Good-bye Durban!
Latest Position: 01/11/09 1700Z 30 25.167S 30 55.556E (approximately 30 miles out of Durban)
I made my move about 10:00am (12:00am PDT) under cloudy, grey skies and with light winds. I waved goodbye to some of my new friends from Durban who had come down to the docks, not knowing if or when I'll ever see them again. Intrepid seems to be happy to be back on the ocean and is faithfully pushing through the confused seas. I have hopped on board the Agulhas Current about 15 miles off shore and am making good progress considering the conditions. The wind has shifted around to my aft quarter and with the current and light wind I am making a good 7 knots. The swells are more behind me now and are comfortable at around 5 feet.
I have been thinking of Marta's boat up on the beach and can hardly believe that it happened. She is a very accomplished sailor with many miles under her belt. We have all been warned about this area and with very good reason.
I don't know how much sleep I will get tonight. There are at the moment 2 ships within a mile radius of Intrepid. Its back to life according to alarms and radars!
Cheers,
Zac
Special Note from the famous Bill Mann:
OK, you asked for it. Zac asked for it and anon asked for it so now you got it!!
The weekly auction is back. This week we have a set of Plyometric Jump Boxes to get you in shape for Zac's Homecoming Party, another one of the fabulous Zac and Intrepid paintings and a surprise from Marianne's Mom that should be worth a lot of money after Zac publishes his book.
So visit http://www.barstools4u.com/zac.htm and show our young Captain the support he deserves.
Respectfully,
Bill Mann
South Pasadena, Ca
bill@barstools4u.com
I made my move about 10:00am (12:00am PDT) under cloudy, grey skies and with light winds. I waved goodbye to some of my new friends from Durban who had come down to the docks, not knowing if or when I'll ever see them again. Intrepid seems to be happy to be back on the ocean and is faithfully pushing through the confused seas. I have hopped on board the Agulhas Current about 15 miles off shore and am making good progress considering the conditions. The wind has shifted around to my aft quarter and with the current and light wind I am making a good 7 knots. The swells are more behind me now and are comfortable at around 5 feet.
I have been thinking of Marta's boat up on the beach and can hardly believe that it happened. She is a very accomplished sailor with many miles under her belt. We have all been warned about this area and with very good reason.
I don't know how much sleep I will get tonight. There are at the moment 2 ships within a mile radius of Intrepid. Its back to life according to alarms and radars!
Cheers,
Zac
Special Note from the famous Bill Mann:
OK, you asked for it. Zac asked for it and anon asked for it so now you got it!!
The weekly auction is back. This week we have a set of Plyometric Jump Boxes to get you in shape for Zac's Homecoming Party, another one of the fabulous Zac and Intrepid paintings and a surprise from Marianne's Mom that should be worth a lot of money after Zac publishes his book.
So visit http://www.barstools4u.com/zac.htm and show our young Captain the support he deserves.
Respectfully,
Bill Mann
South Pasadena, Ca
bill@barstools4u.com
posted by Zac at
11:23 AM
19 Comments:
Oh Zac,that's a kinda sad blog...but the journey goes on and new friends will be waiting for you at new destinations.
Love your descritions....you are a great writer.
Poor Marta...must be a disappointment for her but perhaps a timely reminder.
Glad that faithful Intrepid seems to be happy to be back on the ocean.
Love your last line......Its back to life according to alarms and radars!
Praying and thinking of you, as you and Intrepid make your way on this short but difficult leg.
UK friend
Hello Zac,
Well it's great to finally hear your sailing again. I know you're in a very challenging area so please stay alert.
I'm so sorry to hear about Marta's boat up on the beach. If anyone has the article about what happened please post it on the blog. I would really like to find out what wnt wrong???
@ Bill Mann, it's great to know you're back with us. Let's get the auction going full steam ahead, Thanks!!!
Take care Zac and listen to those alarms and radars.
