Minoru Saito Challenge 8: Week 3
Day 15 [Oct. 17, 0700 JST]
Position:
109 52N, 148 35E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.4%
Heading: 110
Boat speed: 3.5 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 85 nm
Distance made good: 1,604 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,571 nm
Yokohama ETA: 240 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 196 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 14 days
Weather: Overcast, scattered thunderstorms
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 0.5 m
Wind (from): 9 - 11 kt SE (unfavorable)
Current: Opposing from south
Engine: 5.75 hr (1,500 w/1,800 rpm in the last 30 minutes)
Generator: 9.5 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
Saito-san is easting to get to the windward (east) side of the numerous atolls and small islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. As he approaches the Equator the current will change from opposing to minimal and then to favorable. Trade winds, which recently have been disappointingly weak as well as unfavorably from the SE, should also improve.
Added Comment
We're watching fuel use with a closer eye since the hydraulic auto-steering requires use of electrical power from the aux. generator. After the Equator Saito-san expects to use the engine less or not at all. The generator, which he runs about 9 hours a day, uses about 2 liters of fuel an hour. Just under 10% of fuel has been used to date, with 6,100 liters in tanks and jerry cans at departure.
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Day 16 [Oct. 18, 0700 JST]
Position:
09 05N, 150 15E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.6%
Heading: 120
Boat speed: 4.5 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 109 nm
Distance made good: 1,661 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,514 nm
Yokohama ETA: 239 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 195 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 13.5 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1008 hPa
Waves: 0.5 m
Wind (from): 8 - 11 kt ESE (unfavorable)
Current: 0.8 kt from east
Engine: 20.0 hr @ 1,500 + 1.5 hr @ 2,000 rpm (in 3 x 0.5-hr periods)
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: furled
Today's Report
Saito-san has spent the past 24 hours mostly motoring to get through and past the numerous atolls and small islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. He will pass the Chuuk island group (formerly Truk) on the west side. This returns him to a more southerly heading, with slightly less than half the distance remaining to the first of 12 waypoints, a point near the Solomon Islands.
Added Comment
Chuuk - formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus - is an island group in the south western part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 17 [Oct. 19, 0700 JST]
Position:
07 52N, 150 49E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.9%
Heading: 150
Boat speed: 4.0 kt (7-day average: 4.0 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 81 nm
Distance made good: 1,740 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,435 nm
Yokohama ETA: 244 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 194 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 14 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1009 hPa
Waves: 0.3 m
Wind (from): 8 - 14 kt ENE (favorable)
Current: 0.8 kt from east
Engine: 5.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 1-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
Saito-san was in especially good spirits today, happy to report having had his first good night's sleep in more than a week. "There were squalls, but they were small and not as many," he said. The seas are also virtually flat, with swells at less than half a meter. He was just about ready to pass the Chuuk Island Group and is closing in on the Equator, which he said he expects to cross in about 4 1/2 days.
Added Comment
Eiko Brumfield and Chii Takahashi (Eiko's mom) were present for this call and peppered him with questions about -- what else? -- his health and how he's eating. He assured them that there are no problems in either regard, and that the refrigerator is keeping various meats frozen, including hamburger, beef, sausage, and ham. Although the tomatoes and lettuce did not survive into the second week, the eggs, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are all "very good." He also said the "Como Bread" -- a long shelf-life bread donated by the Como Company, is a special favorite of his.
He was obviously happy to have a chat, and the Imarsat call ran nearly 10 minutes, or almost twice the usual duration.
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 18 [Oct. 20, 0700 JST]
Position:
06 07N, 151 09E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 7.3%
Heading: 165
Boat speed: 4.5 kt (7-day average: 4.0 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 107 nm
Distance made good: 1,843 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,332 nm
Yokohama ETA: 243 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 193 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 13 days
Weather: Overcast and stormy
Barometer: 1011 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): 8 - 10 kt SSE (unfavorable)
Current: 0.3 kt from ESE
Engine: 8.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 3-pt reef
Staysail: furled, but expected to open it soon
Genoa: 0%
Today's Report
Saito-san reported the hardest sea and weather conditions of the voyage so far, saying he was hit by a fierce thunderstorm/gale that lasted a full four hours beginning at 8 pm last night. He said the night was "completely black" so he could only judge, but thought the wave heights were 1.5 to 2.5 meters. During the worst of it winds were 35 kt from the southeast.
