Day 98 [Jan. 8, 0700 JST]

A birthday party of historic proportions.

Position:
29 52 S, 90 55 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 32.4%

Heading: 300
Boat speed: 5.3 kt (7-day average: 4.96 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 127 nm
Distance made good: 8,080 nm (14,964 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 17,050 nm

Yokohama ETA: 146 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 143

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 9.0 days

Weather: Clear and beautiful, winds slightly up
Barometer: 1020 hPa (steady)
Waves: 0.3 m
Wind (from): 4 - 6 kt ENE
Current (from): 0.1 kt SE
Engine: 17.0 hr / 1500 rpm, 1.0 hr / 2000 rpm (78.0 L)
Generator: 9.0 hr (9.0 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

Calm seas and a gorgeous starry canopy were welcome presents as Skipper Saito joined friends and supporters in celebration of his 75th birthday. He phoned in twice yesterday evening to exchange messages, and during the calls was compai'd and sung to, vigorously applauded, and then he "blew" out the candles on a blazing cake.

The record books now will say 75, and his historic accomplishment upon arriving in Yokohama is one we all can share and admire: "Minoru Saito, at age 75, the oldest human being to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world."

Added Comment

The birthday messages sent in by email will be published on the web page along with additional party photos. If you'd still like to add your own well-wishes, it is not too late. All will be conveyed to Saito-san, or already have been. Thanks again for your encouragement. He was still laughing during this morning's call.

A few more birthday party photos here.

***
Phone reception, unfortunately, was not clear enough to record well, not to mention the outside clamor of the restaurant. Thanks to Eiko for making the arrangements and for supplying the wind in Tokyo for the candles -- estimated at 18 - 22 kt from the EB... :)

Also much thanks to videographer Danielle Kelly for videotaping the event.

Day 99 [Jan. 9, 0700 JST]

Slow but steady. A cold front promises a change for the better. Rei hears a memorable tale of dancing dolphins.

Position:
29 48 S, 89 30 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 32.7%

Heading: 304
Boat speed: 3.1 kt (7-day average: 4.66 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 74 nm
Distance made good: 8,154 nm (15,101 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,976 nm

Yokohama ETA: 152 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 142

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 8.8 days

Weather: Clear and beautiful
Barometer: 1019 hPa (steady)
Waves: 0.3 m
Wind (from): 6 - 8 kt NNE
Current (from): 0.0 kt
Engine: 5.0 hr / 1600 rpm, 1.0 hr / 2000 rpm (32.5.0 L)
Generator: 8.0 hr (8.0 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

A slow day as he sails under weak winds mostly out of the NE. Seas remain flat with no current. A cold front approaches from the WSW and should reach him within 30 hours, bringing rain and promising a break in the light wind conditions. Clearpoint shows the possibility of favorable winds out of the east after the front passes.

Saito-san reported changing the secondary fuel filter and the oil of the aux. generator yesterday.

Added Comment

Rei was able to speak to him earlier in the week and filed the following report:

Happy New Year!

Currently I'm on the Indian Ocean, and have been forced to motor for a while as there is little wind, especially for the last 3 or 4 days.

I don't want to use the engine, but there is little choice. I could sail more towards the north to find some wind, but it would not be a good idea [as it is away from his shortest possible course and would add distance].

I think this reflects the climate change.

Talking about change, there are few fish around this area although there used to be lots of fish, including the famous tuna from this part of the world. Now they seem to be gone.

This is quite a change. Did I already tell you I once saw dolphins "line dance" around here? It was more than 10 years ago; about 30 dolphins formed a line jumping and dancing. It was really fun to watch. However, I cannot see anything like that now. No birds as well, perhaps because they cannot find fish. You know? The global climate change.

I will talk to you again next Tuesday. I wish you all a Happy New Year!

***
We wanted to thank Danielle Kelly for making a video record of Saito's 75th birthday party. Danielle is an Australian who's lived in Japan 15 years and has her own video production company, New Media Eye.

The hope is that somewhere down the watery road a documentary may come of all this!

Day 100 [Jan. 10, 0700 JST]

Slow but steady. A cold front promises a change for the better. Rei hears a memorable tale of dancing dolphins.

