The mariner’s mariner  dreams about faraway horizons.(Centkievie)

 
 
My Yacht Log 10-17 to 10-21-2006

 

"In the beginning they could not understand my insistence on getting away from the compass, that god of the West. But in exchange, they began to hear the why and sea talking with the boat. And when blue-tinted land appeared on the horizon, looking as it did to the mariners of old, all nimbed with mystery, a few of them felt that our rigorous techniques should leave a door open to those gods which the modern world tries so hard to exclude." -Bernard Moitessier, 'The Long Way' CLOSE WINDOW

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10-17 (day 24)

I think in Tunisia the 15th of October is a National Holiday. This is the name of a big square and there are Tunisian flags everywhere. It is strange but the president’s picture is watching you from every street corner. Yesterday evening I spent some time, sipping tea, in a typical Tunisian coffee house.

And also was on the Internet for about 2.5 hours. Since it is Ramadan, the life starts after 8. That means everything is closed. I tasted the local sweets and bread and tasted the typical street food (2 types) but I forgot their names. After I finished I drank some milk. They do not sell beer here. In the neighboring ship the Frenchmen have the same complaint. How about the Tunisian ‘fast food’? Its content is entirely unknown to me. I was unable to say what is in a sandwich. Maybe better that way.

 The next day I had a little stomach pain.

I did not meet any tourist, looks like I am the only one. In the harbour there are 4 ships all of them French. Most of them came from Sardinia and will remain here for 1 or 2 weeks and then decide. I could charge the batteries for 24 hours. I bought 36 litres of bottled water. I will have plenty of water. In the harbour there is only diesel and no gas (petrol). Somebody took me out in a car to the nearest gasoline station. The harbour master is a very kind gentleman and kind of suspects what I’m going to do. I do not have to say anything.  

  I do not really have to emphasize it, but Carina is the smallest boat around here. Everybody is coming around and wants to know where do I go and what is my goal. In Tunisia everything is cheap; even a taxi is inexpensive. To take me out to the harbour from the city the taxi cost me the equivalent of 15.00 forints. The restrooms are not clean and the people are not too knowledgeable, but that should not make to much difference.

This morning I changed out the v-belt. It had to be done because the original was on the verge of breaking. (That is probably why I could not charge the batteries properly.) After that I ate lunch. It was yesterday’s millet mixed with some greens!

After that came a general tidying up and after that I thought I pull anchor. However nothing goes that fast here; I am still waiting for my passport (It has to be stamped once). I am already waiting close to an hour!!

While this waiting goes on I am talking with a Canadian. He and his friends will sail to Turkey tomorrow. The ship’s name is Sea Brider.

  With a good wind behind me (4-5-6 Bf. DK) I am sailing in a westerly direction all night.

In the evening I furl the main sail because the wind strengthened quite a bit, this way I can sail with 5.5 knots. The ship traffic is normal. My main problem is to be sure to bypass the nearby shoals. It is not simple to navigate around here.

 

 

10-18-2006 (day 25)

Frequently I’m thinking of home, (as a concept), and of course I think about my family, friends, and my colleagues.  It is good to think about home sometimes! This morning I put back the mainsail; the wind is weakening.

   Carina specialty: coffee with rum. By the afternoon the wind completely stops. I cannot send SMS; the net does not allow it. Signal strength is good. This is already the Algerian net.

   Around noon I am in Algerian waters. They say that it is not too secure, but nowadays the situation improved a bit. In the evening the wind weakens again.

10-19 (day 26)

The west wind (5 Bf.) arrived at dawn. I reefed in the sails at 4 in the morning. I set the main sail to ¾ to make Carina more manageable. Our sailing speed is 4-5 knots. In the morning I turned on the radio since in the 2 to 3 meter high waves I still can.

Tónia (HA5GBJ) 5-9,

Ernõ (HA1TO) 5-9

Tibor, Kecskemét (HA8SLT)

Jenõ, Eger (HA6VB)

HA0LG, HA1IP;

Unfortunately I could not hear Sándor

Jóska, Szeged (HA8FP), 5-9;

This morning I was making contacts on the radio for about an hour.

Around 11 o’clock my jib got torn. I changed it out to the storm jib. In about an hour I finished sewing it and also strengthened it, then put it back. The whole day I was sailing in a ¼ set up, this way I can tie down the rudder. My problem right now is that my course is 350-000 and it should be 250. Since Carina is too wide she cannot turn sharply into the wind, (max. 65 deg. and there is a constant 20-25 deg list).

