There is a very nice little article that Jimmy Cornell has published in his Blue Planet Blog that includes an interview with Michael (Thurston): The article can be viewed here: https://www.sail-worldcruising.com/n/Blue-Planet-Odysseys-North-West-Passage-venture-One-cruisers-profile/-119148?source=google
Michael in New Bedford June 2014
Drina sights the first Ice Berg of the NWP Transit off St John's June 2014
It seems only a little while ago that this Blog was a going concern. It was updated as often as possible and usually, the content was timely and roughly in sync with my life.
Then along came the North West Passage attempt on my old friend Michael Thurston's beautiful alloy ketch Drina. At first, it seemed that the attempt would be a wonderful bonus providing exciting experiences over the northern summer of 2014 to blog about. A change from the more mundane southern hemisphere regattas and the occasional canal or river trip in Europe.
Beset in the pack August 24,2014
At first, things went swimmingly and words flowed fast and furious as I posted our progress from Newport RI along the coasts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine then to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. There in St. John's we paused to take stock and hide from the tail of Hurricane Arthur which was now only a post-tropical depression with lots of wind and rain forecast.
I began numbering posts to make it easier to keep track of the narrative and our progress. So the last blog posted from Newfoundland was the number(14) "St. John's 2/07 to 8/07". After this things went rapidly downhill. At sea, we simply didn't have the technology to post more than the briefest details of our progress and for the next 10 days, we were at sea. On arrival in Greenland, we had our first taste of how difficult it was going to be to post updates and photos. From now on it was to prove either technically impossible to blog or so expensive as to amount to the same thing .
Greenland simply hasn't the infrastructure to support large data transfers over the internet so it was that my last posts (15) "St.John's to Greenland" and (16) "Nuuk Greenland, new friends and a Big Gun" were the last published.
I continued to write my journal and keep a log of our adventures with the aim of posting the most interesting pieces whenever we found connectivity again.
As it turned out the next time I had an internet connection was Anchorage airport some 140 days later. I had a long wait here for my connecting flight on my way home at the end of our by now, a successful transit of the NWP and ourentry into the record book.
Access to the internet at last... So much to catch up on, emails unread, bills unpaid, correspondence unanswered blogs to post. Compared to the excitement and tension of the past four months on Drina it all began to seem less important and urgent than I'd imagined. During the transit, the thing I missed most, apart from the lack of Jameson, was not being able to post my blog and keep all those that had supported and were following our NWP attempt in the loop. Now it all seemed less urgent and a bit like yesterday's news. So I foud a vacant bench, stretched out and went to sleep.
Commodore John Brooks
Since that day I've not spent much time reliving our NWP adventure with the exception of time spent with those close to the attempt, Commodore John Brooks CYCA, Commodore Malcolm Levy RSYS, Gwenyth Taylor, Donny Finch, Peter Semotiuk, Douglas Phol and our technical team in London,Warren and Stuart Kerriganand last but by no means least my old friend Bruce Gould or as he's know universally "Gouldie" for his unstinting support of our attempt. Without the support of these friends, it would have been impossible for us on Drina to have succeeded. John and Malcolm gave many hours of their time each and every day of the attempt analysing weather reports plotting pack ice movements and supplying us with a nearly continuous stream of advice, analysis and information. Their efforts were such that despite our comparable lack of technology we were hands down the best-informed boat with the possible exception of Steven Brown and his boys on Novara and she was not part of our northern group in any case. Peter and Douglas were ever at the ready to answer our questions and supply advice based on their vast and encyclopedic local knowledge that helped us avoid many a miss step. And Warren and Stuart were always ready to fix our technology and communications problems any time of the day or night. Then there was the Canadian Coast Guard and in particular the captain and crew of the CCGS Pierre Radisson. This little piece would not be complete without mention of our wonderful Norwegian friends on Tandberg Polar (Refloat Maud Expedition), without whose very generous help with our diesel supply we would have had to abandon the attempt and winter over in Cambridge Bay.
Gwenyth
Donny
So now it's November 2016 and I find myself with some time on my hands as a result of an operation to correct a little problem with my right eye. So by way of thanking those mentioned above I've decided to complete the narrative of Drina's transit across the top of the world. Enough with the excuses, I've decided to begin blogging again and so I first must finish the NWP story as it happened.
Preparing to leave St.Peter's canal Sunday 29/06/2014
(12) An early start... St.Peter's, Cape Breton Nova Scotia to St.John's NF 29/06/2014
The boys have been running round the walking/logging tracks in the vicinity of the canal and spending time sucking up WiFi at the local Tourist Information Centre. There's only one chair inside so they took turns. Michael and I shopped for fuel & oil filters (successfully) at the local automotive supplier about 100 meters up the road run by a very helpful, knowledgable lady and then paid a visit to Tim Horton's ("The coffee Canadians drink at home") for a little snack and to suck up some not so free WiFi.
