Headed Home
I dropped the dock lines early this afternoon after an awesome experience in Panama. The people have been great as usual. A special thanks to the Flamenco Marina for sponsoring my slip and fuel on departure. It was a great surprise to learn that the manager of the marina is Josh Clark's father. Josh Clark set out to become the youngest solo circumnavigator about the same time I did. I never knew many details about his trip but he has since abandoned his attempt. According to his dad, he is currently in Germany.
I don't have time tonight with the lightning storms and ships for a long blog but wanted to let you all know that I am officially on my way home!
Peace,
Zac
A BIT OF BUSINESS:
We will be testing out Zac's Newsletter function very soon. There will be an exclusive look at something very special in the first Newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to send out important updates such as any touring/speaking that Zac may do after his return, documentary release and book release. If you want the 'inside scoop' please sign up today! Sign up is very simple. Click on the red 'My Newsletter' link on the right here. => After registering with your email address you will receive a confirmation email in which you will need to confirm that you do indeed want to receive Zac's Newsletter.
Here are the daily position reports from Zac's Grenada to Panama leg:
Positions from Grenada to Colon, Panama:
05/07/09 Depart Grenada
05/08/09 1934Z 12 39.393N 64 48.277W
05/09/09 1637Z 12 54.212N 67 13.877W
05/10/09 2000Z 13 34.913N 70 21.423W
05/11/09 1500Z 12 01.923N 72 15.287W
05/12/09 1503Z 11 53.298N 74 35.899W
05/13/09 1521Z 10 58.906N 76 56.984W
05/14/09 1500Z 10 12.264N 78 45.054W
ZAC'S AP INTERVIEW:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12454637
LINE DRAWING OF INTREPID -prepared by Mike Smith (with interior drawings to come - thanks Mike!)
I don't have time tonight with the lightning storms and ships for a long blog but wanted to let you all know that I am officially on my way home!
Peace,
Zac
A BIT OF BUSINESS:
We will be testing out Zac's Newsletter function very soon. There will be an exclusive look at something very special in the first Newsletter. The purpose of the newsletter is to send out important updates such as any touring/speaking that Zac may do after his return, documentary release and book release. If you want the 'inside scoop' please sign up today! Sign up is very simple. Click on the red 'My Newsletter' link on the right here. => After registering with your email address you will receive a confirmation email in which you will need to confirm that you do indeed want to receive Zac's Newsletter.
Here are the daily position reports from Zac's Grenada to Panama leg:
Positions from Grenada to Colon, Panama:
05/07/09 Depart Grenada
05/08/09 1934Z 12 39.393N 64 48.277W
05/09/09 1637Z 12 54.212N 67 13.877W
05/10/09 2000Z 13 34.913N 70 21.423W
05/11/09 1500Z 12 01.923N 72 15.287W
05/12/09 1503Z 11 53.298N 74 35.899W
05/13/09 1521Z 10 58.906N 76 56.984W
05/14/09 1500Z 10 12.264N 78 45.054W
ZAC'S AP INTERVIEW:
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_12454637
LINE DRAWING OF INTREPID -prepared by Mike Smith (with interior drawings to come - thanks Mike!)
posted by Zac at
8:28 AM
31 Comments:
Heading home. Wow! I'm feeling a bit wistful after reading the Mercury Journal story and todays blog. This is the last (scheduled)time I'll hear that Zac is departing.
Sail safe, Zac! Can't wait to greet you upon your return!
Safe sailing, Zac. I've so enjoyed following you around the world.
Looking at Mike's line drawing... I get the cross painted on the keel. What's the design on the rudder?
Whoot whoot.."officially on my way home" words that bring tears to my eyes.
If I feel this way,i can only imagine how your family and friends are feeling..what you have done is just unbelievable Zac..has HARPO called yet?
I can't wait to see the crazy footage you talked about..just not till your back safe and sound otherwise us worry warts will stress more than normal lol.
Please Please stay alert more now then ever!!
You should have some reading material from your fans just in case you get board lol fat chance huh?
OK capt. sale safe..just a few more days till we all turn our Zac calender to June!
See you soon!
Laura BD
Godspeed dear zac.....deb
And so off he goes, into electrical storms and the exhausting live-or-die work of watching out for the insane freighter traffic that fans out for hundreds of miles from the Panama Canal.
"Do Hard Things," is something I've seen Zac write of, and he certainly seems to be doing that again tonight.
Forecast for the next week is light air on the nose (www.passageweather.com) which will mean that it will take much longer for Zac to get out of the danger zone of ships heading out from and heading into the Panama Canal.
The light airs will also make it more difficult for Zac to get out of the way of the crazy freighters that run without lights and just as likely without anyone paying attention on the helm.
Like the sailors of another age, his life right now is one of Always Saying Goodbye.
