Day 16: I take the plunge

/in /by
🏊‍♂ I TAKE THE PLUNGE 🏊‍♂
 
One more chilled day before the next swath of South Easterly winds sweeps over my position. Tomorrow it will be gusting 20 knots and 100km plus days on the chart. Miles paddled do not count for everything I am learning.
 
These calm, slow days are not to be sneered at. The paddling effort is much the same, just different speeds. The bonus is that the calm day is far less strenuous on my lower back. The big side-to-side rolling really grinds my poor old degenerative spine. During the night, my spine takes great pleasure in reminding me that it’s not a happy camper. 💊
 
Another bonus of the calmer conditions is I can jump into the water and fight off big scary fish 🦈
I pulled out my diving mask and strapped a 360° video camera to my chest. Knife between the teeth I ……
Sorry got carried away.
 
After switching the camera on, I tentatively slid over the side and started checking out Osiyeza’s bottom.
Not a fish in sight in the crystal clear water. It was a pleasant 22°. I moved to the stern to inspect the rudder, which was in perfect condition.
Then I swam forward to look over the keel and my watermaker inlet pipe at the bottom leading edge. Also perfect.

360° photo of Rich swimming under Osiyeza

 
Because I modified the keel and rudder, I wanted to paint an antifoul coating to stop marine life from growing and slowing me down. I bought the smallest, cheapest tin I could find, but it was only available in red hence the keel and rudder are red, and the rest of Osiyeza is still light blue. I spotted a few barnacles attempting to attach themselves here and there, but they will be scrapped off when I swim.
 
The 360° camera’s stitching did not work so well underwater. One side of my body looks different from the other. 😀 Maybe it does in real life; I just can’t see it.

360° photo of Rich swimming under Osiyeza

 
Anyway, what I am trying to convey from all you have just read is that I went for a swim today. 👍 💦
 
I have mentioned before about the 3L bladders that I use to store water in. I have 10 of them filled with tap water (chlorinated) and stored in the bottom of the forward hatch (no sunlight.) This is my emergency water supply. Should not grow algae see ()
 
I keep two more under the dashboard and for daily use. Pretty much use 6L a day.
They are so easy to use. I open the clip. Put the pipe where I want the water to go and push my foot down on the bladder. As if by magic, water flows out of the pipe. No fixed plumbing is required.
 
Yesterday I almost popped one of the bladders. I forgot to check it, and the watermaker had blown it to an impressive size. A giant bloated tick sticks in my mind, although some comments suggest more like a breast augmentation device.
Maybe for Dolly Parton!
Jeepers, how uncomfortable.
Anyway, I digress…

Giant tick

Empty tick

I now use my wall clock/timer thing set to 34min, so when it beeps, I have a fully satisfied tick and can switch the filling tube to the hungry one.
Sometimes I think I am too clever for my own good. 😉
 
The audiobook FEAR by Ranulph Fiennes that I started listening to came to an abrupt halt. Only 35min had downloaded at home. 😖
Need to check if the other audiobooks have suffered the same fate.🤞
 
That “watertight” compartment that houses the solar cables is still nagging me. How to get the water out?
I found a piece of batten that I was going to use for a cockpit cover. The batten would be used to push it up and off my legs. In the end, I decided not to make one, but the piece of batton was still in the cockpit netting. Bonus. I have an idea.
 
I skewered and tied a sponge to the batten’s end, threaded it through the inspection hatch, and pushed it as far back as I could. A few minutes later, I pulled it out. Just a little bit of water was collected.
I did this about 10 times, and slowly the evidence indicated that there was not a lot of water in there, and I got out maybe 500ml. Feeling less concerned about this issue.
 
Last night brought low dark clouds and, along with them light rain patches.
It rained on and off all night.
 
Co-ordinates: -21.816480°, 4.430000° 
Breakfast: yoghurt & nuts
Food: Beef lasagne with noodles
And all the regular snacks.
Bird: Procelliaria Petrel again, but the Spectacled one this time

Day 15: Pong Gone

/in /by
Day 15: 🈴 Pong Gone 🈴
 
Manuel! Where are you?
MANUEL 📣
 
I got no response from the housekeeper. He really is not very good at his job
 
Not long after that outburst, Patriot Pete sheepishly appeared from the shadows and quietly said to me, “Hypothetically speaking, what if Manuel did not come along on this trip?”
 