Afterwards we paid a visit to Wallace MacAskill's (1887 - 1956) home. He was born in this house and his marine photography work is widely published. The home has been turned into a museum, and contains copies of much of his work as well as much of his original equipment. His "Starboard Lookout" is probably his most widely published photograph and his take on the famous local fishing schooner Bluenose appeared on the Canadian 50 cent stamp. His work was popular as wedding presents and was coveted by home sick Nova Scotians serving abroad in WWII.
Mike returned to the boat via the supermarket and I set myself up at Tim's again to download some software updates for Mike's laptop and catch up on some photo editing and backup.
As I sat in Tim's I began to notice that many of the diners were dressed in impeccable leathers, the sort that only weekend bike riders wear. Sure enough when I left to return to the boat the streets were full of very shiny, noisy Harleys. I thought it must be some sort of Harley convention. I was wrong! As I approached the canal I came across our friendly lockmaster polishing the most shiny Harley I've ever seen... My friend was only too happy to talk about his favourite "machine". A passing comment from me was returned by a 45 minute tour de force of every component, its source, cost & provenance: It seems that every Nova Scotian worth his/her salt is or aspires to be a "Harley" owner! My friend the lock-keeper proudly showed me his "Chrome Dome" (helmet) that carried the words "I'm not turning gray, I'm going CHROME"
Later Mike did his magic stuff in the galley and without seeming to lift a finger produced a splendid roast beef dinner for four. Some rum and Jameson was splashed about and we all retired a happy crew.
Sun 29/06/2014: This morning we were up and about at 0500 local and after a short wait to check the latest forecast we slipped the lines and bade farewell to the canal. We made our way out of the harbour in glassy conditions and threaded our way through the many of fish tap and lobster pot buoys sprinkled throughout the harbour including the channels. Must be hard to make this harbour at night without tangling with one or several.
By 0700 we had cleared the last marker and turned onto what will be our course for the next few days, 095M and St.John's approximately 400 miles away.
At about 1100 the breeze filled in from the SW and we hoisted the Main and rolled out the Genoa, later, about Midday, we rolled out the Staysail as well and were soon making 6 plus knots towards St.John's. Michael killed the diesel and the silence was a welcome relief as I came off watch, Matt did his Sandwich thing for lunch and Michael got out the photo's for an afternoon show and tell session.
Sometime before dinner we rolled up the Genoa and Staysail and started the Diesel as the wind had died and probably not make another appearance before mid morning Monday. Matt busied himself in the galley and with a little help from Rossco presented us all with a very tasty Bangers and Mash with a Wasabi twist, DELICIOUS! I'm getting the recipe for my collection for sure... Michael, usually very parsimonious with approval gave it a high mark... " You can cook that again Matt" high praise indeed!
Our Second Ice Berg, the first was too far away to photograph.
Mon 30/062014: Daylight streaming into my cabin woke me at 0445, we are getting more and more daylight as we move north. It's hard to believe that we are at the same latitude as the atlantic coast of France and yet the days here hardly get to 20C and that's on a clear day. If it's foggy or overcast and raining then we see the maximum in the low teens. The water is getting colder, now hovering about 4C and we expect it to get colder still as we approach the ICE limit below St.Johns. We are taking bets on when we sight our first ICE. The Canadian ICE service reports more than 100 Bergs in the area.
At about 1500 local we crossed the Canadian Weather Service ice limit advisory and are now officially in iceberg country. Matt, our Ice Master seems unconcerned and as yet we have not set an ice watch. We are however playing games.... Guessing our Noon to noon distance, young Rossco won todays contest with a spot on guess of 123 miles. Now we're betting on when we will see our first Ice Berg!
The wind has been helping since early this morning when we rolled out the both headsails and shortly after the Mizzen went aloft for the first time this trip. We've been slipping along for most of the day at a fair old clip.
Michael's in the the galley working his magic on what looks like Salmon steaks, yum! The wind is dying so we will be motor sailing again over night.
It's now about 3 hours later and the wind has filled in and we are sailing again. Some clouds on the horizon to the west so we might be in for a blow. And Murphy has struck again and it's my watch!
You can probably see from our tracker that we are holed up at St Peter's Canal alongside. Sitting out a warning for Northerly winds today and tonight. We hope to get a weather window to cross the Strait to St John's Saturday 28th. a distance of about 400NM. Possibly take us about three and a bit days, less if we get a favourable slant.
All's well here, crew asleep right now, however breakfast is looming and as soon as they hear the kettle sing they'll be up and about. Then we are off to explore the town and find a grog shop... Very scarce in Canada it seems. We could only find one in Halifax and it was shut. The Jameson is holding up well, though the beer supply is sadly diminished. (Many visitors).
