My website (www.svnereida.com) has several tracking/position options - go to the 'Travels' tab for links. Also, the www.QRZ.com page for my ham callsign VE0JS has a Google Earth map showing my track.
Once we're close to the coast, www.marinetraffic.com will show Nereida's position clearly - very frequently updated - useful once in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and getting close to finishing.
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Saturday 4pm PDT (2300GMT) A lovely sunny day with plenty of blue sky although looks as though some clouds will be coming over soon. Just had a late lunch on deck - of crackers and the last of some blue cheese - very mature!
Speed is only around 2kt, despite full sail - wind is not even enough to make the wind generator turn very fast.
Can just make out the misty outline of the mountains below clouds over Vancouver Island ahead - makes landfall coming up seem that much more real.
Clearing up in the galley and then I'll try getting to the radio tuner and antenna connections hidden away behind the aft cabin woodwork.....
7pm Peaceful, gentle, pleasant... All those... but we're drifting S-SSE now on port tack - just over 1.5kt - not exactly fast - half normal slow walking speed...! Hoping wind will back further so we make better Easting. Very quiet with almost no wind in sails and rigging. Wind generator turning, but rather slowly.
Lovely sunny evening - tempted to have a small sundowner in celebration of seeing land - Vancouver Island's mountains.
Propane supply just ran out to galley - so using back-up camping style stove in lieu - fine for boiling water or heating up small meals but not for frying - so no more pancakes for time being... Might have another tank with some propane in it in gas locker but too busy to investigate just now. Trying to get to radio connections - not easy...
8:45pm On a much better course now - but still very slow - making just under 2kt on a course of 120T. Sun set a short while ago - air temperature definitely dropping and slight dew on deck. Hope it doesn't get foggy - have no working radar, although AIS is a good substitute out here, well away from land.
Had a very nice simple supper of wild salmon with sweetcorn and a dollop of mayonnaise. With no gas to the galley cooker now, even though I have my back-up camping burner, it's simpler to enjoy a cold meal.
Have had to move a lot of gear out of the way in the aft cabin before removing bunk tops in order to get at the wooden panels that must be removed to reach the tuner and connections to the antenna. Having to check back on deck regularly with the wind shifting, to make sure we're on the best possible course, checking weather forecasts also, takes time out from achieving as much as hoped - tomorrow it should be possible to look at the possible problem area - hope it's below decks and not above!
Have been tuning in to my usual Nets - and has been good to hear almost everyone very clearly - they've even talked to me and sent me messages, knowing I can hear them!
Midnight (Sun 0700 GMT) Starry but hazy sky with lots of stars visible and a chilly feel to the air.
Trimmed sails for beam reach - speed increased satisfyingly. Wind has backed a lot now - to N, or nearly so. We're actually headed for the Strait entrance directly now - first time for several days, I think. Cape Flattery is now 280 miles off.
9am PDT Solid grey overcast sky, air feeling cool, decks wet - from overnight rain or dew? Making fair speed in NNE wind, still well on course for Cape Flattery. Should be able to stay on rhumb-line course for the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca from now on since wind is expected to stay in N quadrant. Cape Flattery is just under three days away, although light winds will make that time longer - presently only making 3.5-4kt.
11.45am Wind just came up - now making around 5kt, instead of 2.5kt just before - 'wind under cloud' effect, possibly - lots of grey cloud everywhere. Only problem with increased speed is the increased heeling and banging into seas that goes with it - difficult to work on radio problem just now... Must wait for calmer conditions.
ETA: Thursday is looking possible... (Ask the weather gods that have sent these light winds to slow us down...)
DTF: Victoria Hbr (Ogden Pt breakwater): 291 n.ml.; Cape Flattery (~60n.ml. from Victoria Hbr entrance): 231 n.ml to ESE
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While sailing around the world, I'm trying to raise funds to help support the superb life-saving work done by the RNLI (Lifeboats) in Britain each and every day of the year, regardless how bad the weather. In fact, the worse it is, the more likely they are out there, helping someone in distress - whether a swimmer, surfer, small boat or big ship, night or day, summer or winter, and it is a charity - no government funding - so they rely on our help to fund their intensive training and maintain their equipment.
It would be great if you would take a moment to click on the Lifeboats link here (https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jeanne-Socrates2), if you'd like to show your support for my efforts at sailing solo, nonstop, unassisted around the globe, trying to set a World Record as the oldest person to do so, by donating something towards the great work the RNLI do every day. If a lot of people put in even a small amount, it all adds up... Thanks a lot! If you can help, it will be very much appreciated. Let's see if we can reach my target!
(I hear that some readers might need to talk to their bank BEFORE trying to make a donation to the RNLI since many US banks routinely block foreign transactions unless
they are notified in advance.)
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1900GMT = midday PDT (Pacific Daylight Time) - end of Day 333. We made 61 n.ml. DMG, measured in a straight line between the two 1900GMT positions. Very light wind until this morning. Actually sailed over 67 n.ml. but changes in course with windshifts make for less than that in distance gained.
Total distance covered from Victoria, B.C., to end of Day 333 (by daily DMGs): 27,592 n.ml.
Position, as posted to www.Winlink.org and www.Shiptrak.org (go to either of those websites with my US radio callsign, KC2IOV, to see my track over this entire voyage:
TIME: 2019/09/01 19:00GMT LATITUDE: 49-01.62N LONGITUDE: 130-33.98W
COURSE: 097T SPEED: 5.0kt
WIND_SPEED: 12kt WIND_DIR: NNE SWELL_DIR: NNE SWELL_HT: 2.0m CLOUDS: 100%
BARO: 1013.6hPa TREND: 2 AIR_TEMP: 22.0C SEA_TEMP: 22.0C
COMMENT: Wind just came up after slow progress beforehand
