Day 491 [Feb. 5/10] -- Good progress

Today's Report

Position:

50°08'S, 76°37'W (Pacific Ocean, 170 nm NW of Strait of Magellan)

NBSDIII made quite good progress despite early headwinds in the 24-hour period, achieving 140 nm up the Chilean coastline. Saito-san has also opened up 40 nm of sea room between him and the rocky and barren coast on his lee. He would need at least that should an extended gale develop in the next few days.

He faces opposing winds in the high teens from the NNW in the next 24 hours and likely lasting another day or two as several small lows pass through the area going eastward. Nothing major is yet seen on ClearPoint. Seas are moderate at 1.5 m.

He expects to find more favorable current as he goes up the coast and will get a large lift when he reaches the powerful Humboldt Current. (See image below.)

Distance completed: 16,840 nm

To Yokohama: 11,430 nm (distance remaining: 40.4%)

Heading: 335

Distance in last 24 hours: 140 nm

Reported boat speed: 6.5 kt (day's average: 5.8 kt)

Weather: Overcast with scattered rain; several small fronts approaching from W
Temperature: 14° C

Barometer: 990 hPa (rising)

Wind (from): Headwinds 12-14 kt NNW -- expected to rise in 19 hrs to 19 kt NNW

Waves: 1.5 m

Current (from): 0.3 kt WNW

Engine rpms: 2000 (24 hrs)


Map of the massive Humboldt Current that sweeps up the west side of the South American continent. (Note the opposing Cape Horn current below the tip of The Horn.)

Day 490 [Feb. 4/10] -- On the way again

Today's Report

Position:

52°19'S, 75°24'W (Pacific Ocean, 20 nm NW of Strait of Magellan)

Minoru Saito is back officially on his way, having re-entered the open waters of the Pacific Ocean about 5 pm local time. By 8 pm he had passed his furthest point made during his second Cape Horn attempt in October, before he lost use of his sails and engine and was forced to return to Punta Arenas.

He reported that everything is going well although he faces strong headwinds and seas so is not yet using his sails. He was motoring at 3000 rpm at the time of his 0800 JST call.

We are restarting the trip log at this point, using a distance calculation determined from Google Earth, which has been enormously helpful (and surprisingly accurate) in helping plot his course. That calculated distance includes only his forward progress and does not take into account the 1,750 additional miles he logged during his two attempts to transit Cape Horn.

The total distance for the circumnavigation is now expected to be 28,270 nm following a less-direct route that will allow Saito to avoid cyclone areas on the way back. See the route below.

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 16,700 nm (59%)

Distance remaining to Yokohama: 11,570 nm
Heading: 285

Distance in last 12 hours: 69 nm
Boat speed: 5.5 kt (7-day average: -- kt)
Weather: Overcast with scattered rain; several small fronts approaching from WNW
Barometer: 982 hPa (steady)
Wind (from): Headwinds 22-28 kt WNW -- expected to reduce, and change to SW in 4 hours
Waves: 2.5-3.0 m, opposing
Current (from): 0.3 kt WNW
Engine: 3000 rpm (6 hrs) + 2000 (6 hrs)

Saito 8 return route; click image to enlarge.

Day 489 [Feb. 3/10] -- Overnighting Near Cabo Felix lighthouse

Today's Report

Position:

53°01'S, 73° 56'W (182 nm from Punta Arenas, Chile)

The boats made about 37 nm during the day and Saito-san says the weather has greatly improved. They are overnighting in a cove about 3 nm east of Cabo Felix lighthouse, completed in 1906. http://www.lighthousesrus.org/theAmericas/Chile.htm

Hanaoka-san reported this morning by email that Saito had called him and said that he will leave in the morning and enter the Pacific while conditions are still moderate.

Saito called me on 2nd February 2010 at 1945 informing that they already arrived at natural harbor next 3 miles east to Felix light house. The sea is calming down. He said that tomorrow in 0500 to 0600 with the sunrise he will be sailing out to the open sea. He was informed of wind and wave conditions for 3 days, so he knows that the conditions are getting better. Fishing boat Lucky Dream with its crew will stay in the bay where they are now during 3 hours after Saito´s departure, and will leave if they are no longer needed.

