DECEMBER 2004
Dec. 1 - Day 47
(No report)
Dec. 2 - Day 48
2030 Position: 23.23S, 176.23E
Compass course: 180
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 2
Boat speed: 2.0 Kts
Weather: Fine
Barometer: 1013 hpa
Temperature: 25°C
The boat is sailing with one-point reefed Main and 30% reefed Genoa.
Sailing close-hauled mostly, but the wind is very weak.
Though sailing in the midst of high pressure of
1013 hpa, the wind is not favorable. Good breeze
can be expected when the pressure goes up to 1025
to 1030 hpa.
Wind so weak, cannot use even the wind vane all
day. At night, the temperature goes down and the
wind picks up a little.
The boat may pass the International Date Line at about 40S.
Sent a thank you message to Ms. Imakyuure for the message received from her.
2300 Position: 24.45S, 176.06E
Compass course: 165
Wind direction: E
Wind force: 3
Weather: bc
Barometer: 1012 hpa
Boat speed: 4.0 Kts
Now the wind is blowing from the east. Hoping for
the wind from SW or W, because the wind force
will be stronger.
Dec. 3 - Day 49
2300 Position: 25.50S, 1176.30E
Compass course: 130
Wind direction: ENE
Wind force: 3
Boat speed: 4.5 Kts
Weather: Broken clouds, Fine
Barometer: 1007 hpa
Temperature: 24°C
Wave height: Under 1 meter
Sailing one-point reefed Main and 80% reefed Jib.
Spent a whole day on maintenance of the engine today.
Finding no problem to charge the batteries
since a generator is installed now. Going to try more engine maintenance
tomorrow. If the work does not
go well, thinking to give up the repair business. At present, there is nothing
to worry about except for the engine because both the wind and
the current are favorable for now.
Dec 4 - Day 50
2100 Position: 28.49S 179.07E
Compass Course: 200
Wind Direction: SE
Windforce: 3-4
Boat Speed: 3 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1014 hpa
Temperature: 21°C
Wind changed to SE at 1400 Japan Time, now running to the S. Surprised at the
news that more than Temp 24 and wind speed over 40m in Tokyo.
Dec 5 - Day 51 (No transmission)
Dec 6 - Day 52
0721 Congratulations! and Thanks! I got contact from the sponsor early this
morning. Japan Time is Dec 6 0721 am (2221 UT), passed the date line at
29.12S.
Managed to pass through Tonga, a dangerous area with many islands, by using
the radar. The problem is low pressure system of 988 hpa, almost typhoon class,
stationed just 10 degrees S of Shutendohji 2. Attention to this!! See the Pressure
Table, for your reference, centered on the Antarctic by the Weather Bureau of
Australia.
I'm in a pod where low pressures are rambling, feeling there's no same earth
I'm staying on.
1800 Position: (Entered W longitude)
29.43S 179.43W
Compass course: 160-170
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 4-5
Boat speed: 5.5 KTS
Weather: Fair/cloudy
Barometer: 1005
Temperature: 22°C
Sailing with 1-point reefed Main, 40%
No.1 Jib, and Storm Jib.
Faxed article for upcoming issue of Kaji magazine to the sponsor.
Dec 7 - Day 53
2300 Position: 31.30S 179.33W
Compass course: 150-160
Wind direction: E
Boat speed: 3.5 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1014 hpa
Temperature: 20°C
Weather is clear, it gets much cooler. Sailing with Main one point, Storm,
and No 1 Jib with reefed small.
Hope wind direction will change soon!!
Dec 8 - Day 54
1830 Position: 31.57S 178.49W
Compass course: 070 (True 090-095)
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 4
Boat speed: 4.5 KTS
Weather: Fair
(B)
Barometer: 1014 hpa
Temperature: 20°C
Sailing condition continues with one-point
reefed Main, Storm, and No.1 Jib reefed to tiny, running with these 3 sails.
Deviation to the west is unavoidable if going to the south -- it's a longer
way but directing eastward, it's 1.5 KTS faster, so running down a little to
the south taking Compass HDG 070, True 090-095, 1.5 Kts faster!! Hope wind changes
soon.
Vegetables remain only onions and potatoes. Japanese pumpkins taste better than
American or Australian ones, but they are harder and keep longer, though they
are not so tasty. ....Temp is going lower, which means meat and other opened
foods have a longer life, for 2 days. I took a lot of corned beef with me.
