One World Circumnavigation . . . Done !

[Uncle Bob]

Mark, about bloody time. You dont write or keep in contact, where have you been all this time ?? Congrats and I too look forward to reading about the trip, cheers. Rob

[frank_f]

Originally Posted by Cherp

Keep it in context. It's only one lap of a small planet.

It's one lap more that what I have.

I mean, I have a large lap and I really don't need two but,... never mind. This will get worse before it gets better.

[YOGAO]

Very awesome Mark!

[sailstoo]

Good on you mate!

And congratulations on a major accomplishment.

[Thames]

nice1 mate! If I was the Queen you'd be officially honoured!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Cherp

Keep it in context. It's only one lap of a small planet.

May be so... but the real thing we're celebrating is his first "Solo Crossing".....

[Cherp]

Boatman...the comment is Australian humour. MarkJ will get it.

[gettinthere]

Congratulations Mark, excellent work.

I think boatman should get a free lifetime membership to CF for closest guess. Maybe a poll is in order???

[SvenG]

Is that the first time a Beneteau has crossed the Atlantic ?







-Sven

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by SvenG

Is that the first time a Beneteau has crossed the Atlantic ?-Sven

Naah.... just MarkJ...
The 'Bendi's' are old hands at it....

[Ed_Sail]

Well done Mark - look forward to hearing all the details ....

I imagine I am not alone in that I checked daily to see if your had made it.

[MarkJ]

Thanks for the lovely messages!!!!!!!!!!

The rigger still hasn't found time to look up yet. I am tied to their dock jus' sittin', waitin'.


Thanks for the bets on my arrival time (I feel like a teenage girly sailor) but I don't see why you should give a prize to a mug like Boatman61 who actually thought I would take as long as I did! As for those that thought I would tke even longer... well, I'll remember!
I thought speakeasy sunset 15 Dec was vastly more knowledgeable. I was actually hoiping for Dec 17th - then I weighed anchor... LOL

I'll spill the beanz on the forestay tomorrow... it was an interesting problem that I wouldn't mind your advice on what you would do (I was thinking of just hitting the EPIRB and waiting for rescue in an airconditioned, ice-cream on tap, helicopter).

Briefly:
I was 300 miles from St Martin, west of Antigua by 200 miles.
30 knots on the beam dead on 90 deg doing a course of 280. doing just under 6.5 knots under a double reefed main and short rolled genoa.
I thought it would be nice to run out a bit more genoa to pull the boat speed up to 6.5. So I let out enough to make it like a Number 3. If the genoa was in better condition I would have let out a fraction more.
Went below and 15 mins later <<BANG>>

Rocketed up on deck to see the twin back stays flopping about. Sagging part-furled Genoa and 30 knots on the deck still at 90 degrees.

I had used all my diesel fuel in the first few weeks and thought I had about 100 miles fuel left.
Swept back spreaders, no apprecaible mast lean etc nor wobbling...


So:
What would you have done initially?
What longer term plan would you have put in place.


I'm interested to see what things I didn't consider, or thought of and discarded etc.

Of course I went on immediate emergency water rationing and drank only 1 teaspoon of water per day. I suplimented dehydration with beer, wine, Scotch of 3 malts........


Mark
PS How much do riggers charge?

[serah]

Congrats on the accomplishment, especially considering a fairly major set-back; certainly one that would have had many others crying for help.

An inspiration to the rest of us!

[John A]

Well done!!
You made it to a safe harbor, unassisted, so whatever you did was the correct thing to do!!
We're all awaiting more details.

[Jim Cate]

G'Day MarkJ,

Add my felicitations on your arrival.

Now, as to the forestay: where did it break? My favorite place is right where the wire comes out of the terminal at the upper end... was that it?

IF so, the sail helps to hold up the mast until you can get a halyard run out to the stem head and help with the support. Then you have the issue of getting the sail either rolled up or lowered. Neither easy under way with a breeze, so I'm waiting for your answer too. However you did it, well done!

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Church Point NSW Oz