Weather Watching & Waiting
Everything is going well here in Durban. The repairs are getting finished and I’m still waiting for a good weather window for the next leg to East London. The trip to EL is only about 250 miles and I should be able to do that in 2 days easily. The problem comes when a storm from the southern ocean rips up the coast changing the wind direction and pushing the swells against the current making massive breaking swells. So it is extemely important to get a good weather window which will hopefully be here by the end of the week. I’ll be going up the mast tomorrow to finish up the rigging work. I’ve been talking with the local sailors and comparing notes with my other advisors. I'm looking forward to getting out to sea again and making my way home.
Cheers,
Zac
Cheers,
Zac
posted by Zac at
2:28 PM
36 Comments:
Good job. Nice picture w/ birthday camera. Anybody else thinks Zac has "aged" a tad during the voyage?
Wind against current is always nasty business.
Take your time and catch a good weather window.
We'll all be relieved when you wave goodbye to Cape of Good Hope and start heading north for home.
-- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
Post Script: If you haven't made contact with Mike Perham, it might be fun. He's just about to cross the Equator southbound, heading toward Cape of Good Hope on his outbound leg. Would be fun if you could know when your paths officially crossed in the South Atlantic.
I will be on my knees for good weather, Zac. You are AWESOME!!!!!
Kathy
Bend,OR
Hey Zac and family! I hope you're all doing well in this new year. I'll keep praying for a weather window for you, Zac, sailing without one sounds like a sticky situation that would best be avoided.
Just thought I'd mention that in every one of my classes today a teacher or classmate has asked me how you're doing! You have quite a fan base here in Oregon!
Many prayers,
Halle S. in Oregon
skipper of the Dread Pirate Roberts! (14ft of pure pirate!)
Great to hear that you're just about ready to move on, weather permitting, of course.
I trust that you have provisioned well in the unfortunate event that a two day trip turns into four.
Looking forward (with a bit of anxiety) to your next leg(s). I believe that you're up to challange and am happy that you're well rested and fed! Am also looking forward to seeing you enter the marina on your return!
Sounds like a plan, now just a question of "pullin the trigger".
How's the remake of the Captain's Lounge menu? Have fun with the stove gimble. If U got a a tall stock pot U can cook some good meals. The tall walls of the pot will keep spillage to a minimum. Additionally it nice to have the smells of something cooking down in the galley. Pick up a few bottles of some S.A. buttery chardonays to cook with. When u catch those fish u can make a great sauce and the aroma will be exqusite!
Hello Zac & Everyone,
I hope you find that nice weather window and will be able to leave soon. Make all those final repairs so you're ready when the weather clears up.
Happy New Year,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Keeping you in my prayers for a good weather window -- look foward to hearing more tales from the sea! Take care, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Hi Zac !
Am stand by in East London to assist when/if you need some.
Will
East London/ SA
082-5567-200
What ever happened to the weekly auction to benefit Zac?
Hey Zac – Good to hear you’re almost ready again… Over here in the Gulfstream, when the wind and currents oppose, we call it “elephants on the horizon”… Even a summer thunderstorm can turn the Gulfstream from a placid lake to 10 to 15’ in a heartbeat…
Play it safe, as always…
Daveh & Skipper
dave@davehickson.com
Follow Zac's next legs here:
http://www.buoyweather.com/wxnav6.jsp?region=south_africa&program=Maps
Click on the Red Dots @ Durban, Port Edward, Umtata, Mdantsane(=East London) to see what he will encounter.
I know from experience entering the Columbia River from the Ocean and the 'bar' ports on the Oregon and California coasts just how dangerous it can be to have wind and current opposed.
What Zac is facing off the south tip of Africa is potentially much worse.
He'll need all our thoughts and prayers, and he certainly has mine.
God speed, fair winds, and safe home, Zac.
John MacGregor
overseas
Zac-
The latest pic of you is definitely Zac the "man" ---not a "boy" anymore.
Have a good ride to Capetown.
Kodiak Mike
That's not age, that's just the look of experience and maturity. :)
Hope the trip over to East London is well timed and goes smoothly.
Cheers,
willy
milford, ohio
Zac,
Glad to hear that you are preparing for your next leg and then homeward bound.
Will be praying for you as you find that window to attempt this treacherous leg.
Prayers and Hugs
Buena Suerte
Sherna
Hi Zac! Hope you get your good weather soon.
My appointment at Stanford didn't go so great. They just don't know what to do with me. I guess I'm a walking science experiment. I have to go back to Duke in a couple of weeks to see more doctors, but I like it there and my dad is going with me.
I got to go snowboarding over Christmas vacation. It was totally fun! I almost never fall down! I think the bigger people were irratated by watching me fly by them. Ha! :) Do you snowboard?
The "Extreme Home Makeover" home edition is in my town right now and I got a V.I.P. visitor pass to the set! How cool is THAT?! I'm going to go watch them knock down the house on Saturday. I'll take pictures.
Have you ever seen a whale out there? I bet the stars are awesome. I got a telescope for Christmas. I like looking at the moon! What food do you miss the most that you can't have out there?
Stay safe!
Your buddy, Parker
caringbridge.org/ca/parkerfritsch
Zac,
Sounds like you might want to test the safety harness before setting sail but here is hoping that you never need it. Reading between the lines...if the weather window is forecast correctly you will likely cover the 2 day sail without major problems. Funny how big the IF becomes.
Best of luck,
SteveB
Birmingham, AL
Hope you get good weather & are homeward bound soon.
You're probably enjoying SA heat while we're here in Alberta with 18inches of snow... :)
praying for you daily.