Right now at St. Peter's Harbour Nova Scotia for a few days probably until Sunday PM the way the maps look. Have reasonably good Cell and good free WiFi at Tim Hortons (Think Canadian McDonalds) and lousy stewed coffee that I'm prepared to buy but not drink in return for access! (Nothing in life is Free)
This is a sort of country town on the far north coast of Nova Scotia, a little run down at the edges, French, English& Gaelic speaking and no tourist traffic except for the odd group of guys and gals on very shiny, noisy Harleys! The traffic rules have to be seen to be believed. If you even look like you might be thinking about crossing the road all the traffic stops politely and waves you across. .. No wonder they all drive so slowly.
We are novelties in town! It's hard to shop or sit in the cafe without some local striking up a spontaneous conversation. Soooo... it takes a long time to walk the few hundred yards from the dock to the Main Street of the town. Passers by stop and offer lifts and ask if we need supplies ferried from the local shopping centre... "Where have you come from?", "where are you going?", "Australia! so far away!" "Did you buy the boat in Halifax?", "You didn't sail it all the way!", "What about the dark?" Oh and the one that I really like, "But you're so old!"
It will probably not surprise anyone that knows me even slightly that I/we couldn't do all this without someone pulling the strings and helping us puppets move. Technically we refer to this as "Shore Support" DRINA'S Shore Support crew includes a number of very special (to us) specialists. They are scattered around the Globe and are called on from time to time to provide assistance and advice within and without their particular area of expertise. As the adventure progresses I'll introduce each of them to you as circumstance bandwith allows.
Just now my old mate Captain Brooks (Drina's Weather Guru in Sydney) has provided a piece of advice that has come in very handy. So handy in fact that I've decided to share it with you all! Earlier in the day I wrote to John by way of an update on our suitation, being weathered in at St. Peter's Harbour. I included a few other details including a commentary on how well the supply of Jameson was lasting!
Quick as a flash John replied with a cautionary tale that, for the sake of accuracy, I've included here verbatim.
"Kerro,
Defiance & the rum barrel: Marshall Phillips had owned a string of competitive ocean racers named Sweet Caroline. After selling the last one he bought Defiance, a Swan 46, in which he planned to cruise around the world. Before leaving, however, he decided to do the 1985 Sydney-Hobart Race with most of his old Sweet Caroline crew, plus me. This beautifully fitted-out yacht had a wooden keg, about 5-6 litres in size, built into the furniture. Marshall’s racing boats had always been “dry”, but he consented to filling the keg with rum on the strict proviso that nobody touched it until we got to Hobart.
Defiance pounding south
In this race Col Betts was the navigator, with Marshall Phillips, Norm Hyett and a forward hand on one watch and Jimmy Bourke, “Kooka” and I on the other. On the first night out we ran into a hard southerly and after coming off a cold and wet watch at 03:00, Jimmy, Kooka and I eyed the rum barrel and decided that a tot each would do no harm, but not a word to Marshall or we’d be in big trouble. So we had our tot and bribed the navigator, Col Betts, with one to keep his mouth shut. It turned into a couple of tots and we repeated this practice each night when the other watch wasn’t looking.
When we got to Hobart the rum barrel was broached in Constitution Dock with much ceremony only to run dry after a shot or two each. Jimmy and I looked at each other nervously – surely we couldn’t have drunk 5-6 litres of rum over 3 nights. It took some tongue-loosening hours at the Customs House Hotel later that day for the truth to emerge – that the entire crew, including Marshall Phillips, had been getting into the rum barrel from the very first night at sea. It’s a mystery how Col Betts ever found Hobart as he was being bribed with rum by both watches." John Brooks.
I've just checked the Jameson supply, someone has been putting the empties back in the grog locker! Probably to stop them rolling about while we are at sea....
PK, alongside the Canal at St. Peter's Harbour, Nova Scotia.
The day started well, nearly 5 hours sleep in a flat bed that didn't move has worked wonders.
We are getting into the higher latidudes, the equivelent in Aus might be Melbourne. In terms of out attempt this leaves us some 25 degrees below our goal of the Artic Circle at 66.5N and we haven't started sailing yet!
Michael and Rossco arrived for breakfast of pancakes and some wonderful mapyle sticky stuff washed down with Matt's wonderful Jamacian coffee and I mean WONDERFUL! (Result of long association with Lisbeth I suspect).
Breakfast was followed by:
Review of the wider strategy.
A visit to a marine consignment store. (pictures when I can)
Shopping for computers, we bought another printer...
Planning a food shopping list...
Making a small start on the list.
More coffee.
Lunch at DD's (that's Dunkin Doughnuts for the not so widely travelled.)
Wonderful dinner on the back deck at Matt & Lisbet's
After an early Sunday Morning breakfast at anchor in New Bedford Harbour we swung out the dinghy and set off up river to visit the site of Joshua Slocum's departure for his famous circumnavigation. He was the first man to to circle the world single handed in a small yacht.
