[this is being written by Jackson's Dad]
Jackson just called from a diner -- an onshore diner -- where he ordered an egg, cheese and bacon croissant sandwich near Marina Bay. It's a couple of miles north of Berkely. He and Michael arrived in the predawn hours today. Near the end they had engine trouble and had to fight the current for a while but by the time they got to the Golden Gate Bridge the tide was flowing and they passed underneath going a very fast 9.5 knots. Jackson intends to catch an Amtrak train as soon as possible for Los Angeles. From there he'll go to the El Encuentro, which is docked in Orange County, where there is a berth reserved for him.
Thanks be to God.
About Me
- Jackson
- I'm an adventure seeking man of God. I love extreme sports, rock climbing, swimming at the wrong time and anything you can enjoy with a good group of people.
Friday, September 28, 2012
The Trip - Day 23
[this is being written by Jackson's Dad]
Jackson called last night at around 8 pm to say he was close to the Golden Gate Bridge. He expected to sail under the bridge at night sometime and then pull the GoodNews into a slip some time today. He said he weather wasn't very good, wet and cold. He sounded quite good. We might have talked more but the signal kept cutting out.
Jackson called last night at around 8 pm to say he was close to the Golden Gate Bridge. He expected to sail under the bridge at night sometime and then pull the GoodNews into a slip some time today. He said he weather wasn't very good, wet and cold. He sounded quite good. We might have talked more but the signal kept cutting out.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
The Trip - Day 20
[this is being written by Jackson's Dad]
Just got this email from Michael. He titles it "tues."
--------
Uggggh!
Rough seas, swell slapping from the side, cooolldd,wet, damp, winds veryvariable, 7 to 20 kts, lots of sail adjustments.
309 miles this morning.
38.48 n 128.58 w, we are going to 122, so knocking down those longitudes, almost 3 a day.
Trying to hold together without braking something, the other boats are slowing down and having same sloppy conditons., but want to get in before it gets worse!!
No cooking today!
--------------
Just got this email from Michael. He titles it "tues."
--------
Uggggh!
Rough seas, swell slapping from the side, cooolldd,wet, damp, winds veryvariable, 7 to 20 kts, lots of sail adjustments.
309 miles this morning.
38.48 n 128.58 w, we are going to 122, so knocking down those longitudes, almost 3 a day.
Trying to hold together without braking something, the other boats are slowing down and having same sloppy conditons., but want to get in before it gets worse!!
No cooking today!
--------------
Monday, September 24, 2012
The Trip - Day 19
[this is being written by Jackson's Dad]
here's the latest post from Michael, which is entitled "mon." it arrived at 3:36 pm East Coast time.
------------------------
We are at 39.06 n 131.50 w
We just got the NE winds at 11:00 last night, turned off the motor and are sailing straight along our rhumb line to SF, just 440 miles away!
we are getting about 10 kts and beam reaching at 5-6 kts, if we stay at 5 we will be in in 4 days, at 6 kts, 3 days.
We have 100 % overcast cold conditions.
We saw one of the other boats this morning, so we sailed over to each other and exchanged some treats!
Have never passed so close to another ship at sea before, really fun.
So, no matter what happens now, we can make it in, down to our last roll of toilet paper, last roll of paper towels, we have sufficient water, we are out of fresh fruit.
Don't really feel like cooking, but should be enough cooking gas, to keep hot tea and soups coming. Then plenty of canned goods toeat.
weatheer forecast call for good conditions all the way into the Bay, and we should beat any Gales coming down from the North.
OUr world is upside down, we went from Starbd tack since Hawaii, since Tahiti for me, and now our first Port tack, we are leaning the opposite side.
bye for now
here's the latest post from Michael, which is entitled "mon." it arrived at 3:36 pm East Coast time.
------------------------
We are at 39.06 n 131.50 w
We just got the NE winds at 11:00 last night, turned off the motor and are sailing straight along our rhumb line to SF, just 440 miles away!
we are getting about 10 kts and beam reaching at 5-6 kts, if we stay at 5 we will be in in 4 days, at 6 kts, 3 days.
We have 100 % overcast cold conditions.
We saw one of the other boats this morning, so we sailed over to each other and exchanged some treats!
Have never passed so close to another ship at sea before, really fun.
So, no matter what happens now, we can make it in, down to our last roll of toilet paper, last roll of paper towels, we have sufficient water, we are out of fresh fruit.
Don't really feel like cooking, but should be enough cooking gas, to keep hot tea and soups coming. Then plenty of canned goods toeat.
weatheer forecast call for good conditions all the way into the Bay, and we should beat any Gales coming down from the North.
OUr world is upside down, we went from Starbd tack since Hawaii, since Tahiti for me, and now our first Port tack, we are leaning the opposite side.
bye for now
Saturday, September 22, 2012
The Trip - Day 17
[this is being written by Jackson's Dad]
latest from Michael, headlined "sat"
--------------
We R AT
39.41 n 136.26 w
We are 660 miles away, this morning. Wow, it really feels like we are getting there.
We are going pretty much due east with some southing started.
Still have winds from ESE which is a reach for us, with some following seas, which is great, we are supposed to get the North, hopefully NW winds soon and then broad reach all the way down into SF.
The weather shows the wind light tonight and tomorrow and filling in Mon.
I am having a hard time with the drastic weather change. We have to wear shirts all day now, and don't even open the dodger windows during the day, it is too cold. I may have to start sleeping down below, because the cockpit is so damp at night.
I am not liking this, i miss the warm tropics. I have only worn a bathing suit for 4 1/2 yrs on the boat.
