Day 399 [Nov. 6/09] -- Waiting

Position (1900 JST)
53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas
[Click to enlarge]



Today's Report

Saito-san reports that NBSDIII is moored at the Coast Guard receiving station and that yesterday he cleared immigration back into Chile.


The boat was to be towed back to the port facilities used by Hanaoka-san's company, where the engine and generator will be fixed, the fuel tanks cleaned, and the staysail repaired. The leak in the aft head will also be traced and fixed.


No schedule is presently set but it is expected that the work and inspections will take a week or more to ensure that the vessel is back in good working order and fully ready to resume the circumnavigation. He said a decision on departure can only be made after the engine and generator are repaired. All fuel will be replaced after the tanks are cleaned.


Saito-san expressed his thanks for the messages of support he has received.

Day 397 [Nov. 4/09] -- Back in Punta Arenas

Position (0800 JST)
53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas
[Click to enlarge]



Today's Report

At 0830 local time Saito-san called to say he had arrived in Punta Arenas. He was exhausted and disappointed, but clearly glad to be be back where the engine and generator can get professional attention. The contaminated fuel will be cleaned or replaced and the tanks flushed.


We will provide updates over the next several day as we learn more.


His "circumnavigation" from Punta Arenas, around the Horn, and back to Punta Arenas was 1,400 nn and took 10 days. Of that, 182 nm were under tow.


When he is ready, he will resume from the west entrance of the Strait of Magellan, and will not have to make a third transit of the Horn to fulfill the route requirement of his No. 8 circumnavigation.


Day 396 [Nov. 3/09] -- Under tow to Punta Arenas

Position (1645 JST)
52°46'S, 74°17'W -- Strait of Magellan
[Click to enlarge]



Today's Report

By 1700 local time Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III had been towed 84 nm east on the Strait of Magellan, and had another 98 nm to go to Punta Arenas.


We have heard no word yet from Saito-san, but can assume he is catching up on sleep and resting after 7 tough days at sea.


Despite the setback caused by engine failure from contaminated fuel, he did succeed in passing Cape Horn. When he restarts it will be from the Cabo Felix lighthouse, on the west side of the Strait.

Day 395 [Nov. 2/09] -- Rendezvous successful with Coast Guard vessel

UPDATE

Saito-san and the Coast Guard vessel meet at approx. 0435 local time. NBSDIII is now reported under tow to Punta Arenas.


Position (1645 JST)
52°46'S, 74°17'W -- Strait of Magellan
[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 66%
Heading:
Boat speed: 3.0-4.0 kt
Weather: Moderate winds
Barometer: 999 hPa (dropping)
Waves: 3.5-4.0 m
Wind (from): 19-22 kt W
Current (from): 1.0 kt W
Distance in last 24 hours: 70 nm
Engine: 1700 rpm (0 hrs) and 2000 rpm (0 hrs) -- 0 L

Today's Report


Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III was expected to be under tow at approx. 2300 hours locally after Saito-san managed to return in strong winds and heavy (5.5 meter) seas to the entrance of the Strait of Magellan.

At 0435, 5 1/2 hours later than scheduled, we received word that the rendezvous near Cabo Felix lighthouse was successful, and NBSDIII was under tow. No further information was immediately available.


About 18 hours ago he lost the use of his staysail, and with a partially opened jib foresail, he sailed under highly difficult conditions approx 30 nm back after he learned that a Chilean Coast Guard vessel would rendezvous with him. We were told that the Coast Guard vessel could not enter into the waters of the Pacific Ocean to assist Saito, but rather would have to wait until he entered the Strait on his own.


We are still waiting to learn what happened with the staysail. Saito told Hanaoka-san, the Chilean shore crew chief, by Iridium phone that he could not furl the sail, so it is believed he lowered it completely.


He lost the use of the engine and aux. generator on Saturday due to contaminated fuel. Both are essential to recharge the ship's batteries and to go against the contrary winds and currents during a westward passage of Cape Horn.


Initially he was asked to proceed up the coast, but later we received new instructions that he should rendezvous with a Coast Guard vessel at the Cabo Felix lighthouse, approx. 26 nm inside the Strait.


To conserve Iridium phone battery power he did not call in and thus did not receive the new instructions until hours later. At the time of yesterday's 1600 JST beacon we could see he had moved past the entrance to the Strait. Sea conditions worsened as he began to make his way back with winds in the high 20s and seas of 5 meters.


He will be towed to Punta Arenas, about 130 nm. This port is where he restarted his circumnavigation on Oct. 24 after a 6-month repair layover. It is the only port in reach with adequate facilities to repair the engine and aux. generator.


He has called to provide updates on his situation to Mike Seymour, Saito 8 Safety officer. He has also been in contact with Hitoshi Hanaoka in Chile, who is serving as liaison with the Chilean Coast Guard.


We express our great appreciation to both for their handling of the emergency, and to the Chilean Coast Guard for their timely assistance to Minoru Saito.


Forecast

Barometric chart + 3 hrs [click to enlarge]
Winds + 3 hrs
Waves -3 hrs

Day 394 [Nov. 1/09] -- Engine dies as fuel problem worsens


UPDATE

The 11/01 1600 (JST) beacon report showed him to be still about 25 nm from the entrance to Nelson Channel at the west entrance of the Strait of Magellan.


Position (1600 JST beacon)
52°25'S, 75°31'W -- about 422 nm west of Cape Horn
[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 66%
Heading:
Boat speed: 3.0-4.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)
Weather: Moderate winds, large seas
Barometer: 1005 hPa (rising)
Waves: 5.0 m
Wind (from): 19-22 kt W -- winds beginning to rise
Current (from): 1.0 kt W
Distance in last 24 hours: 107 nm
Engine: 1700 rpm (8 hrs) and 2000 rpm (8 hrs) -- 96 L

Today's Report


At 0230 JST Saito called to report that the engine would not start and neither would the aux. generator used for recharging the batteries. Because the hydraulic steering system depends on power from the batteries, this requires that he make for the nearest port in order to get the engine and generator back in service.


It is thought that the fuel lines and filters are blocked by particulates due to fuel contamination. Saito has struggled with reduced engine rpms since before crossing Cape Horn 4 days ago as the problem worsened.


The closest port is about 130 nm east on the Strait of Magellan, at Punta Arenas. He restarted his circumnavigation from Punta Arenas on Oct. 24.


A Chilean Coast Guard vessel has been summoned and is expected to rendezvous with NBSDIII in approx. 12 hours at Cabo (Cape) Felix, a lighthouse about 26 nm east. It is expected that Saito will need a tow as single-handed sailing is impossible within the twisting and frequently narrow channels of the waterway. As well, the batteries would not last long for the hydraulically assisted steering.


He has a separate tiller system that can be rigged in emergencies.


He called Tokyo at 0700 to explain his situation to Mike Seymour, Saito 8 Safety officer. He has also been in contact with Hitoshi Hanaoka in Chile, who is serving as liaison with the Chilean Coast Guard.


The skipper and vessel were both reported to be fine at the time of his last call to Hanaoka, and under sail in 19 kt favorable winds from the WSW. Seas are large at 4.5 to 5.0 m, but will reduce to 3.5 m as he enters the west entrance of the Strait with its more protected waters.


Forecast

Barometric chart + 3 hrs [click to enlarge]
Winds + 3 hrs
Waves -2 hrs