Today's Report
Still motoring to make good time (and to burn off carbon buildup after 6 months of low rpm motor use) under clear to partly cloudy skies on a surprisingly flat Atlantic Ocean. Winds light from the north.
Saito-san reports that everything is still fine with the vessel, although there's a slight leak, source unknown in the head, at about half a liter an hour. He said the radar appears to be off about 5 degrees to the right, as judged against oil rigs he saw in the Strait of Magellan.
Conditions are changeable but appear good as he approaches the passage between the tip of Argentina and the Isla de los Estados. He will have cleared the island on its west side within the next 5 hours at his present boat speed.
Saito-san remains happy about the boat's performance and says that other than the cold he is fine, and reports no problems from his surgery for an abdominal hernia in September other than an occasional twinge.
Iridium reception is cell phone quality, other than a slight delay.
Additional Report (James Hayashi, ClearPoint Weather expert)
As of 2000 local time Oct 25
Position: 54 deg 10 min S, 65 deg 33 min W
Heading south towards the strait at the tip of the peninsula and will go through the passage in a few hours.
Wind: North 6-8 knots
Wave height: 50 cm
Cloudy
He is right in the quiet slot of time on the eastern coast of the peninsula. As he passes the strait and around the tip, the wind should be from WNW and W for the next 3 days. I advised him of the following current and forthcoming weather:
Pressure: 964 mb -- Low passing right above the tip on Tue 10/27 UTC 0000. (i.e., within the next 24 hrs)
Wind 30-40 knots or more
Wave 3.5 – 4.0 m or more
Strong wind from the W for the next 3 days (Tue/Wed/Thu) at 27-40 knots expected as he crosses the Cape.
Pressure expected to rise to 980 – 992mb from Thu 10/29 UTC 1200 and beyond for the next 18 hours or so, relatively stable Wind and Waves and Pressure.
Saito reports that he will motor all the way around the Cape and against the westerly wind, and then will climb north during the calm slot on 10/29.
The Inmarsat device is not in use as he is not turning on the generator while the main engine is on. His source of weather shall be via Iridium telecom with Hunter or myself.
Forecast [Atlantic Ocean]