-- Hitoshi Hanaoka

From Joshua Slocum:
"Now at last the Spray carried me free of Tierra del Fuego. If by a close shave only, still she carried me clear, though her boom actually hit the beacon rocks to leeward as she lugged on sail to clear the point. The thing was done on the 13th of April, 1896. But a close shave and a narrow escape were nothing new to the Spray. The waves doffed their white caps beautifully to her in the strait that day before the southeast wind, the first true winter breeze of the season from that quarter, and here she was out on the first of it, with every prospect of clearing Cape Pillar before it should shift. So it turned out; the wind blew hard, as it always blows about Cape Horn, but she had cleared the great tide-race off Cape Pillar and the Evangelistas, the outermost rocks of all, before the change came."

The Voyage of Spray and Capt. Joshua Slocum

Day 488 [Feb. 2/10] -- Overnighting East of Magellan Entrance

Today's Report

Position:
53°21'S, 73° 5'W (Laura Cove, 145 nm from Punta Arenas, Chile)

We were called this morning by Saito-san from a point where the Strait of Magellan begins to widen as it approaches the Pacific Ocean.

Saito has been making his way west through the winding and narrow stretches of the Strait, and is now tied up in a small weather hole the local fishermen affectionately call "Laura." This will permit him and the two crew of the escort boat Lucky Dream to sleep through the night. The two boats are approx. 80 nm from the entrance to the Pacific Ocean.

He reports his yacht Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III is fine although there were some difficult times when trying to proceed at night as the channel became narrower and shallower. The tidal changes were among the strongest of the year, thanks to the full moon being at its closest orbit, producing alternating flows that threatened both boats with grounding.

A bit after sunup tomorrow Saito and his guide boat will leave. He expects to make Cabo Felix lighthouse within 9 hours and will probably tie up in a small harbor there, spend the night, then reenter the Pacific to resume the voyage. The escort boat will then return to Punta Arenas.

Weather at the moment looks good on ClearPoint for the next 3 or 4 days. Winds in the Strait were opposing from the west at about 12 kts. Winds in the Pacific are expected to be moderate from W and WNW in the high teens and mid-20s. Waves in the Pacific are 4-5.5 meters, and are expected to reduce to under 4 meters in 3 days.

See the weather graphic below, courtesy of James Hayashi, ClearPoint Weather.

Click graphic for an enlarged view.

Saito Challenge 8 News Release -- Punta Arenas Departure

News Release

January 31, 2010

Saito Challenge 8 (Tokyo)

Contact: Hunter Brumfield

Mobile: (81) 90 49 36 01 14

‘Never-Say-Die’ Saito restarts his record circumnavigation

Japanese yachtsman, 76, sets off once more at Cape Horn

PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE – The third time’s the charm, a much frustrated but determined Minoru Saito hopes as he resumed his solo circumnavigation from the world’s southern-most city today [Jan. 30 local time]. He bade farewell to his small team of local supporters in late afternoon under overcast skies after clearing immigration and customs.

The Guinness Book world record holder restarted his quest to achieve a record eighth solo circumnavigation after his 56-foot yacht Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III was disabled and nearly lost during a perilous crossing of storm-tossed Cape Horn in April.  His attempt to leave in October was aborted 2 days after he passed The Horn a second time, when he lost the use of his sails and engine. His vessel was towed back to Punta Arenas for engine and staysail furler repairs and replacement of his badly damaged headsail.

It will take him about two days to reach the point of his furthest westward progress as he proceeds westward on the Strait of Magellan to the South Pacific Ocean. He will be accompanied by a second vessel much of the way to Cabo Felix lighthouse at the strait’s entrance, should he need assistance along the sometimes narrow and winding route back. Strong, opposing tidal currents and headwinds make the strait dangerous for solo sailors.

He has already passed Cape Horn not once but twice on this circumnavigation that began 486 days and 16,500 miles ago, going the “wrong way” in a rare westward solo passage against the prevailing winds and seas. The first time a three-day gale hit him head-on and drove his yacht back eastward. At the height of the storm a line washed overboard and wrapped the rudder and propeller, crippling the vessel.  The second attempt in October saw him make an additional 270 miles, when his engine was shut down by contaminated fuel and strong headwinds damaged his two head sails.

A new genoa sail was made for him in Auckland, New Zealand, and flown to Punta Arenas in December.  A local welder was able to repair the furler.

