Topic: Birds

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 14, 2005 – 0934hrs | 46’19”S 158’40”E.

Various things – im going to try and do 2 tx per day may be hard to match your time zone. [Ed:Sydney time] can then waffle on in spare time and send all at once. seems youre doing much the same.[ed: I collect the various emails during the day and … Continue reading

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 14, 2005 - 1600hrs | 46’28”S 159’32”E. 585nm 5.8knts

More wildlife – birds again, although i did see a bit of barnacle covered kelpTypes of brown algae, which hold on to the rocky sea bottom with root-like structures. Floats in huge mats close to land and potentially capable of fouling a propeller or a rudder. More … Continue reading

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 14, 2005 – 1600hrs │Strange Sunrise Phenomena

A ‘why is it so’ question: back in my sensible days when we used to sail back to sydney after an S2H, we used to spend the first night in Port Arthur. I first noticed this effect the first time we left PA, very early in the morning to catch the predicted southerly – I was steering, clutching a bacon sando and a mug of the doctor and as we turned left at the south end of the estuary I saw that the sun … Continue reading

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 16, 2005 - 1546hrs Sydney Time

1546hrs 16 Jan 2005. (Sydney Time) We are in fog and heavy rain with distant thunder. Sux knots. Nav lights on and someone poking a head up every few minutes to check for fishos and errant sheep in wetsuits. 140 miles to Stewart I. P has just made breakfast – for the foodies, last night’s pasta salad stir fried with egg, bacon and tabasco and a draught from the home brew cellar to help it settle. Cordon Berri 5 star. … Continue reading

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 17, 2005 - 1032hrs SYD

We’ve now changed target to waypoint Alpha, 1104 nm to the east. Should take about 8 days in our current fairly conservative mode. Latest report puts us already south of the northernmost sighting of ice, but it’s a long way ahead. Todays wildlife: near the Snares, two tiny penguin-like birds – square back ends apparently with a foot at each rear corner, little narrow wings flapping away but only just airborne. … Continue reading

1-2. Hobart (Tasmania)-Dunedin (NZ)

Jan 18, 2005 - 1335hrs SYD Time

1335hrs 18 Jan 2005 (SYD Time) 47’20”S 171’31”E.

WE saw a seal this morning – just a glimpse, no time for ID in one of the many squalls. Albatrosses back – hanging over the stern looking at us – mostly medium sized, about 3m span. Special moment in squall – … Continue reading

1-6. Below 50S

Feb 24, 2005 - 2145hrs UTC

2145hrs 24 Feb 2005 UTC 50’52”S 112’31”W Map Ref 79

Pete: Reflections, part 3. We were inDunedin, the xrays showed no broken ribs but alex would need a week to recover. this proved to be a blessing as it gave us time to evaluate the storage problems we had on … Continue reading

1-6. Below 50S

Feb 28, 2005 – 0035hrs UTC

0035hrs 28 Feb 2005 UTC 53’32”S 105’04”W Map Ref 86

As I start to write this, we have 1325 miles to the Horn. Not a trivial distance and it seems we are going to have to work our butts off to put it in the bag. At this rate, still … Continue reading

1-7. Near the Horn

Mar 02 2005 - 1640hrs UTC

Sitrep: 1640hrs 02 Mar 2005 UTC 54’49”S 099’05”W Map Ref 93

There have been two huge albatrosses flying round us in formation for a couple of hours. One quite a bit bigger than the other. Both brilliant white underneath in the low early morning sunlight, flecked grey on top, creamy … Continue reading

1-7. Near the Horn

Mar 03, 2005 - 2348hrs UTC

Our applied TRS avoidance strategy seems to have worked. We moved up and to the north of the low and we think we are now in the westerly flow behind it. Poled out storm jib and #4, chosen for flexibility – we don’t know what the wind and waves will do to us over the next couple of days and we are getting 6 knots with the option of changing easily up or down. Cape Horn is now on screen on the gps and the laptop and the countdown has begun. … Continue reading

1-10. South Atlantic-Going up

Mar 27, 2005 - 0930hrs UTC

Well, all y’all, now that the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster has had time to work it’s magic and I’m shaking off my cold and feeling a bit more like one of those primitive ape forms from Sydney, here we go again. Brain has been congealed for a couple of days so apologies if some of this is second time around. … Continue reading

1-10. South Atlantic-Going up

Mar 28, 2005 - 2000hrs UTC

2000hrs 28 Mar 2005 UTC Map Ref 131

After a traditional Berri breakfast of a bacon sandoAustralian sandwich, tabasco and a talk with the DoctorGuinness,(yeah, I know I’m absteeming but nothing brown can possibly be alcoholic or fattening so the DoctorGuinness and chocolate are ok. I read it in New … Continue reading

1-11. South Atlantic-26°S

Apr 06, 2005 – 1130hrs UTC

1130hrs 06 Apr 2005 UTC Map Ref 152

Big Hi from the boot feralsInteresting biological colonies that grow and fester in seaboots. There are left foot ferals and right foot ferals and occasionally they get to cross breed and create fierce hybrids.Interesting biological colonies that grow and fester in … Continue reading

