Today's Report
June 22/10 0900 Honolulu Time
Position: 21°17'N, 157°53'W (Keehi Marina, Honolulu)
Remaining distance to Yokohama finish: 13.4%
HAWAII DAY 2
As soon as Saito-san arrived yesterday several TV crews descended on him, and they did a good job explaining the travails of the journey. In clip No. 2 he talks about the problems caused when doing a "wrong way" circumnavigation.
As soon as Saito-san arrived yesterday several TV crews descended on him, and they did a good job explaining the travails of the journey. In clip No. 2 he talks about the problems caused when doing a "wrong way" circumnavigation.
Saito-san was in good humor if clearly weary. Yet we wonder how many 76-year-olds (or 40-year-olds, for that matter) could jump three feet onto a dock as easily as he does in these video clips?
In this one, he describes the problems, and the need to get back before the worst of the typhoon season. It was also especially good to see Ed Abbot's face and hear his comments:
The reasons for the problems -- the extreme conditions of a "wrong way" circumnavigation -- are included in this second clip:
TV news clip No. 2 KHON-2
Oh, and be sure to note the Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron burgee in the opening seconds.
And for a well-done written summary, here's an article by Eric Due that appeared in Sunday's Japan Times:
Around alone No. 8 finally near end for sailor, 76
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Repairs are progressing, but there was some very bad news on the mainsail. The consensus is that it is beyond repair -- so badly damaged from wind and sun that the seams give way when just pulled on by hand. It's had 29,000 nm on it plus extreme weather that very few sails ever get.
Until a replacement sail is found, NBSDIII will stay in port. It's hoped that a used sail can be found either from one of her sister yachts, or from a local sail loft. Four or five vessels were built in Hawaii by the Honolulu-based designer, and are said to still be in use locally.
Cracks have been discovered in the mast at the height of the staysail halyard pulley, so several solutions are being considered now. We'll learn more after the rigger studies the problem
As suspected, the engine trouble was the impeller on the seawater cooling pump. That is a relatively simple repair, which will include extracting or blowing out bits of rubber from the destroyed impeller that ended up in the cooling coils.
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Ed Abbot sent the following pictures of Saito-san's arrival. Great thanks, Ed!
In pic. No. 4, that's Dave Cooper (left) and Bill Beadle in the tender, having completed a job very well done!
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We were given a great idea yesterday by Derek, an active supporter in Japan, who suggested that the sail be cut into pieces and sold as historically valuable keepsakes of the voyage -- with Saito-san's autograph, of course!
That one definitely goes into the fund-raising idea hopper, and we invite more.
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