“WHAT! WHY NOT?” I demanded.
 
“He might, as a possibility, found new employment at, say, an English Country Inn,” mumbled Patriot Pete.
 
“Hypothetically speaking, that would be good riddance; there’s something faulty with that fella anyway and best luck to his new employer. Goodness knows he’s going to need it.”
Que!
 
After calming down, I took an executive decision. I will find the source of the pong on board the good ship Osiyeza.
 
Now, if you have ever seen my profile, you will know why I feel confident in tracking down this particularly offensive odour.👃
 
It did not take me too long to identify the source, the how and the why.
 
During my years of research for this crossing, I soon realised that only a handful had completed such a kayak adventure, and even less information was available about the technical aspects of their crafts.
 
The next best for info was the ocean rowing frat, in which the majority take part in the race from the Canaries to the Caribbean starting in December each year. Yip, a bunch, are doing the North Atlantic right now.
 
In one of their blogs, a rower talked about his feet being constantly wet in the cabin. The sole of his cabin never dried, and he wished he had “duckboards” to keep his feet above the moisture.
 
Advice heeded. To prevent myself from having the same issue, I got a rubber door mat and cut it to fit on my cabin sole. It does a good job of keeping my feed out of the moisture and muck. Let me just say there is an unimaginable amount of muck.
 
It’s been 15 days, and that mat has been constantly damp underneath. I have a dedicated shami cloth to wipe dry under the mat should I spill water or a wave sloshes inside, or heaven forbid the pool falls over with the kid inside 😖. (How many of you did not realise it’s an indoor pool?)
 
The mat also catches all the spilt food, hair and what looks like dust but is actually my skin. The build-up of all this in the mat is quite disturbing and is the source of the pong.
 
So today became a wash day.
Cabin sole, rubber mat, pants, top and myself. All got a good scrubbing. It dried nicely and quickly in the warm sun.
 
Pong gone!
(It sounds like a place in the Far East 😉)
 
Today’s paddling has been more like I expected it to be. Light/medium winds. Flattish ocean with small rolling swells. Plodding along between 4-5km/hr heading due West. I suspect I have a friendly current with me as well.
 
I have a human interest question for you, so please pop your answer into the comments section below.
 
QUESTION:
IF you were in my place, how many days in a row would YOU be OK wearing the same pair of underpants for before washing/changing them❓
 
Sub note:- you get to wash your privates every day.
 
I will post real-world results in the next blog.
 
PS the folliculitis/rash on my rear has cleared up nicely. Thanks for asking.😉
 
Co-ordinates: -21.816500° Lon 5.469520
Breakfast: yoghurt & nuts
Food: butternut soup with couscous
Droewors, biltong, TV bar, jungle oats bar, freeze-dried cheese griller.
Bird: White-chinned Procelliaria Petrel
Money raised for Operation Smile: R161,479
No of smiles changed: 29

Day 14: First paddle of the year

/in /by
2023 started off grey and gloomy, but by late morning, it was full sunshine, only to be overcast for the afternoon.
The sun is good for charging the batteries but not so good for me, who hates the heat. I can’t understand how some people can just lie “somer so” under the sun and enjoy it.
 
After almost two weeks of strong South winds, we have been propelled North at an incredible pace. The flip side of this is I am now getting too far North and not enough West.
 
If I continue with the current direction, I may miss the Easterly trade winds and end up north of St Helena Island. My original route should put me at least 200km south of the Island.
 
The next objective is to get as much West in as possible.
The forecast is for the conditions to go more East in the evening, and I found a little swell that, who knows where it comes from, is moving West and gives us a good old shove every now and then.
I sleep with my head forward. I don’t sleep feet forward as it’s not possible for me to get in or out of my bunk when the hatch is closed. There is just not enough room for a six-foot-two fella to turn around and go feet forward. It may also have something to do with my lack of flexibility. Something about age!
 
It’s a constant struggle for me in the limited space, particularly when I lie in my bunk.
 
One issue is when I lie on my back, my elbows are next to me, and there is zero wiggle room. My arms are pressed against my side. No room to move the elbows out sideways. When it’s warm and clammy, everything just sticks together. 😒 I can’t lie face down as there is no room for the elbows out to the side. I am usually a side sleeper, but the shoulder gets so hammered by all the constant motion.
 
