I’ve noticed that island regions influence wind strengths, often beginning at several hundreds of miles away

Blog Post 27 by Jon Sanders: Wind, Eggs and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

Wind

I’ve noticed that island regions influence wind strengths, often beginning at several hundreds of miles away; generally, the effect is less wind, either up-wind or down-wind. Vision Rodrigues, Mauritius, and Reunion islands and in the South Pacific: Tuamotus, Tahiti and Society islands. On the other hand, the Trades in the Caribbean (the Islands I visited or pass on route) are more reliable.

As I tend to sail with a shorter rig, it might look a wee bit strange departing Tahiti with my mainsail reefed and not much wind. Sure as eggs, as the distance gets longer the wind becomes greater. It’s lots easier tying the reef (neat as) when at the dock than it is at 2am.

Each day the swell gets bigger from the south, south-southwest and the southwest.

Something is down there!

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Sails. Something I have not mentioned much is the things stuck up in the air

Blog Post 24 by Jon Sanders: Sails

Sails.

Something I have not mentioned much is the things stuck up in the air. No, it’s not the mast or the stainless steel Super Wind (turbine) support down the back (oops sorry) ‘aft’. The Rolly Tasker Sails built in Thailand.

I know Sven Cornelius CEO of Rolly Tasker Sails reads this. Poor bloke.

“Hey, Sven” (Kerry Tasker proprietor and much more). If you would like to write this into your Newsletter, I would be delighted.

When I was a wee lad, or at least decades younger, Kerry likewise; she was then the receptionist and Sailing Secretary Royal Perth Yacht Club (and me a member). Rolly Tasker AM would build my sails.

Later Kerry married Rolly. (Lucky man).

Rolly Tasker has built my sails since I was a teenager. First in Perth Western Australia and now Phuket Thailand.

A long time ago, Xmas 1984, my S&S34 was at the Cruising Club of Australia, Sydney, preparing for the Sydney Hobart Race.

I, at the bar, as one does, a beer or three with some crew of the more remarkable – at the time I reckoned they just ‘sat on rails’ – they acted more important and knowledgeable. The reality is they could shin a mast or climb out on a set spinnaker pole in 30 knots of wind (and much more). I could not.

Anyway, they were ribbing Rolly as competitors do. I remember saying to them.

“How many State titles have you won?”

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Panama is in The Doldrums – weather wise that is.

Blog Post 21 by Jon Sanders: I am on my way to Tahiti

I am on my way to Tahiti

Panama is in The Doldrums – weather wise that is.

Seems to be going well otherwise. (As long as you don’t stroll into the wrong localities).

On departure there was no wind, none at all. Flat calm. Calm as calm.

Lots of flotsam and jetsam in the water (to bang into).

My engine is a Yanmar 4JH4AE – does that make sense?  Nup, me neither.

In other words, 50hp (at 3000 RPM). When asked I usually say 40hp. More reliable. More than adequate.  Installed 2008 (9 years back) by Neil Rock. (Hi Neil).

Now June 2017 it has chalked up 5460 hrs. It has never missed a beat. Starts instantly and never stops. Excepts when one pushes the stop button, of course.

I have had an air leak in the new in-line fuel filter; I couldn’t fix it. Took it off. Connected fuel line to each other and rely only on the fuel filter attached to the engine. Yanmar has two sizes fuel filter that fit. I use the large size.

All my refuelling is done by jerry cans (‘Jerry jugs’ BJ Caldwell calls them), I can then see if there is any dirt. (Never refuel from the fueling barge at Benoa Marina Bali. That nonsense has been going on for years).

I stick to service per manual, i.e.: Oil change and new oil filter every 250hrs, clean exhaust mixing elbow every 250hrs, go in neutral from slow to flat out 5 times in succession before turning the engine off, etc., etc. per manual.

The Panama Canal is an engine reliability canal, trust me.

Panama City, towns, roads, rivers, and canal are all built inside a rain forest – some debris ends up in the Gulf of Panama. Every several years Perie Banou II and Jon Sanders likewise. With the Yanma churning at 1500 RPM, I do 6 knots in a flat sea. Change course a little here, a little there to avoid city-made litter, or a sodden tree trunk, or foliage monkeys once climbed.

Into the night. I can’t see nothing! On and on…

What did I bang into?

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Colon - Panama Canal

I am still at Shelter Bay Marina Colon, but not for long

Blog Post 19 by Jon Sanders: Panama Canal, but not for long.

I am still at Shelter Bay Marina Colon, the Atlantic end of the Panama Canal, but not for long.

PB2 tyre fenders – ready for the locks

Shelter Bay is the natural meeting place of lots cruising yachts. Their tall masts and rows and rows of furling headsails. Mostly American and European. They are a friendly bunch.

They wait, they wait and wait for their slot to transit Panama.