He reported using the electric bilge pump to clear accumulated water during last night's gale. The pump had not functioned on his solo voyage from New Zealand to Yokohama in the spring, so this was a reassuring test that it is now working OK.
He said other than some slight seasickness ("the boat is really rolling") and sleepiness, he's fine. He said the boat performed well during the gale under reduced sails, with a triple reef on the main.
Though tired, he noted that the last 12 hours were "good practice for the Southern Ocean" where sustained winds of 30 knots and gales that can last several days are not uncommon.
During the night he saw two ships on radar, the closest coming to within 3 nm.
Added Comment
As an isolated "pocket gale," last night's storm showed on Clearpoint as a patch of orange, representing heavier winds, but no general area gale warning had been raised by the weather service that provides such alerts.
James H. later found that he was passing very close to Weno Island at 7N 151E. Wind indication in the area was yellow to orange 16-22 kts. The point forecast at Weno Isl indicated a gale of 23.9 kt from ESE, James said.
Despite the stormy nighttime conditions he was able to achieve one of his best distances of the last 5 days at 107 nm, compared to a daily average of 95 nm. So far his longest distance was 172 nm (Day 2) and the shortest was 78 nm (Day 6). The daily average for the last 18 days (distance made good) is 102.4 nm.
Clearpoint continues to show area squalls, with otherwise steady winds up to 16 knots mainly out of the east over the next 48 hours.
***
Meanwhile CNN this morning was showing a typhoon, No. 23, crossing Saito's path 1,100 nm north of him between Japan and his present position.
This may have caught him had he left on Oct. 11 or slightly later, as had earlier been planned. The date was moved up to allow him a bit more time for his return by the first week of June (the 150th anniversary week celebrating the opening of Yokohama Port).
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 19 [Oct. 21, 0700 JST]
Position:
04 16N, 151 51E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 7.8%
Heading: 170
Boat speed: 5.0 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 119 nm
Distance made good: 1,969 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,206 nm
Yokohama ETA: 242 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 193 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 13 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 1.5 m
Wind (from): 17 - 23 kt E (favorable)
Current: 0.5 kt from east
Engine: 6.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
The past 24 hours were good, once skies had cleared about noon yesterday. Trade winds are now out of the east at close to 20 kt steady, for a comfortable broad reach on a 170 heading. Current is out of the east so not opposing compared to more recently.
Our Inmarsat connection did not work today for some reason but the Iridium back-up phone served excellently. This is the first time we've had to fall back on the Iridium phone, but anticipate this will become more necessary in parts of the ocean where the higher bandwidth (thus clearer) Inmarsat phone does not have full satellite coverage. (The Inmarsat equipment was donated by Japan Radio Corporation, and the Iridium phone plus the comms fees by Clearpoint Weather.)
Added Comment
Clearpoint has added a web page dedicated to Saito Challenge 8 that makes it possible to see the weather at his position. The site is "interactive" allowing the selection of specific types of weather and sea condition information at his precise location.
We'll be writing more about Clearpoint Weather soon, and now there is a great website that puts it into perspective.
***
Bob Brumfield, Hunter's "baby brother," listened in on today's call via Skype on his mobile phone in San Antonio, Texas.
Bob, as a driver, was part of a 6-person search team that took a trip in 2007 by rental RV to Maine to check out a steel yacht that was up for sale. It was gorgeous and, unfortunately, too expensive. Nonetheless it helped us consider the absolute minimum that was needed for a westward circumnavigation, and the trip allowed Saito-san to renew some old BOC and Around Alone friendships in the Newport RI area.
Saito-san got a kick out of talking to Bob. He has a special affection for Texas, where he has several friends going back a number of years. One couple, ham radio operators, were daily voices to him as they cheered Saito-san along during the Atlantic portion of the 1990-91 BOC race. They finally could meet several years later and have stayed in contact since. Saito-san even carries a dried rattlesnake rattle they gave him for good luck.
Happy 50th, Bob!