The other issue that I thought would not affect me at all is claustrophobia. Never!
The first time was on an overnight sea trial when I suddenly needed to get out. How can I describe it?
A feeling of “panic” or “urgency”, perhaps.
All I wanted to do was to get out, open the hatch and stand up.
 
I dismissed this as a one-time thing, but it has caught me off guard twice so far. The “panic” is over as soon as I stand up. Very bizarre stuff.
 
I am conscious not to let issues like these become bigger than they need to be. I try to understand the issue and find a solution; if no solution presents itself, I make a mental plan to deal with it.
If you leave it, it will wear you down.
#HTFU
 
Today I fetched week two’s food bag. It has taken me two weeks to finish off the first bag. Do I have too much food, or am I not eating enough?

1 week food bag

2 weeks of rubbish. Nothing goe overboard other than the kid and paper.

Co-ordinates: -21.789470° lat 6.371320°
Breakfast: yoghurt, nuts & coffee
Food: Tuscan chicken with noodles
TV bar and a packet of Nik Naks
More Leache’s Storm Petrels about

Day 13: Happy New Year

/in /by
Day 13
 
🎆HAPPY NEW YEAR🎆
🎆 FELIZ ANO NOVO 🎆
 
The end of the year that was 2022.
Not exactly a year I would request a do-over. Happy to leave it behind and look forward to what 2023 has in store.
 
I smelt it again this morning.
Every now and then, I get this whiff of a rather unpleasant smell.
No, it’s not a bottom burp. Obviously, I know when those are coming!
 
Come to think of it, I have not seen the housekeeper, Manuel, for a while. I’ll leave a note for him to find and eradicate the offending old sock odour.
 
Goodness, man, does he not know it’s New Year’s Eve? Everything must be perfect.
Que?
 
Last year’s new year’s party was good fun even though it was a dry night. We all had a bundle of fun.
 
This year’s party went off. No longer was Osiyeza a dry boat, but a 100ml of “the good stuff” had been snuck in on board by my beautiful wife, Judy. Pity, she could not make the party.
 
One sip of that Soet Wyn, and there was no holding me back.
 
Nurse Honeydew promised to look after me in the morning should I need any hangover assistance or anything else. She’s very kind for a lady with so much facial hair.

Nurse Honeydew

 
I kept our guests entertained until midnight, and can you believe the aft solar panels made for an exceptional dance floor?
 
We took turns dancing with nurse Honeydew. 💃🕺She sure had the “Moves Like Jagger”.
I did have to ask nurse Honeydew to take her high heels off lest they scuff the dance floor.
 
I suspect young Tighthead has a thing for the nurse. He seemed to get every second dance with her. Maybe they would make a cute couple.

Young Tighthead

 
Nurse Honeydew even got Patriot Pete to dance. He has been in such a foul mood since our defeat against Australia this week. Patriot Pete pulled out all his moves, but I am not sure they worked on the dance floor.

Patriot Pete

 
They ranged from holding his hand wide apart and turning around, throwing both arms high into the air, the silly one-arm swing back and forth across the chest, or the one that upset everyone the most was the one hand, one finger pointing in your face move ☝. I do terribly hope we can snatch a victory at the next game. It’s sad to see him suffer like this.
 
Nurse Honeydew did her best to teach us all the Samba. Yes, we live in the hope that we can make it to Brazil in time for Carnival. 🤞
 
We did not have any champagne to pop off at midnight, so I suggested shooting off a flare instead.
 
That’s what you do at midnight?
 
Young Tighthead was egging me on, but old man Greylocks gave us a stern talking to about the dangers not only for us but should someone see the flare, they would want to come and join us, and there really isn’t enough room for more guests. He had a valid point.

Old man Greylocks

 
Bugeyes had helped himself to a head scarf and sat quietly in the background, sipping his mineral-free water and trying to smoke a permanent marker. He’s new to the group and does not warm up as easily as Nurse Honeydew.

Bugeyes

 
It was a stellar evening, and I hope you had as much fun as we did. 
 
Xxx

Day 12: Whose there?

