Day 390 [Oct. 28/09] -- Saito passes Cape Horn for 6th time

Position (0800 JST)

55°57'S, 67°58'W -- about 23 nm west of Cape Horn

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65%

Heading: 240

Boat speed: 3.5 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Weather: Overcast, winds strong, seas moderate but bigger

Barometer: 988 hPa (steady)

Waves: 3.0-3.5 m

Wind (from): 33-38 kt W -- headwinds

Current (from): 1.0 kt SW

Distance in last 24 hours: 142 nm

Engine: 1700 rpm (6.5 hr) and 2300 rpm (17 hrs) -- 260 L

Today's Report

Saito-san is delighted to report he passed Cape Horn as of 0030 JST today. Including his earlier attempt in April, in which he actually traversed the Horn on Day 187 but was later disabled, this is his 6th solo passage of Cape Horn.

"The Horn" is considered by single-handers to be the most challenging point of a circumnavigation. Frequent storms and highly changeable sea conditions make this one of the most dangerous spots on Earth for vessels of any size.

He received congratulations from shore crew in Tokyo and Punta Arenas, but said he will wait a few days for improved conditions as he heads up the Chilean coast before breaking out the celebratory champagne.

The conditions for the next 12 hours are strong but do not seem overly serious as a front approaches from the west, bringing strong winds in the mid to upper 30s. Seas are predicted to stay under 5 meters.

He said he took pictures of the lower islands and a promitory that mark the cape mid-point.

His main and growing concern at the moment is dirty fuel. He cleaned the fuel cleaner element a few hours ago, requiring him to stop the engine and drift for about 30 minutes. "It was really dirty, even though I installed a new fuel filter before departure," he said. He believes the contamination is from the debris in the main tank that has been shaken up by boat motion in the increasingly heavier seas.

Iridium reception was good.

Saito-san will call in his next position at 1400 JST today.

You may want to see the commentary provided during his first Horn attempt in April.

******

Additional Report (0043 JST) [Mike Seymour, Safety Officer]

At approximately 0043 JST Oct 28, 2009, while speaking to me on the phone and with over 20 knots of westerly wind blowing straight in his face, Saito-san rounded Cape Horn alone for the 6th time.

Though he has two bottles of champagne left, he said he wasn't going to pop a cork until sea conditions settled down a bit, forcing me to give him a one-sided "Kampai" and a big "Omedeto Gozaimasu."

He did sound pleased.

(1240 local) Hitoshi Hanaoka, Chief of Punta Arenas Chile shore crew

Saito san called me 27-10-09 at 1240 to inform me that he is seeing the Cape Horn front of him. Wind is 25 to 30 knots, engine 2500 rpm with 6.5 knots of vessel speed. It sounded to me that he was very happy! But he said that the champagne will not be opened to celebrate until he crosses the west side of Magellan Strait, which will take about 3 days and 3 nights of voyage.

1500 JST POSITION UPDATE [click to enlarge]

2000 JST POSITION UPDATE [click to enlarge]

Forecast

Barometric chart + 7 hrs [click to enlarge]

Winds + 7 hrs

Waves + 7 hrs

Day 389 [Oct. 27/09] -- Cape Horn position update

Position (2000 JST)

55°44'S, 66°41'W -- about 18 nm northeast of Cape Horn

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65%

Heading: 190

Boat speed: 5-6.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Weather: Overcast, cold (4.0 C), winds moderate, seas moderate

Barometer: 988 hPa (rising)

Waves: 1.5-2.0 m (in lee of islands)

Wind (from): 22-27 kt SW

Current (from): 1.4 kt SW

Today's Report UPDATE (2000 JST)

At the time of his call, he was approx. 18 nm northeast of the islands below Cape Horn. At a speed of 5 kts, he is expected to start passing below the islands in about 3 hours.

He noted the leak in the aft head, at between 0.5 and 1 liter / hr. He also said he can see that the primary fuel filter is becoming dirty due to tank debris being stirred up by boat motion.