Position:
29 48 S, 89 30 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 32.7%

Heading: 304
Boat speed: 3.1 kt (7-day average: 4.66 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 74 nm
Distance made good: 8,154 nm (15,101 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,976 nm

Yokohama ETA: 152 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 142

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 8.8 days

Weather: Clear and beautiful
Barometer: 1019 hPa (steady)
Waves: 0.3 m
Wind (from): 6 - 8 kt NNE
Current (from): 0.0 kt
Engine: 5.0 hr / 1600 rpm, 1.0 hr / 2000 rpm (32.5.0 L)
Generator: 8.0 hr (8.0 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

A slow day as he sails under weak winds mostly out of the NE. Seas remain flat with no current. A cold front approaches from the WSW and should reach him within 30 hours, bringing rain and promising a break in the light wind conditions. Clearpoint shows the possibility of favorable winds out of the east after the front passes.

Saito-san reported changing the secondary fuel filter and the oil of the aux. generator yesterday.

Added Comment

We missed this before from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, the last post he made just before finishing the Velux 5 Oceans Race in May of 2007. In it, Sir Robin -- the first man to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation -- describes his "last" round-the-world solo voyage and mentions "my good friend" Minoru Saito and his upcoming trip.

We just now realized Sir Robin had not been included in our daily updates -- Welcome aboard, Robin!

***
This was also nice to see. Someone has constructed a web site that details various accomplishments for which Japan can be considered the "number 1" in the world. Saito-san was one of the earliest entries in a web site that presents "The World's Greatest Japanese."

Day 101 [Jan. 11, 0700 JST]

A quiet day as Saito-san completes one-third of the voyage. "Dongo," the first cyclone of 2009, moves south across his path.  

Position:
28 49 S, 85 59 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 33.4%

Heading: 245
Boat speed: 4.2 kt (7-day average: 4.39 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 101 nm
Distance made good: 8,352 nm (15,468 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,608 nm

Yokohama ETA: 159 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 140

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 7.7 days

Weather: Clear and hot (28 C)
Barometer: 1016 hPa (dropping)
Waves: 1.5 m
Wind (from): 14 - 18 kt SSW
Current (from): 0.1 kt NNE
Engine: 11.5 hr / 1600 rpm, 0.0 hr / 2000 rpm (57.25 L)
Generator: 9.0 hr (9.0 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

An imaginary line was crossed sometime during the night that marks the voyage's one-third completion point. We forgot to remark on it during the morning call as our attention was taken by the developing tropical storm that had threatened a collision course inside of 3 days.

The last 24 hours passed quietly under somewhat improving winds that Clearpoint showed were ready to begin blowing mainly out of the east.

Cyclone Dongo Watch

Since yesterday evening we have been watching the development of a "moderate" tropical storm that by late afternoon today had turned into a cyclone about 600 nm to the west of Saito's position. If velocities hold, Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III will enter the affected area within 36 hours. However, if the cyclone keeps on its largely southward track, Saito-san should be spared all but fringe winds in the mid to high teens, and those likely will turn favorable.

The weather center has named the cyclone "Dongo," as the 4th tropical storm of the 2008-9 Southwest Indian Ocean season. (The first storm of each year begins with the letter "A".) Dongo is the first tropical cyclone of 2009.

For updates on Dongo, go here.

Day 102 [Jan. 12, 0700 JST]

Cyclone Dongo a near miss. Near gale-force winds still possible.  

Position:
28 29 S, 84 08 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 33.8%

Heading: 345
Boat speed: 4.1 kt (7-day average: 4.4 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 99 nm
Distance made good: 8,451 nm (15,651 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,509 nm

Yokohama ETA: 156 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 139

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 6.9 days

Weather: Overcast
Barometer: 1018 hPa
Waves: 1.0 m
Wind (from): 10 - 14 kt SSE
Current (from): 0.2 kt W
Engine: 0.0 hr / 1600 rpm, 0.0 hr / 2000 rpm (0 L)
Generator: 10.5 hr (10.5 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

A good day under sails alone, riding winds being pulled westward into the low pressure of Cyclone Dongo.

Dongo was an apparent near-miss, absent any major move off its 160 degree southern track.

