2007.11. 18
(Day 420)
Went to bed at 7 in the morning after a long, whole
night on the Internet. (Uploading pictures and videos).
Got up after 10 and was cleaning the ship with a strong cleaner and with
cockroach killers.
In-between I was talking with Nick and Woller:
http://www.getjealous.com/yawarra.
In the evening I was having a little drink with the locals in the Yacht
Club. At night, I was washing for free, in-between got on the internet free,
the uploading of the videos lasted till down.
2007.11. 19
(Day 421)
Max woke me up in the morning, then went to the
Talked with a few locals, then in the afternoon a small boat pulled me
to the crane location where Morua lifted the boat. They asked F$75 for washing
the boat with water, so I decided to do it myself, although a few others also
helped!
Made acquaintance with Nat and Phil who were
painting the ship of one of their acquaintances at the facilities. They came
over to help a little, then we dined together – I made spaghetti.
Since by then it was late night, we could not find a support arrangement
for the ship, so the crane hoisted me (Carina) – this is the way I am sleeping
:)
Evening: film watching in the Yacht Club, then another film with the
Security personnel on the laptop. Security man John gave me a good pair of
pants! So, I have a new Levy, although it is a bit too large :) My concept:
don't have to spend money on clothing :))
Late night: Internet on the beach.
Started to assemble my radio-contact files (Excel) that I want to put
out on my site as soon as possible!!
Due to the frequent raining the mosquitoes are multiplying and no
repellant cream helps. They are stinging everywhere – of course, one can get
accustom to this.
2007.11. 20
(Day 422)
Morua woke me up at 8. They thought I was drinking yesterday, but was
just on the net still early morning, got some funny feeling in my head.
AM: we secured the ship, then started cleaning and killing the
cockroaches in the rear cabin. Had some 40 liters (~ 10
Started to pack everything under the boat to make
more room in the cabin. Removed the 3 barrels, the
emergency float, and the water- and fuel containers.
Then talked with Willie who would paint Carina for
F$4500 (USD2700, 490-thousand Forints). Since this is not too important,
I decided not to do it – but this in not a final decision.
Although I myself can remove the old paint, I do not have the paint sprayer –
i.e. I unfortunately do not know how to do it.
PM:
The thorough washing of the sides and bottom of the ship;
Washing of the ropes;
Snorkeling suit washing;
With the help of a hose, sucked out of the water
from the boat – unfortunately a lot of it.
Started to feel myself better in the cleaner ship, my feeling is
continuously improving because of this. (Will carry less
food/ water in my next travels because I constantly overstocked them.)
Evening: Masza came over, made dinner for him:
1. Crackers (English, from
2. Soup cubes (Hungarian) with
Spanish dumplings;
3. Puliszka (Hungarian style
cornmeal) – a traditional Hungarian/Transylvanian food. He said politely that
it is very good – it was. Slowly developing into a
master-cook, although my utensils are limited only to 2 pots (cover and wooden
base), 1 spoon, 1 fork and a diving knife.
Later in the evening: short relaxing, the Internet till 5 in the
morning, as usual.
2007.11. 21
(Day 423)
As usual, I got up at 8, started working.
Breakfast: coffee.
AM:
Gluing the grappling tool;
Rear cabin cleaning;
Cleaning and removing the left coffin-bed to allow access to the motor;
Anchor cleaning;
Anchor chain and rope washing.
PM:
Shoe and case washing;
Cockroach elimination (boric acid);
Bottled water: have approximately 65 liters – about 16.8 US gallons
(will come good on my next leg);
Cabin re-organizing having the motor repair in
mind.
Late PM: Masza came over to teach
me Fijian, then I instructed him in French and
Hungarian. At least I will be able to talk to someone in Hungarian, this made
me happy. True, it will take him 1-2
months to grasp the elementary basics. Before this, Nat came over and I showed
him
Dinner: biscuit.
Evening: Film.