Saito turned 76 in January. He will return to Yokohama in approximately 3 months, completing a yachting feat that will make virtually invincible his standing as the world’s oldest and most-accomplished single-handed circumnavigator. He will be able to claim records for most (8), oldest (76), and oldest westward “contrary” route circumnavigations. He already holds the Guinness Book world record as the oldest person to complete a non-stop solo circumnavigation at age 71 in 2005.

Daily updates at http://saito8.blogspot.com/

-END-

Saito’s route back to the restart point of his twice-interrupted transit of Cape Horn

Day 486 [Jan. 31/10] -- Saito Departs Punta Arenas

Position (1123 JST beacon)

53°51'S, 71°03'W -- about 45 nm southwest of Punta Arenas

[Click to enlarge]

Blue line indicates the route west back to the Pacific Ocean, about 200 nm. Red line is his actual route.

Today's Report

At 3:51 pm local time, Saito-san departed Punta Arenas under overcast skies to resume his circumnavigation. Winds were about 14 kts out of the NW.

As of the day's second beacon report 7 1/2 hours later, he had proceeded 43.5 nm, averaging just under 6 kts of boat speed.

Here's what Rose & Pablo sent in an email, with pictures to follow:

It was about 3:51pm this afternoon Minoru Saito-San set off on his voyage in Nicole BMW and sailed away southwest down the Magallen Strait, winds from the Northwest to finish the Saito 8 Challenge. As soon as the last rope was tied off the neighbouring boat Del Mar III Saito San was truly ready for the last leg. We will miss him and our thoughts will be with him, he is a fiesty little spirit and shows no fear to those risks he may face, we wish him fair winds.


Best wishes,
Rose and Pablo

Even to the very end this wonderful couple were helping Saito-san through the maze of Chilean bureaucracy.

Once it was clear that he was finished and could leave, in a Skype call Rose said he was extremely happy and left at the earliest possible moment. He is being accompanied by "Lucky Dream," a fishing boat that will go with him most or all the way to Desolation Island at the western mouth of the Strait of Magellan, where he will re-enter the Pacific. If the weather is not favorable he may wait a day at Cabo Felix lighthouse, where there is a small cove that is a historic "weather hole" for Cape Horn voyagers.

A news release will be available soon.

Day 477 [Jan. 22/10] -- More photos

Rose sends more photos, as she describes at bottom. These are some of the great folks who have been assisting in the final days to departure.

During one of our nearly daily Skype calls from the home of Rose and Pablo.

Rose writes:

Saito San is here at our house to talk to you a bit later about his day on Skype (Photo 257) if you are free please.  Mike too if poss, can be done separately if required. We have had a long day on the road, driving from office to office to sort out his documents for Port Clearance and Visa and Passport and Immigration.

All is going well there and the whole procedure should be finished by tomorrow. We need last word from Hanoka San and Gonzalo. Camillo, (Photo 277) Hanoaka San's Ship Mechanic has been a real brick with fixing little bits and bobs and has been translating for us most of the day.

Roberto (Photo 287, moustache, in dark jacket with Saito) the Magic Electrician has been on the boat to sort the problem of the radio which cursedly stopped working, he says the auto tuner is bad and took it off board to mend.  Should be back tomorrow.

The man in the hard hat is Juan Barria (Photo 262) on the Scientific rescue boat with his crew, (Photo 280) they are not scientists, their boat  “Del Mar III”,  has most of the time moored alongside Nicole BMW, he can speak Japanese and has been a source of light relief at times for Saito-San such as making him coffee and meals and kept a friendly eye of Nicole BMW.  He also assisted with putting the staysail back on its rigging yesterday morning at 7:00 am before the summer winds get up for the day.

There is a photo of Nicole BMW with Tierra del Fuego in the background in the fishing harbour of Rio Seco. Today the winds, 40 knots, Saito San estimated, have been fierce but warm from the northwest.  Tomorrow morning we will visit Hanoaka San and discuss the final stages for Saito San’s voyage.  Minoru asks please may we have another weather report update.

And not least, Hanaoka-san (dark blue jacket with red stripes) and Saito-san, in 50-knot gusts.

Many thanks,
Rose

Blue Water Medal for Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

We just received this in the morning email and wanted to pass it along. Sir Robin is a long-time friend and BOC / Around Alone single-handed race fellow competitor of Saito-san's. If there was anyone who ever deserved this special "undated" honor, it is Sir Robin! The Blue Water Medal is considered the most prestigious of all sailing awards, of which Saito-san was presented the annual prize for year 2006.

