Friday, March 27, 2009

Departure - Take Four!

Zac and friend spent much of today reassembling the Monitor windvane, getting it back to the boat and reattaching it to Intrepid. Zac jumped in the water to ensure that everything was lined up and attached well. After this quote from a previous boater's experience with getting ashore at St Helena, I have new understanding as to why he may have been reluctant to haul the thing ashore. As it was, parents grabbed their children and stared as Zac walked down the street with the vane in arms!

This quote is from the folks on board the S/V Valiam out of Australia. It describes their experience getting ashore at Jamestown on St Helena. They were berthed next to Zac when he arrived in Durban and are slightly ahead of him on a very similar route.

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/valiam/?xjMsgID=81421

"Shortly after anchoring at midday - 10 days 22 hours after leaving Simons Town, South Africa we were given permission over the radio by Port Control to go ashore. A young man with Creole features took us ashore in his wooden boat ('ferry'). The exciting part was disembarking as the boat rose in the swell as we had to grab hold of the hanging ropes to jump ashore on to wet concrete steps. This was not easy when we hadn't got our 'land legs'
yet! "

Winds in the bay were light so after installing the Monitor, Zac checked over everything while still moored and felt that things were functioning as they were before he dismantled the poor thing. The true test, of course, will be tomorrow as he heads out into the Atlantic.

Zac is checked out with customs again. I wonder what the guys down at customs must think as this is about the third time he has checked out!

He has had several farewell parties with his false departures. Tonight he was to have small gathering with friends and surrogate parents Mike and Bernice (thanks Betty!).

Here's to a successful launch and getting our boy home soon!

Cheers,
Marianne

13 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'll keep my fingers crossed. But I'm not worried, I have a feeling he will have smooth sailing for a while, he certainly deserves it! Speaking of smooth sailing, did you hear that Mike Perham was knocked down last night? He's fine and so is the boat, but pretty scary stuff, (50 knot winds).

March 27, 2009 at 10:10 PM  
Blogger John Gezelius said...

I do hope the repairs worked - it would be a shame to have used this precious good weather time to fix the vane and still not have it work properly. Grenada next?

March 28, 2009 at 12:03 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Natasza Caban is spelled incorrectly in the caption of the picture below...

March 28, 2009 at 12:20 AM  
Blogger Daveh said...

Just saw on Facebook, that Zac is departing...

March 28, 2009 at 3:50 AM  
Blogger Douglas Pistone said...

Hello All,

Hopefully Zac will be able to set sail real soon and get on with the journey.

I only read about Mike Perham here on the blog but I believe we need to send a few prayers out his way. Thank goodness he's all right.

Please check the weather window before you leave.

Ready to Sail?
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California

March 28, 2009 at 7:09 AM  
Anonymous Laura said...

So you know how they say, things happen for a reason..well we know that Zac at about 3 weeks is ready for land.. im pretty sure this has been his longest stay on land and for good reason...now he's pretty much sick of land and is so ready to sail.. this next leg will go much faster now that he was land locked for so long..at least that's my thoughts.
Be ever so careful Zac on this long one!!
We will definitely talk to you in 4 weeks if you can't chat on fb. Sail safe.
Laura BD

March 28, 2009 at 7:57 AM  
Blogger Anita said...

Sail on Captain Zac!!
Good on ya mate!
Fair winds and following seas.
Hugs
Anita
Waterlo, NY
Captain SV "Wombat"

March 28, 2009 at 10:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I so pray this is the ONE ! We all want our Zac headed to the Panama Canal on this long leg. But we also want all to be perfect as far as the repairs go.
Go with God, Zac and may you have fair winds all the way home.
Kathy
Bend, OR

March 28, 2009 at 10:08 AM  
Blogger Becky said...

Bon Voyage Zac,

I'll be watching Google earth weather and hopefully you will have fast, smooth sailing.

I'll have to check on Natasza's blog and see when she departs and where she is sailing to. I am glad you got to meet her while stranded on beautiful, friendly St. Helena.

A big thanks to everyone who contributed to Zac's stay in St. Helena and for everyone who kept us updated while Zac was there.

It would have been interesting to watch you take that windvane in considering how you have to get on land from a 'ferry.' Crazy stuff!

Stay tethered and keep the emergency bag close, just in case!

Namaste~~

March 28, 2009 at 11:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

It's out of the way, and hopefully it won't be needed, but is Ascension Island a possible stop if further repair needs arise?

March 28, 2009 at 3:44 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good luck on departure Zac, and as always a safe next leg!

Ray & Deanna
Clovis CA

March 28, 2009 at 8:08 PM  
Blogger Unknown said...

Zac,
Glad to hear that the repairs are completed and you are on your way.

Safe journey on to Grenada "The spice isle". Small island but Second largest producer of nutmeg in the world.

@Marianne
Do you know where Zac will be berthing in Grenada. Please post his address

Zac, stay safe and be careful

Sherna

March 29, 2009 at 11:29 AM  
Anonymous Axel said...

Tonight at 8 e/p on ewam channel
White Squal is running

March 29, 2009 at 1:26 PM  

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