April 1 - Day 168
JST 2300 Position: 43.34S 118.27E
(Local time 2200 Apr. 1)
Heading: 120 to 130 degrees wind vane
Boat speed: 5.5 Kts
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 6
Barometric pressure: 1025 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 11°C
Wave height: 3 to 3.5 m

Sailing with Trysail and Storm jib.

April 2 - Day 169
JST 2300 Position: 43.19S 120.57E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 2)
Heading: 90 to 100 degrees wind vane
Boat speed: 5 Kts
Wind direction: SW
Wind force: 7
Barometric pressure: 1025 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 9°C
Wave height: 6 to 7 m

Sailing under Storm jib only.
I have been making contacts with one of my Australian friends because the present position is near to Australia.
The boat was sailing under bare pole due to passing of a cold front. The waves were about 10 m high then. Under such circumstances, repair of the engine or the generator is impossible.

April 3 - Day 170
JST 2300 Position: 43.47S 123.24E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 3)
Heading: 80 to 90 degrees wind vane
Boat speed: 5 to 6 Kts
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 6
Barometric pressure: 1029 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 11°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Sailing under Trysail and Storm jib.

April 4 - Day 171
JST 1200 Position: 43.32S 127.50E
(Local time 1300 Apr. 4.)
Boat speed 8 to 9 Kts
Wind direction: WSW
Wind force: 6
Barometric pressure: 1017 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 14°C
Wave height: 7 to 8 m

Sailing under bare pole only.
I am thinking to hoist Storm jib now. I have to repair the Trysail because the upper part was broken.
Electricity and machinery are all not in order. Power supply is fully dependent upon the solar panels only.
I am planning to sail 120 miles off south of Tasmania. I estimate this will be on about April 12.
It will be about 5,000 miles from there (if direct, 4,200 miles) to Japan.

JST 2300 Position: 43.34S 126.31E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 4)
Heading: 80 to 90 degrees wind vane
Boat speed: 8 to 9 Kts
Wind direction: NNS
Wind force: 7
Barometric pressure: 1021 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 12°C
Wave height: 3 to 4 m

Sailing with Trysail and Storm jib. A cold front is coming. Now preparing for the storm.
Shuten-Doji is sailing between a high of 1036 hpa and a low of 956 hpa.
A big storm is expected on the 5th due to passing of the cold front.

The power-generating ability of solar batteries: 8 A/h (4 A/h x 2 units)
When it is cloudy as today, the ability goes dowen to 6 A/h  (3 A/h x 2 units).
6 A/h x 8 hours = 48 A/h 12 V generator: 40 A/h x 2 hours=80 A/h
Therefore, I have secured 128 A today (48 A/h + 80 A/h).

April 5 - Day 172
JST 2300 Position: 43.26S 128.56E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 5.)
Heading: 80 to 90 degrees wind vane
Boat speed: 5 to 6 Kts
Wind direction: S
Wind force: 7 to 8
Barometric pressure: 1031 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 9°C
Wave height: 5 to 7 m

Sailing under storm jib only. The upper part of Trysail has been broken. I will do the maintenance work of the sail later because the wind is expected to become better from Apr. 6 to 7.  It is very hard to repair the Trysail and the tapes (tablings) now due to pain in the base of my left thumb.
I think the Antarctic Circle Current streaming from west to east can be expected when the boat passes 45S.

April 10 - Day 177

JST 2200 Position: 44.26S 138.33E
(Local time 2200 Apr. 10.)
Heading: 80 to 90 degrees windvane
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Estimated deviation: +8 degrees
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 5 to 6
Barometric pressure: 1012 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 12°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Sailing with Trysail and Storm jib.
I have succeeded in making contact with Jeremy Living in Tasmania and we plan to rendezvous off Tasmania. He said he could not give me any gifts, of course, but he said he would take a photograph of "SHUTEN-DOJI II." Now planning to rendezvous on Apr. 14.

April 11 - Day 178

JST 2300 Position: 44.01S 141.52E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 11.)
Heading: 50 to 60 degrees windvane
Boat speed 4 Kts
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 4 to 5
Barometric pressure: 1021 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 13°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Sailing with Storm jib and Trysail.
The sea is stormy due to a cold front and low pressure moving at about 20 to 30 Kts. The place of rendezvous with Jermy is expected at "Storm Bay" located off the entrance of Hobert on the southeast end of Tasmania. But, I am not sure how close I can approach there. I am hoping the weather will moderate as much as possible.

