Cape Agulhas
Latest Position: 01/22/09 0644Z 34 36.996S 21 37.792E (80 miles from rounding Cape Agulhas - the southern most cape of South Africa)
Zac called late this evening (giving me a scare) because he had slept in after a long night on ship watch. He has light wind on the nose and is making between 3-4 knots under power. His progress is not as great as we would have liked but he has had a head wind the entire time he has been out to battle against. Things still look good for him to round the cape and head north to Cape Town before the next massive low pressure system is expected to hit shore.
He was in good spirits in fairly calm seas. He is wondering if/when he and Mike Perham might hook up or pass one another. They look to be nearing one another. Still no word on whether Mike will stop in Cape Town or press on around South Africa to make his way through the Southern Ocean. Wouldn't it be great if the two could connect somehow!
Hoping for no news from Africa until a decent hour tomorrow!
Cheers,
Marianne
Zac called late this evening (giving me a scare) because he had slept in after a long night on ship watch. He has light wind on the nose and is making between 3-4 knots under power. His progress is not as great as we would have liked but he has had a head wind the entire time he has been out to battle against. Things still look good for him to round the cape and head north to Cape Town before the next massive low pressure system is expected to hit shore.
He was in good spirits in fairly calm seas. He is wondering if/when he and Mike Perham might hook up or pass one another. They look to be nearing one another. Still no word on whether Mike will stop in Cape Town or press on around South Africa to make his way through the Southern Ocean. Wouldn't it be great if the two could connect somehow!
Hoping for no news from Africa until a decent hour tomorrow!
Cheers,
Marianne
posted by Zac at
11:15 PM
21 Comments:
Are Mike and Zac in touch with each other? They don't mention it on their blogs?
Go Zac Go!!
No worries mate, you'll be right! No doubt you'll be happy to catch up with your dad!
Be safe, sending blessings,
Hugs
Anita
Waterloo, NY
My thoughts and prayers will be with you Zac, as you accomplish this next leg around the Cape. I feel like all Zac Packers will breathe easier after this last bit in the sea of wild adventures!
Ruth in New Hampshire
Thanks for the Update Marianne.
@ The Croaker: Man !! definetly I was searching for you. Guess there are some croaker pac too.
What can I say on this exciting adventure ! GOD SPEED ZAC..........
Hello Marianne,
Thanks again for the updates. We enjoy hearing all the latest and great news from Zac and yourself. Even though Zac is only doing 3 or 4 knots at least he is doing it safely and you're all watching the weather.
Hopefully Zac and Mike will be able to connect somehow. I thought Mike wouldn't make any stops so I was under the impression docking wasn't an option?
@ Zac, sail safely around that southern tip of Africa and we'll be awaiting your next entry at port.
Did Laurence arrive yet?
Sail On Zac,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Good to hear of progress, even if it's slower than hoped... Keeping my prayers for a continued safe journey to Cape Town! Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
I was a bit worried about too much "easterly" and too "light of the winds"...
Looks like tomorrow they go a little NW, then Southerly on Sundya, and increasing, which if the timing is right, will really help...
Looks like that massive low moves in Monday - mainly Tuesday... It's the size of Texas! Man...
Daveh & Skipper
dave@davehickson.com
Daveh...you are too funny....a massive low the size of Texas...I have to agree...that is big...Man!
Thanks for update Marianne.
I know a little of what it is for a mum to live with her heart in her mouth....not funny.
You are doing great and thanks for sharing with us... your highs and your lows.
Hugs.
UK friend
I just read on Mike's blog that he is stopping in Cape Town. Maybe Mike and Zac will meet up.
What an amazing photo op that would be - Zac & Mike sailing in the same shot... two of the youngest sailors to ever attempt a circumnavigation of the world. Even CNN or the AP might pick up this story!
Mikey is stopping in Cape Town!