He was told of the 1.4 kt currents in the area where he is, as indicated by ClearPoint. We reminded him to take pictures as he passed the Horn.

He said he can see a small island "very close." He estimated it at about half a mile distant off his starboard bow.

Iridium reception was good.

Saito-san will call in his next position at 0800 JST tomorrow.

Additional Report (2021 JST) [Mike Seymour, Safety Officer]

Saito-san called and said he is about 1 hour from Cape Horn, just off the first small island off the cape. Winds from the SW at 20 to 25 knots. Waves at 1.5 m.

He said both fore and aft cabins were a complete mess due to the pounding the boat has been taking. He will call again when he gets around the cape.

(2154 JST) Hitoshi Hanaoka, Chief of Punta Arenas Chile shore crew

Saito-san called me in Chilean time today 27-10-09 0800 to tell me that it will take 1 hour to cross Cape Horn. Everything looks good.

Day 389 [Oct. 27/09] -- Cape Horn position update

Position (1400 JST)

55°32'S, 66°05'W -- 38 nm east of Cape Horn

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65%

Heading: 220

Boat speed: 6.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Weather: Overcast, cold, winds strong, seas moderate

Barometer: 981 hPa (rising)

Waves: 2.5-3.0 m

Wind (from): 30-35 kt WNW

Current (from): 1.0 kt SW

Today's Report UPDATE (1400 JST)

At the time of his call, he was approx. 38 nm east and slightly north of the islands below Cape Horn. At a speed of 6 kts, he is expected to pass below the islands in 6 - 8 hours.

He reports no problems. He said the seas are "not bad" at 2.5 to 3.0 m. Winds were strong, as predicted by ClearPoint, and were expected to drop in about 3 hours into the mid teens to lower 20s. They will rise again into the low 30s in about 10 hours.

Iridium reception was a bit poorer, and wind noise was apparent, with Saito-san shouting to be heard.

Saito-san will call in his next position at 2000 JST.

Day 389 [Oct. 27/09] -- Approaching east of Cape Horn

Position (0800 JST)

55°19'S, 64°23'W -- 100 nm east of Cape Horn

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65%

Heading: 220

Boat speed: 7.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Distance in last 24 hours: 114 nm

Distance made good: 16,350 nm (30,280 km)

Distance remaining to Yokohama: 8,520 nm

Yokohama to Yokohama (24,970 nm)

Yokohama ETA: 85 days (based on 100 nm/day ave. boat speed)

Weather: Overcast and partly cloudy, winds growing, seas moderate

Barometer: 964 hPa (dropping)

Waves: 1.5-2.0 m

Wind (from): 22-26 kt WNW

Current (from): 1.2 kt SW

Engine: 6.0 hr @ 2000 rpm + 18.0 hr @ 2300 rpm (294 L)

Generator: 0.0 hr (0 L)

Sails

Main: 0%

Staysail: 0%

Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

Saito-san is making the approach to Cape Horn, and at the morning's call JST was 100 nm east. He was in relatively light winds of 20 kts, but ClearPoint shows two, possibly three, approaching fronts. When they reach the area in 6-8 hours, the winds will rise to the mid 30s, then should drop back into the high 20s in about 12-15 hours. Seas are relatively moderate at 2.5 m.

Everything appears fine with the vessel, as he makes his second attempt to pass the Horn. The last attempt was April 12.

Iridium reception continues to be cell phone quality (with a slight delay), which is much improved over the quality during the previous attempt.

Saito-san will call in his position three times a day at the request of the Tokyo shore crew for at least the next several days.

Additional Report (Hitoshi Hanaoka, Chief of Punta Arenas Chile shore support)

Machine translation by Babel Fish

0800 local

This day 26th 0800 o'clock there is the telephone from Saito. When it turns the Estados island open sea, is opposite to Cape Horn. Wind 35 knots. As for Cape Horn open sea arrival when it is tomorrow. Flooding to the yacht is very little.