Unfortunately the Net was not good at night, I
could not even upload the videos I made in
2007.11. 22
(Day 424)
It is raining, so I got up at 10 – working is out of the question
Went into town – Lautoka, the 'City of
To the main road with 'auto-stop', from there on
with bus – 75
Purchased:
1 knife, F$2.80;
1 machete – for coconut opening, F$11.50;
1 liter rust-preventing paint for the gas bottle, the gas cooker rusting
fast too;
#40, #60, and #160 sandpaper – still have some, but just a few. F$5;
1 iron file, F$4;
1/2 kilogram (~ ¼ lb) washing powder, F$1.50;
3 sponges, $F 0.70;
Silicon - F$8.90 (for sealing);
1.5 liter beer, F$5 – in case guests are coming to the ship, I could
give them something.
Lunch: Fish & chips - F$1.50 (90¢ US) at the poorest buffet
next to the market place – but I liked it :)
Cheaper than this you will not find, in my opinion. Times like this
Checked every drug store in town, but could not find boric acid to
eradicate the cockroaches. Then called Graemm Chem in Nadi (pronounced: Nandi,
3rd largest city of
There are 2 book stores in town, but neither has books I could honestly
recommend for reading :) Basically, the first had 20-30 English language books,
most of them school books or cooking books. The second had more books, but the
subjects were poor :)
Took the bus back from the city - of course the bus broke down halfway,
that means that I reached the
Of course I called INK again (have problems with my
Reached the
Finished the radio log which contains 694 radio
contacts in an Excel table. In more than 400 days I talked to 124 amateurs in
12 countries.
At evening started to write articles for the Sailing Magazine – finally
have more time to place larger importance to write normally.
At night I spent the time to upload the videos made in
Could not sleep the whole night.
2007.11. 23
(Day 425)
Got on Skype between 7 and 9, bought coffee (F$2.20) in the cafe – it is
the custom. Using the Net of the place :)
Talked with Mesz, then started out to the city
with 'stop'. Not too many tourists use this method, but I
always.
When raining, the cars more likely stop. It rained, the first car
stopped. I knew them somewhat from the
Then had lunch in the city – Indian sweet stuff, meat pie – and headed
back with bus. Used 'stop' from the main road, a truck picked me up and
delivered me to the
PM: coffee in the
Slept two hours, then arranged things in the boat.
No Internet, only Skype works.
An English couple gave me 2 DVDs (ship name Helen) for the evening, so
we were watching videos, eating/ drinking beer with Mateli till 5 in the
morning in the bar. Only Skype worked.....
2007.11. 24
(Day 426)
To my captain college Peter Gaál: God make you live long – he is 70
today.
At dawn: talked with a Korean born Australian captain. Even though I did
not feel up to it, I sensed that he needed companionship, to talk to someone..........
Went back to the ship and had a good sleep.
Mesz woke me up and brought 6 cold beers for me as breakfast. Started to drink while listening to music from the laptop.
Was teaching him the "Magic Dragon Paff" – he could sing two
lines quite good, then we said
"Egészségedre" – To Your Health in Hungarian. A captain of a French
ship sat down next to us with a few locals, and the Korean David showed up with
his wife. Made a fine lunch: fish with dumpling.
This was the program till 7 in the evening – it is Saturday today, time
for loosening up a bit. Then Mesz went home. Borrowed two films from Kathy (a
woman in the 40-s, lives here on a ship) and watched it in the ship.
2007.11. 25
(Day 427)
Mommy, happy birthday!
In the morning I oiled the plank, then placed the 'cockroach bomb'
(spray) in the cabin. Had to leave the ship for 2 hours due
to the poisonous fumes.
Took a walk in the 'First Landing Resort' – they have a nice
Lunch: Coconut, fish with dumpling.
Works:
Gas bottle rust removal and painting with rust-preventing paint;
Fishing gear arrangement;
High Frequency antenna removal.
