Passage Update - Mom
Hello All!
Zac's mom, Marianne, here. Sorry for the delay in posting. Laurence is off to LAX and expects to be in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon. He'll be visiting his step mother at London Heathrow during his 6 hour layover. Pretty cool! A big thank you to John Gezelius for donating his frequent flyer miles to get Laurence there.
Zac called this morning to check in. Daveh is correct about the wind. He had between 20-25 knots directly behind him. Unfortunately, the swells have been big, sharp and on the aft quarter making his ride pretty wild. The swells push Intrepid off course and cause the sails to backwind and then causing everything to slam around until Intrepid steadies herself. There is some delay while the wind vane steering corrects which is awkward. Zac was definitely not a happy guy as several times during our conversation he was thrown across the boat. He was tired from his previous night's lack of sleep. There are a huge number of ships all around including one cruise ship that decided to use him for entertainment for the passengers and came within 1/2 of a mile from him while they spoke on the radio!
After considering all the factors surrounding his passage, he has decided to head into Mossel Bay rather than push on towards Cape Town in one shot. Though, the worst of a south westerly wind should pass to the east of him, there is still enough of a south west wind to make him pretty uncomfortable. He'll slip in to Mossel Bay, rest up and head out when the low pressure system passes through.
I couldn't quite understand what Zac said about what the other 2 boats had decided to do. Our connection was poor this morning.
To say I'll be glad when everyone is in Cape Town is an understatement. I think we will all celebrate when the boys arrive!
I'll update again tonight when Zac should have arrived in Mossel Bay.
Cheers,
Marianne
Zac's mom, Marianne, here. Sorry for the delay in posting. Laurence is off to LAX and expects to be in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon. He'll be visiting his step mother at London Heathrow during his 6 hour layover. Pretty cool! A big thank you to John Gezelius for donating his frequent flyer miles to get Laurence there.
Zac called this morning to check in. Daveh is correct about the wind. He had between 20-25 knots directly behind him. Unfortunately, the swells have been big, sharp and on the aft quarter making his ride pretty wild. The swells push Intrepid off course and cause the sails to backwind and then causing everything to slam around until Intrepid steadies herself. There is some delay while the wind vane steering corrects which is awkward. Zac was definitely not a happy guy as several times during our conversation he was thrown across the boat. He was tired from his previous night's lack of sleep. There are a huge number of ships all around including one cruise ship that decided to use him for entertainment for the passengers and came within 1/2 of a mile from him while they spoke on the radio!
After considering all the factors surrounding his passage, he has decided to head into Mossel Bay rather than push on towards Cape Town in one shot. Though, the worst of a south westerly wind should pass to the east of him, there is still enough of a south west wind to make him pretty uncomfortable. He'll slip in to Mossel Bay, rest up and head out when the low pressure system passes through.
I couldn't quite understand what Zac said about what the other 2 boats had decided to do. Our connection was poor this morning.
To say I'll be glad when everyone is in Cape Town is an understatement. I think we will all celebrate when the boys arrive!
I'll update again tonight when Zac should have arrived in Mossel Bay.
Cheers,
Marianne
posted by Zac at
3:59 PM
17 Comments:
Not surprising :-(
Looks like a lot of turbulence for the entire week. Hop skip and jump accordingly, Mossel Bay [make sure tosend a post cardback home fromthe boot post office -- there's obviously a reason no one rounds the cape in one go :-), Plett can be next if needed and Simon's Town there after, and then Hout Bay.
More importantly suss out the surfers forcasts who know, read and interpret the weather better than most:
http://www.surfline.com/surfline/forecasts4/forecast.cfm?alias=southafrica
You'll get clearer interpretations and insight what it all actually means.
It's not supposed to be and easy and fun.
You're sailing around the Cape of Good Hope, the ultimate testament to any sailor wearth his skin {salted like biltong}.
Be awake and respect it.It's not a race, as many have tried to win. Take your time. Lookand learn, wait,go and when it suits you glide on in.
The Tortoise and the Hare
:-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartolomeu_Dias
Take it easy is all I can say. Your in good company and hands.
People did what you are doing many years ago, aleibt the other way round.
These are historic seas you are transvering.
Don't dispair.
You'll be alright.
Just don't push it.
You're so inspirational; congratulations on your achievements! I adore you.
Good thinking Zac. Need you safe, not fast.
The auction that starts tonight is going to start tomorrow night because Bill Mann went to FedEx to drop off today's shipping and left the chicken in the oven. On the way back from FedEx he stopped to do some shopping, forgetting that the chicken was still cooking away. Burnt chicken is not too good so he is going out to eat.
Grover Cleveland (actually Steven Grover Cleveland) was the 22nd President (1885-1889) and the 24th President (1893-1897). He was the only President that skipped a term. Although he was not the first President to get married while in office, he was the only President to get married in the White House. Because good old Grover was # 22 and # 24, only 43 guys have actually been President.
I entered all of the emails from respondents with the correct answer (no one sent the worng answer) and my random number generator has picked Kim Neuzil of Simi Valley as the winner of the contest. Kim, I already have your address because you also won Kodiak Mike's refrigator magnet so you will get the magnet and a candle holder made by the one and only Bill Mann in the mail. Congratulations. As so many people sent emails, perhaps we shall do this again in the future. Let me know what you think.