Hello Hunter, I thought Saito-San might enjoy receiving this news. My best wishes as well for a speedy journey!

--- Dana 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Dana Paxton, Media Pro Int’l for CCA, 401-849-0220

Cruising Club of America to Present Blue Water Medal to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston

Only Seventh Person in CCA’s History to Receive Medal Without Date

New York, N.Y., USA (January 19, 2010) – The Cruising Club of America has selected Sir Robin Knox-Johnston to receive its prestigious Blue Water Medal, without date, for a lifetime devoted to the advancement of sailing, sail training and youth development and on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of his singlehanded, non-stop circumnavigation of the world. In the 85-year history of the CCA’s Blue Water Medal only seven Medals have been awarded without date. The medal will be presented to Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on March 5, 2010 by CCA Commodore Sheila McCurdy (Middletown, R.I.) during the club’s annual Awards Dinner at the New York Yacht Club, in New York.

Born March 17, 1939 in Putney, London, Knox-Johnston went to school at Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire. He served as an officer cadet in the British Merchant Navy in 1957 and later gained his Masters Certificate in 1965. Between sea voyages in Bombay he built Suhaili, a 32-foot 5-inch LOA (length overall) India teak ketch of the Colin Archer type and sailed her to England.

With Suhaili he entered the 1968 race for the Sunday Times Golden Globe Trophy for the first person to circumnavigate the world nonstop and singlehanded. Suhaili was the only boat to finish the race, completing the 30,123 mile course in 312 days. Robin Knox-Johnston donated his £5,000 prize to the widow of his competitor Donald Crowhurst, who was lost at sea during the race.

In 1988 Suhaili started in the OSTAR Race across the Atlantic, but had to retire after 800 miles due to leaking seams. In 1989, after re-caulking, she set off across the Atlantic following Columbus’s route using only an Astrolabe for navigation. Arriving in San Salvador after 3,000 miles, they were only off 8 miles in latitude and 22 miles in longitude. On the return voyage in November of the same year, a large storm knocked them down four times and they lost both masts. Under jury rig they sailed 1,400 miles to the Azores.

In 1990 Suhaili sailed north of the Arctic Circle to Greenland’s east coast so that a small team might attempt to climb a virgin peak. In 1992 Knox-Johnston was invited to become President of the Sail Training Association, a youth development organization which operated two topsail schooners. He also organized annual tall ship races and, before he retired from the post in 2001, £11 million had been raised to replace the two schooners with two larger brigs.

Since winning the Golden Globe Trophy in 1969 Robin Knox-Johnston has participated in seven quadrennial double-handed Round Britain races. He skippered Condor to line honors in two legs of the 1977/08 Whitbread Race, co-skippered Enza New Zealand with the late Sir Peter Blake in 1994 to take the Jules Verne Trophy for the fastest circumnavigation of the world, and completed the Velux5Oceans solo around the world race in 4th position in 2006/07 at the age of 68.

In 1995, Knox-Johnston was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and retained the honorary title ‘Sir’. Notably, he has been named the 1994 ISAF World Sailor of the Year, the United Kingdom’s Yachtsman of the Year three times, and in 2007 he was inducted into the inaugural ISAF Hall of Fame. He has served as a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum and is currently President of the Little Ship Club and Chairman of Clipper Ventures.

About the CCA’s Blue Water Medal

The prestigious Blue Water Medal was inaugurated by the Cruising Club of America in 1923 to reward meritorious seamanship and adventure upon the sea displayed by amateur sailors of all nationalities that might otherwise go unrecognized.

Blue Water Medalists have included such luminaries of the sailing world as Rod Stephens, Eric and Susan Hiscock, Sir Francis Chichester, Eric Tabarly, Pete Goss, Rich Wilson, Minoru Saito and Bernard Moitessier. In 1940 it was awarded to the British Yachtsmen at Dunkerque who helped in the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force in June 1940.

The Medal itself was designed by Arthur Sturgis Hildebrand, a member of the Cruising Club of America, who was one of the crew of the yacht Leiv Eiriksson, lost in the Arctic with all hands in September of 1924.