*****************************
Message from S.Yamamoto:
Everyday's weather charts around Australia can be seen on the
URLs below. People will see how the condition of the sea is hard.
The URL(s) is(are) always shown on the daily logbook.

http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/national/charts/synoptic.shtml

http://www.bom.gov.au/nmoc/products/IDX0533_P.shtml
*****************************

April 12 - Day 179

JST 2300 Position: 44.00S 144.09E
(Local time 2300 Apr. 12.)
Heading: 70 to 80 degrees windvane
Boat speed: 4 to 5 Kts
Wind direction: N
Wind force: 4
Barometric pressure: 1022 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 14°C
Wave height: 2 to 2.5 m

Sailing with 90% of No.1 jib and Trysail.

It fully depends on the wind whether or not I can reach the entrance of Storm Bay (43.15S and 147.33E ) where I am expecting to rendezvous with my friend. SHUTEN-DOJI II has little liberty of maneuvering due to many troubles of the boat.
The troubles are as following;-
1.The engine is stopped,
2.The mainsail is broken,
3.The autohelm cannot be used due to low electric power,
4.The steering wheel has trouble.

So, this boat is sailing with windvane, tiller, Trysail, Storm
jib, and No.1 Jib now. The handheld VHF radio reaches up to 5 miles only. The other radios on the boat depend on the weak power supply. Therfore, it will not be the easiest rendezvous, but I will do my best to see my friend.

Apr. 13 - Day 180

JST 2300 Position: 43.45S 146.53E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 13.)
Heading 50 to 60 degrees windvane
Estimated deviation: +15 degrees
Boat speed 4 to 5 Kts
Wind direction: NWW
Wind force: 7 to 8
Barometric pressure: 1010 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 15°C
Wave height: 2 m

Sailing with storm jib only.
It has been a long time since I saw the land last time.
Now sailing about 6 miles off Tasmania.
A cold front passed a little before.
I am thinking of hoisting the Trysail when morning comes.
Tomorrow, I look forward to a rendezvous off Storm Bay.

April 14 - Day 181

JST 2300 Position: 42.25S 148.38E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 14.)
Heading 10 to 20 degrees windvane
Boat speed 5.5 Kts
Wind direction: SW
Wind force: 5 to 6
Barometric pressure: 1030 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 13°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Sailing with trysail and storm jib.

Third-Party Sights Saito-san off Tasmania
******* Succeeded in Rendezvous *********
We left the dock of Tasmania Royal Yacht Club at AM6:00.
It was humid and child at that time. And the sky was still
dark. It was still one hour to dawn.

Our plan was to meet "SHUTEN-DOJI II" at the middle of Storm
Bay point (43.14S and 147.33 E) about 20 miles down (from?)the Derwent
River.
We understood the weather was bad by the morning sunshine.
A cold front was passing. The wind became strengthened more
and more. And it started to rain from Southeast.
The eyesight became less than one mile.
The wind blew strongly at Storm Bay.
We waited on the back of Bruny Island which is located at
the westside in Storm Bay. We were advised the position of
Saito-san was 15 miles south of us at AM7:00 (at Tasmanian
time).
At that time wind of 25 to 30 Kt was blowing. Our 7 m boat
was like a submarine.
The eyesight was improved up to about 3 miles. Again we took
contact with Saito-san and we found that his position (43.20S
and 147.38E) was about 6 miles southeast of us.
It was a heavy storm everywhere near steep basalt cliff of
Tasman sea.
The submarine was drifted to southeast. We called Saito-san's
satelite telephone several times, but he had not enough
electric power supply due to engine trouble etc.
Afterwards we could advance one mile to the south and found
" SHUTEN-DOJI II".

---------------------------------------------------------------
April 15 - Day 182

JST 2300 Position: 41.04S 149.55E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 15.)
Heading: 350 to 0 degrees windvane
Boat speed: 1.5 to 2 Kts
Wind direction: S
Wind force: 1 to 2
Barometric pressure: 1025 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 14°C
Wave height: 1 to 1.5 m

Sailing with Trysail, Storm jib and No.1 Jib.
I have passed Tasmania and am sailing northward.
Now I feel very well both spiritually and physically.
What I have to bother with is only about food. I have enough stocks of rice and canned food, but no vegetables.
Potatoes will be used up at the end of this month and onions also on about May 10. Some small stores of alcoholic beverages are still left. 20 beer cans, one rum bottle, one wine bottle and some whisky.
Enough coffee for about for 200 cups.
Lots of green tea is still left but the teapot cannot be found!
Have black tea for about 200 cups also.