The 37ft sloop, Spray was launched from a little beach in the harbour in 1895 and returned 4 years later to the same spot. He wrote a book about his travels (Sailing alone around the world) that was a huge success and made his fortune. He later left, again alone, to sail to South America and explore the Chile Channels. Some say to escape his wife who wanted a share of the book royalties. Whatever the reason he was never heard of again, presumed lost at sea!
Later in the Morning we visited the New Bedford Whale Museum where we spent the remainder of the day. what men those whalers must have been? If you're ever in New Bedford I recommend a visit to thiis museum, we four thought it really cool! One of the best museums I've ever visited.
after a few very expensive beers for lunch we went aboard and found the wind had returned and was now in a favourable quarter for the next leg of our journey on up to Boston through the Cape Cod Canal. So we stowed the dinghy on deck, and made our way out the gates to overnight at Onset Bay, an anchorage just on southern end of the channel. There we were attached by a swarm of midges, tiny black things that soon covered every surface including us. Thankfully soon after we anchored darkness fell and with it the little black things disappeared as well.
Mike soon had dinner on the go, roast beef and veg with some beer starters and later a little snifter of Jameson to help us all sleep, we retired for the night after what had been a reasonably long and very enjoyable day.
Here we are the 9th June 2104, almost ready to take off on QF107 bound for JFK to catch up with the good ship Drina again. Michael and Drina are presently waiting patiently in Newport Rhode Island for myself and our two other crew members (Matt Jensen Young, ex pat Aussie presently in the US and Rossco Booker a young ex pat Pommie, who has been living in upstate NY for the past 12 years and recently qualified from Stonybrook University, Long Is.) to join.
After a couple of days restocking and laying in an adequate supply of the Jamesons we four plan to cruise the Maine coast for the next couple of weeks then via Halifax and St Johns depart for Greenland later this month planning to be there about the first week in July.
There we will sit and await the melting of the ice and the opening of the Passage. We've been planning this for about three years and while there was talk of making the attempt last year, birthday celebrations got in the way. So 2014 it is!
Now, after a long flight to New York and car drive to Providence, Rhode Is., here I am sitting in Matt's kitchen waiting for him to return with Michael and Rossco for breakfast and the first of what will undoubtedly a long series of morning briefings over the next 3 to 4 months. Despite all the effort on our collective and individual parts lots still needs to be decided and executed before our departure.
Well, here we go again, another new year. First the local news for those that may have been or still are away our old friend and shipmate Jack Christoffersen took a turn for the worse a couple of days ago and had to be placed on a ventilator in ICU. Latest news is that he has made a small recovery and is conscious and perhaps out of danger.
The Kerrigan/Finch/Taylor extended family celebrations went off without a hitch almost. The adventure to see the spectacular fireworks worked so well (we anchored off Shellcove bay) that I now wonder why I haven't done it like that before. By far the most relaxing time I've had on the water at New Year's celebrations to date. Oh! and the fireworks were dazzling...
The good ship Drina continues to forge on towards Puerto Montt, albeit at a more sedate pace. They are having trouble with their ship track reports since New Year's eve and so are not showing up on the tracking maps at the moment. Not to worry though all's well on board otherwise. Here are a few snippets from recent position reports.
Position at 2010-12-30, 1940hrs UTC they had 815 miles to go, 43°14'S 92°16'W, COG 110°T SOG 6.5kts, clear blue sky, wind SW at 15kts. Noon to Noon 155 Miles.
During the night they managed a radio schedule with Jeanne Socrates the girl on Nereida, the first real (voice) conversation since they passed the NZ ship bound for PNG about 12 days ago. They now have a regular schedule going and it provides one more thing to fill in the day or rather night.
Overnight on the 31st the wind died so they spent a noisy night with the sails slapping and banging in the swell. They had another go at talking to Nereida without success... Seems the new HF radio is a little more complicated than the old iCom. As this one can be interfaced and controlled via the laptop computer. So the rest of the day was spent doing what I would have suggested, reading the instruction manual! Before the Champagne was broken out...
Position at 2010-12-31, 2020hrs UTC they had 680 miles to go, 43°17'S 89°25'W, COG 65°T, SOG 4.5kts. Noon to Noon was 133 miles.
The following day was "one of the calmest, around 12kts of breeze from the NE. Very clear visibility and flat seas on a long westerly swell."
They finished reading the Icom manual as Alex reported having a long and interesting conversation with Jeanne overnight! Michael had 3 cans of beer (XXXX) in thirty hours to celebrate the new year! (I've warned him of the evils of the demon drink many times... to no avail it seems.)
After nearly 34 days at sea he seems have finally mastered the weather fax and reports receiving some Sat' cloud maps and a picture of the ice edge.