Cyclone Watch

As had been predicted by the weather center, southbound Dongo last night veered 15 degrees to the east, but by that time was already south of Saito's latitude and heading lower. The skipper also had prudently moved more north thus providing added distance between him and the now apparently departing cyclone, the year's first.

If he had followed a more southerly route since Fremantle (at or below 31 S) or especially had he not been slowed by a high-pressure cell over the past week, he would probably have been in the direct path of the cyclone. The storm is generating 30- to 50-kt sustained winds with 65-kt gusts, and "rough to very rough seas" within 110 nm of its center. It is expected to weaken over the next several days.

Even still, he may see squalls and 30-kt gusts from disrupted weather conditions on the trailing northern edge of the affected area. At 0700 today he was 420 nm from the cyclone's center (32 28 S 72 11 E), about 120 nm outside the periphery of the storm. Winds constant at 21 to 25 kt out of the NE and NW can be expected at the position he will reach in 36 to 48 hours.

For updates on Dongo, go here.

WARNING POSITION:
111200Z --- NEAR 23.2S 69.5E
MOVEMENT PAST SIX HOURS - 160 DEGREES AT 18 KTS
POSITION ACCURATE TO WITHIN 060 NM
POSITION BASED ON CENTER LOCATED BY SATELLITE
PRESENT WIND DISTRIBUTION:
MAX SUSTAINED WINDS - 050 KT, GUSTS 065 KT
WIND RADII VALID OVER OPEN WATER ONLY

Day 103 [Jan. 13, 0700 JST]

Dongo downgraded to a tropical low. Saito enjoys mostly clear skies and favorable winds, though rain & squalls are ahead.  

Position:
27 50 S, 81 58 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 34.3%

Heading: 310
Boat speed: 5.0 kt (7-day average: 4.34 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 120 nm
Distance made good: 8,571 nm (15,873 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,389 nm

Yokohama ETA: 157 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 138

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 5.7 days

Weather: Overcast
Barometer: 1017 hPa
Waves: 1.0 m
Wind (from): 14 - 18 kt NE
Current (from): 0.2 kt W
Engine: 0.0 hr / 1600 rpm, 0.0 hr / 2000 rpm (0 L)
Generator: 8.5 hr (8.5 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 80 - 90%

Today's Report

Cyclone Dongo was downgraded yesterday to a tropical low, and the US Navy storm center issued in the afternoon what it called its "final warning" on the quickly dissipating storm.

Saito-san reported clear skies and "just a little clouds" as he is now 530 nm from the center of the low that is drawing obliquely away from him to the south. Clearpoint shows he should expect rain over the next 2 days and winds out of the north at 25 kt sustained. A weather trough is expected to pass over his position in about 30 hours. More on troughs here.

Cyclone Watch

For the "final warning" update on Dongo, see here.

REMARKS:
121500Z POSITION NEAR 29.4S 70.6E.
LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 905 NM EAST-SOUTHEAST OF LA REUNION, TC 06S HAS TRACKED SOUTHWARD AT 09 KNOTS OVER THE PAST 06 HOURS. ANIMATED 12-HOUR WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS THE REMNANT CONVECTION HAS MOSTLY DETACHED FROM THE LOW-LEVEL CIRCULATION CENTER (LLCC) AND DRIFTED TO THE EAST WITH THE SUBTROPICAL JET STREAM. THE LLCC IS NOW ABSORBED IN THE MIDLATITUDE BAROCLINIC ZONE AND IS RAPIDLY GETTING DEFORMED. TC 06S HAS BECOME EXTRATROPICAL AND WILL RAPIDLY DISSIPATE OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS. THIS IS THE FINAL WARNING ON THIS SYSTEM BY THE JOINT TYPHOON WARNING CENTER (NAVMARFCSTCEN). THE SYSTEM WILL BE CLOSELY MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF REGENERATION. MAXIMUM SIGNIFICANT WAVE HEIGHT AT 121200Z IS 13 FEET.//

From the seamail bag:

Dear Committee,
I worked with Minoru during one of the BOC Challenge events and the Around Alone. The company I was with provided communications during both events. It was a wonderful experience and absolute pleasure working with Minoru during these events. He was always extremely humble, in spite of his incredible accomplishments, and truly appreciate of everyone’s efforts and support.

I recently heard about Minoru’s latest adventure and wanted to wish him all the best.