I don't cook with regular rice (waste of time and fuel), "Arufa" rice
prepared by Miyako is convenient for making up Gohan or Okayu only in 10-15
minutes. Not like ... Nishiki, but it's something. It only needs hot water or
just water and good for saving fuel. Thanks to the Temp for opening the packaged
milk, I'm now taking cereal "Borijji"s which I like better. This also
needs no fuel. I have still long way to go, so I'm save the better meals for
later and slowly, which is the opposite of how I'd do it on land.
Dec 9 - Day 55
2100 Position: 33.28S 177.21W
Compass course: 120-130
Wind direction: WSW
Wind force: 5
Boat speed: 6.5 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1003 hpa
Temperature: 19°C
Passed a cold front line a little while
ago, gained a nicer speed of 7-8 Kts.
Finished reefing work in the darKtsess, finished a 2-point reef on the Main during
daylight and sailed with Storm Jib.
So far running quarter-lee but wind may shift to totally downwind by going down
south from now. It's said to dangerous but at first I'll push the 40S line to
get 40 to 50 Kts of wind to gaining 10 Kts boat speed. This boat is heavy so that
wind direction is needed.
Trying to reach 40S with 160 to 155W.
Dec 10 - Day 56 (No transmission.)
Dec 11 - Day 57
0000 Position: 35.40S,
174.54W
Compass course: 115
Wind direction: WSW
Wind force: 7-8
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Weather: bc
Barometer: 992 hpa
Temperature: 17°C
With 3-point reef in Main and Storm
Jib, had been doing 8-9 KTS. But since I am using the wind vane, and broaching
is a possibility, from a little while ago I started sailing at 6 Kts with the
Main down and Storm Jib only.
Wave Height 5-7m, passing a cold front line from 971 to 974hp. No damage so
far -- by taking actions sooner, I'm fine!
Dec 12 - Day
58
1800 Position: 37.59S 171.10W
Compass course: 060 (Variation +20)
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 8
Boat speed: 5.5 Kts
Weather: Fair/cloudy
Barometer: 994 hpa
Temperature: 18°C
Today, a little after noon, turned
more southerly and passed 38S latitude. There encountered W/F 9-10 with wind
hitting 53 KTS max.
Failed to take down the main sail in time, and it was cought by the Lazy Jacks
and I fought for more than 1 hour to finally get it down.
Boat speed is 9-10 Kts with only the Storm Jib. Now not trying to oppose the
wind, am going up a little N under Storm Jib only.
Barometric pressure is down to 994, lower than the morning in spite of running
North. Important to Ktsow the latest weather info everyday for quickly changable
Antarctic Sea weather.
Dec 13 - Day 59
0600 Position: 37.56S 170.00W
Compass course: 100 (Variation +20)
Wind direction: WSW
Wind force: 4
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Weather: bc
Barometer: 996 hpa
Temperature: 18°C
Jibe to Japan Time Dec 13 0400
(2 HR ahead). Course is ESE.
Dec 14 - Day 60
0000 Position: 38.05S 168.03W
Compass course: 050-060
Wind direction: NW
Wind force: 5-6
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Weather: bc
Barometer: 996 hpa
Temperature 17°C
Wave height: 3m
Under 2-point reefed Main and
40% No.1 Jib
I have started to be concerned with the progress of the Vendee Globe 2004.40-48S
24-106E (all competitors currently in the Indian Ocean) They are coming fast.
Check URL below. Looking forward to how much I will be able to have contact
with them.
http://www.vendeeglobe.org/fr/classements
1330 Position: 38.04S 166.19W
Compass course 40-50 (Variation +20)
Wind direction: NW
Wind force: 7-8 (Gale)
Boat speed: 7 Kts
Weather: Cloudy
Barometer: 993 hpa
Temperature: 18°C
Sea is rough. Blowing 34 Kts wind.
Sailing with 3-point reefed Main and Storm Jib.
Saw the Ranking Table of the Vendee Globe sent from Ichige.(Circumnavigation
Non-stop Race started from Les Sables d'Dionne, France on 7 Nov.) Eleven sailors
out of the 17 boats participating are internationally Ktsown! Feels good!
The boats coming fast from behind, will soon pass me. It is my pleasure. They
will use e-mail mostly and will never use radios. (It's the age of IT!)
Anyway I will try to have contact with them. I reported my position to the Media
Center of the Vendee Globe.
Dec 15 - Day 61
0930 Position: 38.39S 164.11W
Compass course: 134
Wind direction: WNW
Wind force: 4
Boat speed: 6 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1009 hpa
Temperature: 22°C
Sailing with 2-point reefed Main, Storm Jib, and 30% No.1 Jib.
Dec 16 - Day 62
0500 Position: 39.09S 162.29W
Compass course: 110 (AutoHelm)
Wind direction: SW
Wind force: 2-3
Boat speed: 2.5 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1011 hpa
Temperature: 20°C
Running with 2-point Main, Storm Jib, and 30% No.1 Jib.