Confiscated a shower next to me selected from
several enclosures to be used as kitchen. Will keep the food here, it
gives more room on the ship too and can spray the cockroaches.
The Net opened up in the evening – I could get on it in the bar the
whole evening and night.
2007.11.26
(Day 428)
Usually have no breakfast – woke up after 9.
AM:
1. Painted the gas bottle after
removing the rust. Of course, the paint is rust-preventing;
2. Applied
a thin coat of lacquer on the plank;
3. Scraped off the rust from my
gas oven, then put a layer of rust-proof paint on it.
Lunch: Coconut on the beach.
PM:
Have no idea why, the local workers gave me a sandwich and a mango.
Borrowed a buffering machine from Hans, completely buffered the paddles,
and then applied a coat of oil.
4. Applied a coat of lacquer to
the solar panels too (broke in February this year, since that time I lube it
occasionally);
5. Glued
the broken anchor chain bucket;
6. Dismounted
the wind generator since the base plate has to be welded;
7. The stainless steel autopilot
hardware which was welded together in
At evening time Mesz came over to teach me Fijian.
Dinner: Biscuit with honey and shortbread.
Then watched a few DVD films (Firewall, The Pink Panther, The Tenants –
all not very high class) borrowed from Kathy today – due to rain, there was no
film program in the Yacht Club – neither was Net, of course. Unfortunately
lately only works mostly only at daytime.
2007.11.27
(Day 429)
AM program:
Was in the coffeehouse between
1. Gas oven painting – 2nd coat;
3. Bottom of gas bottle painting
– 1st and 2nd coat.
Lunch: müzli.
PM program:
4. The glued-up anchor chain
bucket was re-attached to its place, put polyfoam on the bottom;
5. Purchases in the sailing shop:
a large #21 nut (for the anchor suspension hardware), a small rust-proof
chain
for the first point of the jib;
6. Put a nut onto the anchor
bolt, this will hold the anchor from now on (the original hardware was
made
of brass, its welding is complicated);
7. Disassembled
the support beam of wind generator, gave the base to
8. Dismounting the boom. The
screw fastening to the rail broke some time ago and I wanted to take it out –
greased
it and bored into it but did not work. Maybe later with Hans we will fix it;
9. Disconnecting the forward
light.
Could not varnish due to the rain since afternoon.
Dinner: Soup.
Linda from the ship next to me loaned a film for the evening. She is a
typical American: always smiling and is asking: "How are you?" – She
is perfect on both accounts! (When I look at her and talking with her, I know,
what she is thinking about.) The evening
when I borrowed a DVD from her, I sensed that she was uneasy to give it to me
(no idea why) but I know that this type is avoiding the open conflict because
she hates it most :) Thanks Linda for
the film :)
Film for the day: "The Shawshank Redemption" – already
saw it in Hungarian.
2007.11.28
(Day 430)
Got up early morning and took the
Went shopping in the morning:
2 pieces of brass steering fastening hardware - F$6;
7 mm and 1/4 inch wrenches - F$3;
Spiral drills for metal, each F$1.50-2.50;
2 kilograms sugar - F$1.70;
Can of lamb - F$2.50;
2-each cockroach killer - F$2;
Sauce - F$2.50;
Could not find hinge for my bed.
Lunch: Fish & chips for F$1.50.
Visited June (Zack) in the afternoon. He lives near
Lautoka in a small village with his wife and 5 children. Drank coffee and beer,
then had dinner – traditional Fijian, of course. After dinner, took the bus
back to the
David gave me a kilogram of fish with soy sauce, olive, and onion. They
are flying back to
Second dinner: sushi – despite having a belly ache,
but just had to taste that fine fish.
Evening: film watching in the Yacht Club, fortunately had no rain today,
then a little Net in the bar.
2007.11.29
(Day 431)
Got up at 6 in the morning.
Breakfast: baked tuna fish with biscuit and olive (this I got from
David).