Sail On,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Zac,
I'm wishing for you the very best of luck and fair weather, with just enough wind to push you safely along.
Always praying for your safety.
Nagaa
Hi Zac! Great to hear you've hit the sea again!
We wish you all the best on this next leg and will keep you in positive thoughts.
Sail On!
Liz and Family
I want to apologize to two of the winners of the auction last November.
I had a serious computer failure and lost a lot of information.
Obviously my main concern was recouping the information to keep my factory afloat.
Anita Miracle in Waterloo won the Kodiak Brewing pull over donated by Kodiak Mike. Her pull over was mailed to her last week.
Karen Newbill won an Alaskan refrigerator magnet also donated by Kodia Mike. Karen, I do not have your address so if you can get it to me, I will rush it out to you.
My apologies to both Anita and Karen for the problems. Both of you have permission to join the group of employees, family and friends noted below.
It feels good to be back here on the blog with all of my problems behind me and am looking forward to seeing Zac make his way around the Cape and head back towards California.
It is good to see that little dot on Google Earth getting ever so closer to bringing you back for an In n' Out Burger and a haircut, not necessarily in that order.
It is also great to see so many new faces on the blog.
I am looking forward to having a much larger pool of bidders for the auctions and will have about 10 items on the auction next week.
Remember if you have any questions you can send an e-mail to me at bill@barstools4u.com or call me 323 205-0417. Most likely you will get a voice mail but leave a message and I will get back to you.
Just be sure if calling you call me nice things. I have enough employees, family and friends who really know me that I have a lot of people who NEVER call me nice things. Anita and Karen, you may join this group. They make sure that I do not take myself too seriously.
Best to Zac, the Sunderlands and their brood, Ben who hopefully will be in one of the upcoming auctions, and all the Zac Pac.
Bill Mann
Zac...Have been following your 'adventure' for a long time now and am thrilled as you move along. God Speed in Every Way young man........
Glad to hear the "window" finally opened and it seems you snuck out while I was still asleep!
I agree with UK friend, in that Marta's experience is a lesson in how wild those seas in that area really are. Sounds like her story may turn you into an insomniac though, I'm afraid. Power naps are in order on this leg I guess.
Perhaps you will be able to meet up with Marta for some story sharing and support. I'm sure she could use all the support she can get, especially from someone who is in the same boat so to speak. I hope she speaks English though, as I'm sure Polish speakers are rare in SA! My prayers are with her as she waits for repairs to be done. I hope she realizes that she is indeed a lucky girl to survive what she did.
@ Doug: check the blog responses on Marianne's post. You'll find a more detailed account of Marta's experience that was posted by Willvp.
@ Bill Mann - We have all missed you so much. I was actually gonna track you down (by phone) tomorrow to make sure you were well!
Hi Zac - Keep the spirits up dude... You are doing GREAT, know that...
Skipper and I just might meet up with your mom and dad in MDR if they have time in early Feb, we'll be out that way...
We think and talk about you all the time...
Stay safe as always,
Daveh & Skipper
dave@davehickson.com
@ Bill Mann, good to see you back online for sure, hang in there, adveristy builds character, but you know that I know...
Daveh
Zac,
Good to hear that your on your way again. Since you are now at the tip of the african continent beware the almighty GREAT WHITE shark. Which you are well aware of since you live in California. Let us know if you see any and also while in port, try to take a cage trip out to see them up close.
Take Care
Rodney Birditt
Anchors stowed Capt!
Have been studying, via Ugrib & the SA Weather Service, the weather conditions you'll be running into. Hopefully, you'll make it into port by Wednesday.
I've yet to locate (but am not done searching) how to pronounce the "traditional welcome" for East London (Affrikans: Ooos Londen). Maybe one of the other ZacPac'ers will be able to find out how to pronounce it. Taken from Wikipedia: MOLO, MOLWENI, the traditional welcoming exchange between people, when meeting, in the Xhosa language, the predominate language of the Eastern Cape, however, English is understood by all.
