12/31/2008 0828utc 51/17S 145/03E 11.0 knots at 100T, 17 knots wind SW, solent and one reef, SMOOTH SEAS. We’ve been making good time today, in the right direction, with little
Month: December 2008
Question asked by Katie: Have you seen any sharks? asked for Emma, age 4 Answer: Dear Emma, No I haven’t seen any sharks.The water is very cold here, and I
Question asked by Katie: Do you get to speak with your family back home in Massachusetts at all? If so, how often? Answer: Dear Katie, Yes, I speak with my
Question asked by Sarah: Where do you poop? Answer: Just like they did it in the old days: into a bucket and then over the side.
Question asked by Webmaster: Why did you want to sail? How long have you been sailing for? Kiri, Hawkesdale, Australia Answer: I started sailing when I was a young boy,
0646 utc 50/55S 137/38E, speed 11 knots, solent and 2 reefs in the mainsail, course 090T. Well the gales and the lows that have crushed us for a week are
0106utc 50/42S 130/41E, solent et deux ris dans la grande voile, 11.5 knots. Moving toward the East Australian ice gate. Despondent about Derek. After returning for repairs after the start,
0833utc 50/11S 126/55E 9 knots, storm jib, course 095T, gale still blowing, big, big seas still running. Can’t tell windspeed as our wind instruments have become erratic, but think in
by Marti Shea, Select Fitness When Rich started the race, he had a fitness plan in place to maintain his physical strength. When he broke his rib early in the race
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III The day before the start of the Vendée Globe I saw Yann Eliès riding on his bike, standing on the pedals, with his young
12/27 0315utc 49/35S 119/47 W, staysail, 11.7 knots. Awaiting next gale, should arrive in 6 hours, expected severe, will go to storm jib beforehand. Well it was inevitable, the being
1105utc we are at 48/54S 115/53E, making 10 knots with staysail only, in 35-45 knots of wind, yet again. Distance covered last 24 hours: 216.6 nautical miles. Cannot in my memory
1125 utc 48/14s 110/29e, 8.2 knots under storm jib awaiting new low. Distance covered during last 24 hours: 264.1 nautical miles. Thought would be very careful tonight, 40 knots now, baro
1046z 47/06s 105/08e. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 264.1 nautical miles. Passed west Australia ice gate this morning. 45-50 knots of wind again, for duration, grib files are off by
0500z 46/07s 97/289e, 11.7 knots @ 085degT, 20 knots wind west. Distance covered in past 24 hours: 248.9 nautical miles. Gybed this morning between two weather systems, en route to Western Australia
1905 UTC, 45/54S 95/02E, 10.9 knots speed 25 knots wind WSW, 11007 nm on log, solent and 3 reefs in the main. Big seas today with winds 30/35/40. Same as last
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III The turning mark in the Vendée Globe is Antarctica. We will not see this cold continent as we circumnavigate it, but we will be
46/30S 87/25E, 35-45knots wind, 3 reefs in mainsail, no jib, 11 knots speed at 055T. Distance covered the past 24 hours: 241.5 nautical miles. Hammered yet again, big seas breaking, barograph descended,
by Jan Witting, Faculty, Sea Education Association Rich is alone in an endless landscape of waves, traveling the world’s oceans with occasional sightings of seabirds, flying fish, and whales. For
by Rich WIlson, Skipper, Great American III In the last two days here in the Indian Ocean, we have been hammered by two severe storms with near-hurricane-force winds and mountainous
1300utc, 48/14S 81/15E, 25-30 knots west wind, making 12.9 knots at 065deg course True, solent and 2 reefs in the mainsail. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 201.9 nautical miles. Had
0918 UTC 46/51S 73/59E, 12.5 knots speed, 20 knots wind SW, Solent un ris dans la grande voile. Off the Kerguelen Plateau at long last, seas much smoother. Mini-front came through last
46/46/s 68/46E 1349 UTC 12/18/2008, 10 knots, staysail and 3 reefs in the main, 28-34knots wind, WNW, making E course. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 260 nautical miles. We were
