Day 1 [Feb. 4, 1200 Japan Standard Time (JST) (Feb. 3, 1700 Hawaii)]

Data
Heading: 195 degrees
Speed: 5 kt
Weather: Clear
Barometer: 1017
Waves: 2 m
Wind: 4 kt
Engine: OK
Distance from last call (departure point): 15 nm

Daily Report

Departed Honolulu 11:30 am
No difficulties reported.

(Later we heard from his Hawaiian shore crew Scott and Eric that the departure was in a driving rainstorm ... a precursor for much of the next 3, 825 nm to Auckland.)

Difficult to hear over wind / engine noise but comms was OK.

Asked Saito to call back in 2 hours. Iridium timed out at 3 minutes and he called briefly to say what happened, so 3 min. calls will be the norm.

Day 2 [Feb. 5, 1200 JST (Feb. 4, 1700 Hawaii)]

Data
Position: 19 34 N, 158 54 W
Heading: 190 degrees
Boat speed: 3-4 kt
Distance last 24 hours: 90 nm
Total distance: 115 nm
Weather: Cloudy and rainy
Barometer: 1020
Waves: 2-3 m
Wind: 35-40 kt, East (from East)
Engine: OK
Main sail: 2-point reef, main sail ripped, will be repaired with materials on board.

Daily Report

Smoother communications; we've now had some practice. He plans to fix the mainsail (fine as-is with a 2-point reef) when they approach the Equator and the strong East tradewinds abate. Boat speed is under what we had hoped, especially with heavily reefed main due to the strong winds. Should improve out of heavy wind area.

Weather forecast
Strong, steady winds, rain

Day 3 [Feb. 6, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 18 07 N, 159 27 W
Course: 190 degrees
Boat Speed: 4 - 5 kt
Wind Direction and Wind Force: E 4 to 5 (Beaufort scale)
Weather: C 1015 hPa
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Daily Report

Cannot charge the batteries. Iridium phone is not available. Information received through Okeranet (<http://www.okeranet.com>)

Added Comment

During this period there was no daily Iridium contact and the updates were being relayed through OkeraNet, a Japan-based network of marine radio operators. OkeraNet's wind reports were given using Beaufort wind scale terminology. Later, to correspond with the usual weather forecasts, we decided to report all wind speeds in knots. 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour. A nautical mile is 1.151 U.S. statute (Imperial) mile.

 

Day 4 [Feb. 7, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 16 19 N, 160 12 W
Heading: 219 degrees
Boat speed: 4 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 121 nm
Total distance: 315 nm
Weather: Cloudy and rainy
Barometer: 1015
Waves: 2-3 m
Wind: NE 4-5 kt
Engine: OK
Sails: unknown

Daily Report

No Iridium calls in past two days. Instead he is communicating his positions through OkeraNet, a Japanese marine ham radio group.

Not clear at the moment why the Iridium is not being used ... he reports he has no AC power so cannot use AC devices. However the Iridium was supplied with both AC and DC chargers.

We were put in touch by Jerry Zak with the US Coast Guard in Hawaii, explained that Saito-san had not called in for two days, and emailed them the Day 2 information at their request. They subsequently told us they had located the vessel and that it was fine.

Weather forecast
Steady trade winds, scattered rain

Day 5 [Feb. 8, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 14 55N _161 03W
Course: 195 Degrees
Boat Speed: 4 to 5 Kt
Wind Direction and Wind Force: ESE 4
Weather: B 1013 hPa
Wave Height: 2 m

Daily Report

From Okeranet:
Succeeded in repairing AC power unit. Communication by Iridium phone has also recovered. OkeraNet talked with the Saito Challenge 8 supporters. Also communicated with the US Coast Guard. (Did QSO with the Coast Guard.) The main halyard broke and the mainsail dropped during the night, and was furled. The mainsail is now rolled up and secured. Skipper and crewman Vincent will repair after the sea calms. Now sailing by engine and headsails.

Day 6 [Feb. 9, 0900 JST]

Data
Position: 13 41N _161 48W
Heading: 195 degrees
Boat speed: 4 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 97 nm
Total distance: 487 nm
Weather: Cloudy
Barometer: 1013 hPa
Waves: 2 m
Wind: ESE 4 kt
Engine: OK; no AC power; DC OK
Sails: furled main; will repair in calmer conditions

Daily Report

Distance to Auckland: 3,270 nm
ETA: March 5-13 (@ ave 100 nm per day)
No AC power, so Saito will use OkeraNet for position reports until further notice. Generator is supplying DC power, and engine when used.

Autotiller "OK."
Engine "OK," but now mainly sailing to conserve fuel.

Weather forecast
Steady trade winds, scattered rain showers

Day 7 [Feb. 10, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 12 09 N _162 37 W
Heading: 195 degrees
Boat speed: 3-4 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 101 nm
Total distance: 588 nm
Weather: Cloudy/scattered rain (10% chance)
Barometer: 1013 hPa
Waves: 2 m
Wind: ESE 4 kt
Engine: OK, sailing only; gen set OK; no AC being supplied, DC only
Sails: Main furled until calm seas to make repairs; sailing on jib and staysail.