At least the sun is out, and is warm through the windows.
No sun might just put me over the edge! I need more time for acclimating . Of course we are late in the season, so it is colder than mid summer.
The repair on the boom is holding, but when the winds get light i probably will keep the main double reefed to avoid stress on it.
That will slow us down some, but hopefully not for long.
Making good time last night and today, 140 miles yesterday, 6 kts so far today.
ok for now
-----------
latest from Michael, headlined "sat"
--------------
We R AT
39.41 n 136.26 w
We are 660 miles away, this morning. Wow, it really feels like we are getting there.
We are going pretty much due east with some southing started.
Still have winds from ESE which is a reach for us, with some following seas, which is great, we are supposed to get the North, hopefully NW winds soon and then broad reach all the way down into SF.
The weather shows the wind light tonight and tomorrow and filling in Mon.
I am having a hard time with the drastic weather change. We have to wear shirts all day now, and don't even open the dodger windows during the day, it is too cold. I may have to start sleeping down below, because the cockpit is so damp at night.
I am not liking this, i miss the warm tropics. I have only worn a bathing suit for 4 1/2 yrs on the boat.
At least the sun is out, and is warm through the windows.
No sun might just put me over the edge! I need more time for acclimating . Of course we are late in the season, so it is colder than mid summer.
The repair on the boom is holding, but when the winds get light i probably will keep the main double reefed to avoid stress on it.
That will slow us down some, but hopefully not for long.
Making good time last night and today, 140 miles yesterday, 6 kts so far today.
ok for now
-----------
Friday, September 21, 2012
The Trip - Day 16
Here's Michael's latest post, which he entitles "ouch." This email arrived this afternoon.
-----------
39.43 n 139.27 w
We have made our turn to the coast, but we are getting a strong side swell, rolling us badly, so we are trying some course adjustments to easy up the swell affect.
We made 150 miles yesterday, our most in a long time, we have been going from 6 -7 knts all day and night.
We have 801 miles to go. If we keep this up for 2 days, we will really get closer fast, then we are supposed to have 2 days NO winds. But we have lots of fuel left, so we will motor to the coastal winds.
WE have a problem. Last night we noticed that the gooseneck of the boom is cracked 1/2 way through on the starbd side, so i made clamps and was able to pull it back together, and it has held through the night.
but we are using 2 reefs and keeping slow, about 6+ kts to ease the pressure.
So we need some extraa prayer for mechanical mercies.
If it fails completely, i have ways of rigging the main loose footed, so we will still get home, but just slower, unless we get very stormy conditions and then we drop the main and only use the storm sail.
So, we will be ok.
thank you for your prayers
michael s/v goodnews
-----------
In case anyone is not familiar with sailing terms, the following might help. The "boom" is that huge horizontal bar that runs perpendicular to the mast and along the bottom of the big sail or mainsail. It's called a "boom" because when you tack or jibe it swings around and can cause lots of damage if it smacks your head. The "gooseneck" is a heavy duty ring that clamps the front of the boom onto the mast. It is subject to lots and lots of tension. "Starboard" is the right side and "port" is the left side. When Michael says he is using "2 reefs" it means the mainsail is not completely unfurled; he is only using part of the mainsail. That reduces the amount of wind that hits the mainsail and slows the boat down. It also reduces pressure on the gooseneck. The bottom of the mainsail is called the "foot" of the sail, so to speak of "rigging the main loose footed" means that the bottom of the mainsail, which is normally linked to the boom, is no longer linked to the boom but rather is held in place with one or more lines. A "storm sail" is small sail made of heavy gauge cloth.
-----------
39.43 n 139.27 w
We have made our turn to the coast, but we are getting a strong side swell, rolling us badly, so we are trying some course adjustments to easy up the swell affect.
We made 150 miles yesterday, our most in a long time, we have been going from 6 -7 knts all day and night.
We have 801 miles to go. If we keep this up for 2 days, we will really get closer fast, then we are supposed to have 2 days NO winds. But we have lots of fuel left, so we will motor to the coastal winds.
WE have a problem. Last night we noticed that the gooseneck of the boom is cracked 1/2 way through on the starbd side, so i made clamps and was able to pull it back together, and it has held through the night.
but we are using 2 reefs and keeping slow, about 6+ kts to ease the pressure.
So we need some extraa prayer for mechanical mercies.
If it fails completely, i have ways of rigging the main loose footed, so we will still get home, but just slower, unless we get very stormy conditions and then we drop the main and only use the storm sail.
So, we will be ok.
thank you for your prayers
michael s/v goodnews
-----------
In case anyone is not familiar with sailing terms, the following might help. The "boom" is that huge horizontal bar that runs perpendicular to the mast and along the bottom of the big sail or mainsail. It's called a "boom" because when you tack or jibe it swings around and can cause lots of damage if it smacks your head. The "gooseneck" is a heavy duty ring that clamps the front of the boom onto the mast. It is subject to lots and lots of tension. "Starboard" is the right side and "port" is the left side. When Michael says he is using "2 reefs" it means the mainsail is not completely unfurled; he is only using part of the mainsail. That reduces the amount of wind that hits the mainsail and slows the boat down. It also reduces pressure on the gooseneck. The bottom of the mainsail is called the "foot" of the sail, so to speak of "rigging the main loose footed" means that the bottom of the mainsail, which is normally linked to the boom, is no longer linked to the boom but rather is held in place with one or more lines. A "storm sail" is small sail made of heavy gauge cloth.
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