April 16 - Day 183

JST 2100 Position: 40.54S 150.31E
(Local time 2200 Apr. 16.)
Heading 70 to 80 degrees windvane
Boat speed 4 Kts
Wind direction: N
Wind force: 5 to 6
Barometric pressure: 1022 hps
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 16°C
Wave height: 1 m

Sailing with 3 point reefed Main and No.1 Jib.

Now rehoisted Mainsail after too long an interval!!
I was able to repair the Mainsail, since the wind was weak and the waves only 1 m high. I climbed on the boom and made the repairs sitting on the boom and the mainsail. This work took about 1 hour and a half. Then I hoisted the Main and toasted our success with beer.
I have started to try to plant vegetables in the cabin.
I am planting "Kaiware"(kind of vegetable).
I may be able to plant other kinds of vegetables if I can succeed in growing their sprouts. But, it seems difficult except for potatoes.
The weather is fine and solar cells are working very well.

April 17 - Day 184

JST 2100 Position: 152.38E 41.02S
(Local time 2200 Apr. 17.)
Heading: 50 to 60 degrees windvane
Boat speed: 4 to 5 Kts
Wind direction: N
Wind force: 1 to 6
Barometric pressure: 1012 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 19°C
Wave height: 3 to 3.5 m

Sailing with 2 point reefed Main and Staysail.

********************************
The following mail was sent to the Tokyo support center by Don MacIntire who built "SHUTEN-DOJI II" and joined the first race of Around Alone 1990 with Saito-san on the boat of the same type.

"I was back from Tahiti late at last night. I missed him because it was just after Minoru had passed Hobert. I have heard from Jermy on the stormy sea. I wished if I could go to see him with Maggie. It seems to me that he could not see my mail because I had been diving with sharks.

I spent days diving with innumerable sharks in Tahiti. But, I think of Minoru often and feel proud of him. He is continuing a brave challenge with so much equipment in disorder. Good luck to him! I will continue to watch the Web site.

Please tell Minoru my message that our off-road race with 2 vehicles will start soon."

Saito-san was very glad to hear his message saying that they should do their best on the desert.

April 18 - Day 185

JST 2300 Position: 40.01S 154.27E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 19)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 4 Kts
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 6 to 7
Barometric pressure: 1013 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 17°C
Wave height: 3 to 4 m

Sailing with 1 point reefed Main and Staysail.
The distance to "Suntory Mermaid" was 10 miles at 1200 JST.
Mr. Horie might have dropped sail to sail with bare mast. (so I guess)
" SHUTEN-DOJI II" changed the Main from a 2 point reef to a 3 point, then to a 1 point.
The boat has increased its speed after the Mainsail was repaired.

April 19 - Day 186

JST 2300 Position: 38.02S 154.08E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 20)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 4 Kts
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 6 to 7
Barometric pressure: 1021 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 17°C
Wave height: 3 to 4 m

Sailing with 2 point reefed Main and Staysail.

April 20 - Day 187

JST 2300 Position: 35.35S 154.03E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 21)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 5.5 Kts
Wind direction: SE
Wind force: 4 to 5
Barometric pressure: 1028 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 19°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m
Sailing with 2 point reefed Main, 90% of No.1 Jib.
Sailing speed has improved since the Mainsail was repaired.

My plan for the return leg to Japan:
Go north along the coast of Australia (Will pass 100 miles off of Brisbane) then Coral Sea; Will go north on 155E to 156E (west side of Madagascar); Will go to NNE for some time, after passing Pioneer Channel, then change course to NNW at 7N, pointing off Guam Island; Then to off Shikoku Island, and finally, set course for Seabornia port
at Misaki..

April 21 - Day 188

JST 2300 Position: 33.19S 154.08E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 22)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Wind direction: NE
Wind force: 5
Barometric pressure: 1023 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 22°C
Wave height: 2 to 2.5 m

Sailing with 2 point reefed Main, Staysail and 40% of No.1 Jib.
In the daytime, I sailed with 2 point reefed Main, Staysail and 90% of No.1 Jib.
After a while, I will head north for the Coral Sea on the southeastern wind after passing the cold front.