Safe Journey Capt Zac!
@ Bill - welcome back Sir. 'Tis good to read your words again. :)
@ DaveH - nice pic of you & Skipper.
Warm Fuzzy HUGS!
Tomi/ATL
Warmest wishes as you return to sea, Zac. So sorry this message cannot convey the joy your entire experience is providing me.
DC in Oxnard
Hi Zac:
Glad to know that you are back at sea doing what you do. I join everyone in wishing a successful voyage to the next port of call. That means a few prayers for good weather!
Very sorry to hear of the sad situation with he Sailor, Marta. I hope she has a fraction of your moxy for doing what has to be done and getting under way again.
Mom Sunderland's post gave excellent information on Marta's travails, and I'd like to say that it has not dampened my confidence that Captain Zac will make it to port in fine fettle.
Does Marta have a website? I find that following along with you and keeping casual tabs on Mike Perham, I still have a significant capacity for keeping up with all of you remarkable people.
@Bill Mann: Welcome back, friend. Hope that everything is now going your way. We've missed you. Once again, the circle is unbroken.
May God bless you, Zac, and may he remain at your shoulder where he has been since June 14, 08.
The Croaker
okay, what happened to Marta?? any info???
Glad to have you back at sea Zac!! keep up the blogs!! I enjoy reading all the details of what you are experiencing, I'm guessing that is why you are writing... but you must know we like more of them to continue our interest. Mahalo!~
Aaron
hey zac
was great meeting you and taking you sailing the duban way..
was sad say bye yesterday but hey there are new adventures coming along for you!
keep well will be thinking of you
durban friend :)
In case anyone missed the write up about Marta losing her boat -- which Zac mentions in this blog entry, you can read the posts from Willvp/East London.
Willvp's post is the first in the comments section from Zac's mother's posting of January 10.
An odd story, in that Marta and the 2nd person aboard were reportedly asleep when their boat dragged anchor off of Kenton, about 50 miles north of their desitnation of Port Elizabeth.
Sounds terrifying, as their boat drifted toward shore and was soon in 12-foot breaking surf. Report tells of quite a rescue story, with two rescue swimmers reaching the boat and tying a towline to the mast as waves crash over them. Then the rescue boat had to bash through the breaking suf as it dragged the sailboat -- and its anchor. Finally the anchor line parted and the rescue craft was able to pull the boat off the beach and to port, as the rescue swimmers stayed aboard and manned a pump.
QUESTION: Why would they anchor off of such a rough coast? And with 2 people onboard, why didn't one person continue sailing the boat -- under greatly reduced sail if necessary, while the other rested?
LESSON for ZAC: No matter how exhausted you might get, don't anchor on an exposed ocean coast. Would be better to shorten sail down to a bit of a jib and just slowly reach back and forth if you needed to eat up some time so that you arrived in port at daylight. The old sea captains called this "humbugging."
Report says Marta's boat is in bad shape, as the keel was pushed through the haul by the pounding surf.
Fortunately, no one lost their life. Would be interesting to hear why they thought it would be safe to drop anchor along the coast of the Indian Ocean, especially when their destination port was only 50 miles away.
Perhaps the water was flat when they went to sleep, but you just can't trust the ocean like that.
-- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
Hi There Zac,
It's great to read that you have made yet another departure on your way back home. Be safe and best wishes for an uneventful leg. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Bob in OKC
Good luck and good prayers Zac. You are going to need them both for this leg of the journey (probably the most treacherous I imagine!). You are a great sailor and seem to always know what to do and how to fix things so I don't think you will ever end up on the beach until you get home for your big party!!
Take your time, be careful and by all means, let us know the exciting details of what happens going around that cape!!
Patrick
Hey Zac,
Good to hear you are back at sea.
Sending good thoughts and prayers for a safe passage to your next port!
Mona
Tucson, AZ
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