AM:
The captain of a ship asked me to sail with him to
1. Lacquered
the paddles;
2. Consulting with Hans to arrive
at a simple solution to fix the boom to the rail, video making for RTL.
.
Lunch with the locals – chicken, tapioca, coconut
sauce.
Afternoon:
The DHL did not want to come out, but waiting for an official letter
from RTL because they are paying the transportation of the video cassettes.
3.
Was very hot today, so I finished the film from
yesterday in the shadow.
Mesz came over for a little chat, then on the Net and film watching.
2007.11.30
(Day 432)
Got up early – at
Linda from the neighboring ship brought over some incredibly delicious
food, in my opinion it was a Mexican salad. This was my dinner yesterday, and
my breakfast today.
AM:
1. One more layer lacquer on the
paddles;
2. Autopilot hardware painting
with the rust-proof paint;
3. Shopping in the harbor sailing
store:
1 rear light - F$20;
1 liter polyester with
hardener - F$40;
4. Anchor stabilizing again of
the ship;
5. Cockroach elimination, food
unpacking.
Late lunch: biscuit with canned lamb.
6. Rear light arrangement –
disconnecting the two broken ones, mounting the new one. Unfortunately it is
not OK, have to work on it tomorrow. Simply won't
light up.
Later went with my friends to the city – Mesz, Leo, and the rest. Drank
beer, went to a party place.
Late evening Internet, as usual.
2007.12.01
(Day 433)
Got up early.
AM:
1. Finished the rear light
project, had to replace the switch and the wiring as well. Did not re-wire
first, but it
did not work. Tested the circuit and found the problem
– the effect of the salt water. Had to make a larger
opening for the new wiring, used plastic material and now
it looks perfect!
2. Applied lacquer to the cabin
door. In the afternoon tried to fix the wind generator for the ship which will
take me to
3. Had
some problem with the auto pilot – it did not work :(
Disassembled it and found that it is not a big problem – the silicon
grease clogged up the buttons. It is almost impossible to clean the grease, but
I did it. One of the autopilots is OK, the other no. If one takes apart and reassembles
an autopilot with closed eyes that means something!
Got a folding chair gift for Christmas from a ship.
1. Have now a Christmas present,
had none last tear;
2. Luxury – from now on I don't
have to sit on the ground, it has a glass holder too!
Went to drink beer with Zack and Morua in the
harbor.
In the evening I saw traditional Fijian dance in the First Landing
Resort – made reservation already in the morning. It was free!
Then Internet till late night (pictures on Carina's
renovation organizing into the album) and DVD watching (El Cantate).
2007.12.02
(Day 434)
Got up early in the morning at
Children of Zacky:
Tupou,
Voseva,
Navu,
Ratu,
Emosi.
The church service started at 10, Zacky gave me a skirt (sulu) and we went to the church with the family. The service
lasted for 1-1/2 hours, did not understand a lot, but enjoyed it thoroughly.
One does not have to understand the songs – there were many songs.
After this lunch at Zacky's, the children instructed me Fijian before
and after. Then played cards with them, and threw the children up high, took
pictures of everybody :)
PM: kava and beer in the garden on the verandah, I felt super. Thanks,
Zacky!!!
Don’t know what we did, but the afternoon just flew away.
Took a bus back to the
2007.12.03
(Day 435)
I am a barbarian. I am so far from any civilized thought that can not
imagine or explain it any more. Where is
the normal, clean life now? It is possible that I started out on a road from
which there is no return.......
Breakfast: a cup of coffee.
AM:
Refitted the base of the wind generator and applied a generous amount of
silicon sealer;
Gas bottle test – interesting, the valve works, so it needs no repair;
Autopilot connector gluing and isolating;
Glued the grappling tool with polyester and fiberglass – the wood glue
is useless, unfortunately.
Lunch: 2 coconuts with Zacky.
Talked with Charley (a helper for everything), with Wille (the boss and
owner of the ship repair shop), who came and had coffee together. Had some ”other” guests as well, naturally :)
PM:
Unpacking and cleaning up the big tool box;
Dismounting the mast with the help of some friends.