2015 local

O'clock of the Chilean time 26-10-09 and 2015, there is the telephone from Saito. To Cape Horn the distance of 80 miles. As for rudder, in 220 degrees northwest. It seems that everything favorably goes.

Forecast

Barometric chart + 7 hrs [click to enlarge]

Winds + 7 hrs

Waves + 7 hrs

Day 388 [Oct. 26/09] -- Atlantic being kind

Position (0800 JST)

54°10'S, 65°33'W -- Atlantic Ocean, approaching west passage of Isla de los Estados

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65%

Heading: 100

Boat speed: 7.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Distance in last 24 hours: 165 nm

Distance made good: 16,400 nm (30,372 km)

Distance remaining to Yokohama: 8,570 nm

Yokohama to Yokohama (24,970 nm)

Yokohama ETA: 86 days (based on 100 nm/day ave. boat speed)

Weather: Clear to partly cloudy, light winds

Barometer: 997 hPa

Waves: 0.5 m

Wind (from): 6-8 kt N

Current (from): -- kt [not reported]

Engine: 0.0 hr @ 1500 rpm + 24.0 hr @ 2000 rpm (240 L)

Generator: 0.0 hr (0 L)

Sails

Main: 0%

Staysail: 0%

Genoa: 0%

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]

Forecast [Cape Horn]

Barometric chart +6 hrs [click to enlarge]

Barometric chart +12 hrs [click to enlarge]

Winds [Atlantic Ocean]

Winds [Cape Horn]

Waves [Atlantic Ocean]

Waves [Cape Horn]

Day 387 [Oct. 25/09] -- Happy to be back on the water

Position (0800 JST)

52° 24'S, 68°55'W -- Inland Sea, approaching Atlantic Ocean

[Click to enlarge]

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 65.7%

Heading: 050

Boat speed: 7.0-8.0 kt (7-day average: -- kt)

Distance in last 15 hours: 90 nm

Distance made good: 16,400 nm (30,372 km)

Distance remaining to Yokohama: 8,570 nm

Yokohama to Yokohama (24,970 nm)

Yokohama ETA: 86 days (based on 100 nm/day ave. boat speed)

Weather: Clear to partly cloudy, windy

Barometer: 995 hPa

Waves: 1.5-2.0 m

Wind (from): 22-25 kt SW

Current (from): -- kt [not reported]

Engine: 3.0 hr @ 1500 rpm + 12.0 hr @ 2200 rpm (132 L)

Generator: 0.0 hr (0 L)

Sails

Main: 0%

Staysail: 0%

Genoa: 0%

Today's Report

Motoring well under clear to partly cloudy skies with favorable winds in mid-20s, in Inland Sea on 1.5-2.0 meter swells. Expected to enter Atlantic Ocean in 2 hours, where conditions are moderate. Will unfurl staysail at that point, once clear of Inland Sea ship traffic.

A warm front approx. 150 nm to his NW is approaching and should reach the area within 36-40 hrs.

Saito-san reports "no problems" and is very happy to be back under way.

Added Comment [Mike Seymour, Saito 8 Safety Officer, 0600 JST]

A very "genki-so na" Saito-san called at 6AM with the following:

Position: 52 degrees 22 minutes South / 69 degrees 21 minutes West

Approximately 30 nm from Atlantic ocean, just East of Punta Delgada.

He expects to reach the Atlantic in 4 - 5 hours.

Winds from the SW at 25 to 28 knots. Seas are flat.

Boat speed is 7 knots running on the engine only (2500 rpm), no main.

He was happy to report no problems with NBSDIII. He sounded very happy.

Guess he's back in his element.

Forecast [Atlantic Ocean]

Forecast [Cape Horn]

Barometric chart [click to enlarge]

Winds [Atlantic Ocean]

Winds [Cape Horn]

Waves [Atlantic Ocean]

Waves [Cape Horn]