Tomorrow starts the new auction.
Bill Mann
bill@barstools4u.com
Rest is always best... One last leg after this and the Southern Ocean will be behind him...
Daveh & Skipper
dave@davehickson.com
Now I'm curious about the cruise ship using Zac as entertainment.... Did the the conversation go something like this?
Zac: Cruise ship, this is Zac Sunderland on Intrepid, 17 year-old solo-circumnavigator, we are on a collision course, changing course....
Cruise Ship: Negative Intrepid, we're heading over to you, we have 5000 Zac Packers on board who wants to see you....
LOL what on earth was that ship doing....
Be safe Zac.
Very windy indeed out there with choppy seas...Good decision to go and hide in Mossel Bay harbour.
oh wow.... I've missed a few weeks of all these bog comments.... first off, thank you Zac for the most amazing photos of my personal favorite animal... the elephant!! that had to be a wonderful experience to be sooo close! thanks for sending in some pics!
I was a little concerned with the cruise ship, but the annonymous blog was hilarious recounting the commentary between you both - very comical indeed! (5000 Zac Packers... haha quite true!)
Congratulations on passing the famous landmark and please do us all the favour and go to that Post Office that someone had talked about!!! take a photo!! you'll probably never be there again and we would love to see someone we admire be there in our lifetime!! It all sounds so rich in history! Great you are taking stops along the way on your journey!!!!!!! The Post Office sounds like an incredibale place to refect on all those sailors that have done what you are doing only in different times.... please go there!
You will no doubt enjoy your time with your dad, but I thought your mum was going to?? well, I must've read incorrectly, but she'll be there in spirit and if she's anything like me she will love lots of photos!!
Take Care Zac and big thanks go out to John Gezelius for his air miles for your dad!!!!!!!!!!!
jen
Hang on...I thought solo circumnavigating teenage etiquette on the high seas was to 'drop trou' and moon the passing cruise ship.
The "Full On Moon" (FOM) must always be respected! To dignify this slip-up I call on all ye Zac packers to moon someone in public this week!
Thanks Marianne for the update. I'm glad Zac decided to head into Mossel Bay since he is tired and needs some rest. It will be great when he gets past the southern ocean and everyone can breathe a sigh of relieve that Zac has finished this difficult leg.
Laurence, I hope you have a great flight, enjoy step mom for those 6 hours, and give Zac a great big hug when you see him. I'm sure you can't wait to finally see Zac. I'm praying for him during this difficult leg.
Sail On,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Zac,
Do whatcha gotta do to stay safe..a few more stops only makes for more good movie footage & book info:}
@Rory's..LMAO!! sent my morning coffee through my nose..Zac had to get a laugh from that idea. I think that just might make the movie.
Be safe Zac
Laura
Bermuda Dunes
Did I miss something while out with the flu? Tortoise & Hare -- are you new South African friends? Welcome and thanks for posting -- very interesting to read your advice.
@ Rory -- I have a naughty visual of ZacPackers worldwide streaking through their daily activities. LOL!
@ Marianne & Zac and entire Sunderland clan ... praying and waiting for news ... cindyincincy
Marianne,
Thanks for the update and glad to hear that Zac has decided to play it safe.
We'll all be relieved to hear that Zac and Laurence have hooked up in Cape Town.
Zac,
Prayers and good thoughts coming your way.
Stay safe!
Mona
Tucson, AZ
@Rory, "FOM" does paint an amusing visual! Definately needs to be in the movie.
For Zac & Co.
Wear some protective glasses !!
A partial eclipse of the sun will be visible from South Africa on Monday
The eclipse would start at 7am and end around 9.30am. At 8.15am the eclipse would be at its greatest.
The best view of the partial eclipse would be from Cape Town where a 65 percent eclipse would be seen.
"This will be the best solar eclipse visible from South Africa for several years - so don’t miss the opportunity," Olivier said.
"A solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves between the sun and the earth, and casting a shadow on the earth."
Eclipses only occur during the "new moon" phase of the moon when the moon is between the earth and the sun on its orbital path.
Zac, while you are in Cape Town, take the time to watch the sun go down.
Take some pictures and put them on the blog for all to see...Impressive and beautiful in my view (and I never figured it out why the sun moves so fast before she dissappeares behind the horizon....)
Will
Zac,
Wise decision to rest up. The ship's interest might have presented a nice fundraising idea. I wonder how much the cruise line or passengers would pay to hear a little presentation, while at sea, from an adventurer in route?
@Rory...Please send bail money to the Zac Pack in advance of the public mooning.
Steve B
Birmingham, AL
LOL, I most assuredly needed to read all the comments today, Thx!
I whole heartedly agree Capt, take some time & send a postcard to Lady Marianne, your siblings, maybe send two or three - one to each of your Grandmums.
Glad you made it safely into port to catcha breather.
By the time this posts, Lord Laurence should have arrived. Enjoy the time w/each other.
By the bye, you've remembered to take your anti-malarials, yes?
Warm Fuzzy HUGS!
Tomi/ATL
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