Minoru Saito Challenge 8: Week 1

Day 0 -- Departure Day [Oct. 2, 2008 11:54 JST]
Position:
35 07 30 N, 139 41 20 E

Distance completed: 0%

Heading: 180
Boat speed: 5-6 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 0 nm (24-hr ave. 0 kt)
Distance made good: 0 nm
ETA: 184 - 240 days
Weather: Clear
Barometer: 1006
Waves (from):
Wind (from): 8-10 kt N
Current (from):
Engine: 0
Main: 1-pt reef
Staysail: 0%
Genoa: 100%


Today's Report
Minoru Saito crossed the Kenzaki Lighthouse start line at 11:54 this morning under the crystal-clear azure skies that typically follow typhoons here.

A tiny red-jacketed lone figure in Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III, Saito-san was accompanied by a second sailboat carrying official witnesses of his departure.

As he crossed the line at 35° 07' 30" N, 139° 41' 20" E, Saito-san cranked out the genoa and staysail to join the main in a comfortable downwind sail, pushed by light winds from the north of about 8-10 knots.

Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III, accompanied by a second yacht carrying several witnesses, heads toward the official start line. (Photo snapped by Hunter from an observation platform on Jogashima Island.)

As a moderate but weakening typhoon, Jangmi ("Rose" in Korean) passed just south of Tokyo yesterday, narrowly missing the coast after making an abrupt turn toward Japan over the weekend. While Saito-san awaited her arrival, the temporary respite allowed some welcome, if rain soaked, last-minute boat preparations.

Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III at her typhoon mooring this morning in Aburatsubo.

Saito-san and three Tokyo Sail & Power Squadron burgees that went aboard just before departure.
Tomorrow we will supply the first of the daily logs using position reports called in at 0700 each morning. These daily updates from the skipper will be supplemented by twice-daily lat-long coordinates delivered by email via s an on-board satellite beacon.

And now... the Great Adventure begins!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 1 [Oct. 3, 2008 0700 JST]

Position:
33 32 N, 140 01 E

Distance completed: 0.43%

Heading: 175
Boat speed: 5.8 kt
Distance in last 19 hours: 110 nm (24-hr ave. 5.8 kt)
Distance made good: 110 nm
Distance to Yokohama: 25,501 nm

Yokohama ETA: 184 days (based on today's ave boat speed)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 21.5 days

Weather: Clear skies, steady strong wind
Barometer: - 1016 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): 15 - 20 kt NE
Current: 2.4 kt SE
Engine: 0
Generator: 9 hrs
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

Good wind, 18-23 kt last night, currently about 20 kt. No engine use; 9 hrs on the generator to supply power to autopilot. Beautiful clear skies. Can see Hachijojima about 25 nm away. High pressure system at 1017mb.
Saito: "Everything is going very well. Very good wind."

Added Comment

All systems are working well. Saito-san called in using the INMARSAT satellite comms phone, which was very clear and unbroken. (A subsequent test call by the back-up Iridium sat phone was adequate but he had difficulty hearing, with slight breakup.)

The separate auxiliary generator is expected to be used 2 or 3 times a day, several hours each time, to keep the batteries charged and permit electrical generation for AC devices.

Until much later the "Yokohama ETA" will be little more than an exercise, so we will also chart the ETA to the following waypoints as they are approached:

Waypoint 1: Solomon Islands (2,988 / 2,988 nm total distance)
Waypoint 2: Cape Leeuwin, S. Australia (2,300 / 5,288 nm)
Waypoint 3: West of Australia (1,573 / 6,861 nm)
Waypoint 4: Cape of Good Hope, Africa (4,123 / 10,984 nm)
Waypoint 5: Cape Horn, Argentina (4,182 / 15,166 nm)
Waypoint 6: Humboldt Current (899 / 16,065 nm)
Waypoint 7: Fiji (5,674 / 21,739)
Waypoint 8: Kenzaki Lighthouse, below Yokohama (3,872 / 25,611 nm)

____________________________________________________

Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)