You guys should meet up for a few beers:
http://www.totallymoney.com/sailmike/?p=774
@ Doug Pistone: I think Mike was originally going to try for the non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation until he had auto-pilot problems. He had to make so many stops, trying to fix it, that, he decided to forgo the non-stop record, because if he were to set that record, he would have to return to the last place he had his boat fixed, with no other stops along the way. I believe that he is now trying to set the same record that Zac is trying to set: Youngest solo circumnavigator. Therefore, it won't matter if he makes stops or is assisted now.
On Google Earth, I have marked Zac's positions in blue and Mike's in red, and it's interesting to see them coming closer and closer together. Zac has traveled a lot further, however.
It would be fun if they could meet up in Cape Town.
Marilyn in Woodland Hills
Sail on Zac into the Atlantic. Soon you are done with the Indian Ocean. Well, it is a bit arbitrary to define the border between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic at Cape Aguhlas, but that is how it is done. For you the crossing of the Indian Ocean was over in Durban and the crossing of the Atlantic will start with leaving Cape Town. The leg in between is something different altogether.
And then the two teenage solo-circumnavigators and their dads will very likely meet in the "Tavern of the Seas" as Cape Town is called, too. That will be an interesting meeting. It seems to me that Mike and Zac are different type of sailors. There are racers and cruisers. Though Mike is not racing his boat is a racer. And Zac, well, he comes from a cruising family. I see that at my Sailing club, too. Both type of sailors love sailing and everything that comes with it but just have different styles in doing it.
All the best to both of them,
RK
RK, I agree they are very different. Zac seems a laidback Californian, whereas Mike is more competitive and enjoys the buzz he gets from sailing his race boat.
But as you'll have seen at your sailing club, at the end of the day sailors are sailors and all differences are settled over a pint or three. Now, if one of them had been a motorboater, things would be different... ;-)
Does South Africa have good beer, I wonder?
Hi all.
Looks like Laurence will have it's hands full if they meet with Mike. Mike has a rudder problem. That's the reason why he will stop in Cape town.
Going through Texas with a sailboat is aloooong trip but Zac will be in Cape Town before that thing arrives
Greetings
Axel
heye@madisoncounty.net
Mike's dad is flying out too, so the two father's can fix the boats up, while the boys do what teenagers always do, and leave them to it ;-)
Thoughts and prayers, Zac!
-Halle S. in Oregon
skipper of The Dread Pirate Roberts
Glad to hear things appear to be going smoothly. Is Mike Perham THAT close to Zac's location? Sorry, I haven't had time to track his journey.
Thanks for the update, Marianne.
Scott
:)
Having received several cold prickly emails about my current & Past blog comment posts, I'll post this info & hope the email weather will subside. To reassure those cold prickly emailers, I will try to refrain from posting again on My Hero's blog comments page in the future - but no promises ;)
For those interested, here are a couple links to check out weather forecasts yourselves for the South African area:
http://www.cruisingconnections.co.za/weather.htm
http://www.weathersa.co.za/Menus/Marine.jsp
Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=com.microsoft%3Aen-us&q=%22cape+town%22+%22marine+weather%22
http://tinyurl.com/ab5yp4
Be safe Capt Zac! Maybe, just maybe, you should've decided to get the feline companion ;) You ARE taking your anti-malarials?!?
Warm Fuzzy HUGS!! (One more time - enjoy life, it may be the only chance you get!)
Tomi/ATL
PS -
A thought for y'all to think upon:
(edited - current day-1992 AD)
3x3 shall you receive back for your good efforts
9x9 so will you receive back for your offenses toward others.
Take care y'all!
T.
Marianne:
Thanks for the update. Maybe things are less that perfect at the moment, but I feel no pessimism! Your kid, our hero, has his act together and at this point, I think I'd trust him with just about anything just about anywhere. He is not just a remarkable 17 year old, he's a remarkable man and member of the human race. This adventure is just the beginning of something!
@Tomi/Atl: Hi Friend. Please don't think of checking out now! Jut get a thicker skin! You can handle it. Your contributions to this ongoing 'discussion' are beneficial and you're one of the regulars I always look for and wonder what's up when you aren't accounted for. Hang in there with us! Your absence would detract from what's built up here since last June.
The Croaker
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home