Position at 2011-01-02, 2245hrs UTC, 418 miles to go, 42°34'S 83°17'W, COG 82°T, SOG 6.5kts, barometer 1010 falling. Noon to Noon was 138 miles.
At report time he said that some deep clouds were marching up from the SW and expects a bit of a blow for the rest of the day.
Due to the pressure of competing interests, mostly my daughters, I'm posting the body of my post to the Drina inner circle as is here. I just don't have the time to seperately update the blog at the moment, so this is all you get for now, I'm off to polish tables...
The days just slip by and here we are on the day before New Years eve, I'm even starting to look forward to the fireworks...
I've include Drina's last two communications below with the usual bits included/missing depending...
When reading Michael's reports it easy to believe that it's all under control and a bit of a cake walk... I also get to talk with the technical officer from time to time and as a contrast to Michael's laconic tone I give you her latest view in a single phrase ("We are being blown all over the ocean like a beach ball at a Jimmy") I have no idea what a Jimmy is and I'm not sure I'm game to ask. I've Goggled the term without any success. Anyone know?
Drina's Navigation Station.
So here's Drina...
"Dear Kerro,
Many thanks for all the messages for New Year and Christmas. It is very difficult to send out individual replies to everyone. Could you please thank everyone on the blog/mail list you put out.
I do appreciate the news you send, but the 2nd. last one was only partly received., IE No weather as sailmail amended and said they only support a max of 1 kilobyte.
After I finished yesterdays report. and dinner was over we had a increase in wind so put two reefs in. The wind built up to the 35/40+ knot range with max gust 51 knots during the night. The wind was from the NW and we averaged 9 knots for the ten hours it lasted . So was a Vuncomfortable night. It is now after midday our time and we are still in NW winds but only around the 25/30 knot so all sail is up including the mizzen and we are getting along at 6.5+ knots on a course off 87°True.
Last Noon to Noon was 187 miles which is the best so far. Sun is out and seas abating.
Position report 2010-12-29 2030hrsUTC, 43°25'S 95°50'W SOG 6.5kts, COG 87°T and only 971 miles to go,
I found that last weather from Chile the best so far. It forecast the storm we had last night. So more of those please. I don't really find the Aust/NZ reports you send off much use now. The GRIB files we get did not show last nights winds, but direction in them was OK and where
the highs and lows are is shown.
We are in good spirits., and happy to be in the final 1000 miles. Even last night's wild ride with too much mainsail up, has not dampened our spirits, we were so HAPPY to be clicking the miles off. Even now at a sedate 6 1/2 knots with relatively calm seas the ride is OK and sunshine is most welcome.
PNA at 84c is good news too? I suppose Wild Oats should be disqualified, especially as yachts such as Swish rightfully retired because their HF not working at Green Pt?
We will be having Champers for New Year eve, Technical Officer is trying to decide if we should celebrate for Brisbane's at 0800. Sydney at 0700, Local Midnight here, Chile 2100, NJ 2300 or UTC 0000 or all 6 times?
You and GT have a good one
Cheers Michael"
And here is the previous mail received 29th December EST.
(PK Comment, The other yacht mentioned below, that passed relatively close is the SV Nereida owned and sailed single handed by 68 year old Joanne Socrates who sailed out of Victoria harbour BC in non-stop circumnavigation via Cape Horn early in October 2010. She has been at sea for 63 days. Her latest position report puts her close to Michael and Alex onboard Drina. Her web site does not allow copying so I can't show you a picture.
here is a link to Nereida's latest report for those interested in her description of the conditions.
It is now our Tuesday at 0530 local,1230hrs UTC 0n 2010-12-28 and we have 1206 mile to go, position 43°31'S 101°13'W, course is 88° T, speed 5.0 knots, as you can see the wind has dropped
out about 1 am, so won't be much miles today.
We had news from Don and Priscilla, (American cruising friends) that we have a yacht 360 miles SE off us with a 68 year old Jeanne Socrates attempting to be the oldest lady to circumnavigate unassisted on her yacht NEREIDA which is a Najab class (Know anything about the class?) Don't know what nationality, maybe you can Google and let us know etc. Vexcited to know someone else out here.
It is now 1730 local, 0130hrs UTC on 2010-12-29th Position 43°29S 100°01'W course 93° True speed 8.0 knots, overcast, raining wind up around the 30+ knots from the north again, it got back up about 0900hrs my time.
Yesterdays noon to noon was 150 miles and we have 1,110 miles to go, Tech Officer is cooking fish for dinner so will close this message for now.
Well, that's the festive season over for a few days! The rain that held off for the Christmas day celebrations, arrived early on the the 26th just in time to dampen our spirits and cause the cancellation of a trip to watch the start of the Hobart.
ROLEX / Carlo Borlenghi
Yuuzoo
Yuuzoo heading South into the freshening South Easterly.