Day 2 [Oct. 4, 2008 0700 JST]
Position:
30 41 N, 140 51 E

Distance completed to Yokohama: 1.05%

Heading: 170
Boat speed: 7.2 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 172 nm
Distance made good: 270 nm
Distance to Yokohama: 25,341 nm

Yokohama ETA: 148 days (based on today's ave boat speed)
Solomon Islands (Waypoint 1) ETA: 18 days


Weather: Cloudy, steady favorable wind
Barometer: 1012 hPa
Waves: 2.5 m
Wind (from): 16 - 20 kt ESE
Current: 0.5 kt NE
Engine: 0
Generator: 8 hrs
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

All systems OK, although the "main system" feels a little seasick from the 2 to 3 m swells. "It's not too bad," Saito-san laughed. He's really happy about the good time he is making.

Added Comment

For now he's doing very well with an ave 24-hr boat speed of 7.2 kt (172 nm/24 hr).The Yokohama ETA is currently 148 days at that speed.

We want him to average at least 5.0 kt to meet the anticipated 213-day trip duration. (Clearpoint indicates area winds will slacken within 24-36 hours, then pick up when he hits the tradewind latitudes.)

He is not using the engine. He ran the generator 8 hours today, 9 hours the day before, mainly for autopilot use.

There is no fuel gauge so fuel consumption must be estimated by the No. of generator operating hours. He estimates 2 to 3 liters/hr are expended to run the generator. He has 5,500 liters in the boat's tanks (4 total) and thirty 20-liter jerry cans stored on deck. Thus there were 6,100 liters of fuel on board at departure. Assuming 3 L/hr, he consumed 27 L yesterday + 24 L today = 51 L expended, giving him enough fuel for potentially 240-250 days of generator use.

A solar panel also provides trickle-charging of the batteries as well as emergency DC power, should the need arise. It is not expected that he will normally use the generator as much as he has the last 2 days, as a result of the strong winds.

He successfully sent 2 faxes out yesterday to test the fax capability of the INMARSAT satellite comms.

Temperatures are already rising, at 27.5 C this morning compared to Tokyo's 17.5 C.

Photos courtesy of Tony Whitman, who served as a "witness" on board an observer boat at the Kenzaki Lighthouse start line (11:54 JST, Oct. 2, 2008, 35° 07' 30" N, 139° 41' 20")

Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 3 [Oct. 5, 2008 0700 JST]
Position:
28 23 N, 141 26 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 1.6%

Heading: 170
Boat speed: 5.9 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 141 nm
Distance made good: 411 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 25,200 nm

Yokohama ETA: 181 days (based on today's ave boat speed)
Expected ETA: 210 days
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 17 days

Weather: Clear, beautiful, steady favorable wind, turning to east
Barometer: 1012 hPa
Waves: 2 - 2.5 m
Wind (from): 17 - 23 kt E
Current: 0.5 NE (variable)
Engine: 0
Generator: 8 hrs
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

Saito-san was happy to report that "the seasickness is finished." Yesterday he reported feeling some mild queasiness: "All I had to eat was one roll." Today he's back to full appetite.

All continued to go well through the day and night and this morning Saito-san was greeted by a gorgeous sunrise under clear blue skies. "It was really beautiful," he said.

Added Comment

He has been consulting Clearpoint Weather and identified that the wind will lessen and turn unfavorable "probably this afternoon," which agrees with our own predictions. (Saito-san and we are seeing the same weather information as shown by Clearpoint on his INMARSAT-connected laptop computer. So far, what the skipper reports from his on-board observations and the Clearpoint Weather information have been virtually identical.)

Boat speed will drop as the wind abates but when it does he plans to unreef to either a 1-point or full main, and 100% genoa to add more sail area. Variable and mostly unfavorable wind conditions are anticipated for the subsequent 24-36 hours. Steady trade winds (from the east) are shown about 200 nm south of his position.

His 24-hr distances after 2 full days have respectively been 172 nm and 141 nm. He needs to average 120 nm a day to meet the "likely case" scenario of 213 days to the finish line.