/in /by
Exhausted physically and mentally pretty much covers how I am feeling. With only 30 min of sleep in the past thirty hours and adding to that frayed nerves, I would expect this to be a good result.
 
In all my ocean sailing adventures, I have not seen seas as rough as what I experienced two nights ago!
 
Conditions grew calmer as each hour passed. I tried to get some sleep during the day, but sleep would not come for whatever reason.
 
Twice I thought I heard someone say something. I even went to see who it was that had called out. When I started to hear traffic noises, I realised my brain was not functioning optimally.
 
As nightfall came, a few light rain squalls passed, reducing the temperature slightly. I made sure I ate something and then crawled into my bunk.
 
I was out for 4 hrs straight. A quick nature break in the blue bucket. I wonder how this will go down with Judy if I leave it on my nightstand at home 😱 so convenient.
 
Then back asleep for another few hours only to be woken by the AIS alarm shrieking. The first boat I have seen in days.
 
Shew, it feels good to be through the other side of the big blow. It’s still 20 kt wind with a messy sea, but I’ll take it any day over what was ” The Big Blow.”
 
The following four days’ weather forecast shows light to moderate SE. That shifts the challenge from survival to coping! The good news is we can start the push West and find the trade winds.
 
Breakfast: skipped
Food: butter chicken with rice
Snack bars, salami stick and droewors.
Sea life: Leach’s Storm Petrel

Day 11: Rock’ n Roll

/in /by
Lots of white water 🌊 on top of what looks like double-decker buses rolling in. The amount of energy that created these swells must be enormous.
 
I can’t remember when I last saw such a big volume of white water. First, you have this huge wall of a wave coming at you from behind. Then the crest of the wave starts to trip over itself. For a moment, you see the “green room”. The light from the other side of the wave today was not green but a beautiful turquoise blue. It’s gone in a flash, replaced by bouncing white frothing water.
 
9 out of 10 times, the white water washes over Osiyeza’s stern and cockpit, giving a quick forward shove.
 
The other time it’s the green room that breaks on top of Osiyeza, and the white water tries its hardest to get into the cabin through the washboards and hatch seals. The shove from this type is much more forceful and often leads to a short surf down the face of the wave.
 
Today is much like last night. Hatches locked, and Osiyeza pointed DownWind. 🤞 Cross the fingers and hold on tight.
I no longer cross my fingers because Osiyeza has proven to be a very seaworthy little craft.
I still do hold on tight.
 
The ocean’s mood has progressively deteriorated as the hours of the day go by. Around 17:00, I took another peak standing up through the top hatch.
 
I am very grateful for this design feature. It enables me to stand safely even during the most violent heeling without concern that, one, I might fall overboard, and two, it’s seldom that water can reach the hatch this high to get inside.
 
When I popped up to study the ocean, I could feel the wind had increased and see that the white water from the sea horses was being blown away as a spray. I stick my electronic wind gauge on its selfie stick out the hatch for a few minutes to get the latest reading. Gusting over 30kn.
 
No sooner had I put it away than Osiyeza was hit on the starboard quarter by the biggest white water yet. I was knocked down to the one side, and Osiyeza went over almost 90% and almost immediately sat upright again. Only a little bit of water into the cabin through the open hatch.
A minute later, another wave hit from the other side and over we went. Not as far as the first time.
Rock’ n roll.
 
I say out loud to Osiyeza,” 🤬 it looks like we have our work cut out for us tonight.”
 
I suddenly have an image of Captain Dan sitting on top of the rigging on the shrimp boat during a storm, cussing at the top of his lungs, and Forest Gump telling him, “Mama says not to use those words, Captain Dan?”
 
At 19:00, SAST is a scheduled check-in with the shore team and Judy.
During this time, Osiyeza fell down the face of a large wave. We were going so fast that it looked like we had a rooster’s tail out the back.
This was definitely the fastest we have surfed before.
It honestly gave me a big fright.
 
The water rushed up the paddle cutaways, swamping the cockpit, trying to tear the satellite antenna off its mounting but was saved by the sea anchor bag lashed to the roll bar just in front of it. Everything was OK but not what I was keen to do all night.
 
Not long after that, we were hit broadside by a crumbling wall of water. I was surprised by how violent the impact was. I went flying, but as I held my cell phone with two hands, my elbows took the brunt of my fall against the side. Eina!
 
