We are here

At the time of writing,14h00,we are lying 450nm due W of Walvis Bay,30nm
N of Valdivia Banks833nm from St.Helena.It's been seven days since we've
seen land,the last land being Table Mountain as it grew smaller and
smaller.Around us the blue ocean,alive and rolling in from behind,pushed
on by a gentle southerly wind.Above us blue skies,dotted with little
puffs of cloud drifting around forming all manner of shapes.

For supper last night we had delectable chicken pasta,prepared by Pieter
using Knorr chicken pasta sauce.We all had second helpings,although
Pieter is still treating his sensitive stomach with care.Inbetween we
had bread with peanut butter and syrup and hot tea to enjoy it
with.Temperature inside the boat is a pleasant 24*C.The six cappucino
muffins we baked with the bread only lasted a minute or two.

No change of sails last night.Twin headsails pushed by between 7 and 13
kts of apparent wind.Our hopes of arriving at St.Helena on Friday is
looking good.We have to maintain an average of 6 kts to arrive there in
the morning.A little extra surge of current off the slopes of the
Valdivia banks is also aiding our progress.Excellent conditions for
fishing once again but with our freezer full there is no need.

So yes,our watches comes and goes,the sun sets and rises,the moon is
growing fuller and we have settled nicely into the motion of the
ocean,the haphazard routine of watches and will have to turn the clock
back soon.The sun is now rising at past 7 and going down after 9.Time to
read a bit,think a bit and contemplate.

Our exact position at 15h00 23*56'S/006*13'E.Check it on google earth to
give you an idea of where we are on this vast expanse of water.
Signing off

Paul

P.S.Tersia,thanks so much for your comment.We love what we do and glad
that you enjoy our blog.

Week full of Fridays

It's been a "busy" night once again.From a beam reach we were more and
more sailing on a broad reach,a sometimes difficult and uncomfortable
point of sail and not very fast.At 11 last night the wind starting
climbing to 18 kts and I thought about bringing the main down to 2nd
reef.When sailing,if you think of reefing,very simply reef.I woke Brad
to assist in furling the genoa,undoing the gybe preventer,drop the
main,hook into 2nd reef,raise the main and furl out the genoa.20
minute's effort which allowed us a smoother passage,some peace of mind
and a better angle to the wind on the main.The gybe preventer between
the end of the boom and the middle cleat also has another little secret
to it.Probably illegal in racing,but a bungy cord on the gybe preventer
tied to a deckring gives us a pumping action and also prevents the main
from banging when we hit a pothole.And we sail a little faster.

4am this morning the wind has shifted to south.I decided to drop the
main,hoist the secondary headsail,furled out the genoa and a few other
small adjustments before we were on a run,right on target for
St.Helena.We are about 120nm from the Valdivia Banks,an underwater
mountain range which can get tricky in adverse conditions.Fortunately we
are passing just north of the banks without having to change course,just
keep an eye on things.

Last night Brad prepared baked tuna with tomatoes,onions and a few other
secret ingredients.Absolutely sumptious.I have just placed a bread in
the oven and Brad used the second half of the muffin mix we've used
before.In 45 minutes or so,fresh bread,muffins and lunch...mmmmm.What to
have on the bread now becomes the question.Lots of choices.

We have a gentle southerly breeze pushing us along,following seas,sun is
shining and things are very much relaxed out here.Clair,thanks for the
comment.You ladies also work at all hours and we salute the great work
you do for people in dire need.It takes a lot of bravery and heart to do
what you ladies do.

Our position @ noon 25*33'S/08*18'E.970nm from St.Helena and hoping to
arrive there on Friday next.Hey hey,nearly forgot,it is FRIDAY!!Out here
we seem to have a week of Fridays,just rolling into each other.Take care
and touch base again tomorrow.

Paul

20 kg Longfin Tuna on handline !

Yesterday late afternoon,after supper was served and all cleaned up,Brad and myself were talking about fishing after looking
at some photos of fish we've landed on deliveries.Next moment the tin we rig as an alarm sounded and the line was totally
taught.In a flash I was there and experienced the thrill of a fish on a handline.I soon gave the line to Brad so he could
experience his first fish on the ocean.It was on his watch and therefore his baby.After a short while the line slacked and
the tuna was swimming towards the boat.Suddenly he powered away again and inflicted a nice little line burn on Brad's
finger,a little battle scar.The boat is ok.By this time Pieter was out with sailing gloves and together they hauled in this
beast of a beauty.They pulled it aboard,tied a noose around the tail,made a few cuts to bleed and we dragged it backwards
through the water.Once it stopped flapping we pulled it back in and set about processing the body.We filled our freezer,made
some biltong and also had sushimi,the freshest these guys have ever had.We will post some pictures once in St.Helena.