He has been snapping pictures as a trip record, and has both a digital camera and several backup disposable film cameras.


Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 4 [Oct. 6, 2008 0700 JST]
Position:
26 18 N, 142 15 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 2.1%

Heading: 170
Boat speed: 5.5 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 132 nm
Distance made good: 540 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 24,973 nm

Yokohama ETA: 193 days (based on today's ave boat speed)
Expected ETA: 209 days
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 17 days

Weather: Clear, calm seas, wind becoming variable
Barometer: 1012 hPa
Waves: 1.0 - 1.5 m
Wind (from): 12 - 18 kt SW
Current: Strong and variable due to close proximity of islands
Engine: 4 hrs
Generator: 9 hrs
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 100%

Today's Report
Saito-san passed Chichi Jima, the largest island in the Ogasawara archipelago about 500 nm south of Yokohama, shortly after sundown yesterday. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chichi-jima

During the night the winds eased to under 5 kt and he was forced to motor 4 hours at 2,000 rpm as the strong currents in the area pushed him dangerously close to Hahajima and other islands. (See images below.)

While he intends to only use wind power most of the time, he will resort to the engine in conditions he feels might jeopardize the vessel — in this case strong, variable currents near islands during weak wind.

Winds had picked back up by 6 am, at 12-18 kt out of the southwest. Will be variable for the next 24 hours.

Saito-san's position as of 0700 this morning, after passing through the Ogasawara Islands 500 nm south of Yokohama. Images taken from Clearpoint.

Added Comment
Nicole BMW Shuten-dohji III is equipped with several communications systems for Saito-san's own safety as well as to allow a high level of information as we track his progress. Such maritime standards as a single-sideband radio and VHS hand-held radio allow him to communicate with shore stations and passing ships. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single-sideband_modulation

On his earlier repositioning voyages from Hawaii to New Zealand, then on to Yokohama, Saito-san depended on an Iridium phone, a very handy satellite device that, though relatively inexpensive, is plagued by dropped calls, delayed audio, and frequent interruptions.

For the actual circumnavigation, an Inmarsat Fleet 33 (F33) system was supplied by contributing sponsor Japan Radio Corporation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inmarsat

The resulting improvement in voice sound quality? On a scale of 10, the Iridium is a "3," and the Inmarsat easily a "9" (a momentary drop-out yesterday morning, the first of the voyage, keeps it from rating a perfect "10"). On top of the improved voice quality and signal reliability, the new system also allows the use of computer-based weather monitoring software, email, and fax communications.

The Inmarsat service was arranged and tested by contributing sponsor Clearpoint to confirm shipboard usability with Clearpoint's satellite-based weather data service. Saito-san now using it on a daily basis to check the weather, wind forecasts, local sea conditions, weather alerts, and other data.


Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 5 [Oct. 7, 2008 0700 JST]
Position:
25 35 N, 143 07 E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 2.3%

Heading: 160
Boat speed: 2.7 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 65 nm
Distance made good: 597 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 24,916 nm

Yokohama ETA: 197 days (based on week's ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 208 days
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 18 days

Weather: Clear, flat seas, wind variable and very weak
Barometer: 1015 hPa
Waves: 1.0 - 1.5 m
Wind (from): 1.7 - 1.9 kt E
Current:
Engine: 9 hrs charging DC & autopilot operation
Generator: 8 hrs for AC refrigeration, 4 hours twice a day
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 100%

Today's Report

Winds have been very weak the last 12 hours, and opposing currents saw him lose some ground during the night as he barely eked out 65 nm "made good," the least 24-hr distance so far. Winds were expected to improve later today as the trades become established as he nears 24 degrees N latitude.

Mid-morning Update

The locator beacon update at 0827 showed him at a position about 26 nm further south, so we need to clarify with Saito-san tomorrow on the position he gave in his daily call. He made 91 miles in the past 24 hours if the beacon position was correct, which seems likely.

Added Comment

Saito-san has made a correction toward the east putting him closer to the "anticipated route" after clearing the Ogasawaras. He's also set for an extended broad reach, one of the fastest points of sail, as he enters the zone of the trade winds -- mainly steady "easterly" winds of 15 - 25 kt. After that he's looking at several hundred miles of largely favorable wind conditions.