Osiyeza rolled passed 90°. I could see the water through the top hatch. It felt like ages, but I could not have been more than half a second, and we were regular side up again. This one gave me an even greater fright but also put a little more confidence in the design concept.
 
A design feature that is unusual for kayaks or rowing boats is having a fixed keel or centre board. They often have lifting boards they can push down to help track across the wind.
 
I sacrificed some drag for the righting moment that a fixed keel offers. To go a step further, there is a 48kg lead bulb at the bottom of the keel to make sure that we pop the right side up very smartly.
 
Osiyeza has even more tricks up her sleeve. There are two water ballast tanks. One in the bow and one in the stern. I won’t go into the technical aspect of the stepped hull other than to say filling the tanks with seawater will increase the beam of the kayak by 10cm. With the extra weight and beam, she becomes more stable.
 
Tonight I pumped the rear ballast tank full to make the stern heavier and hopefully reduce the surfing abilities. She definitely feels more stable now. It’s like having another Richard sitting on the back deck all night.
 
Oh boy, what a shocking night.
No sleep was had.
Maybe the darkness of an overcast night makes things feel and sound dreadful.
 
Wave after wave crashed over us. Wild out of-control surfing and one impressive attempt at a pitchpole.
 
Pitch pole: when you bury the bow into a wave, and the stern tries to overtake it, much like a somersault.
 
As always, I was just a passenger when it happened. The bow buried itself at the bottom of the wave, and the stern seemed to keep going, but eventually, it just flopped back down but lying on its port side. Cockpit facing downwind.
Getting Osiyeza to head in the correct direction took quite a while.
 
It’s been relentless.
Maybe I should have used the sea anchor instead of running with the storm. I would have lost two days just sitting there, and I am sure sleep would have been deprived either way.
 
Co-ordinates: -23.2148, 8.8308
Breakfast: yoghurt and nuts
Food: chilli con Carne with noodles
snack bars, salami sticks and droewors.
Sea life: did not spend much time outside
Amount raised for Operation Smile: R156,963
No of new smiles: 28

Day 10: Waiting for the storm!

/in /by
Waiting for the storm!
 
Routine is important.
It’s good for the mind to have a structure to follow. Basic things like brushing your teeth or cleaning your face.
Today started off with black coffee. A short stint on the paddles watching the sunrise and the colours change.
There were lots of plankton streaks again. Some of the position organisms shine like glitter when got by the sunlight. Beautiful to witness.
 
Just then, a school of dolphins came charging past. Jumping from crest to crest with a sense of urgency. They completely ignored me, but I took seeing them as a positive omen. Hope their hunt was fruitful.
 
On-board entertainment.
I have been listening to the “Stuff you should know” podcast, and today’s one was on “beekeeping”, and yesterday was the history of Rock, Paper, Scissors. If you can get past the drone of their voices, you warm up to them. They do make the podcast very informative.
 
I am also listening to an audiobook called FEAR by Ranulph Fiennes and have a David Baldacci book going on the kindle. There are a few Netflix movies and series that I have downloaded as well.
 
Everything that can be prepared for the big blow has been done. The wind has started to increase around 16:00.
Not yet as strong as forecast, so hopefully, the system has dialled off a bit. Time will tell.
 
I get to spoon my paddle again.
I will bring it to bed with me tonight. I did this a while back as well. I am concerned that the breaking crests of the waves that crash over the back of Osiyeza may break the paddle. It was a very tough, bouncy and stuffy night. All hatches latched down firmly. Osiyeza set on an NNW heading to run with the wind and swell, although her course would range from WNW to ENE.
 
The sound of the waves bashing into the sides and over the back is amplified 100 times inside the essential carbon fibre drum. Even with the bubble wrap insulation, it takes some getting used to.
 
I have also become quite used to surfing down waves headfirst, lying on my back. Please do not try this at home.
 
A few times during the night, my feet got wet from waves breaking into the washboards. Not a lot but still enough of a spray to wake me up imaging the worst. I have learnt not to sit up straight away.
 
The big swell arrives today with a little more wind. Each time I go through a new level of discomfort, I know my couch (comfort level) has moved just a little bit more, which is a really good thing for growth.
 