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
Position:
109 52N, 148 35E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.4%
Heading: 110
Boat speed: 3.5 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 85 nm
Distance made good: 1,604 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,571 nm
Yokohama ETA: 240 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 196 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 14 days
Weather: Overcast, scattered thunderstorms
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 0.5 m
Wind (from): 9 - 11 kt SE (unfavorable)
Current: Opposing from south
Engine: 5.75 hr (1,500 w/1,800 rpm in the last 30 minutes)
Generator: 9.5 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
Saito-san is easting to get to the windward (east) side of the numerous atolls and small islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. As he approaches the Equator the current will change from opposing to minimal and then to favorable. Trade winds, which recently have been disappointingly weak as well as unfavorably from the SE, should also improve.
Added Comment
We're watching fuel use with a closer eye since the hydraulic auto-steering requires use of electrical power from the aux. generator. After the Equator Saito-san expects to use the engine less or not at all. The generator, which he runs about 9 hours a day, uses about 2 liters of fuel an hour. Just under 10% of fuel has been used to date, with 6,100 liters in tanks and jerry cans at departure.
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
---------------------------------------------------------------
Day 16 [Oct. 18, 0700 JST]
Position:
09 05N, 150 15E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.6%
Heading: 120
Boat speed: 4.5 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 109 nm
Distance made good: 1,661 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,514 nm
Yokohama ETA: 239 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 195 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 13.5 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1008 hPa
Waves: 0.5 m
Wind (from): 8 - 11 kt ESE (unfavorable)
Current: 0.8 kt from east
Engine: 20.0 hr @ 1,500 + 1.5 hr @ 2,000 rpm (in 3 x 0.5-hr periods)
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: furled
Today's Report
Saito-san has spent the past 24 hours mostly motoring to get through and past the numerous atolls and small islands of the Federated States of Micronesia. He will pass the Chuuk island group (formerly Truk) on the west side. This returns him to a more southerly heading, with slightly less than half the distance remaining to the first of 12 waypoints, a point near the Solomon Islands.
Added Comment
Chuuk - formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus - is an island group in the south western part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 17 [Oct. 19, 0700 JST]
Position:
07 52N, 150 49E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 6.9%
Heading: 150
Boat speed: 4.0 kt (7-day average: 4.0 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 81 nm
Distance made good: 1,740 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,435 nm
Yokohama ETA: 244 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 194 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 14 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1009 hPa
Waves: 0.3 m
Wind (from): 8 - 14 kt ENE (favorable)
Current: 0.8 kt from east
Engine: 5.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 1-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
Saito-san was in especially good spirits today, happy to report having had his first good night's sleep in more than a week. "There were squalls, but they were small and not as many," he said. The seas are also virtually flat, with swells at less than half a meter. He was just about ready to pass the Chuuk Island Group and is closing in on the Equator, which he said he expects to cross in about 4 1/2 days.
Added Comment
Eiko Brumfield and Chii Takahashi (Eiko's mom) were present for this call and peppered him with questions about -- what else? -- his health and how he's eating. He assured them that there are no problems in either regard, and that the refrigerator is keeping various meats frozen, including hamburger, beef, sausage, and ham. Although the tomatoes and lettuce did not survive into the second week, the eggs, cabbage, carrots, and potatoes are all "very good." He also said the "Como Bread" -- a long shelf-life bread donated by the Como Company, is a special favorite of his.
He was obviously happy to have a chat, and the Imarsat call ran nearly 10 minutes, or almost twice the usual duration.
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 18 [Oct. 20, 0700 JST]
Position:
06 07N, 151 09E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 7.3%
Heading: 165
Boat speed: 4.5 kt (7-day average: 4.0 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 107 nm
Distance made good: 1,843 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,332 nm
Yokohama ETA: 243 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 193 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 13 days
Weather: Overcast and stormy
Barometer: 1011 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): 8 - 10 kt SSE (unfavorable)
Current: 0.3 kt from ESE
Engine: 8.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 3-pt reef
Staysail: furled, but expected to open it soon
Genoa: 0%
Today's Report
Saito-san reported the hardest sea and weather conditions of the voyage so far, saying he was hit by a fierce thunderstorm/gale that lasted a full four hours beginning at 8 pm last night. He said the night was "completely black" so he could only judge, but thought the wave heights were 1.5 to 2.5 meters. During the worst of it winds were 35 kt from the southeast.
He reported using the electric bilge pump to clear accumulated water during last night's gale. The pump had not functioned on his solo voyage from New Zealand to Yokohama in the spring, so this was a reassuring test that it is now working OK.