Meanwhile, in the first 4 days he has enjoyed mainly steady winds from the NE, as he rides "down hill" toward his first waypoint near the Solomon Islands. Had he left even 3 days later he'd have been struggling with unfavorable wind conditions that have now formed a few hundred miles south of Yokohama.

***

An editorial aside:

"Easterly" is one of those oddities of the English language with definitions that squarely contradict each other.

east·er·ly (str-l)
adj.
1. Situated toward the east.
2. Coming or being from the east: easterly winds.
n. pl. east·er·lies
A storm or wind coming from the east.

Thus winds and storms are "easterly" if coming FROM the east (as is true for all compass points, i.e., easterly, westerly, etc.) But a boat going TOWARD the east is said to be moving "easterly."

Despite its frequent use by Slocum, Stevenson, London and other writers of sea-going classics, we find this confusing and will attempt to avoid "ly." We will instead use the somewhat clumsier but far clearer "from." Therefore:
"He's also set for an extended broad reach, one of the fastest points of sail, as he enters the zone of the trade winds -- mainly steady winds of 15 - 25 kt from the east."
***
This morning he crossed the latitude of Iowa Jima 100 nm due west. Iwo Jima is famous as the site of the February-March 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima between the United States and Japan during World War II, when the iconic photograph Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima was taken. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iwo_Jima

Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Day 6 [Oct. 8, 2008 0700 JST]
Position:
23 18N, 143 17E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 2.7%

Heading: 190
Boat speed: 3.3 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 78 nm
Distance made good: 730 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 24,783 nm

Yokohama ETA: 197 days (based on week's ave. boat speed)
Expected ETA: 207 days
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 17 days

Weather: Cloudy, passing thunderstorms
Barometer: 1015 hPa
Waves: 1.0 - 1.5 m
Wind (from): 12 - 16 kt SE
Current: Up to 4 kt, opposing from south (Black Current)
Engine: 0
Generator: 8 hrs for AC refrigeration, 4 hours twice a day
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

Saito-san reports he was dogged by multiple thunderstorms throughout the night, requiring reefing and subjecting him to wind changes, tacking, and slack sails. As a result, his 24hr distance was 78 nm.

He noted that the fuel level in the No. 1 starboard tank had dropped 2 cm in 6 days. From generator and engine charging time estimated to consume 3 L/hr, he's used approx. 190 L, or 25-32 L/day.

Added Comment

He gave a correction for his 0700 position provided yesterday, restating the latitude coordinate to 24 35 N, instead of 25 35 N. Thus the actual Day 5 distance was 112 nm.

***
A locator beacon installed on the mast provides a signal that is picked up by satellites to allow the vessel's position to be relayed automatically at 12-hour intervals, and reported by email. This provides confirmations of his 0700 JST position, as well as provides a regular, automatic backup system. (Two manually operated EPIRBs* are also on board for possible emergency use. )

*Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_locator_transmitter)

***

He could not catch Rei yesterday, in the first of his twice weekly calls to her. She subsequently asked that he call her 1 hour earlier before she heads off on the subway for work. This was relayed to him this morning. Rei will "interview" him in Japanese to get a more personal commentary.

***
We just received these pictures taken by Katu Ida, who was one of the observers on the vessel that was on hand to witness the start on Oct. 2.

Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day 7 [Oct. 9, 0700 JST]
Position:
21 34N, 143 03E

Distance completed to Yokohama finish: 3.2%

Heading: 175
Boat speed: 4.5 kt
Distance in last 24 hours: 107 nm
Distance made good: 828 nm
Distance remaining to Yokohama: 24,685 nm

Yokohama ETA: 204 days (based on week's ave. boat speed)
Solomon Islands (WP 1) ETA: 17 days

Weather: Partly cloudy, passing thunderstorms
Barometer: 1014 hPa
Waves: 1.0 - 1.5 m
Wind (from): 2 - 3 kt ESE, variable
Current: Strong, opposing from the south (Black Current)
Engine: 2 hrs
Generator: 9 hrs for AC refrigeration, in 2 sessions a day
Sails
Main: 2-pt reef
Staysail: furled
Genoa: 90%

Today's Report

Today's report is from Rei, over Inmarsat phone, conducted in Japanese (AND from a woman's perspective) -- all with much improved results! This is the first of twice weekly reports filed by Rei.

