Glenn’s daily progress using Google Earth
Glenn’s daily progress the old school way – pins on a paper map in my home office.
Position: 30.03 S, 172.09 W
7:30 am Just finished my morning routine.
There are only one pair of eyes here so it’s important to use them wisely. I am acutely aware of my surroundings and any changes that take place in it. The sounds of things are very important as well. I am used to the normal sounds of the boat and anything out of the ordinary I have learned to acknowledge, and either act upon or store for future reference. Smell is also important.
I have a list of regular jobs I do every morning to keep the boat going and monitor all the systems. They aren’t written down, I use the Glenn system of monitoring, it is a learned process based up visual cues. As I walk through the boat I see the the battery box or solar panels or wind generator and remind myself to check the volts with the meter. I clean the solar panels, look down at the hatch to the cabin sole to view the bilge or when I’m at the bilge pump in the cockpit it triggers a check of the pump. The water tanks are dipped just to remind me that I need water and that it’s not escaping into the bilge. I walk the deck and make a mental note to tighten the shackles or the screws on a deck fitting. I think about caulking that stanchion next time the caulking gun is out. I look at the rigging, check the set of the sails as well as the stitching and look for signs of chafe. The self steering vane is keenly observed for any movement and chafe. I am training myself every day to observe and make mental notes of what ‘normal’ looks like so that when abnormal shows up it will pique my interest. I think you could call this routine my daily vigilance exercise. Something you can never have too much of.
I wash the boat inside at least three times a week. Every warm sunny day that is dry on deck I air out all the bedding and rain gear and clothes as well as all the rags and sponges I use to mop up the leaks. Last night a can of crushed tomatoes burst and sprayed tomato around the forward cabin so that is on the list to clean up this morning. And so it goes.
At the moment the wind, although light, is steady so I’m getting a bit of a rest, spending time reading and writing. Welcome to my world.
Course 215 T, Speed 4 kts Wind 5-10 East Waves swell 1 m Cloud 10% Temp 23 C Bar 1022 and falling.
Thanks for the detailed updates, Glenn and Marylou. I am avidly opening my email each day to find out what’s new. I really like the “old school map” method of colored pins on a wall map. Comfortable for my era! All the best as the Southern Ocean creeps into view….
Thanks Alan. Glad you like the old school map. I love Google Earth but there’s something very satisfying about putting a new pin in the wall map each day.
ML
Glenn, is the Westwind II leaking more than you expected? And is this cause for concern for later in the trip when you are likely to experience much heavier seas and more water coming over the boat? Im imagining what it would be like to have cold water getting in the cabin with no warm weather to dry things out. Would be uncomfortable at the very least I would assume.
I really enjoy reading your reports, you paint the picture well. Wishing you good fortune.
Glenn,
I enjoyed reading about your daily routine along with all your update.
Cheers, Jim