There is plenty of space to pass through. It is the limited number of advisors (obligatory on board), i.e.: pilots, that holds things up. In fact, it is obligatory to have a minimum of six on board.

The Skipper, called Captain in Panama; the Advisor (Pilot); and four Linesmen, to pay out and haul in the four dedicated long ropes provided by the linesmen or agent. The Linesmen can be your own crew, and it’s probably a good idea to have one or two professional Linesmen.

The locks are intended for ships. The big ships. The water comes in and out quickly with turbulence.

Rick, my Linesman – did I write “my”, more likely Paul’s Linesman – advised me

our transit is on next Monday, 22nd May ‘17

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Bight Bay, Norman Island, British Virgin Islands

Motored to Bight Bay, Norman Island, British Virgin Islands.

Blog Post 17 by Jon Sanders: I am back on the high seas

Left Nanny Cay Marina using the engine, motored to Bight Bay, Norman Island, British Virgin Islands.

In quiet weather, sailing, motor sailing, or motor boating, I can clip the tiller on quick and easy. Then clip the Simrad electronic tiller pilot. Then I steer electronically.

Just motored to the west end of Norman Island, The Bight. Electronic tiller pilot steering.

On Norman Island there are a lot of buoys for overnight hiring that are free during the day.

Because it is tropical, it’s hot getting the boat ready, plus I had to go to town to do clearance.

Me thinks I will grab a buoy for the night

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Perie Banou 2

I’m still here, parked a day or two at Cane Garden Bay BVI

Blog Post 16 by Jon Sanders: Road Town, BVI

Jon Perie Banou and the British Virgin Islands (BVI’s).

I’m still here, parked a day or two at Cane Garden Bay, BVI. Wonderful Bay, nice beach restaurants and bars. Cane Garden Bay is on the main island, Tortola.

Road Town, the capital of British Virgin Islands, is on the other side of the Island. To get from Cane Garden to Road Town (by taxi) is over hills:  big hills, with much vegetation; steep winding road – ears pop as one nears the top. More than 1000 ft up. (Near 1337 ft). Divide that by 3.3, and you have meters if you must.

The view is fabulous! Not just of the bay or Road Town, but of islands and islands in a vast blue sea:  BVIs and the overlapping US Virgin Islands. Just terrific!

From Puerto Rico (US) in the west, US VI’s, & BVI’s in the east are the Leeward Islands.

Like any other day, monitored by The United States Coast Guard (USCG), Puerto Rico, on emergency channel VHF 16, give warnings and alerts.

“Viz. Securitay, Securitay Securitay” (important warning)

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Jamestown, St. Helena

I have anchored off Jamestown, Saint Helena. A good place to be

Blog Post 13 by Jon Sanders: Jamestown

Well, I have anchored off Jamestown, Saint Helena. A good place to be. So it is.

Tied to a visiting yacht mooring; they are yellow or red. Red £2 per day under 40 tonnes. £3 for over 40, that’s not me – 9 tonnes. There are 23 buoys.

I made the usual approach calls on channel 16 to Saint Helena (Maritime) Radio; all easily done. Especially as Kelly Scott, PR at Royal Perth Yacht Club, had already advised the Port Control. Just like she would.

I have email and SMS on the yacht via Iridium.

I will, one day, stick up a hotel style sticker “this is a WI-FI zone”. Because it is

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JS on PB2 Blog 12

Fishing boats, quiet progress, and almost at James Town, British Island of Saint Helena, South Atlantic

Blog Post 12 by Jon Sanders: gentle heel of the yacht and quiet progress

I am on the ocean as I type. By the time you read this blog I should be tied to a mooring Jamestown, British Island of Saint Helena, South Atlantic.

Since last writing, the weather has been mild, with the wind behind, pushing me.

My mainsail – always one reef and wee jib. Progress good and comfortable.

One can get squalls, often more to the west than where I am.

Night time squalls, however

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JS on BP2. Blog 7 & 8

Perie Banou 2 has passed south of Madagascar … non-stop route to Cape Town, South Africa.

Blog Post 7 & 8 by Jon Sanders: Christmas 2016

Bolg Post 7

Since last Wednesday Perie Banou 2 has passed south of Madagascar. Dipping down on an angle from the northeast; passed 100 nautical miles south of Madagascar on non-stop route to Cape Town, South Africa.

Approaching the southern part of Madagascar and to the south of – the sea was sloppy, even in zilch wind; in this region, ‘you get that’. Caused I suppose, by the very steep incline of the sea bottom, despite the favourable current. (Or the mountains under the sea).

It kinda makes this older specimen start getting younger and fitter!  Forced by the compulsory isometrics of the situation. (The yacht is going every which way). Interesting…

Long, long way elsewhere is Cape Horn at 56 degrees latitude south. I have cleared that Cape five times solo. Never in summer. (Nor in winter)

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