Here's a YouTube video of Yuuzoo in last years race...
And now on the morning of the 27th the expected Southerly is firmly in accompanied with overnight rain and markedly lower temperatures. Wild Oats was first to mark Zulu and when last reported there was leading the fleet into Bass Strait. Here are a couple of reports, the first courtesy of the CYCA site and the second by Di Pearson reporting for Rolex.
"The Mark Richards skippered 100 footer, Wild Oats XI, shrugged off a cheeky challenge from Grant Wharington’s Melbourne 98 footer, Wild Thing, to stamp its mark early on the Rolex Sydney Hobart line honours battle.
Despite forecasts that this will be one of the toughest Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Races in years, the 87 strong fleet started in remarkably mild conditions on a flat Sydney Harbour at 1pm today in an 11 knot west-nor-westerly breeze.
Both start lines reported clean starts as nearly 1000 competitors began the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s Aussie yachting classic under overcast skies in a light wind that produced a colourful spinnaker procession out of the Harbour before the fleet turned at the seaward mark to point south towards Hobart.
On the eastern side of the front start line, reserved for the largest boats, Grant Wharington staged a nail-biting and brilliant start with just seconds to spare at the helm of Wild Thing. The 100 footers, Bob Oatley’s Wild Oats XI and Sean Langman and Anthony Bell’s Investec Loyal squared off on the western side, while Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki timed things perfectly about a third of the way down the tightly congested line.
As Wild Oats XI and Investec Loyal sprinted down the western harbour shore, Wild Thing steamed along the eastern shore in better pressure past Vaucluse and Watsons Bay.
Wild Oats XI won the sprint to the sea mark, 13 minutes 48 seconds into the race despite trailing her jib briefly in the water as she changed to her light Code Zero sail minutes after the start. Once she turned seaward, Wild Oats’ Code Zero made way for a giant spinnaker as the four-time line honours winner gybed to find the shortest route to the seaward mark.
Two boat lengths behind Wild Oats XI, Wild Thing and Investec Loyal converged on the harbour mark, Wild Thing squeezing her rival out as she slipped inside.
Investec Loyal immediately headed towards South Head and Wild Thing held her course toward the north, looking for the pressure advantage they needed to have any chance of mowing down the leader in these flat conditions.
The gamble didn’t paid off for Wharington, who also had an incident with a media boat just inside South Head, and by the time Wild Oats XI was at the sea mark, the point at which the impressive fleet converged and gave chase and turned the sea into boiling whitewater, the thoroughbred had opened a handy break on her line honours rivals.
The last boat to leisurely leave Sydney Harbour was the Italian entry Onelife, one of two entries in the Cruising Division.
Sometime this evening the fleet will encounter a southerly change of 15 to 20 knots accompanied by scattered thunderstorms."
And...By Di Pearson, Rolex Sydney Hobart media team
"Bob Oatley’s super maxi Wild Oats XI has led the 86-boat Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race fleet into the notorious Bass Strait this morning, with Sean Langman’s Investec Loyal and Grant Wharington’s Wild Thing in hot pursuit.
Langman and Wharington’s yachts are level pegging, but the two are sailing either side of the rhumbline, some 20 nautical miles behind the leader, Investec Loyal to the east and Victorian yacht Wild Thing to the west. The lead boats are sailing in a squally sou-westerly in the 30 knot range.
Sean Langman’s Investec Loyal
Another battle is taking place just 10nm astern of them, as Matt Allen’s Jones 70 Ichi Ban (NSW) and Peter Millard/John Honan’s 98 footer Lahana (NSW) are within a mile of each other to the east of the rhumbline.
In other news, the NSW yacht She has reported a head injury to crew member Colin Apps, who was reportedly seasick and fell, bumping his head and sustaining a head injury.
She will liaise with the police launch Vanguard, which was following the fleet. Vanguard is towing an 8 metre rib, which will be used to transfer Apps off the boat. The boat will take Apps to Ulladulla where an ambulance will be waiting.
Further news will be available as it comes to hand."
And now back to Drina en-route to Puerto Montt, Chile. I've been a bit tied up with family stuff for the last few days so the last report of Drina's progress posted here was 17 December UTC. A lot has happened since then and though I've posted updates for the e-mail list that stream doesn't always get posted here. So to bring this blog up to-date I've included all the position reports since to 17 Dec UTC below in date received order. So, to the extent any one-sided conversation can, it should read like a narrative. I have redacted some content to protect both the guilty and innocent alike. I have also provided comment by way of explanation where I thought it was needed. My comments in italics.
Here's a picture of Erich's beautiful double ender, designed bythe renowned K. Aage Nielsen of Boston and built by one of the finest Danish shipyards, A. Walsted of Thuro, that I mentioned in a previous post.
And now to Michael's adventure once more...