Blue Water Medal awardees – without date (all award years are approximate)

Circa 2000 – Cloud Nine, Rodger B. Swanson (USA)

160,000 miles of remarkable cruising, two circumnavigations via Antarctica

Circa 1978 – Humphrey D. E. Barton (GBR)

A lifetime of cruising, racing, 20 or more Atlantic crossings, founder of the Ocean Cruising Club

Circa 1961 – Seacrest, Dr. Paul Sheldon (USA)

Extended cruises in Newfoundland, Labrador

Circa 1959 – Vito Dumas (ARG)

Global Circumnavigation 1942-1943 and other singlehanded voyages

Circa 1956 – Carleton Mitchell (USA)

Meritorious ocean passages, sterling seamanship and advancement of the sport by counsel and example

Circa 1937 – Igdasil, Roger S. Strout (USA)

Circumnavigation 1934-1937

Circa 1932*– Jolie Brise, Robert Somerset (GBR)

Award for a remarkable feat of seamanship, the rescue of 10 crew off burning schooner Adriana in the 1932 Bermuda race

*(no actual date appears in the CCA Yearbook)

About the Cruising Club of America

The Cruising Club of America is dedicated to offshore cruising, voyaging and the “adventurous use of the sea” through efforts to improve seamanship, the design of seaworthy yachts, safe yachting procedures and environmental awareness.  Now in its 89th year, the club has 10 stations throughout the U.S., Canada and Bermuda, with approximately 1200 members who are qualified by their experience in offshore passage making.  In even-numbered years, the CCA organizes the Newport to Bermuda Race in conjunction with the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club.  It also sponsors several Safety at Sea seminars and hosts a series of “Suddenly Alone” seminars for the cruising couple.  For more information on the CCA, go to http://www.cruisingclub.org.

Day 475 [Jan. 20/10] -- Photos

Position (2000 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report
We're still waiting on the final word. This morning Saito-san said customs clearance and the exit stamp on his passport should come by Thursday. 

So we'll use this opportunity to publish photos we've received over the past 11 weeks while Saito-san and the Punta Arenas team have struggled to get the boat back into sailing condition. It's now been 77 very long days for Saito-san since he returned to Punta Arenas for the second time.

Here's the highlights, in rough chronological order:
Sail repairs on the spare genoa... Visit to a visiting tall-masted ship... Field trip to the woodlands ... Repairs to the staysail furler... Test and calibration of the navigation equipment this week... And frolicking dolphins, with Rose and Pablo.

Our great thanks to Rose and Pablo for these pics!

Fingers crossed!

Day 473 [Jan. 18/10] -- Tests (and dolphins)

Position (2200 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report
The last two weeks developed into a struggle as one mishap of nature and one of electronics gone bad delayed Saito-san's departure -- again.

After things began to return to normal following the extended New Years holidays in Punta Arenas, a well rested electrician sourced and corrected issues with the Raymarine navigation system, awakening it after a long slumber only to make it obvious that it was well out of calibration.

Initially, Saito-san and the electrician, Roberto, suspected that the compass sensor, and possibly its cabling, were at fault. The sensor is mast-mounted about a third of the way up, and subject to the whims of the weather and violent motion of the seas. So is its cable.

However, before any of that could be determined, the unpredictable Punt Arenas weather visited again last Tuesday with winds blowing into the mid-30s. Sometime during the night the staysail released and a tear was inflicted at the base of the sail, leaving a rip Saito-san estimates at about two meters long. A decision was subsequently made to patch the sail using cloth from the old genoa. It is expected that this will be enough -- along with the completely new genoa -- to get NBSDIII back to Japan.

Better news developed yesterday, as emailed from Rose and her husband Pablo, who went out with Saito-san to test and recalibrate the compass sensor. The electrician had been successful in restoring function, and the operation of the navigation equipment SEEMED to have been restored, but the only way to check for sure required taking the boat out.

As advised earlier through Skype by Mike Seymour in Tokyo, as he summarized the instructions in the Raymarine compass sensor manual (a component so complex as to need its own mini-manual!), the four-person Punta Arenas team piloted NBSDIII out on a gorgeous (southern hemisphere) summery day and took her through a number of wide, continuous circles. This had the almost miraculous effect of automatically recalibrating the compass sensor, which earlier had been a full 155 degrees out of sync with the magnetic heading of the boat's compass.