Pieter is much much better with his sealegs and really starting to enjoy the trip.Brad is opting to sleep in the lounge when
it gets a bit bumpy up front.Both are shaping excellent in all manners relating to sailing a vessel and enjoying it.Missing
the loved ones as we all are all the time,but we do what we do because it is what we do best.

Since about 9 last night the wind has veered back to SW and we are sailing on a beam reach making great miles.Weather
predicts that we should be having S or SE.At first I thought the SW will only be around for a short while and opted to stay
on a run with the twin headsails and were pushed up N,even NNE.We dropped the one headsail at midnight and turned NW
again,making fair miles and still expecting the wind to back S.At 3 this morning when Brad took over watch,we furled the
genoa,raised the main,unfurled the genoa and sailing fast.I can see the swell is starting to run in from the S and the wind
is just starting to put us on a broad reach.If this all sounds too technical,in a nutshell we are having fun and doing the
best with what we get.

Our position now @ 12:30 27*02'S/10*29'E.Distance to St.Helena 1120nm,ETA 18/02 @ 6kts.Distance to Greece 6590nm,ETA 10/04 @
5kts and four days for stops.The week is nearly over and wishing you a pleasant day ahead.

Paul

Building up momentum

What a fantastic run we've had last night.The swell is building,the wind
steady between 9-12 kts apparent and we are averaging just over 7
kts/hr.Fastest speed we've had was 8.8 kts.We also lost our navlight
lense up front.The loose headsail we fly with the furling genoa is tied
down with a line between the two cleats and although I tied it down
tight to prevent this from happening,it happened.When we get to
St.Helena we will see what we can get,in the meantime a small tupperware
bowl will suffice to protect the globe.We just by change also have red
and green lids from which I will rig a temporary navlight.Fortunately
there isn't much shipping this way but we will take extra care on our
watches.

It is Lisa's birthday today.Lisa is Brad's lady friend and spend some
time on the boat while we were in Cape Town.Happy b/day Lisa and may the
year ahead be the best one yet.Brad baked some cappucino muffins to
celebrate Lisa's 24th.I'm sure they still check her ID at places where
no under 18's are allowed.

As for Pieter,he was shocked that his wife Bonny isn't missing him much
yet.Whilst in Cape Town they invited us over for a braai on Thursday
night,two nights before our departure.We had a feast,excellent company
and enjoyed it very much.Bonny.......have a heart!Tell Pieter you can't
breath without him,can't think,can't sleep.Just joking.They have got
plans and this is part of it,and they are willing to pay the price.Looks
like Pieter is getting better at not feeding the fish.Maybe Bonny's
tough love stance is doing the trick for him.

As for me ,I am also missing my family dearly.Fortunately they are used
to it and we have learned to adapt.My little one has started gr 2 and
she seems to be growing by the minute.

I just let the lure out again and conditions look very good for catching
a fish.Not many flying fish around yet.Yesterday we had a visit from
some whales.Pieter saw them and said they were rather small whales.Could
have been pilot whales.I always try to get a photo or two to assist in
identifying these beautiful creatures and have obviously also had more
experience to look for certain characteristics which would make it
easier to identify.

My turn to cook tonight.Beef stew with rice is on the menu.If you want
to reserve a seat,places are limited so please book well in advance.

Our position now at 11 am is 29*04'S/012'02'E.Wind 10kts SSW.Hope to be
at St.Helena next week Friday.

Go you well.

Paul

Up and running

It is the third day since we departed from Cape Town.The first two days
we had slight headwinds allowing us to sail either west or north.The
first day we opted to head more north as it gave us a better VMG.15
miles west of Saldanha we found some current and the wind also started
to back more towards west as expected.Yesterday the wind settled at SW
and we could sail on a beam reach straight for St.Helena.This morning
the wind has backed to south south east and we are at last on a run.It
is interesting to see how the direction of the swell changes before the
wind reaches you,hours in advance.It is then a young sea,not settled and
a bit bouncy with light winds as the direction shifts.Once it settles
you start building momentum and the wind follows suit.We are once again
sailing with twin headsails and although heavily loaded we are in the
sixes with 10 kts of apparent wind from behind.The swell is starting to
build up in the direction of the wind and current and starting to surf a
little here and there.with the sun shining,scattered clouds and a soft
blue sea the stage is set for a few days of pure bliss.

Crewmember Pieter du Preez is slowly starting to grow sealegs,a beard
and it his turn to prepare supper tonight.Lambchops and butternut baked
in the oven.Salivating just at the thought of it.Tomorrow I will bake
some muffins,capucinno ones perhaps for breakfast.Brad is settling in
nicely as well,Bradley James Cannon for the record.