April 22 - Day 189

JST 2300 Position: 32.19S 153.39E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 23)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 2.5 to 3 Kts
Wind direction: NE
Wind force: 3 to 4.
Barometric pressure: 1025 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 22°C
Wave height: Under 1 m

Sailing with 1 point reefed Main and Staysail.
Sailing calmly under moonlight.
It is hard to maintain boat speed due to sailing on the western side of the high pressure. The wind is weak.

April 23 - Day 190

JST 2300 Position: 32.21S 153.23E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 24)
Heading: 180 to 200 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 1 Kt
Wind direction: Unknown
Wind force: 0
Barometric pressure: 1023 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 21°C (26°C in the daytime)
Wave height: 0 m or so.
Sailing with 1 point reefed Main, Staysail. No wind.

April 24 - Day 191

JST 2300 Position: 31.48S 153.53E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 25)
Heading: 30 to 40 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 4 to 5 Kts
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 3 to 4
Barometric pressure: 1021 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 21°C
Wave height: Under 1 m

Sailing with 1-point reefed Main and 90% No. 1 Jib.
I took a shower in the daytime washing from head to toe. First real bath since I bathed 5 months ago. After bathing I treated my hair to some hair tonic. Now I feel very good. The shower was, of course, a natural shower from the sky (squall). Changed clothes from winter wear for the Southern Ocean to summer wear.
The full moon here looks beautiful. I wish I could drink some sake looking the moon. But I gave up this idea for tonight because of the short stock of alcohol. I have stored some water from the shower/squall equivalent to 3 PET bottles.

April 25 - Day 192

JST 2300 Position: 30.41S 154.43E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 26)
Heading: 10 to 20 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 3 Kts
Wind direction: ENE
Wind force: 2 to 3
Barometric pressure: 1020 hpa
Weather: Fine
Temperature: 22°C
Wave height: 1 m
Sailing with 1 point reefed Main and 100% of No.1 Jib.

The solar cells are not working so well because they have been in the shadow of the Main and Jib, although the weather has been fine.
Started engine repair today for a backup battery charger. I do hope to have the engine running well tomorrow.
The wind is weak and the waves are mild. The weather, ironically, would be ideal for powering with the engine these days, but I must sail on, come what may. But "SHUTEN-DOJI II" is doing its best to climb northward under sail alone.

April 26 - Day 193

JST 2300 Position: 29.55S 155.28E
(Local time 0100 Apr. 27)
Heading: 20 to 30 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 5 to 6 Kts
Wind direction: ENE
Wind force: 5
Barometric pressure: 1022 hpa
Weather: Cloudy
Temperature: 22°C
Wave height: Under 1 to 1.5 m

Sailing with 1 point reefed Main, Staysail and 30% of No.1 Jib.
Failed to complete the engine repair today.
The voltage of the batteries has become low, so I cannot continue communication today.
Today, squalls swept through 4 times. Therefore, I got very wet during the sail changes and sail adjustment and am not feeling so well. I feel I have caught a cold.

Apr. 27 - Day 194

No transmission

Apr. 28 - Day 195

JST 2200 Position: 25.30S 157.14E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 28.)
Heading: 0 to 10 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 6 to 7 Kt
Wind direction: E
Wind force: 5 to 6
Barometric presure: 1015 hps
Weather: bc Fine
Temperature: 23°C
Wave height: 3 to 4 m
Sailing with 2 point reefed Main, Staysail and 30% of No.1 Jib.

Apr. 29 - Day 196

JST 2200 position: 23.00S 157.02E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 29)
Heading: 340 to 350 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 6 to 7 Kt
Wind direction: E
Wind force:5
Barometric pressure: 1009 hps
Weather: c Cloudy
Temperature: 23°C
Wave height: 2 to 3 m

Sailing with 1 point reefed Main, Staysail and 30% of No.1 Jib.

Apr. 30 - Day 197

JST 2200 Position: 21.03S 156.45E
(Local time 2400 Apr. 30.)
Heading: 320 to 330 degrees Windvane
Boat speed: 4 to 5 Kt
Wind direction: SE
Wind force: 4 to 5
Barometric pressure: 1007 hps
Weather: bc Fine
Temperature: 26°C
Wave height: 1.5 to 2 m

Sailing with 1-point reefed Main, and 30% of No.1 Jib.