Best regards,
Katy Ackland
Maryland, USA

Saito-san's response this AM: "Oh, Katy?! Really? Tell her thank you! I'm fine, I'm fine."

Day 104 [Jan. 14, 0700 JST]

Squalls and 17 gifts from the sea.  

Position:
28 42 S, 79 56 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 34.8%

Heading: 275
Boat speed: 5.0 kt (7-day average: 4.39 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 119 nm
Distance made good: 8,690 nm (16,094 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,270 nm

Yokohama ETA: 154 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 137

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 4.5 days

Weather: Overcast with occasional squalls
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 3.5 m
Wind (from): 7 - 9 kt NW
Current (from): 0.1 kt WSW
Engine: 0.0 hr / 1600 rpm, 0.0 hr / 2000 rpm (0 L)
Generator: 10.0 hr (10.0 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 80 - 90%

Today's Report

Squalls after midnight with gusts reaching 35 kt and 4 m seas kept Saito-san busy with sail reductions, down to a 3-pt reef for much of the dark hours. (The sun goes down at 10 pm at his latitude.) The predicted squalls accompanied a cold front following in the wake of Cyclone Dongo, which was reduced to a tropical low 2 days ago and is now largely (and happily) gone.

Added Comment

This morning Saito-san was returning to a more direct route to WP 6, Cape of Good Hope, and will likely pass the "theoretical" WP 5 of 070 E somewhat north of where it's been indicated on the daily position map. To help miss Dongo he climbed nearly 3 degrees in recent days, keeping him out of the strong (and contrary) fringe winds, but stretching the distance to WP 5 by about 100 nm.

***
To Saito's joy and amazement the sea has provided him with an abundance of fresh fish over the last several days. Three days ago he discovered 5 flying fish had come aboard during the night. The next morning, he found 4, and then yesterday was stunned to find a whopping 8 fish on the foredeck. Not all were big enough to eat, but several were and they went into the fridge for a later meal. Asked whether he'd found any more today, he reminded us that the sun had not yet come up, as it was just 3 am. "Maybe I'll find some at daybreak, though," he said with the relish of a true Japanese with fresh cuisine de la mer on his mind.

Day 105 [Jan. 15, 0700 JST]

Some thoughts about the route ahead.  

Position:
28 09 S, 78 33 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 35.2%

Heading: 325
Boat speed: 3.8 kt (7-day average: 4.17 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 80 nm
Distance made good: 8,780 nm (16,260 km)
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 16,180 nm

Yokohama ETA: 161 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Days until Yokohama 150th Anniversary Port Celebration: 136

To WP 5, Indian Ocean midpoint: 3.6 days

Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1016 hPa
Waves: 1.5 m
Wind (from): 8 - 12 kt SW
Current (from): 0.1 kt WSW
Engine: 5.0 hr / 1800 rpm, 0.0 hr / 2000 rpm (37.5 L)
Generator: 9.5 hr (9.5 L)
Sails
Main: 2 pt
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 80 - 90%

Today's Report

Yesterday saw slowed progress against stiff headwinds, achieving just 80 nm mainly under sail. Regular checks of rigging, steering, and other systems show everything is standing up well, including the sails, with no evident wear despite recent squalls and heavy swells.

Added Comment

We discussed the route and Saito-san reaffirmed that the conditions to especially watch will be near the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, and then even more at Cape Horn, South America, due to the southern latitudes he must go to to achieve these "Great Capes" passages (35 35 S and 56 50 S, respectively).

He reflected on the use of the engine vs. strictly sailing, and stated that his westward direction would not have been possible under sails alone. "I must use diesel sometimes," he said, or there would be no progress possible against the wind. As it is, he intends to use the engine sparingly except at the two capes "and after that [with improved relative wind direction] it should be no problem to go faster," he said. He can also use the engine more and re-fuel at a convenient port on the way back to Japan if necessary.

He saw 7-kt boat speeds in recent days when the wind was favorable, and considers the heavy-weather sailing while Dongo was in the vicinity as "good practice" for Cape Horn. At times the seas were 4 meters and steep, giving him some indication of boat handling and what to expect when the seas surpass 5 meters with 40 - 50 kt winds as he nears, and leaves, The Horn.