Co-ordinates: S24.2809, E9.7134
Breakfast: cereal.
Sea life: I saw a turtle, dolphins, plankton
Pre-storm dinner was: Moroccan Chicken with Chickpeas and couscous
“A rich marinated free-range chicken dish smothered in a blend of Morocco spices, ginger, coriander and tomato sauce with chickpeas. Best served with fluffy couscous.”
Fluffy couscous! Guess what? I do have it on board.
The two starches that I dehydrated at home are rice and couscous. I have three tubs of rice and one tub of couscous.

Day 9: Prep for heavy weather

/in /by

Big wash and prep day.

I have only been wearing two clothing items so far besides the waterproof gear, I have on top when I am paddling. A long sleeve top and full-length leggings. Both are made of Marino wool. This stuff is the best thing since sliced cheese. It just never stinks.

I tested this top for a whole week of cycling to work and back from work, and it never smelt anything like the standard exercise clothing we wear that stinks even after one use.

I washed both items in my special black bucket. I sacrificed 2L of water for the job but kept the last rinse water I used to wet my body before applying my body wash for another shower 🚿.

Even though it may not be the most enjoyable thing, washing yourself with cold water in a cold breeze while trying not to fall off a rocking ship, you somehow feel like a million bucks afterwards.

Note to self: Don’t forget to apply the bum cream.

I was considering filming 🎥 this shores scene. Not sure what your kinks are, but I would not be able to watch it. Especially the part where I go down on my knees and lift the rear end up and off the seat so it, too, can get the royal 🚿 treatment. 😱

Weather report.

Big wind is on its way!
In fact well into the weekend but the worst on Thursday evening and Friday. Gust up to 40kn from the south with 4-5m seas. This will be the biggest challenge Osiyeza and I will encounter.
Attempt #1 I used the sea anchor twice in 30kn+.

This time around, I trusted the design principle. Cabin in the front, so she is made to go downwind and ride with the swells. Like a weather cock the side with the most windage will be blown downwind. In Osiyeza’s case, the cabin/front of the kayak.

We have had a few days with 30kn+ winds, and we rode it out by running with the sea and wind. Osiyeza handled it like a champion, which can be seen by the large milages.

40kn+ and 4m+ swell for two days makes my balloon knot tighten!


I spend my time preparing Osiyeza by stowing everything away and adding extra seal tape to the two hatches. Generally, getting things ready.
Moved some food into the cabin.
I will also move the EPIRB into the cabin lest a wave breaks it out of its mounting.

Today I also did a sea anchor deployment test to ensure it’s all connected correctly but, more importantly, so I remember how to do it. It’s been a while. It went OK, but the stowage bag that North Sails made is a definite improvement.

The question is whether to use the sea anchor or to run with the sea.

I must make the call before I am too far in the thick of things. The last thing I want is to be mucking about in the cockpit, taking waves over my head or, worse yet, getting rolled while playing with lots of rope around my feet. Little moon and cloud cover won’t help the matter.

Wednesday, the winds will start increasing, and by Thursday evening, it should be at full strength.

Hopefully, after Saturday, we can start our left turn towards South America just as the Cape to Rio yachts set off. Wonder if I will see any of them.

Co-ordinates: S25°13″07′ E010°29″13′
Breakfast: cereal.
Food: Curry chicken and rice
Sea life: Blue bottles, flying fish, plankton.

Day 8: What time is it?

/in /by
Yesterday’s strong winds with a short steep swell helped us achieve some excellent milage for Christmas day. Today’s conditions have calmed quite considerably.
 
This allowed me to check the solar panel locker for any water ingress. You may remember that the first time I checked, it was bone dry.🎉
 
When I slid my hand this time, there was no dust to be found. I pulled my hand out to check my fingertips. Yip, no dust, but there was moisture.
Condensation or seawater was my next thought.
 
😛 So what would any investigator worth his salt do? Yip, the tongue top test.
Crap, salt water! For goodness 🤬 sake, how can it still be leaking?
 
Last time we had two defensive measures in place
1) waterproof box
2) waterproof connectors.
 
Both failed.
This time I added another barrier.
I cast the new matching connectors in foam to prevent water from ever reaching the new connectors.

The solar connectors inside foam blocks

 
It seems as if the waterproof box is no longer waterproof. Even so, I am confident that the connectors will not even get a drop of salt water on them.
 