Wind direction weak and weather good. Only big rolling waves (surge). Wind direction
changes between top and bottom of surge, so taking course where stress on the
sail is less.
2300 Position: 40.04S 161.11W
Japan Time Dec 16 2100
Compass course: 112 (AutoHelm)
Wind direction: N
Wind force: 5-6
Boat speed: 7 Kts
Weather: Fair
Barometer: 1009 hpa
Temperature: 16°C
Sailed with 2-point Main and 70% No. 1 Jib.
Wave height 2m, passed 40S, pressure starting to fall.
Wind direction is shifting to N, high pressure to low pressure, passed a cold
front. Low seems to be generating to the E of New Zealand.
*NZ Antarctic weather chart's URL is below:
http://www.bom.gov.au/nmoc/products/IDX0532_P.shtml
Dec 17 - Day 63
1230 Position: 41.04S 159.29W
Compass course: 097(AutoHelm)
Wind direction: N
Wind force: 6
Boat speed: 7.5 Kts
Weather: Cloudy
Barometer: 1001 hpa
Temperature: 19°C
Running with 2-point reefed Main and Storm Jib.
Had a chart plotting the top positions of the Vendee Globe faxed to Shutendoji.
Dec 18 - Day 64
2300
Position: 42.17S 156.07W
Compass course: 150 (AutoHelm)
Wind direction: SE
Wind force: 1
Boat speed: 2 Kts
Weather: Drizzle and fog are
starting to lessen.)
Barometer: 1004 hpa
Wave height: 1-2m
Fixed sensor broken on the AutoHelm;
this temporary fix should be okay because the part doesn't get much stress.
No wind is the most severe test for the Shutendoji 2.
I'll take nap until daybreak!!
Dec 19 - Day 65
2130 Position: ??
S 154.43W
Compass course: 090
Wind direction: NW
Wind force: 3
Boat speed: 4 Kts
Weather: Cloudy
Barometer: 1002 hpa
Temperature: 17°C
Waiting now for the low pressure (975
hPa) east of New Zealand.
I set the Storm Jib ready for hoisting whenever it is needed.
Engine doesn't work but charging is no problem from generator, I have
more than 300L fuel, in poly tanks for the generator. I operate
generator 3.5 hours a day but fuel doesn't need to be taken from the
engine tanks for fuel consumption is only about 1L an hour.
Dec 20 - Day 66
2300 position: 44.35S,
151.28W
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 4
Weather: bc (Fair)
Barometer: 997 hpa
Heading: 120 (Compass deviation
+20)
Boat speed: 5.5KTS
Temperature: 16°C
Sailing under 2-point reefed Main,
2 storm jibs. Wind is beginning to weaken.
Reported
by the satellite phone about next 5 Oceans single-hand race. Shiraishi got a
strong message from Saito to head south as much as possible when Shiraishi said
he had been preparing for the race. Cheer up, Shiraishi!!
Dec 21 - Day 67
1300 position: 45.12S,
150.18W
Wind direction: NW
Wind force: 4
Weather: b (Clear)
Barometer: 1002 hpa
Heading: 85 Compass, GPS Deviation
(+20) 115
Boat speed: 6KTS
Temperature: 21°C
Heavily struck the day before yesterday,
now stable with NW wind and warmer.
Had a beer on deck for the first
time in a long time. No clouds at all, which is the first time I have had such
nice weather! (Right now in Japan, it will be mid year-end party season! (Yes,
but, this beer in the Antarctic under clear weather will be better!!)
Dec 22 - Day 68
0640 position: 45.20S,
147.34W
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 9-10 Max 55KTS
Now drifting 7KTS under bare
pole.
Wave height: 5-8m
Dec 23 - Day 69
0640 position: 45.22S, 146.52W
Heading: 085 Compass
Wind direction: SW
Wind force: 8-9
Weather: c (Cloudy)
Barometer: 1001 hpa
Wave height: 7-8m
Cabin temperature: 16°C
This morning wind force was 10-11,
now decreasing a little, but still 8-9 (Gale).
Wave
height is 7-8m. Took down all the sails, under bare pole, still running at 5-6
KTS. (Taking care!!!!)
0000 position: 45.34S, 145.39W
Heading: 0758 Compass
Wind direction: SW
Wind force: 4-5
Weather: BC (Fair/Cloudy)
Barometer: 1004 hpa
Boat
speed: 6KTS
Weather changes rapidly in the sea
south of more than 45S. Took contact to Ktsow whether Ktsocked down under bare
pole!