The weather is not too bad, but squalls attack me every day -- and it is always in the evening, not daytime. Yesterday I had 2 of them with winds that hit 30 - 35 kt. After, the winds are very weak.

The main problem is that it is too cold to take a shower in the evening. The temperature is not high enough, and in addition, water from squalls is colder than usual rain. So I haven't had a shower since I left Misaki last week. Maybe when I reach N 17 deg., the rain squalls will be warmer and I can take a shower.

Breakfast: Bread and cheese


Lunch: Dried alfonsino (Kinmedai) & boiled rice
The fish I received in Misaki is so large that only 1/4 was enough. Very nice.

Dinner: Stew (Mince meat, potatoes, onion, carrot, etc.) & bread

Stew? I cooked it from those raw ingredients. There is some ready-made stew on board as well, but they are in a small quantity. So I cooked my own recipe yesterday.
Unfortunately, milk does not stay for longer than 2 days as inside the fridge is not kept cool throughout the day. It becomes cool only when I use the generator for battery charging. So it is hard to keep milk, anyway.

Boat speed cannot be so fast as the Black Current runs in its fastest speed around this area, which is 2-3 kt, in addition to the (occasional) head wind. I'm looking forward to having a shower soon, though.

Well, that's all so far.

Regards to all!

Added Comment

The news is spreading and we're starting to get emails from across the world. Excerpts will occasionally be published here, and more fully in the Daily Logbook on the Saito 8 web page. If you haven't visited it this week, here's the URL -- http://www.saito8.com/. The stats are beginning to climb.
*
Just read about Minoru's latest adventure.
Please pass on my greetings and wishes for a safe and trouble free voyage.
Alan Nebauer
Jervis Bay, Australia

*
My name is Greg and I look forward to watching the adventure ahead. It is my dream to do a solo unassisted circumnavigation some day, this is going to give me a day by day idea of what it is like.
I will pray here in Atlanta Georgia for a safe and speedy return.
Please send my admiration and best regards to Mr. Saito.
Greg Phillpotts
Atlanta, Ga.

*
Minoru,
I am so glad to see you still have the fire. "Shuten-Dohji, Shuten-Dohji, Shuten-Dohji, this is No Barriers callingŠ" I miss our radio scheds during the last race in 1998-99. You make me very proud with all you are doing. Harry must be proud too looking down. I spoke a lot about you in my last book, and how much fun it was competing with you. Keep strong and keep going. I am rooting for you. Maybe our wakes will cross again.
Neal Petersen
www.no-barriers.com

*
We are friends of Minoru, built Shuten-dohji II and raced with him in the 1990 BOC Challenge ... so wonder if you could please pass on a short message to him for usŠthank you.

WOW Minoru! Only just discovered your new voyage and web site. We will be watching every day ..FANTASTIC Challenge. Good luck and watch out for the Bullshita waves!!..You look healthy and strong -- we know you can do it.
All the best,
Don & Margie McIntyre
Hobart, Tasmania
P.S.
Lamb chops are on the table for you.

*
... please be assured that we have been updating ourselves by frequenting your web site, together with all the e-mails you have sent us. Thanks a lot. We learnt that Mr Saito has just left for another journey and we wish him all the best. Please help us convey our well wishes to him. He is indeed a great source of inspiration for us youths.
Alex Kho
Community college student
Singapore

More on Alex's and his team's efforts will be described later. He leads a university special projects team that selected Saito-san for inspiration, to encourage others to achieve their personal best, whatever the endeavor.

Weather Forecast
Generated using ClearPoint Weather (a Saito Challenge 8 supporting sponsor)