He said other than some slight seasickness ("the boat is really rolling") and sleepiness, he's fine. He said the boat performed well during the gale under reduced sails, with a triple reef on the main.
Though tired, he noted that the last 12 hours were "good practice for the Southern Ocean" where sustained winds of 30 knots and gales that can last several days are not uncommon.
During the night he saw two ships on radar, the closest coming to within 3 nm.
Added Comment
As an isolated "pocket gale," last night's storm showed on Clearpoint as a patch of orange, representing heavier winds, but no general area gale warning had been raised by the weather service that provides such alerts.
James H. later found that he was passing very close to Weno Island at 7N 151E. Wind indication in the area was yellow to orange 16-22 kts. The point forecast at Weno Isl indicated a gale of 23.9 kt from ESE, James said.
Despite the stormy nighttime conditions he was able to achieve one of his best distances of the last 5 days at 107 nm, compared to a daily average of 95 nm. So far his longest distance was 172 nm (Day 2) and the shortest was 78 nm (Day 6). The daily average for the last 18 days (distance made good) is 102.4 nm.
Clearpoint continues to show area squalls, with otherwise steady winds up to 16 knots mainly out of the east over the next 48 hours.
***
Meanwhile CNN this morning was showing a typhoon, No. 23, crossing Saito's path 1,100 nm north of him between Japan and his present position.
This may have caught him had he left on Oct. 11 or slightly later, as had earlier been planned. The date was moved up to allow him a bit more time for his return by the first week of June (the 150th anniversary week celebrating the opening of Yokohama Port).
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 19 [Oct. 21, 0700 JST]
Position:
04 16N, 151 51E
Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 7.8%
Heading: 170
Boat speed: 5.0 kt (7-day average: 4.1 kt)
Distance in last 24 hours: 119 nm
Distance made good: 1,969 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 23,206 nm
Yokohama ETA: 242 days (based on 7-day ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 193 days (assumes 120-nm daily ave.)
Solomon Islands (WP #1 / 3,000 nm) ETA: 13 days
Weather: Partly cloudy
Barometer: 1010 hPa
Waves: 1.5 m
Wind (from): 17 - 23 kt E (favorable)
Current: 0.5 kt from east
Engine: 6.0 hr @ 1,500 rpm
Generator: 8.0 hr
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%
Today's Report
The past 24 hours were good, once skies had cleared about noon yesterday. Trade winds are now out of the east at close to 20 kt steady, for a comfortable broad reach on a 170 heading. Current is out of the east so not opposing compared to more recently.
Our Inmarsat connection did not work today for some reason but the Iridium back-up phone served excellently. This is the first time we've had to fall back on the Iridium phone, but anticipate this will become more necessary in parts of the ocean where the higher bandwidth (thus clearer) Inmarsat phone does not have full satellite coverage. (The Inmarsat equipment was donated by Japan Radio Corporation, and the Iridium phone plus the comms fees by Clearpoint Weather.)
Added Comment
Clearpoint has added a web page dedicated to Saito Challenge 8 that makes it possible to see the weather at his position. The site is "interactive" allowing the selection of specific types of weather and sea condition information at his precise location.
We'll be writing more about Clearpoint Weather soon, and now there is a great website that puts it into perspective.
***
Bob Brumfield, Hunter's "baby brother," listened in on today's call via Skype on his mobile phone in San Antonio, Texas.
Bob, as a driver, was part of a 6-person search team that took a trip in 2007 by rental RV to Maine to check out a steel yacht that was up for sale. It was gorgeous and, unfortunately, too expensive. Nonetheless it helped us consider the absolute minimum that was needed for a westward circumnavigation, and the trip allowed Saito-san to renew some old BOC and Around Alone friendships in the Newport RI area.
Saito-san got a kick out of talking to Bob. He has a special affection for Texas, where he has several friends going back a number of years. One couple, ham radio operators, were daily voices to him as they cheered Saito-san along during the Atlantic portion of the 1990-91 BOC race. They finally could meet several years later and have stayed in contact since. Saito-san even carries a dried rattlesnake rattle they gave him for good luck.
Happy 50th, Bob!
Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
Labels: Minoru Saito, Saito Challenge 8
posted by ClearPoint Weather - Weather Decision Technologies Inc. at
10/21/2008 11:40:00 AM
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