Opened sail to 3-point reefed
Main, opened Storm Jib and Head Sail to the same degree to Main. (Relieved,
relieved.) Dismayed that weather fax every 12 hours won't be often enough.
Dec 24 - Day 70
1230 position: 45.28S,
141.54W
Heading: 045
Boat speed: 5KTS
Weather: BC
Temperature: 19°C
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 4
Dec 25 - Day 71
1230 position: 46.26S, 139.03W
Heading: 070 (GPS: 100)
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 7-9 (blowing 44KTS)
Barometer: 1002 hpa
Weather: C/R cloudy with occasional
rain
Cabin temperature: 17°C
Barometer: 999 hpa
Boat speed: 4.5Kts
Dec 26 - Day 72
1230 position: 47.11S,
136.35W
Weather: Cloudy with occasional
rain
Barometer: 996 hpa
Temperature: 14°C
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 3
Heading: 135
Jibing frequently for wind direction
changing from N to S. Still using 2 staysails with the technique, when jibing,
of reefing No. 1 a little bit, first so as to furl the No.1 not needed to counter
for less space between No.1 Genoa and No. 2 Genoa.
Getting
colder a little. Hands are still cold in the rain even while wearing gloves.
2300 position: 48.55S, 133.54W
Heading: 080 windvane (GPS: 100)
Wind direction: SE
Wind force: 4
Barometer: 1000 hpa
Weather: 0 (Cloudy)
Cabin temperature: 12°C
Wave height: 1m
3 sails up with 1-point reefed Main, Storm & No.1 60% reefed, waiting for wind to pick up.
Dec 27 - Day 73
2300 position: 48.55S,
133.54W
Heading: 080 Windvane (GPS: 100)
Wind direction: SE
Wind force: 4
Barometer: 1000 hpa
Weather: 0 (Cloudy)
Cabin temperature: 12°C
Wave height: 1m
Under 3 sails with 1-point reefed Main,
Storm & No.1 60% reefed, waiting for wind.
At
entrance of Cape Horn Highway. 3 Super Yachts are approaching.
Dec 28 - Day 74
1230 position: 49.30S, 133.35W
Heading: 150 Compass
Boat speed: 4.5KTS
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 5
Barometer: 995 hpa
Weather: 0 Cloudy
Cabin temperature: 10°C
Am tacking due to wind coming from
east. Made third tack since started tacking about 24 hours ago.
Pretty busy due to poor wind
direction. Cold still in cabin! About 800 miles to Cape Horn; will take about
3 weeks.
Dec 29 - Day 75
1240 position: 48.29S,
132.58W
Heading: N Compass
Boat speed: 2.5KTS
Wind direction: ESE
Wind force: 7-8
Wave height: 8m of triangular
waves, approx. 10m for max. waves.
Barometer: 995 hpa
Weather:
Overcast/cloudy
Now took down all larger sails, drifting only with Storm Jib.
Dec 30 - Day 76
0530 position: 48.16S, 132.11W
Heading: 100 Compass
Boat speed: 3.5KTS
Wind direction: SSE
Wind force: 4-5
Barometer: 1011 hpa
Temperature: 11°C
Sailing with 2-point reefed Main,
Storm Jib, and No.1 at 60%.
2300 position: 49.31S, 130.17W
Heading: 110 Compass (Calibrated
135-140)
Boat speed: 6KTS
Wind direction: SSW
Wind force: 4-6
Barometer: 1014 hpa
Weather: 0, Cloudy
Temperature: 8°C
Wave height: 2-2.5m
Earthquake at Sumatra was terrible.
Although the tsunami did not reach here, the natural force is horrible to contemplate.
Now
wind is starting to become breeze, expect it to get strong soon.
Dec 31 - Day 77
1230 position: 50.24S, 128.33W
Weather: BC
Barometer: 1008 hpa
Wind direction: WSW
Wind force: 6-7
Heading: 090-100 (Compass Course)
Boat speed: 6-7KTS
Rough
weather expected tonight, took down Main and am proceeding only under Storm
Jib.
Now outside temperature is 12°C but 8°C in cabin.
Dec 31 2300 position: 50.11S, 127.00W
Weather: Overcast/cloudy
Barometer: 996 hpa
Wind direction: W
Wind force: 9-10 (10 sometimes)
50-60 KTS of wind
Heading: 070-080 (GPS)
Boat speed: 5.5KTS
Bare
pole with Main Storm and Jib all down, closed all hatches.
Wind is strong, out of control but
running at 5.5KTS. (Be patient, patient! Cheer up!)
Cabin temperature is 9°C,
it was 8°C this morning.