species have disappeared from the seas. They also note that the sea level is rising.
Q What is it like when you get off the boat? Do you still feel like you’re still on the water?
A Yes, I have a little vertigo for a few days.
Q Your tiller pilot burned up? How did that happen?
A The gears inside were stripped. In Cape Town, I’ll get a mechanical auto pilot that steers using the wind vane rudder and uses less power.
Q Are you going to get a cat?
A No, unfortunately, I have decided not to have a pet on board. I’m thinking more of the comfort of the cat than of my own pleasure and companionship. Reportedly, most cats really don’t like being at sea. In addition, there are quarantine issues when stopping in ports and the messes that result when the boat gets knocked around (the kitty litter, too) in heavy seas.
Q When you get back, we would love to have the opportunity to hear you speak. Any chance to Skype or other videoconferencing?
A I will definitely be doing interviews, video conferences and connecting in all sorts of ways with all of the people who have followed my journey.
Q Does Zac ever need to shave?
A Yes, I shave every few days.
Q Marianne, How has Zac changed in your eyes at this juncture and are you surprised at how great he looks or did you expect differently?
A He is much wiser. He looks great, and has matured nicely in the months he’s been gone. His face has changed and is quite manly, as opposed to the boyish look he had when he departed. He still maintains his sense of humor, however, and he catches me being gullible when he makes “off-the-wall” remarks from time to time.
Q Will Zac be anchoring in different places along the coast of Africa during those legs you mentioned?
A The passage from Durban to Cape Town is a bit under 800 miles and will be broken into legs in an effort to time his time at sea around the regular storm activity in that area. The possible legs are: Durban to East London, East London to Port Elizabeth, Port Elizabeth to Mossel Bay and Mossel Bay to Cape Town with various small hideouts along the way just in case of sudden bad weather. With meteorologist David Morris watching the weather, he should be able to sneak in and out of port without getting too thrashed. Whether he does stop, depends on the weather and storms. It’s usually best to stay further at sea, because the waves increase in size in more shallow the water, closer to shore.
Q How did he celebrate Thanksgiving?
A Zac spent Thanksgiving alone at sea, but he had some good discussions with all of the family, as we passed the phone around.
Q Do you think the last half will take as long as the first, or longer?
A It should be about the same.
Q Didn't your parents think at least one additional language would be extremely beneficial on a trip around the world?
A Yes, that’s why I’m studying my French tapes. I took two years of Spanish in school, but knowing a little French has definitely been more useful on this trip so far.
Q At night being out in the middle of the ocean with no lights around, do the stars and the moon seem larger than they seem back home?
A No, it’s just the opposite. The moon, when closer to other objects, appears larger, so actually, it seems smaller at sea (except when near the horizon), because there are no close reference points. However, the stars are a lot brighter, because there’s no ambient light.
Q Do you think you will complete your trip by March, 2009?
A It’s looking like it will be closer to sometime in May or June, 2009
Q So are you keeping up with all of your exercises? What is your regime?
A It depends on the condition of the waves and wind. If I have time, and the boat is pretty stable, I do some push-ups and other simple exercises. If there are rough seas, or little wind with heavy waves, it’s just too hard to do anything other than concentrate on keeping the boat going in the right direction.
A Laurence took it to British Airways cargo terminal before hopping on his plane in Los Angeles. The boom went directly to Mauritius. Then, in England, he had to take the new forstay and roller furling system in the baggage compartment on the plane to Mauritius, which was quite expensive, but not as much as had he sent it on a cargo plane.
Q Is the Didgeridoo difficult to play? Do you play other musical instruments?
A It was somewhat difficult to learn at first. I also play the bass guitar.
Q After you circumnavigate the globe at 17 years of age in stormy dangerous conditions can your parents still give you a curfew or ground you when you return?
A Good question! I guess we’ll have to wait and see on that one!
Q Did you visit a doctor while you were in Mauritius? Do you have antibiotics?
A No, I didn’t visit a doctor, and yes, I have a pretty comprehensive medical kit including various kinds of antibiotics.
Q Can you explain what a sea anchor is and why you need it? Why do tires make the best ones?
A The term sea-anchor refers to the "parachute-style" anchor; but can also mean a tire, bucket, or any drag designed to slow boat in heavy winds and waves. It seems easier to set up and deploy the tires, than my fancy cloth sea anchor with all of its ties and strings.
Q I lived in Thousand Oaks previously for four years and went to some of the sailing camps at Westlake Yacht club. Did you ever do any of those, or were you focusing on larger boats?
A I only did ocean sailing, but Toby and Jessie, my brother and sister, will go to the Westlake Yacht Club sailing camp this summer.
Q I was wondering how much it cost to fund such an adventure and will you still owe money after the trip is over? Will the book deals and such be enough to cover it all?
A Besides the boat expenses, there’s re-provisioning, fuel costs, repairs (which have been significant), family travel (Laurence and the photographer to meet in ports) and other incidentals that add up fast. I don’t have a book deal or movie contract yet, but I certainly hope I will and that they will cover the costs.
Q By the way, are you still doing some fishing from time to time?
A No, I’m not.
Q What model is your new camera? Is it waterproof?
A It’s a Lumix 10 mega pixel, and it’s not water-proof, so I have to make sure I don’t accidentally drop it in a sink full of water!
Q What flavor was your birthday cake?
A Chocolate and peanut butter
Q Does it have frosting?
A Yes, A fudge-like topping
Q Do you have candles?
A Yes, two candles, one in the shape of a “1” and one in the shape of a “7.” Together, they equal 17.
Q Are you still wearing shorts?
A Most of the time, it’s still warm enough. In fact, I wore nothing but a bathing suit the entire trip from Mauritius to Durban!
Q As you head into Durban, what are your plans, what sights of SA do you want to see?
A I definitely want to go to Kruger Park, a wildlife preserve. A lot of locals have volunteered to take me around to do sight-seeing. I’ll probably sleep on Intrepid rather than bunk at someone’s home or at a hotel.
Q All money problems aide, what would you like to do there?
A I just can’t imagine that I’ll be in Africa! I’ve obviously never been there, and I want to see whatever there is to see, and perhaps do a little surfing.
Q Is there a good chance that you and Mike Perham will pass each other when in the Atlantic Ocean?
A Perhaps, because our route will “cross” at some point He will probably be further out to sea, whereas I’ll be closer to shore, so if we are in the same ocean, going in opposite directions, the chances that we would see each other would be very slight.
Q Have you started planning how your book will be organized?
A I’ve thought about it, but have no real plans as far as organization yet. Those ideas will probably surface once I complete journey.
Q Why do you always say “Cheers” at the end of all your blogs?
A I picked that up from my dad. He always says it. I’m not sure if it’s an Australian or English thing.
Q Why didn't you get a bigger boat?
A I thought this one was big enough. If there were a next time, I would probably get one that’s a little bigger, because it would go faster and have more storage space.
Q What's your favorite thing about sailing around the world?
A I think it’s the people I have met. They have all been so interesting and generous.
Q If you could have one thing on your boat that you don't have, what would it be?
A Definitely it would be a friend! But realistically, since I’m doing this alone, it would probably be a refrigerator or water-maker.
Q Do you ever miss your mom?
A Are you serious?! Of course I do!
Hope to have good news of Zac's arrival on Friday morning.
Good Night!