"Dear Kerro,
I note that yesterdays eamil for some reason was not sent, hope it goes out tonigt. So just a small update for now.
We had great excitement today as we saw and spoke to them. It was the Papua bound for NZ with Ukraine Master.
Last night was frustrating light South wind till midnight when it went to SW and still light, it is now W about 15 knots so we are wing and wing and gliding along around 6 knots. Alex is preparing dinner. Some kind of chicken dish, nice aromas coming from the galley. Been overcast all day., only one Albatross today. Alex spent sometime trying to find a whale without success.
Here's the techical stuff; Position at 0400 21.12.2010 UTC 44°30' S 129° 07'W, 2384 miles to go, speed 6, course 90° true, noon to noon was 137 miles.
rgs michael
Seems they passed a ship in the day or perhaps night
I sent my first emails out last night, I have had to be sneaky to find out how it works. while the Technical Officer was busy watching a movie I had a go. And it seems success!!! Now have to work out how the position reporting and the GRIB file stuff works...
I am at a loss to what is happening re the fans etc, no idea I was so famous. How did folks from Germany find out I was on way to Patagonia? How did 'Ernst find out? he is the one who I met in Samoa and inspired me to this madness to go to Patogonia in the first place? How many are following us now?
If you see Jimmy tell him I have figured the transit to Puerto Montt out as equal to 9 Hobart's. So if we take around 9 boats in the 50 ft range doing it this year and add up their crews, breakages, injuries, costs, food consumed, nights at seas, squalls encountered etc. we have a idea what it is all about.
Today's report is 1800UTC on the 21st, Morning here, overcast wind going light down to 8 knots from the west, but expect it too pick up in 8 hours time again, we have a low behind us, Bar is 1024
Posn 44°39S and 127°02W with 2294 miles to go our course is 94°T speed 5.5 knots
Hold on the sun has just come out. Will send more news later.
rgs Michael
Postscript; Dear Kerro,
Just adding to this email, it is 0315UTC 2010-12-22 position 44°50'S 125°58'W speed 5 kn course 87°T
wind is from North abot 8 knots, clearing skies, cooking fish for dinner, been a slow day noon to noon was 150 miles. 4-5 m swell from the SW with little sea from W.
Yes it was a Ship that passed 5 miles away bound for NZ called PAPUA< with Ukraine, Polish, Phillipino crew.
thanks for latest weaather, find the Chile part fasinating for P Montt area. We seem to be missing the worst of the gales at present but it is a long way to go yet...
I note the ice edge is 1020 mile south of us, I wonder if that means the ice edge or limit of ice bergs?
I sure would not like to run into an ice berg. But would be neat to see one?
And here's another one again out of order... Wonder if Michael's been playing with the computer again?
"Dear Kerro,
We have had dinner of lamb shanks with roast vegetables and have been watching the sun go down whilst enjoying a rare xxxx beer. Not as good as yesterdays sunset which was a real beauty. It is just past 2000 hours local time and we have another hour of twilight to go. It is almost full Sun now which is nice. Sun comes up around 0330 am so we only really have 7 hours of night now. Yesterday was good sailing and we rolled out 162 miles in a westerly breeze runing wing and wing. About midnight it went around to the South and lightned off, so have been reaching since then and only achieved 129 noon to noon. It is very light wind now of around 8 knots and we only have boat speed of around 5 knots.
We are on the great circle course which is taking us south, which I hope will get us under the high we are in. Bar was 1030 at midday and has droped to 1028 as of now, If we get below it hope to pick up strong westerly winds. We only have 2500 miles to go now.
We're still eating the tuna for the last three days and enjoying it.
The technical officer has been doing the midday position. We have settled in to our watches properly now and I have a afternoon siesta, practicing for the Spanish way of life in Chile.
Chile seems to be getting closer everyday now. We still have about 6 or seven days till we are on the next chart which will show Chile at the end??
So our technical information is 2500 miles to go at 0525 on the 20 th Dec UTC. Position is 44°06'S and 131°57W and wind is from South at about 8 knots. Bit of cloud cover with a short sea from the South and a very low Westerly swell.
Not many birds today., just a few Albatross early in the morning when there was more wind.
Thanks for the weather and latest news on cricket etc.
Sorry no email on follow up off small email in morning yesterday, but technical officer busy on the computer so could not get near the terminal last night.
It is now just after 6 am local time, and after yesterdays wild ride things are considerably better.
The skies did clear yesterday afternoon for a while, but by 1800hrs we were in fog with drizzle and the wind dropped off for a short while which tempted me to let the third reef out and as the wind shifted a little to NW went to reaching with full headsail.
This lasted a hour or so while we had dinner and then back up to the 30 knot range, so last night ended up with 2 reefs and half headsail running with the the wind on our quarter and found it very uncomfortable with the left over sea running and we were rounding up on the auto a bit. It is now much better with two reefs and full headsail in around the 20 - 25 kn range on our quarter from the NW. But is very, very cold, heater on and overcast with a drizzle. Seas abated a lot, expect this weather will be with us for 3 days or so.