Should make the homecoming all the sweeter some weeks on down the line.
Meanwhile, some good could come to all the rest of us who manage to figure out just what it might mean in our own lives to take that path to "Do Hard Things."
-- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
Wow, Zac. You're really at the light at the end of the tunnel. Another 5 weeks maybe? Looking forward to your triumphant return!
:)
Scott
Wonderful to hear from you Zac...in the midst of a busy escape from that area of many ships.Kinda wondered if it would be really busy...hope they keep their lights on and answer your messages this time.
Sail on home.
UK friend
As much as Zac yearns to be home, I have to say that I am going to miss his blogs and hear about his adventures. Whatever will we read once his trip is completed??? Me being the wunderlust kind of person would NOT be wanting my trip to end. I could travel on and on forever. I could not imagine living back in a house with my parents after being so independent for a year. I would yearn to sail into the wind to seek out yet another great set of memories. Please tell us Zac, how will you go back to being 'normal'???
ABC news did a big feature prior to Zac leaving, typically including a roster of self-proclaimed expert sailors who insisted this was a fool hardy, dangerous, irresponsible endeavor. Chorused by a collection of equally self-proclaiming family and parenting experts, eager to wrap Marianne and Laurences's knuckles for allowing Zac to do this blah blah blah :-) ... So where are these big mouths and ABC now?
If Zac turns 18 in November. And if he gets back latest end June. He has 4 months before he turns 18.
What I think should happen upon completetion of this, and I'd bet Zac would go for it, is for corporate America to pony up a couple million dollars. We'll put together a brand spanking new bearingless Open 60 highest of hight tech latest of latest technology racing sail boats. Fully laden with everything conceiveable and necessary. Give Zac a hair and say "GO".
That is, the youngest unassisted, solo, non-stop round the world sailor in under 4 months and before he turns 18.
Then we can tell "them" all out "there" to stick it where the sun don't shine :-)
Make that, youngest solo circumnavigator via the Panama Canal & youngest solo unassisted, non stop circumnavigator.
In fact let's do it one better, in a trimaran and go for the world speed record on top of being the youngest.
What say Zac about that?
Which company out there want's to put some money down now on this "boy"?
:-)
How is it sailing in a lighting storm? Do you have precautions set so as not to be hit by lighting, I mean you have a nice lighting rod sticking straight out of the boat! I just think I would be scared to death :)
Congradulations on all the hard work....you certainly have been a great role model for all of our youth.
Arrive safely and god speed.
Bethany
Hello Zac,
Well it's great to hear you're heading back home and it's the last leg. Please make sure you stay alert. We are all rooting for you and I can't wait for your return.
Stay focused because you'll have some tough sailing ahead. I have all the confidence in your abilities especially since you have almost made it AROUND THE WORLD!!!
Sail On,
Douglas Pistone
MDR, California
Yeah Zac! So incredible to think you're headed out on your last leg of this journey... As always, I look forward to reading your next blog! As someone else commented, sure would be interesting to get your thoughts on the fact that this is your last leg, although I'm sure you're mostly focused on your constant present situation of being out there in the elements.
Thank you for including the line drawing of Intrepid - all I know about sailing is what I've read on this blog, but I do happen to be an engineer, so a design is always helpful and interesting!
In my prayers daily, Zac.
Peace, Your Oklahoma Well-Wisher
Is it possible that Zac's position on 5/11 is
13 01.923N 72 15.287W
instead of
12 01.923N 72 15.287W??
Axel
@ Axel: I noticed that as well. I think Zac's North coordinate may be 13 01.923N because he never did go too close to shore. I'll have to check for certain with Zac though.
Marianne
Godspeed, fair winds, and safe home, Zac. You and your family have my prayers.
Papajock
WOW, never knew about the cross on the keel. Did anyone? Chilling, consider the safe passage Zac's been granted throughout as he nears completion. The thing on the rudder looks like either a seagull or a seal with its mouth open, or if you really try, something diving the other why round, either two legs sticking up or something else.
Maybe it's a secret :)
Congrats Zac, hard to believe, but about this time last year, you were just getting things going...
Be safe!
Daveh & Skipper
dave@davehickson.com
Well Zac, I'm wishing you fair weather and safe sailing.
It will be interesting to see how many miles you tick off in a day going against the wind. Perhaps the winds will be kind and give you a boost instead.
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
The days pass happily with me wherever my ship sails.
- Joshua Slocum
♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫ ♫
Namaste~~
Zac,
Great to hear that you are underway on your final leg. But like so many other bloggers I don't want the trip to end. It's been so exciting traveling along with you.
Stay safe!
