January 31, 2009 – 2115utc 43/36S 51/42W, sailing away from France discouragingly. We’re trying to get to the other side of this massive low that is forecast to envelope the entire
Month: January 2009
by Captain Murray Lister Nature gives the world so many variations of force and climate. Think of the tides, rain, snow, wind, ice, hurricanes and typhoons. Let us now consider the
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III Take a globe. Center it in your gaze at 15° South latitude, 155° West longitude. Look at all that Pacific Ocean! The Pacific is huge,
Question asked by donna: How often does it rain in the rainforest? Answer by Dr Ioannis Miaoulis: Whether the rainforest is temperate or tropical, the frequency of rain depends on
Question asked by Jennifer: What kinds of activities do you do with your students for the Vendée? asked by Jennifer, 6th grade teacher Answer: Hi Jennifer, I choose one topic
Question asked by Lacella: My first question is how did you become a National Marine Fisheries Service worker? What do you do during your work time? Answer: When I was
Question: Does Rich have to do exercises on Great American III to stay in shape? asked by Erin Answer: Hi Erin, I have given Rich numerous exercises to do on
Question asked by Neal: My dad says that pirate still exist. Is that true? asked by Mitchell Answer Laura Mirabella: Your father is correct that pirates still exist. Just recently
Question asked by Neal: How good are the wind battery chargers on Great American III? Should we use something like them in our homes? asked by Jenna Answer: Skipper Rich Wilson
Question asked by Bethany: Have you been in outer space? What’s it like? Answer: I have not been in outer space on the Space Shuttle or up to the International
1926 utc, 45/53S 49/15W, 8.7knots @ 049T, staysail and 2 reefs in main, upwind, port tack, going into high. Studying multiple weather maps for when to tack to stay on
Question asked by Jennifer: Is it harder for Skipper Rich to sail this race because he’s older than the other sailors? Answer: This is an excellent question. Truthfully, there are
Question asked by Jesse: Can climate change affect the race? Answer: The answer is no and yes. The changes in the climate are slow enough that they don’t really show
Distance covered over last 24 hours: 202.9 nautical miles. 35-45 knots of wind across the deck. Storm jib up and 3 reefs in the main. 15-foot breaking seas. 10.5 knots
Sailed east of Falkland Islands. When saw a blue shading within the 200m line of depth on the southeast side of the islands, then on zoom, saw seaweed icons, did
2127 UTC, 53/09S 60/32W, 10 knots @ 055T, solent and 2 reefs in main, heading east of Falklands. Weather for tonight suggested it would be dead upwind to go West,
A big day. Great American III passed the longitude of Cape Horn at 1350 utc today. Thus “rounding” Cape Horn at 56/19S 67/15W. I didn’t think that we would see the island
On course for Cape Horn, 150 miles ahead. Solent and 2 reefs in the main, broad reaching. Being very conservative, considering where we are. Planning to go across the shelf
2120utc 55/04S 79/16W 9.3 knots @ 151T, solent and 2 reefs, gray gray gray, albatross flying around, barograph steady at 993mb, heading south as a bit more favorable within the
by Captain Murray Lister Rich Wilson and Great American III have passed below New Zealand, sighting the Auckland, Bounty and Antipodes Islands. The passage across the great Southern Ocean is currently being undertaken.
1800utc, 54/41s 96/09w, 10.9 knots @ 136degT, staysail and 3 reefs in main. Had solent and 2 reefs up when I saw the blackest line of squalls, so hurriedly put
Question asked by Carolyn: To Rich: I saw the food section on the web site and wondered: Do you ever get sick of eating the same food? What one food
End of day, 2345 UTC, 53/08S 89/45W, 6.2 knots@142T. Light winds all day today as a high pressure system smothers large area. Huge thunderheads, but further spaced apart than yesterday.