In her email last night, Rose reported the results this way:

We have had a success. Roberto the electrician that Hanaoka recommended was brilliant. The yacht was given a test sail, he tested the cables, all was fine there, the sensor was fine and working, the readings on the Raymarine autopilot compass were working, Furuno radar COG [course over ground] working. The BMG also working. Roberto realised that we had to move the compass unit, so he moved it and we fixed the 5-degree difference. Now it is 1 or 2 degrees difference, and Saito is happy with that. He knows it is not perfect but can [compensate] a lot easier now. 

And then almost as an afterthought Rose -- a self-taught wildlife researcher -- wrote us in a second brief email:

Oh yes.................We saw 10 dolphins. They followed us for a while. Fabulous!

The pictures were sent in a subsequent email. We'll try to publish those tomorrow, along with a further update on the final  preparations to depart, potentially as early as sometime this week -- fingers crossed, and the winds (and sail menders) allowing!

Day 459 [Jan. 4/10] -- Getting closer

Position (1200 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report
As could be predicted, everything shut down for the holiday season in Punta Arenas, and so Saito-san's departure had to be put on hold for the duration. Things are now going back into motion, though.

One issue that is being worked out at the moment is to arrange a second vessel to accompany Saito-san as he goes the 175 nm from Punta Arenas back out to the Pacific Ocean along the Strait of Magellan. (See images below.)

"Strait" is a bit of a misnomer (though it did not actually even mean "straight" in its original usage); it's more like a tidal river between oceans, curving at points and narrowing. The tides on it can be strong, running in currents of 4 knots or more.

With crew, this would be difficult, with no crew highly dangerous, and completely impossible alone at night. It is expected to take three days or more to make the passage.

So the plan at the moment is to arrange an accompanying vessel to be ready with a tow if and when it becomes necessary. Saito-san was willing to try without it but more cautious heads in Tokyo were able to talk him out of it (with some difficulty!)

Good thing, as a moderate low is just now passing where he would have been, bringing with it 39 knot sustained winds on the open ocean.

Getting such assistance will not affect the "singlehanded" aspect of the circumnavigation, as this would occur only up to where he previously had progressed. At that point, the second vessel will leave him and he will continue from there.

This shows his return route on the strait. Below that is a chart from Wikipedia of the strait itself, the "Estrecho de Magallanes."

We should learn more about the arrangements in the next few days. Also, he expects to be able to clear Coast Guard inspection as early as tomorrow.

In this morning's call, Saito-san wished everyone a happy and safe 2010! And to thank you for your continuing interest and support.

Day 452 [Dec. 28/09] -- Counting down

Position (1000 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report
Saito-san called this morning by Iridium to report that last-minute repairs continue to go smoothly.

An electrician from a neighboring boat was able to determine a faulty cable was the reason the fuel transfer pump had stopped working. The pump is required for moving diesel fuel between the three tanks being used. After the cable was replaced the pump was back operating well, Saito-san reported.

Saito-san was clearly enthused about his apparently imminent departure, and said he expects to leave as early as this Tuesday, following the official nod from the Coast Guard.

ClearPoint this morning showed the weather on the Strait of Magellan to be mild, with moderate winds out of the NW.

We will start posting weather reports tomorrow.

Meanwhile, here's a nice update /summary published today by SailWorld.com Asia, on "Never-Say-Die" Minoru Saito.

Hmmm... Never Say Die = NSD = Nicole Shuten-Dohji... not bad!

Day 451 [Dec. 27/09] -- Nearing Punta Arenas departure No. 2

Position (1000 JST)
53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report
Preparations for Saito-san's second departure from Chile are now at a point where it it looks like he'll be able to leave soon. There has been much activity at the boat, with a number of tasks that have been occupying Saito-san's attention and that of his small but dedicated support team in Punta Arenas, the world's southern-most city.

We continue to owe much thanks toward the Punta Arenas team, composed of volunteer supporters Hitoshi Hanaoke, Rose Bliss and her husband Pablo Pineida, and Gonzalo Stewart. Without their strong interest and friendship the challenges facing Saito-san the past 8 months as he over-wintered and attended to repairs in Punta Arenas would have been far more difficult.