Diner: Ground corn paste.
Had an interesting talk with a French couple: ’the small island’s
independence from
Presently
The foreign politics of
Evening: Film watching in the Yacht Club, the usual Monday evening
program – talked with Jacky and Joe.
2007.12.04
(Day 436)
The ”Hátszél” (Back Wind Club Radio) did not call in the
morning. Then got an SMS – they tried to call 17-times,
my Mobil is not OK at all times. Should have made a test call, but now it is
too late. Would have been nice to be able to talk in the radio because I felt I
could have said things about sailing and from the
Got on the Net before
Washed a load of underwear (F$3.50 at the
cleaners), then conversed with my buddies – Mesz and Zacky.
Meli called me for lunch, a 28-year old local, is a ship hand on a
charter ship (always borrow the drills from him).
Bought a mast lamp (F$33) and started to mount it, then started to rain
again. The planned sealing operation had to be shelved. Left the cabin
arranging and the tool box cleaning.
Dinner: Soup (getting tired of it, but have to eat my food stock.)
Got 3 DVDs for the evening from a French couple (have an Ovni 35 aluminum
boat), did a little fun time with Jacky and Jerry :) Did a short Netting
2007.12.05
(Day 437)
Morning: Bus trip to Lautoka to shop with Zacky;
Breakfast in a sweet-shop – 2 pastries for F$1.80;
Had to buy a new pair of pliers - F$2.50;
Contact cement for sail repairs, universal strong glue - F$12;
6 hinges for my bed repairs (the original broke) - F$3;
6 eggs - F$1.50;
1 liter milk - F$1.50.
Dinner: Scrambled eggs with onion and biscuit.
Evening: movies in the Yacht Club.
A little Netting, went to bed early – will have
a long day tomorrow.
2007.12.06
(Day 438)
Slightly overslept, but still caught the
With ’stop’ to the main road, then with bus to the
airport, then with the Express to
Breakfast: 1 kilogram banana (2.2 lbs) - $F0.50.
Art Village is located in
(For pictures – see the picture gallery.)
Then went to the local beach for a little
loosening.
Took an Express bus to Sigatok - F$4.80. Watched Harry
Potter, the section I read on the
Bought a mask for Carina, will hang in the cabin. It is a
traditional wooden mask, used by the men in battles 100 years ago - F$5.
Lunch:
Indian sweets – F$0.90;
1 piece chicken pie – F$1.50;
1 piece vegetable curry-roti, a roll - F$1.20.
Sigatok – Nadi airport - F$5. From here with bus to Vuda Point (F$1),
then hitchhiked to the
Got back by
Received me with the news: a cyclone is coming from
the North. Expected average wind 110 km/hour (68 mph), maximum
150 km/hour (93 mph). Expecting its arrival at 7 in the morning, the
storm eye should be 30 km (18.8 miles) from here to the North.
All ships were preparing all day. The ships were turned around and were
secured with chains.
Hammered 4 strong iron rods in the ground and tied up the boat with 4 ropes.
Tied up the mast too and placed my stuff in part into the ship and into
the storage room (shower).
Talked with the other sailors – it is the first cyclone in their life
for most of them here. Everybody is preparing excitedly in earnest. There is
only one subject-matter: the cyclone. For instance, there is no internet, but
it bothers nobody :-)
About 10-20 new sailboats arrived and the harbor is full. Lifted 4-5 ships with the crane to make more room. Everybody
is excited – there are a lot of expensive boats (200-300-thousand USD in
average) and not everybody has insurance.
Beer and tea with the local buddies, then film watching.
2007.12.07
(Day 439)
Found a lizard in my boat, but got away.
Got up after
The method of securing the ships here is:
From the back of the ships are 5 strong ropes attached with chains at
the ends;
The nose of the ship is stabilized with 2 anchors and 2-3 buoys;
Of course the ships are situated at about 3 meters (~10 feet) from the shore, have to use dinghies to reach them.
Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with onion and biscuit (of course it past its
date by 6 months, but I like it.)
Started to repair the wind generator of another
ship days ago. It is a 3-phase generator, the connections of the
rectifier Graetz-bridge fell apart – have not used it for 3 years and looked
bad. Consulted with Daddy in this matter and after the measurements of the
diodes he said that the Graetz-bridge is faulty. Therefore have to build one,
he sent the electrical diagram earlier (unfortunately I forgot the scheme,
although I learned about it at the University :), this way it did not look difficult
(6 low-voltage diodes).
According to the captain of the ship, only some soldering is needed, and
all will be OK :))
If he said it – from now on I don’t care, explained everything to him
and he understood that much, let us just solder – but
really it is not needed :)))))))))
Completed the mast light installation and isolation, then
started to repair the handrail. Unfortunately it was raining the whole
afternoon, preventing me from working...
Talked with the neighboring sailors and with the
local workers. The cyclone changed direction, is not coming this
way.
Dinner: Scrambled eggs and cereal? – don’t remember :)
Film watching in the evening (Miami Vice), Barraveigh ship gave me some
DVDs, then got on the Net. In-between and after had a
beer party with Matea on the beach.
Santa Claus? When is it?? (Last year I
celebrated it on water :-)
2007.12.08
(Day 440)
Matea woke me up to drink a beer. Maybe later :)
Breakfast: Cereal with milk.
Before
The mast light does not work – don’t understand why, have to take it
apart again;
Had a bad contact. Taking down
the forestay – have to buy a new stiffener. (4 millimeters was the original, it
is almost broken on the top);
Repairing the left-middle handrail – cast the screw hole with polyester.
Went for a talk with my captain – he is a bit of a slow man. He found a
small cat yesterday, now concentrating entirely on it. Discussed
the cyclone’s position, his ship’s parameters and the travel plan.
Afternoon:
Mounted one of the hinges of my bed, then painted it over with lacquer
twice – could find only rusting iron hinges. (My hands are aching from the
strong bolting.)
Mounted the war-mask in the cabin – this is getting to be a style here.
Earlier had a wound on my leg which got infected (this happens easily in
the tropics) – disinfected it and took care of it.
Dinner: Canned beef with biscuit and onion.
Evening: Internet and DVD watching.
'
In short: Fortunately it did not/will not reach the larger islands, only
some smaller islands had to be evacuated.
Yesterday evening the wind reached 165 km/hour (90 knots) speed, maximal
wind velocity 240 km/hour (125 knots) near the center. The extent is small: a
160 km (100 miles) circle.”
Infok (satellite pictures):
http://www.nrlmry.navy.mil/sat_products.html.
2007.12.09
(Day 441)
Up at 9, made a quick omelet.
Bruce, a charter ship owner and his captain came over for a little talk,
then I discovered that he is a Rig-Master, took me to
his shop. A 7-meter (~23 feet) 5 millimeter (0.19") size
stainless forestay material with 2 eyes - F$65. Then took me back to the
marina and invited me to watch a boxing match in the afternoon.
Worked around the ship, made a lockable bucket for the rigging hardware
– a lot of hardware stuff accumulated already.
More of us were watching the boxing match, of course everybody was over 50
:)) Mayweather
knocked out Hatton!
In-between Bruce offered a one-day job, this way I can work off the
forestay F$65 price. Have to discuss the matter with Meli (crew) – he is my
good buddy :)
Heard from Jacky in the evening that Meli, the
manager fired Zacky (Security). Called him but he was in church, could talk only
to his wife, Tavita. Hopefully I can talk with him tomorrow.
Site of Little Mermaid, site of Marjetka: http://www.sioc.no/mermaid/.
The plan: Solo around-the world voyage, the lady has a dog :) Started out of
Evening: Usual Interneting.