It’s tuna salad for lunch and that perked me up a little… 

At 16:00: (37-49N;007-21E). There was lightning coming towards me all evening. By dawn it has reached me, but was not a problem.

10-20 (day 27)

In the morning I ate the rest of the tuna salad, then turned on the radio.

G0EJG, Gyuri, England, 5-9,
Ha5CAR, Karesz, Budapest., 5-9,
HA8CE, Pista, Derekegyháza, 5-8,
UX0DJ, János, Nagyserölős, 5-9,
Yu7NW, Józsi, Nagybecsek, 5-8,
HA6NN, András, 5-5,
HA5UK, Gyuri, BpT 5-9,
HAOLG, Tóni, 5-9,
HA8RD, Laci, Kiskörös, 5-9,
HA3TK, Joska, Szenteőrinc, 5-9,
HA5APK, Tibi, Bp, 5-9,
HA2EBQ, Rudi, 5-9,
HA2RI, Laci, 5-9,
HA1TO, Gergő, 5-9,
OE3BCE, Csaba, 4-7,
HA0MO, Laci, Hajdúdorog, 5-9,
HA3UX, Pista, Tamási, 5-8,
HAOIV, Lajos, Püspökladány, 5-9
I turned off the radio at 10:20 and after that my attention turned to my boat.

The storm jib and the reefed mainsail is not enough. My speed is about 2 knots. The waves are big and constantly splash in; that makes it hard to be on course. I hope this will change, that’s the goal. If I would hoist a bigger sheet that would add quite a bit of weight and would not really give me more speed. The wind eased a little in the afternoon, (4 Bf.) and with that the waves got smaller too, (4 meters). I put up the normal jib and reefed in the mainsail completely. During the night the wind does not get stronger and because of the ship traffic I get up to check around.

10-21 (day 28)

In the morning I am on the radio for more than an hour.
 G0EJG, Gyuri, England, 5-9,
HA5CAR, Karesz,Budapest., 5-9,
HA5APK, Tibi, Budapest., 5-9,
HA9PI, Feri, Nádas, 5-9,
HA3FHH, Gábor, Pécs, 5-9,
HA0IH, Zoli, Hajdúszoboszló, 5-9,
HG1DCI, Imre, 5-7,
HA5BIK, Lajos, Budapest, (Rákosfalva), 5-9,
HA8JA, Tóni, Békéscsaba, 5-8,
HA7NO, Jóskao Besenyszög, 5-9,
HA3FUL, Lajos, Möcség, 5-8,
HA3NU, Laci, Szekszárd, 5-9,
HA8RM, Peti, Kecskemét, 5-9,HA1KXX, Imi, 5-le,
SM7YEM Zsolt, Sweden., 5-8,
HA2RI, Laci, 5-9,

Karesz reported on the coming weather. Unfortunately the wind will come from the west in the next few days. (On channel 68 the weather forecast could not be heard)

Informations:

Maritime mobile net: 7.085 MHz. (LSB), 7:00 UTC

UK Maritime Mobile Net: 14.303 Mhz  (.USB) 08:00, 18:00

 Transatlantic Maritime Mobile Net: 21.400 Mhz. (USB) 13:00

In the morning the wind started to pick up speed from southeast and the boat listed a little more. That makes life more difficult and more attention is needed. There is always something to do on the boat; a few screws loosed up or maybe a rope gets loose. Every morning I walk the length of the boat and check these things.

In short I have to say that in the last three days my speed is very slow; the boat is tossed around by the waves. I constantly plummet about 5-6 metres. I started from Tunisia five days ago and I travelled only130 nm. in good direction. And there is 480 nm. left before I reach Melilla.

  For lunch I prepared  “bulgur” mixed with tuna and greens. This will be my supper too; in fact I’ll keep eating it while it lasts :)) In the afternoon I sewed my sleeping bag, it was not a beautiful job, but it will last – I think.

   From the bucket, the anchor-chain slid into the water so in 5-meter high waves I had to pull it back up, and then secure it.  (But I did it!) 

I found that the power supply for the GPS was O.K. Something overloads the main fuse in the system. (The main fuse is automatically resets). The failure is in the autopilot. I found the cause in 30 minutes, but it is too dark now so I will repair it tomorrow. 

 

                                                                                                            (Translation: Károlyi L)