1-12. 26°S-Nose Brazil

Apr 28, 2005 – 0010hrs UTC

Hello to all out there,

For us the long awaited SE tradesBands of NW and SW winds either side of the equator that blow with more or less constant speed and direction all year. seem to be the NE tradesBands of NW and SW winds either side of the … Continue reading

1-13. Across the Equator

May 01, 2005 - 1020hrs UTC

1020hrs 01 May 2005 UTC Map Ref 194

Honoured GustsShort increases in wind speed – or people who signed the Gust Book., Readers and Occasional Browsers, Greetings. Those among you who have had difficulty with jokes about Golgafrinchan Telephone Sanitisers and MarvinThe manically depressed robot with a “brain the size … Continue reading

1-14. Nearly to Falmouth

May 14, 2005 - 1600hrs UTC

1600hrs 14 May 2005 UTC 20’18”N 035’27”W Map Ref 218 5098nm (2298nm to Falmouth)

Would you believe that two experienced old farts can’t tell the difference between The GlenfiddichMalt whisky: a well known Scots Consultant and Lambs Navy Rum?? We have two brown plastic bottles with decanted libations of … Continue reading

1-18. Betwixt Madeira and Morocco

Aug 25, 2005 - 0920hrs UTC

0920hrs 25 Aug 2005 UTC 41’18”N 011’40”W Ref 310

DB: 24 hour run 116 = 619 total = + 19 sfsg!

The blackest of black nights – a bank of thick, low drizzly cloud rolled in from the west at dusk, took away the wind for a bit and so … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 13, 2005 - 0330hrs UTC │Cattle Egret I

We’ve just dropped the assy and reverted to tractor after nearly 2 days of great reaching – I hope the grib is correct and we’ll get a south easterly later today, which, if it holds, might become the top of the SE trades. Woohoo. Meanwhile, the old bus shelter gets sniffed and watered by all the local mongrels and we carry on fantasising about ocean voyages in our tiny concrete world. … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 13, 2005 - 1030hrs UTC

cattle-egret

DB: 96, 10603 (gps 99) Slow, but we’re creeping south out of the ITCZ so it’s progress. Apologies – it should have been Martin, not Michael Z. from Vienna in my last note – good sailing Martin. Back with the tractor – just transferred fuel from Jerries into tank – very messy business and hot and sweaty too. … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 13, 2005 - 1530hrs UTC

A Snowy Egret perhaps? – it is very firmly still with us and seems to be getting used to having us around – it just flies from one end of the boat to the other as we do sail changes (we’ve had the assy up and down twice and the #1 once since this morning – hot and dripping work and ones eyes start to get filled with sweat and sting). … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 14, 2005 - 0330hrs UTC

Still trying to sail again after another 3 hours of tractor – wind almost dead on the nose but at least it’s there for the mo. Amazing Egret has stood on the foredeck under tacking #1 – has real sea legs and just sways with the boat’s motion on those huge feet. … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 14, 2005 - 0945hrs UTC

DB 98, 10505 (gps 89 – more crashes) Not a happy day, but stll progress. Visiting bird won’t go away – tried everything last night but it kept finding us again. It’s now sitting looking at me over the stormboard. … Continue reading

1-20. Belmore and Pete swims

Sep 14, 2005 - 1600hrs UTC │Cattle Egret II

cattle-egret

1600hrs 14 Sep 2005 UTC 07’24”N 022’01”W Ref 363

moving again, surrounded by squally rainclouds – #3 and a reef– As a verb – to shorten sail, to use reefing lines or other techniques to make the working part of a sail smaller and so reduce its power as the … Continue reading

1-21. Equator to Left Turn

Sep 18, 2005 - 1800hrs UTC

1800hrs 18 Sep 2005 UTC 02’59”N 025’08”W Ref 372

We’ve had the same three birds with us for about a week – two very graceful flecked grey backed birds that glide around in the wavetops and settle on the water and watch us go by or sometimes park together behind … Continue reading

1-22. Still heading south south east

Oct 03, 2005 - 2350hrs UTC

2350hrs 03 Oct 2005 UTC 27’19”S 024’09”W Ref 412

It’s all too much. We haven’t seen any sign of life or humans for what seems like about a month – since just after the Cape Verdes, when the last of the birds left us. Today, we were joined by a … Continue reading

Oct 08, 2005 - 0900hrs UTC

0900hrs 08 Oct 2005 UTC 32’36”S 015’53”W Ref 423

DB: 114, 7739 gps 132 (all over the ocean yesterday!) 49/61

A PS to my last about rolling hitches. If you haven’t got a convenient halyard winch and your two lee winches are loaded and tensioned, do not despair. Leave the … Continue reading

Oct 09, 2005 - 2300hrs UTC

2300hrs 09 Oct 2005 UTC 34’47”S 013’06”W Ref 426

Birds. Lots of them – mostly black with white beaks and a white ring around their eyes and faces. There were a lot of them around the Falklands and perhaps Tristan da CunhaA remote volcanic group of islands in the south … Continue reading