Over the past several weeks, the mechanic and electrician employed by Hanaoka-san's fishing company have carried out a number of engine-room repairs and maintenance procedures, and a second electrician was able to repair the faulty Charge Master voltage regulator and spare Iridium phone. A welder, at Pablo's instructions, appears to have done a first-class job repairing the cracked staysail furler.

Here is a summary of the repair and maintenance items as Saito-san readies to resume the circumnavigation.

• New genoa made and delivered from Auckland
• Repaired staysail furler
• Repaired engine
• Repaired aux. generator
• Cleaned and flushed fuel supply
• Repaired Charge Master voltage regulator
• Repaired & adjusted radar
• Patched old genoa for use as a spare
• Recertified life raft
• Added 3,500 liters of diesel fuel (stern, starboard and port mid-ships tanks full, with the smaller foretank no longer to be used due to fouling)
• New ships batteries
• Spare Iridium phone repaired
• Single sideband radio restored / confirmed to be operating

Checks were carried out on the following items, with each passing inspection:

• Steering yoke
• Steering wheel
• Steering system
• Bearings on hydraulic coupler
• EPIRBs (two)
• Bilge pumps - automatic and manual (lifted up floorboards and checked holes for no blockage)
• Battery fluid readings and volt readings good and clean (DC volts 14/24 ampere)

Also,

• Purchased replacement digital camera
• Purchased food
• Purchased 1,000 liters of water
• Extended liability insurance for the next year (in Tokyo)
• Automatic beacon reports increased from two to four a day

Saito Challenge 8 main sponsor Nicole BMW has been instrumental in all of this, through provision of emergency funds and assistance for several deliveries (sail, radar magnetron, Harken furler, etc.) handled by the company's export/import expert, Mr. Ohno of Nicole Racing.  We gratefully acknowledge Nicole Group's president Nico Roehreke's continuing support through all of these major challenges.

Saito-san and Gonzalo will go to the local Coast Guard office Monday to apply for permission to leave, and Saito-san hopes that the departure will be as soon as this coming Tuesday or Wednesday, depending on the speed of the Coast Guard inspection and approval, and the weather.

Saito-san is making arrangements to be accompanied westward on the Strait of Magellan by a second vessel, for a passage expected to take about 30 hours, after which he will enter the Southern Pacific Ocean to restart the circumnavigation in the Southern Pacific Ocean. He will thus resume from the point of furthest progress before losing the use of his engine, staysail, and genoa on Nov. 1.


He will not need to make a third Cape Horn passage, and after returning through the strait will be able to continue up the rugged western coast of Chile on the northward-flowing Humboldt Current.

Day 427 [Dec. 3/09] -- Genoa update

Position (1000 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report

The genoa was arriving in Santiago, Chile, today and was to be received in Punta Arenas either today or tomorrow by Gonzalo Avilés Stewart of Ian Taylor & Company, a local importer that has been helping us locally.

We should learn soon whether the sail made it through Chilean customs ok.

Our first attempt in May to send Saito-san his heart medicines took a month from Japan, despite being fully documented and dispatched by express courier. By comparison, it will seem a small miracle if the genoa just takes three or four days from Auckland, NZ.

Our thanks to Gonzalo for his personal and careful assistance in this matter.

Day 426 [Dec. 2/09] -- Genoa on its way

Position (1300 JST)

53°10'S, 70°55'W -- Punta Arenas

Today's Report

We received word today the new genoa has been shipped from Auckland and is expected to be at Punta Arenas airport by Dec. 3. Barring no import difficulties, the sail should be in Saito-san's possession by Thursday or Friday. Our thanks to the folks at Evolution Sails, Auckland, and Nicole Racing, Yokohama, for expediting the shipment.

Meanwhile, to better attend to engine and electrical repairs, the vessel is scheduled to be lifted out and placed on a cradle on land on Dec. 5. Currently it is difficult (not to mention potentially dangerous) for the electricians and other repair people to go by small dinghy to the boat at its mooring.

NBSDIII herself will also be safer and less subject to the windstorms that come up periodically and make shore-side moorings risky.

On the list of repairs as indicated by a fax from Saito-san yesterday:

• Engine fine-tuning (now starts and runs)
• Aux. generator operation and charging
• Battery charging issues
• Replacement of winch battery in the forward anchor well
• Potential water damage to electrical panel

Also, a small but persistent leak in the aft head, which has proved impossible to source on the water, and is likely a leaking through-hull fitting.