Mona
Tucson, AZ
Hi There Zac,,
May this leg of your journey be memorable and exciting yet safe and with less stress than some of the previous legs. This chapter of your life is fast coming to completion, and we will all look forward to your homecoming. May there be many, many more chapters to come, living a good life is a goal in itself. And thank you so much for letting us all share in your experience, it has been an amazing year of milestones as we watched you circle the globe. Be safe and watchful as these last miles slide beneath you.
Blessings,
Bob in OKC
Have a safe trip home, Zac!
Blessings -
Marie, WA St.
I read somewhere? that Zac now wants to climb Mt. Everest. I just thought I would mention that I just read on his blog that Johnny Strange just made the summit to Mt. Everest. He just became (next part copied from his blog www.strangeoneverest.com) the youngest American to climb Mount Everest and the youngest person in the world to climb the Seven Tallest Summits on each Continent. Climbing with his Dad, Brian Strange, Johnny has climbed Mt Vinson in Antarctica at age 12, Mount Elbrus in Russia, Mount Aconcagua in Argentina, Mount Denali in Alaska and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa.
Nancy from West Hills, CA
Save voyage, remember one hand for the ship and one for you.
Mike Perham left Auckland today so now you are both on the same ocean again. God Speed to you both. Julia
GO HOME ZAC!
It is exciting to think about the trip coming to a close but this last leg is just as dangerous as any you've completed so you and your family are in my prayers for a safe journey. You are much more confident now than one year ago but the risk has not changed. I have really enjoyed following you around the world but I will feel relieved when you arrive safely back home!
Doesn't Hurricane season start in less than a week?
YIKES.
SteveB
Birmingham,AL
I love the sketch of the boat. How does that little wind vane rudder keep that big boat on course? It seems like it would just drag through the water, especially beating into the wind?
Dan Bergmann
Walnut Creek, CA
Way to go Zac!!
You are doing a fantastic job.
I love following your famous trip!
What is the first thing you will want to do once your home?
Crystal in WA
Can anyone advise me why there is so much concern regarding "hurricane season" in the Pacific on this last return leg? When Zac departed MdR he left approximately 3 weeks later than "now" and he headed out into the open Pacific. I don't remember reading of any concerns on the outbound leg regarding Hurricanes..
Thanks
Zac:
Would like to hear your philosophical thoughts on being on the last leg. At this time, there is no more thinking and planning the next leg. No arranging for spare parts and maintence items to meet you at the next port of call. -- Do not become complacent and over-confident. The sea has not changed.
My prayers for your continued success and safety will not end until I see Jenny's photos of you and Intrepid snigly tied up in MDR and your family surrounding you.
The Croaker
Zac,
May you have safe passage home, fair winds and following seas. God and His angles have been with you this entire voyage, and will never leave your side....as I've written before, be sure to be still and listen.
Have some fun too!!!
Hugs from one of your biggest fans
Anita M. Miracle RDH
Waterloo, NY
Captain SV "Wombat" ~~~_/)
@Danvers asked about the hurricane season concerns, and why this wasn't a worry when Zac departed.
Last year wasn't a concern because hurricanes don't travel up to MDR from where Zac departed. The big worry is something coming across Mexico from the Gulf of Mexico.
From my cozy armchair, I'm not actually much worried about the Hurricane season. It starts off slowly, and most of the hurricanes stay along the southern half of the East Coast, or bounce around the eastern to central end of the Gulf of Mexico before coming ashore and dissipating.
Having said that, a few years ago a friend of mine was delivering a power boat to Micronesia and had to skirt a hurricane that did come overland and re-form on the Pacific side. And . . . plenty of weather systems that aren't quite hurricane force (sustained winds of 72 knots, I believe) can still cause plenty of damage as severe low pressure systems.
So, there is probably more anxiety than danger, but Zac has got 3,000 miles to go, and between Panama and Marina Del Rey in Los Angeles, just about anything can happen -- including an early season hurricane, or a nasty tropical depression.
He's a lot braver than I am -- a statement I could have made along every step of his journey.
- Grant Fjermedal, Seattle
Hi Zac! I bet you are so excited to be going home! That was really super cool about going through the panama canal! I hope that I'll get to meet you some day! Let me know if you're ever up by Fresno. My grandpa sails out of Newport sometimes too. Maybe I'll go with him some time. What is the first thing you want to do when you get home???
My chemo is going good. We are about 1/3 done with burning the skin off my face. I had a tough day. Some kids were making fun of me today, and I just lost it and had to go home. I'm better now and went to AWANA tonight. Those kids are just dumb. I know that they fear what they don't understand. I know that I'm going to have nice skin when I'm done with all this. Oh...and I almost got straight A's! One B in math. The doctors said the chemo and radiation might make doing math hard, but it was a high B!
Hope to hear all good stuff on your journey home. You should stop in San Diego and see Shamu! :)
Cheers!
Your Buddy, Parker
caringbridge.org/ca/parkerfritsch
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