~Jessica from Alberta, CAnada
~Be strong and of good courage, neither be afraid nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.~ Joshua 1:9
Hi,
Here Will from East London, South Africa.
re: Zac's next leg Durban-East London.
I approached our local newspaper www.dispatch.co.za and asked them if they were interested in covering Zac's arrival in East London port, with an interview and a lot of pictures for their newspaper.
In first instance, I told the newspaper that Zac's efforts are a very good example for our local youth.
The newspaper already allocated a reporter and he is ready for when Zac arrives in East London.
Can Zac agree to have an interview and some pictures taken?
pls advise so that I can organize.
Will Van pellicom
tel 082-5567-200
here is my e-mail address
willvp@iafrica.com
Will
East London
Hey Zac,
Glad to see your enjoying your stay in SA. I was wondering if you got the "No Fear" hoodie i sent you? When i took it to the post office, they gave me a funny look when they saw where it was going..i asked why.. they said that it may not make it to you because of theft?? Im hope thats not true and you got it?
Enjoy the rest of your stay and stat safe sailing to your next port!!
Laura Bermuda Dunes CA
@ Will in East London -
You can eMail Zac's parents (Marianne and Laurence) at zacsworldadventure@yahoo.com
Good luck, nice leg work for Zac and the exposure!
Daveh
dave@davehickson.com
Happy l-a-t-e Birthday, Zac!-Sorry, but I haven't been on your blog in awhile- :o)
Hope you get that weather window you need!-Godspeed!!
~Nicole.N.
Hi, Zac. I'll wish for good weather this week. I hear that even though Good Hope is the 'good' cape, it is still rough.
Break a leg!
Scott
:)
Good luck Zac!
What are you up too?
Ted Speedy PA
By the time I'd finished reading the blog comment posts, I saw DaveH (a more pure spirit I've yet to encounter living in me home state!) had already posted me thoughts - God love ya man! Me best to Skipper too!
Sir Bill -
We've not heard from you in some time. I truly hope your mechanical/electrical troubles are past. Please let us/me know if there's anything we might do to help - I'll continue to ck yer website for items I might be able to enhance me own home decor/furniture (& hopefully purchase!).
Lady Marilyn -
You've been quiet these last couple weeks. I pray the nasty weather has been bypassing your home (me cous', who lives in central LA said it's been rough for those livin' near/in/on the mtns, tho' he enjoys "shreddin' the mtn tops" of their snow - a boarder he be).
My thanks to all who've continued to purchase items from Capt Zac's store. I've purchased a couple more items to "fill-out" me w*rk cube & house walls, so that no matter where I look, a Hero I greatly admire, is there for me to think of & hope for, continues his journey succeeds.
I trust Team Sunderland enjoyed the Holidays & Lord Laurence is on his way toward our Blessed Capt via metal wings. 'T would be nice if Lady Marianne could join them - one may hope!
I truly pray, that this new year brings us all our most fervent hopes, dreams & heartfelt desires.
God love y'all!
Tomi/ATL
Hi
Glad that things are going well on preps for the next leg to New London. It's great to hear from you, as always, and between the lines, it sounds as if you're in good spirits and ready for wha ever is coming down the pike.
Also nice to see familiar folks on the posts and there also appears to be some new ons. Welcome to a great adventure. Zac is doing all the work and we're just lurking out here cheering him on. Great stuff.
The Croaker
@ anonymous: thanks for the "buoyweather" link for South Africa. I think this is gonna be a challenge for Zac and will cause a few sleepless nights for those of us here. Now I understand why he may need to break the trip up a bit before reaching Cape Town.
@ Grant and Dave H.: Thanks for the updates on Mike P that you post. I, myself don't always have the time to track his activities, but am glad you keep us up to date on his adventure.
@ Parker: Happy New Year! It's so good to see you here again. I do check up on you on your site to see how you're doing. Am glad that you had a good Christmas and was able to do some snow-boarding.
Have fun going to the "Extreme Makeover" demo tomorrow. I'll look forward to seeing some pics on your "caringbridge" page! God Bless you Parker!
@ Zac; Did you see the pirate pic I posted on your FB? I think it came out pretty good.
Dude, get your boat moving!! This isn't a holiday! It's an epic adventure!!
Hi, my name is Caleb. (Brenda is my mom.) I am nine years old.I have been praying for you. Everything is possible with God.
I read about you in God's World News. I heard about all the lightning storms, so I will really pray about that.
God bless you,
John Caleb Eastwood
O.K. U can tell Old Uncle Roar..that U are really just land lubbing until after the SD Bolts beat the tar out of the Steelers this weekend! RIGHT ON BROTHER...U are preaching to the converted!!! The Anonymous Epic Adventure Dude (AEAD) will just have to wait! ZacMan needs to catch some NFL playoff action. -And a great weekend of football it will be! Outdoors in the elements, cold, snowy, eat a greasy cheesburger, grab a cold beer, have a laugh, and make the most of a wintry weekend. Jen A where are U???
WOOF!!
Not too many things seem to go right at the Vendee 2008 but here is a link to a boat where the girl seems to have at least some fun :-)
http://www.bymnews.com/photos/displayimage.php?album=412&pid=83403
Axel
heye@madisoncounty.net
@Rory, don't know if you saw the latest SI, but it doesn't look good for SD, but it is the playoffs so anything can happen,,,
Rock On Zac
I'm sure you all have seen the news.. 5 less Pirates to worry about :}I hope your past the pirate area Zac?? Don't pick up any hitch hikers..one is still missing.
Stay safe!!
Laura Bermuda Dunes
@ Axel: Thanks for the link the video is great! I cannot believe how fast that boat is moving!
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