Distance covered the last 24 hours: 246.3 nautical miles. Making fast progress with solent and 3 reefs in the main. Read Seb Josse’s account of using his reacher and 3
Question asked by Matthias: Hello everybody. Seeing Rich’s video, I wonder if these are buddhist prayer flags on the portside stern section? I wish you well, Matthias Steingass, Zuerich. Answer:
0817z 47/11S 53/43E, south east of Isles Crozet. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 186.3 nautical miles. The wind is down from its hear hurricane strength last night, and the leftover
No position 0930z (covered 255 nautical miles in last 24 hours), but I’m OK. Beacon problem i guess. Under storm jib alone, no mainsail, another 50 knots of wind not
45/26S 42/44E 0710UTC. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 139.4 nautical miles. Another day, another low pressure system in the Southern Ocean. Yesterday, the problem was that I had a plan
by Sam Scott, Associate Curator, Peabody Essex Museum Turn your globe on its head so that the continent of Antarctica is at the top. Notice the ring of ocean that
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III The turning mark in the Vendée Globe is Antarctica. We will not see this cold continent as we circumnavigate it, but we will be
The weather files said 30/35 knots, 40 in some place, we had 45-55 knots gusting 62, for 16 hours. Came through. Now we have another low lining up behind us.
Question asked by Ann: My students would like to know what you eat on the boat? Can you heat your food? How do you brush your teeth or shower? Answer:
Question asked by Ardross: When you’re very tired, it’s not safe to do many things such as drive a car. You do not seem to get much sleep so how
47/01S 32/52E, staysail and 3 reefs in main, course NE. Distance covered in past 24 hours: 275.4 nautical miles. Planned to gybe mid-late afternoon as the wind shifted before the front,
45/52S 27/50E, 13.4 knots, surging 12 to 20, in strong winds 30-35 knots gusting higher. Distance sailed in last 24 hours: 258.3 nautical miles. A low pressure system is forecast for
45/29S 21/13W, passed Cap de Bonne Esperance (Cape of Good Hope) this morning. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 214.8 nautical miles. Have shockingly beautiful sunny day, crystal blue sky, big
44/44S 15/08E, course 075T, 12.5 knots, 224.8 nautical miles sailed in past 24 hours. None of the files showed the flat calm this morning for a whole bunch of hours. Found
43/39S 10/58E, reacher and full main, heading SE at 11 knots with 20 knots of west wind; 222 nautical miles sailed in past 24 hours. Did two gybes after big starboard
41/33S 7/21E, 7031 nm on the gps log, making 10 knots SE. After the strong winds of the last few days, sandwiched between a high and low to create a good gradient,
by Skipper Rich Wilson, aboard Great American III In this race around the world, we will pass many places and peoples. Some will be nearby, as were Spain, Morocco, and the
At 1510 utc today, at 40 deg 20 min S and 01 deg 05 min E, 297.5 miles covered in past 24 hours, Great American III passed north of a point of
by Eric Wallischecke, US Merchant Marine Academy Although Skipper Rich refers to the land that he is passing as “invisible”, I think it really is the ocean that is invisible. A
38/36N 5/21W, staysail, 3 reefs, 12 kts, surges to 22 kts, 301.6 miles in last 24 hours. Had two exciting experiences in the last 24 hours. Last night, at 0230z, with
1400z, 36/45S 11/18 W, 296.2 nautical miles sailed in last 24 hours, 11.9 kts, surges to 20, staysail and 2 reefs in the main, 25-30kts wind, clear skies. Trying to
Received new coordinates for Kerguelen ice gate. Last night had a development. Normally, at 12+ knots, we have a low hum in the keel. At about midnight, suddenly there was a
Reacher and full main, trimming corner of the S. Atlantic high. After the doldrums, I figured that things would revert to normal (since the doldrums are so abnormal and unpredictable).
The boat goes well and the skipper also. The boat structure has a wave-focusing physic into the cabin, when the bow pounds down, the cabin, after a slighly delay, sledgehammers