I had a good fresh water wash this morning but noticed the beginnings of gunwale bum. The case of the dreaded inflamed, pimple-like hair follicles that, if not treated, can progress to boils or worse. Last thing I need when I am sitting on my backside 24/7.
 
Out with Sudocrem. Perhaps I should have used the cream right from the beginning as a precautionary measure. Let’s watch this space as it progresses. Hopefully regresses, but you know what I mean.
Be warned that if it gets worse, I will likely take a picture of it, so let’s hope for an improvement. 🤞
 
Some strange things have been happening to the clocks on board.
My cell phone and Garmin watch somehow show different times, even though I ensured they were the same a few days ago. I even made contact with the shore team and was an hour early.
 
Today again, it’s happened that the times were out. I do realise that I have travelled across a time zone by going West, but I want the clocks to remain on South African time, so I always make contact with the time that suits their daily lives. On board, life just goes ahead according to the sun.
 
Well, the Garmin watch is quite a fancy unit. A Quantic 6 was given to me by one of my biggest supporters Seaport Supply. This watch can even talk to my chart plotter, autopilot, and a gazillion other very clever marine apps. So I took a deep breath and dived into the rabbit hole of watch settings. Eventually, I found the time settings. As I was re-adjusting the time, it asked whether I wanted to sync with my phone or GPS.
Aha!
The default was GPS, which automatically updates to the correct time zone.
All sorted. Now I should have no excuse to miss another shore team check-in.
 
Thank you to everyone who sent messages of encouragement, strength and hope. I really appreciate every one of them.
 
I now have to move on and focus on an upcoming two days of gale force Southerly winds with gusts predicted up to 40kn. The biggest test yet is coming.
 
Co-ordinates: S 28°45.33 E014°00.86
Breakfast: finished the mince pies
Food: not hungry but did have Indonesian Chicken with lemongrass and rice.
Bird of the day: Great-winged Gadfly Petrel.
Sea life: gazillion more blue bottles

Christmas Day

/in /by
It was a day with some highs but not a good one overall.
 
It started with a call to speak to my lovely Judy (current and 1st wife.)
 
This was via WhatsApp, believe it or not. We chatted about the day ahead with her family. Jeez, I could be there instead of on this bucking bronco in the middle of nowhere. (1st warning sign.)
 
I texted the shore team and heard about their Christmas 🎄 family fun. Received a bunch of well-wishing messages from mates. Thanks. Missing all my mates. (2nd warning sign.)
 
In the afternoon, I managed to call my mother to wish her merry Christmas, let her know her precious laat lametjie is ok and thank her for the home-baked minced pies she snuck aboard Osiyeza when I left. Yum.
 
I found four gifts that I got to open. In one, Judy put a little 100ml plastic bottle filled with soet wyn and some sweets. I think I will have a sip tonight, New Year and on my Birthday. Osiyeza is no longer a dry boat!
 
 
Inside another were my favourite local candy chocolate, smarties, and a kitcat. Thanks, Ralph & Barbs.
 
Mom’s gift was a stress ball with an image of a cat face. It was not the prettiest cat picture to start with, but the poor thing is ugly as sin once you squeeze.
When I left on the last attempt, I was given a bunch of cards on which people had written short notes. Words of encouragement and that sort of thing. I never read any of them then, as the trip was over in 16 days. I have them here with me as they are as relevant this time as they were the first time.
 
Feeling a little low, I thought I would read one or two to pick me up.
 
The first one I took out was from my father.
 
I returned from last year’s attempt just in time to see him in the hospital before he died.
 
I won’t elaborate as to what he wrote as I can’t see my screen through my watery eyes right now.
 
I have some of his ashes with me on Osiyeza. He had always wanted to sail across the ocean with me, so I hope this will count for something.
 
Let me just say that today goes down in my personal history book as my lowest emotional state. I can’t even begin to describe how emotionally mixed up I am right now.
 
I am digging deep, very deep, to keep this in check. I guess my blogs can’t all be humorous. Sorry.
I’ll chat with you again once everything is back in the boxes where they belong.
 
Co-ordinates: S26°56,21 E012°15,54
Food: 2x mince pie. Not hungry
Bird: I don’t think I saw one.
Sea life: more blue bottles