Daily Report

Distance to Auckland: 3,171 nm
ETA: March 5-13 (@ ave 100 nm per day)
AC power still not working, so Iridium is on holiday. Updates by OkeraNet Marine Radio Network

.Weather Forecast
(Supplied by ClearPoint Weather at http://www.clearpointweather.com/)
Feb 10 UTC 0000 hrs
Frontal: 1010mb-1015mb at 12 deg N/160 deg ' W area
Wind 10.9 kt NE
Wave 8.2 ft NW

Forecast for 8 N, 170 W 3 days

Date Temp H/L Wind/From Skies
Feb 10 26.5/26C 14.6kts ENE rain shower, 10%
Feb 11 26.5/25.5C 14.6kts E rain shower, 40%
Feb 12 26.5/26 C 15.62ts E rain shower, 30%
Feb 13 26.5/26.8C 15.6kts ENE rain shower, 60%

Day 8 [Feb. 11, 1000 JST]

Data
Position: 10 50 N, 163 25 W
Heading: 195 degrees
Boat speed: 3-4 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 92 nm
Total distance: 688 nm
Distance to Auckland: 3,093 nm
ETA: March 8-15 (averaging 96 nm per day)
Weather: Clear to partly cloudy; 26 deg C
Barometer: 1012 hPa
Waves: 2 m
Wind (from): ENE 11 kt

Daily Report

Engine: OK, sailing only; fuel fine: aux. gen set OK; engine generator OK
Sails: Main furled until calm seas to make repairs; proceeding on jib and staysail.

(Additional update from OkeraNet Marine Radio Network.)
1100 hours

Was able to connect a cigarette lighter supplied with the Iridium phone to the generator. Now the phone is fully charged and can use. Contacted Hunter about one hour ago [1000 Japan time] by Iridium.
Power supply is working well from engine generator. So there is no problem with charging to the battery bank.
Was using inverter to convert power from batteries to AC, but it is too weak. So fridge that runs on AC doesn't work, and almost all fresh food inside has gone bad. Eating from canned goods, etc. supplies.
This is a large boat, and while the engine is large, the vessel weighs 25 tons. Therefore, the speed is rather slow, but the vessel is quite stable.
The seas will become calmer within 2-3 days, then skipper Saito and first mate Vincent will repair the main sail and main halyard.
Hunter relayed an email message from Vincent's mother in France, cheering them along.

Day 9 [Feb. 12, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 09 34 N, 164 17 W
Heading: 195 degrees
Boat speed: 4-5 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 90 nm
Total distance: 783 nm
Distance to Auckland: 3,020 nm
ETA: March 8-17 (averaging 94 nm per day)
Weather: Clear to partly cloudy; 27 deg C
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): ENE 14 kt

Daily Report

Engine: OK, sailing only; fuel fine; aux. gen set OK; engine generator OK; no AC
Sails: Main furled until calm seas to make repairs; proceeding on jib and staysail.

Spoke with Saito-san by Iridium at 1155.
He says the engine is fine but is under-powering the boat. Thus the slow motoring speed. Wants to fix this in Auckland. Confirmed the Iridium sat phone is now being charged by DC using cigarette lighter-type plug. Expects to make repairs to the main and halyard within the next day or two.

Asked me [Hunter] to send a message to Vincent's mother, Christine, to let her know they are fine. I confirmed I was already sending her the daily reports. He said Vincent is doing well.

(Additional update from OkeraNet Marine Radio Network.) 1200 hours

Caught a large mahi mahi 1.12 m in length today. It was hard to bring the heavy fish into the boat.

The main engine specs indicate it has 180 horsepower and is possible for 7-8 kt, but when motoring fast with it, it smokes a lot. Not to harm the engine, about 2300 rpm / 4-5 kt seems to be its limit.

Weather Forecast
(Supplied by ClearPoint Weather at http://www.clearpointweather.com/)


Feb 12 UTC 0000 hrs
Frontal: 1010mb-1011mb at 10 deg N/164 deg ' W area
Wind 13 kt frm ENE
Waves 2.5 m frm NNW

Forecast for 8 N, 170 W 3 days

Date Temp H/L Wind/From Skies
Feb 11 26.5/26C 14.6 kts E rain shower, 40%
Feb 12 26.5/26C 15.6 kts E rain shower, 30%
Feb 13 26.5/26.8 C 15.6 kts ENE rain shower, 60%
Feb 14 26.5/25.5C 13.6 kts ENE rain shower, 50%
Feb 15 26.0/25.5C 13.6 kts ENE rain shower, 50%
Feb 16 26.5/25.5C 14.6 kts ENE rain shower, 50%

Day 10 [Feb. 13, 1200 JST]

Data
Position: 08 22 N, 164 55 W
Heading: 195 degrees
Boat speed: 3-4 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 76 nm
Total distance: 859 nm
Distance to Auckland: 2,950 nm
ETA: 32 days (averaging 91 nm per day)
Weather: Rain; 26.5 deg C
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): SSE 17 - 20 kt
Engine: OK
Sails: Main furled

Daily Report

Spoke with Saito-san by Iridium at 1200.

Crew is "fine."
Winds 17 to 20 kt SE and E
Wave 3-4 m, occasionally 5 m
Rainy and windy conditions.
Must replace jib furling line; shackle replaced on running backstay.
Using radar as needed, functioning well.

Weather Forecast
(Supplied by ClearPoint Weather at http://www.clearpointweather.com/)

Feb 13 UTC 0000 hrs
Frontal: 1010mb at 008 deg N/163 deg W
Wind 18.5 kt frm ENE
Waves 2.5 m frm NNW

Forecast for 8 N, 163 W area

Date Temp H/L Wind/From Skies
Feb 12 26.5/25.5C 16.5 kt E rain shower, 30%
Feb 13 26.5/25.5C 18.5 kt ENE rain shower, 40%
Feb 14 26.5/26.0C 15.6 kt ENE rain shower, 50%
Feb 15 26.5/25.0C 15.6 kt ENE rain shower, 70%
Feb 16 26.0/25.0C 13.6 kt ENE rain shower, 40%
Feb 17 26.5/25.0C 16.5 kt E rain shower, 90%