We have a lure out behind the boat and who knows,soon I can invite you
over for some sushimi like you've never tasted before and a setting you
can only dream of,or not.It is your choice.

Last night I was on the 9 to midnight watch and helming was divine.With
the evening star and the sickle moon on the horizon to aim for,I
remembered once again why I love sailing so much.My daughter reckons the
only problem with daddy's job is that he has no problems.She is seven
and has crossed and ocean,7700nm from Cape Town to Belize.So who will
refute her wisdom.My lovely wife and I have learned to weather the
storms a bit better,storm tactics if you will.I see the storm coming and
deal with it calmly,even though a storm might be brewing inside of
me.After the storm we get back on track and get some miles behind
us.Can't remember a crossing I've done without a few storms,some worse
than others,but storms none the less.

It is nearly time for me to start my 6 to 9 pm watch so time for me to
sign off.Wishing you all the best and looking immensily forward to
having you aboard for a while.

Paul

Paul

Up and running

It is the third day since we departed from Cape Town.The first two days
we had slight headwinds allowing us to sail either west or north.The
first day we opted to head more north as it gave us a better VMG.15
miles west of Saldanha we found some current and the wind also started
to back more towards west as expected.Yesterday the wind settled at SW
and we could sail on a beam reach straight for St.Helena.This morning
the wind has backed to south south east and we are at last on a run.It
is interesting to see how the direction of the swell changes before the
wind reaches you,hours in advance.It is then a young sea,not settled and
a bit bouncy with light winds as the direction shifts.Once it settles
you start building momentum and the wind follows suit.We are once again
sailing with twin headsails and although heavily loaded we are in the
sixes with 10 kts of apparent wind from behind.The swell is starting to
build up in the direction of the wind and current and starting to surf a
little here and there.with the sun shining,scattered clouds and a soft
blue sea the stage is set for a few days of pure bliss.

Crewmember Pieter du Preez is slowly starting to grow sealegs,a beard
and it his turn to prepare supper tonight.Lambchops and butternut baked
in the oven.Salivating just at the thought of it.Tomorrow I will bake
some muffins,capucinno ones perhaps for breakfast.Brad is settling in
nicely as well,Bradley James Cannon for the record.

We have a lure out behind the boat and who knows,soon I can invite you
over for some sushimi like you've never tasted before and a setting you
can only dream of,or not.It is your choice.

Last night I was on the 9 to midnight watch and helming was divine.With
the evening star and the sickle moon on the horizon to aim for,I
remembered once again why I love sailing so much.My daughter reckons the
only problem with daddy's job is that he has no problems.She is seven
and has crossed and ocean,7700nm from Cape Town to Belize.So who will
refute her wisdom.My lovely wife and I have learned to weather the
storms a bit better,storm tactics if you will.I see the storm coming and
deal with it calmly,even though a storm might be brewing inside of
me.After the storm we get back on track and get some miles behind
us.Can't remember a crossing I've done without a few storms,some worse
than others,but storms none the less.

It is nearly time for me to start my 6 to 9 pm watch so time for me to
sign off.Wishing you all the best and looking immensily forward to
having you aboard for a while.

Paul

Paul

Trip to Greece

At last we are on our way.We left CT on Saturday morning 8am as planned
but 16 nm later had to turn back as we forgot our epirb.Running back was
easy as the wind was now from behind.At 4pm we were on our way again
into some slight headwinds from the north.The weather forecast predicts
that the wind should back in the next few days to W,SW,S and settle on
the SE trade winds.In the meantime we are motorsailing making the most
of the current which we hooked into just past Saldanna.

Pieter is still seasick but holding up well.His wife Bonny has made sure
his got medication for any situation.I respect that one so much wants to
sail that seasickness does not stop you.Before the trip he told us that
he gets chronically seasick,but that was on a monohull.We trust that the
catamaran we are on will treat him better.

Brad is settling in quickly,already had his first seashower and his turn
to cook tonight.For myself,I have the usual mixed bag of feelings when
you leave your loved ones behind and looking forward to the adventure
ahead.

Our position today at 10 am was 32*02'S/16*05'E.Our ETA for Greece is
10/04/2011.That is estimated at 5kts/hr and we have just under 7000nm to
go.So this trip is really still a baby and we hope to share some of our
amazing experiences with you.Photos we will post at St.Helena.We will
incorporate some Greek mythology as the trip unfolds and we have decided
to name our vessel Venus.I will also ask Brad and Pieter to add their
impressions on the blog for your pleasure.

Take care and wishing you a wonderful week ahead.

Paul