Oct 11, 2005 - 1715hrs UTC │VoA : Sophisticated System of Temperature Assessment

A dissertation on the VoA: I have been observing an interesting indicator of our local ambient temperature. I have a tube of ointment – a Very Special Unguent for fingertip application to certain … Continue reading

1-24. Closing on the Barn Door

Oct 12, 2005 - 1615hrs UTC │Strange Sunrise Phenomena

1615hrs 12 Oct 2005 UTC 37’28”S 007’54”W Ref 435

The next few days will, I think, be wet and windy. There seems to be a tight low forming behind the high we are sitting under and tomorrow the wind will veer to the north west and north and increase over … Continue reading

1-25. Blowing a (super) gale

Oct 19, 2005 - 1010hrs UTC │Clench-Inducing Sequences V

1010hrs 19 Oct 2005 UTC 40’41”S 008’38”E Ref 457

0845 – went to bed and couldn’t sleep and the nasties went through pussy cat like and we’re back in the sun for a bit. no sleep for the wicked – we put the poles on and now we’re twinned with … Continue reading

1-25. Blowing a (super) gale

Oct 20, 2005 – 1115hrs UTC

1115hrs 20 Oct 2005 UTC 39’32”S 010’13”E Ref 464

We’re in mega-wallow with no wind and huge SW swell with the others across it. Seemed a good time to use a litre of precious diesel to charge the battery fully and move us forward a few miles. Expect some wind … Continue reading

1-25. Blowing a (super) gale

Oct 20, 2005 - 1800hrs UTC

1800hrs 20 Oct 2005 UTC 39’25”S 010’47”E Ref 465

We had a small Trafalgar-Day-on-the-Dateline rum for the dead on both sides and we’re due for another in our own timezone tomoz. Would a’ been nice to have been in Port Stanley – JMB, hope you have a good one.

And … Continue reading

1-27. Indian Ocean Examiner

Oct 31, 2005 – 0900hrs UTC

0900hrs 31 Oct 2005 UTC 39’22”S 028’52”E Ref 504

DB: dmgDistance Made Good; More here 190 GPS 131 72/38 Odd. I am getting dmgDistance Made Good; More here by comparing distance to go toSE Capeyesterday with today using SOBSoftware on Board, from … Continue reading

1-27. Indian Ocean Examiner

Nov 04, 2005 – 0415hrs UTC

0415hrs 04 Nov 2005 UTC 38’40”S 037’08”E Ref 517

It seems the Vogon Constructor FleetExtremely ugly, unpleasant and officious, the Vogons emerged from the seas of Vogsphere and became bureaucrats in the Galactic Government. They destroyed the earth to clear the way for a hyperspace bypass; see also HHGTTGThe … Continue reading

1-28. How Low To Go? Towards 45°S

Nov 06, 2005 – 0500hrs UTC

0500hrs 06 Nov 2005 UTC 40’09”S 041’38”E Ref 525

We’ve torn our tired old warhorse of a mainsail at the second reefing cringle in the leech. I’m astonished that it has lasted this long – the sail has now travelled further than most – made in 1993, 8Hobartraces including ’98 … Continue reading

1-28. How Low To Go? Towards 45°S

Nov 07, 2005 – 1130hrs UTC

1130hrs 07 Nov 2005 UTC 39’59”S 044’27”E Ref 530

Now 3959 04427 07/1130 – barometer holding but some serious looking cloud piling up behind. Present wind SW about 15 kts, low therefore to the south somewhere. Interesting.

Shackleton mentions lots of birds – mollymauks, cape pigeons, petrels various, sooty and … Continue reading

1-29. Running Along 45°S

Nov 20, 2005 - 0550hrs UTC

0550hrs 20 Nov 2005 UTC 44’52”S 078’37”E Ref 569

I don’t know whether it’s worth writing these because I still dont know what is getting through on Satcom. Not easy writing into a black hole. We are almost in range of NSWNew South Wales. State in the East of … Continue reading

1-31. Sooo close to Hobart

Dec 04, 2005 – 2300hrs UTC

2300hrs 04 Dec 2005 UTC 44’52”S 125’04”E Ref 620

Seems we are some kind of news in the backblocks of the USA – hoooley doooley – G’day to you, USA, and I wonder what all y’all over there make of concepts like the great Australian freckle pucker in times … Continue reading

2-13. Equator-Cape Town

Guy Fawkes in another universe

0700/5th position 0508 02441 trip 110/24 Almost exactly half way between the corner of S. America and Ascension Island. Progress, but slow. Wet, lumpy and uncomfortable. Arse-bone complaining to the Ass. Nocturnal visitor returned last night – not in the bird book and just possibly a land bird – brownish … Continue reading

2-13. Equator-Cape Town

More on wildlife

0700/6th position 0705 02513 trip 123/24. Day 35 and the GPS says we’ve sailed 4144 miles. Rhumb lineSee here (Wikipedia). to Falmouth is 3613 but with due deference to the cursor.

Seems our little bijou res. in a plastic tube has a stalker. The bird that has been visiting us … Continue reading