So here's the technical bit, position at 1425 UTC on 2010-12-23 is 44°27'S and 120°04'S and 2007 miles to go. Course 80°T Wind W x NW 20/25 knots T. Noon to Noon 160 miles.
Yes we are going to have another party today, cracking the 2000 miles to go and a new chart starts 120°West which shows our destination at last on it and has a better scale.
With regard to engine, only running it when the wind drops out, it is now three days since we ran it, water generator and wind generator are keeping up with all our needs, the water generator is making an outstanding contribution, saw a lot of 12 amps from it yesterday. Mind you that was a pretty wild ride. We have used around 250 litres of fuel which was mostly in the light conditions on leaving NZ We still have one fuel bladder on the aft deck holding 170 litres.
Thanks for the Chile weather, the Port Montt to San Pedro is the relevent one, later when we get close.
I have been informed from a friend Peter Smith on Kiwi Roa who is at present in Falklands that Max sea is accurate for my landfall. Sorry Kerro, never did get a proper chart. The tide range there is 20 ft plus with up to 10 knots in the channel, so have to get tides right, there is a manned lighthouse in the approch which gives info and a good anchorage by the lighthouse to wait for the right time. It is about 60 miles from there to Porto Montt.
Our food is holding up well, so still have 4 beef roasts, 4 lamb racks, Chicken breasts, lamb shanks, sausages, carrots, boroccli, potatoes, onions, apples and oranges in plentyfull qtys.
Two sleeps to Christmas and hope father xmas comes as we have a chimney now by way off the diesel heater flue at the mast.
rgs Michael.
Postscript. It is now late 1600hrs local afternooon and we have just finished dinner off Lamb Shanks. The sky cleared a bit so had it in the cockpit for a change. Today has been good, shook out the reefs midmorning and went to wing and wing, been a good day with seas abating and winds in the 22 knot true range.
And later... Christmas eve!
Time is 0330 UTC 2010-12-24th, position 44°22'S and 117°54' W on a course over the ground of 83°T speed 7.5 knots Bar is 1010 steady. Air temp 14.1°C water temp 6°C.
Wind west at 25 knot true, full main and winged headsai, Christmas carrols fill the cabin, decorations go up tomorrow weather permitting. Todays noon to noon was 170 miles and we have 1916 to go.
It is Our Xmas eve and we have had dinner and it is 2045 local time. We have two reefs in main and a little headsail poled out wing and wing running in about 25 to 30 knots with a nasty following sea, but progress is good 166 miles noon to noon. Christmas lights are up in the cabin., so the crew is happy.
The sky is clear one moment and then overcast again on and off.
Technical stuff, 2010-12-24 Friday 0345 UTC position 44°21'S and 113°50'W, speed SOG 8.4 knots and course 99°True,
barometer 1010MPa temperature 15.1°C, 1743 miles too go, so close now?
We have not run the engine for five days now, the water generator is putting out heaps at these speeds.
Looks like tonight will be a bumpy one., I am hopefull we will be having this wind for another five days.
It is Xmas morning here and wish you had a good one yesterday.
Wind got up after dark last night and we are running hard in 30/35 knots with a nasty following sea, bit off rounding up occasionly, the Auto working overtime and only just copes.
The technical stuff is, Position at 2010-12-25 1450 hrs UTC, 44° 37'S and 112°05'W, course 100° True, speed 7.5 plus, 1667 miles to go. Barometer 1005MPa dropping and from grid files expect this to last another 20 hours or so.
Xmas decorations went up yesterday.
Look forward to easing weather as the motion is vbad, but it is good progress.
rgs Michael
It's now 2100 local time and the winds abated a little , around the 30 knot more , but a big swell running, wind shifted to SW.
Technical info at 2010-12-26 0400 hrs UTC Position 44°21'S and 109°43'W, course 65 True, speed 8.8 kn, Noon to Noon was 178 miles, to go 1569
Was a wild ride today, few seas climbed into the cockpit. As I type wind getting up again and it is raining a bit and overcast, so it will be another night off tossing etc
Do thank, if you can, all the team who sent their best wishes for Christmas.
Yes the Aust/NZ weather report is no good now, especially as we are past 110 West. I am trying for one week to get the Chile weather map on my weatherfax without success yet. So relying on your MetArea 15 stuff and GRIB files.
It is 4 am here and sun is coming up, have just gybed the main as wind has lightened and swung to SW by W.
Speed only 6 now, Date is 2010-12-26 UTC 1100 hours position 44° 04'S and 108°41'W, 1525 miles to go and new course is 87 True (Great circle is 97 True) It is vcold and overcast.