1725utc 50/41s 95/44w, 10.6 knots @ 122T, staysail and 2 reefs in the mainsail, sea reducing, cold, blue sky with squalls from time to time, reaching. Got two naps in
1630utc 49/04s 100/50w, 11.5knots @ 095T, 30-35knots wind, again, WNW, storm jib, 3 reefs in main, big, big seas. Last night, napped at chart table, athwartships in boat, on cushions
1327 UTC 46/22S 105/55W, staysail, 3 reefs, 20 knots wind, 11.1 knots speed, on course for Cape Horn waypoint south of Diego Ramirez Island. Finally into the westerly winds. Some squalls through
January 18, 2009 – Reached the East Pacific ice gate today. 1700 nautical miles to Cape Horn. We have pounded up to the ice gate in chaotic big seas and a
1746utc 44/29S 113/30W, 10.3 knots speed at 077T, storm jib, 3 reefs in main, beam reaching, 30-45 knots wind across deck, again. 154 nm to next ice gate. Boat taking terrible
by Ioannis Miaoulis , President and Director, Museum of Science, Boston Rich’s Ship Logs reveal an extraordinary variety of marine life including sea birds, porpoises, flying fish, tiny shrimp, and
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III Halfway around the world, through the Atlantic, Indian, and now Pacific Oceans, we have seen a diverse array of wildlife. Porpoises have played in the
2005utc 44/26/s 118/41w, wind 25-30 knots north and building, speed 9 knots, storm jib and 3 reefs in main, seas 15 feet and building. Earlier we sailed directly into the
2230 utc 45/46s 121/25w, 11 knots at 027T, storm jib and 3 reefs in the main. We are trying to get north, across the trough of the storm, and head
1108 utc 49/11s 128/48w 10.3 knots speed heading east , 25-28 knots SSE wind, staysail and 3 reefs. Distance traveled in last 24 hours: 176.8 nautical miles. Tried the storm jib
Wind hole at the start of the day, then the ominous dark of the low appeared over the horizon to the NW, very foreboding. As wind came in we followed
1651utc, 48/39S 136/31W, 6.2knots @ 135T, solent, 2 reefs, wind 8 knots SW. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 129 nautical miles. After making 10-11 knots since the ice gate, trying
1720 utc 47/08S 141/08W, 10.4 knots speed, staysail, three reefs, 25 knots SW wind. Running southeast to try to escape the worst of the coming storm. At the ice gate,
1813utc 46/01s 146/17w, 10 knots speed, 15 knots west wind, reacher and one reef, sailing deep, aiming directly at west end of west Pacific ice gate, plan to gybe immediately
by Captain Murray Lister Rich and Great American III continue their passage, currently South of Tasmania, Australia. These waters also have seen the wakes of hundreds of sailing vessels as the countries of
2310 utc 47/37S 151/01W, reacher and one reef, 14.2 knots speed, 20 knots west wind, going for west Pacific ice gate. There is an intense low located north of the
1734utc 48/08S 164/39W, 12 knots @ 093T, staysail and 3 reefs in the mainsail, seas down, 25 knots NNW wind, barograph 1023mb. Distance sailed in last 24 hours: 269.8 nautical miles.
175utc 48/03S 171/35W storm jib and 3 reefs in the mainsail, 30 knots N wind, speed 10.2 knots @ 090T for New Zealand ice gate west end. Miles covered in last
0745 utc 48/38S 178/28E 12.5kts boatspeed @074T, staysail, 2 reefs, 25 knots wind NW, moderate seas. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 258.9 nautical miles. We came a bit more
1146 utc, 49/56S 172/43E, staysail, 2 reefs, 20-25kts NW, speed 11.8 @ 067T Fast day downwind, now with the wind changing forward, fast again. Mostly solent and 3rd reef downwind
0848 utc 51/04S 165/19E 9kts, staysail, 3 reefs, awaiting frontal passage. Distance covered in last 24 hours: 217.9 nautical miles. Last night, on the other gybe, heading ESE, trying to get
by Capt. Murray Lister, Master, MV Cape York Rich and Great American III have passed The Cape of Good Hope and are now on passage across the Southern Indian Ocean, not being known
by Rich Wilson, Skipper, Great American III The midpoint of the voyage, estimated by time or mileage or geography, offers a symbolic chance for reflection on what we have accomplished, or not,
Janvier 2 2009, 0509utc 51/54S 158/26E 10.9 knots @ 106degT, staysail, 3 reefs in main, 25-30 knots sw wind, 15 foot seas building. Covered 268.4 nautical miles in the last 24
0530 utc 51/26S 150/59E, 11.6 knots at 085T, solent and one reef in the mainsail, SW wind at 20 knots. Earlier this morning, after a night of 15-18 knots of