2006.10.11. (18th
day)
The Harbor (Siracusa/mi) costs me nothing, but unfortunately there is no bathroom, restroom and electricity. (Morning: I managed to plug in though).
On the other hand, the people are very friendly!
Tried the radio in the morning on 14.290 MHz. I heard Gyuri but he didn’t hear me. Possibly there was some local interference…
After my morning coffee went in town to look around and to
shop (like a 17mm nut for the rudder), called home. Afterward in the ship, I
sewed sail, sealed and put things away. Departed at
Most people transit north to sail around
My voyage isn’t impossible or madness, only few can understand it yet, but I hope more will later on.
The north wind has weakened by afternoon, but unfortunately the swell remained. The night passed calmly, though I couldn’t get much sleep on account of the traffic.
2006.10.12. (19th
day)
Didn’t radio today, I slept in and woke up after 10 only. (Will try to, tomorrow).Ate cereal for breakfast as usual, then swam. The sea was very pleasant. Couldn’t miss it in fine sunshine and light winds! (The feeling was a little like the SZTAKI camp in Arács…) Afterward exercised a little to keep being in shape J
Autopilot: consumes too much electricity, therefore I seldom use it. When there is sunshine or a good wind and the wind generator is charging, then I’m using it.
Mainly during the day, then I can rest as well. If the ship’s course is right, then it is correcting only a small amount, then its power usage is less. Naturally 1 or 2 larger wave can move the ship off course. Afternoon I sketched (have enough paper and pencils for 2 years!) and listened to music. Then read József Varsányi’s book, titled: “Around the World with Zsuzsanna again”.
The water has a funny after taste. Filled my containers in Koper more than 3 weeks ago. I didn’t worry about it at first, only dropped a couple of antiseptic tablets, but late afternoon I had diarrhea.
Made some tea and took 1 Bolus adstringens (intestine antiseptic). Had no dinner, drank tea only.
Sailed in light winds all night, averaging 1-2 knots. A phosphorescent group of jellyfish floated around me during half the night. There was no great ship traffic because I was near the coast. (10nm).
Therefore I could sleep long and well.
2006.10.13. (20th
day)
Friday the 13th, not a very lucky day J Early morning I radioed from 9:00 to 10:20 on 14.290MHz and on 7.160MHz with Gyuri (G0EJG), Tóni (HA0LG), Gyula (HA0IS) and of course with Karesz (HA5CAR). I don’t know what else Gyula did, but he was transmitting with only 100 Watts and I heard him well. (He certainly told me the secret: the antenna).
Unfortunately, today’s communications were a little noisy because of the Sun, Reception was understandable though. (Only his signal strength was sometimes lower.) Had breakfast after radioing, but only carefully. Some cereal, preserves and leftover Sicilian bread.
A little swimming is added to the slowly developing routine. The sun shone again today and the winds were weak. Had a pretty good swim, then did gymnastics on deck.
Afterwards took pictures and videos, it’s always good to have something to do!
Dad by SMS, Karesz verbally told me the weather forecast for the next few days.
Saturday: Bf.4-5, SW
Sunday: Bf.3, SW
Good news, that the wind direction is favorable for me. It’s
such a nice day, that I swam several times today. After
Evening time a little breeze came, and I could make 3 knots.
Presently water is my greatest problem. Either I have to make tea or must boil it to make it drinkable. (Krisztián’s mug comes in handy now J
I don’t have enough energy and time to be occupied with this too. But really, it will not be possible to do it in 5-6 meter waves…
I also have neomagnol, but supplies are limited and its taste is unreal.
Lightning all night and by
The wind isn’t too strong, true I had to lower the mainsail for a while, but could hoist it again later. The rain lasts until 9 in the morning. My waterproofs are thoroughly soaked, donned the other set, but somehow that doesn’t feel right either.
2006.10.14. (21st
day)
Sailing in pleasant winds in the morning, making 4 knots off the Sicilian coast. (Still)
My new course: toward Banco Skerkei (37-42N; 10-50E). Didn’t
swim in the morning because it’s 25°C and the weather is overcast and windy.
Early afternoon starts raining again, accompanied by great black clouds and
lightning. I donned both my foul weather gear, but they still soak through in a
few places. Next port I’ll buy new foul
weather gear! The ship still leaks in several places, I have some ideas where.
The wind has strengthened around
I’m drifting without sails for about half an hour, afraid that even the small storm jib would be too much at this time….
Visibility is greatly reduced, about 1 or 2nm. (It isn’t easy to steer a good course in total darkness.)
Raising the storm jib finally stabilizes the course. Raining until the morning yet I couldn’t sleep at night. A ship came real close to me at dawn, I don’t know why. Either she didn’t notice me or was worried about the small vessel…
Kinga and Zsolt’s wedding was today, I wish them much happiness for their future together! Sorry I couldn’t attend, I hope they’ll understand my absence J
The after-celebration must have been very good…
2006.10.15.(22nd day)
I was able to radio again in the morning. 14.290 MHz was a little noisy, (Gyuri, G0EJG, report 4-7) but we changed over to 7.168MHz and there we could talk splendidly with Karesz (HA5CAR), Tibi (HA5APK) and Zsolt, (SM7YEM).
Karesz’s weather forecast:
Today: force 4, SE
Tomorrow: force 3-5, N,NE
They’re predicting isolated storms and generally increasing winds on ch.68.
After radioing I had a great breakfast and started to navigate…
Had a good swim in the afternoon, there was no wind but the sun was too hot.
(Measured 31°C at
Meanwhile a visitor arrived on my ship: a little bird. (Rested for about ½ hour on my ship then took off.)
My afternoon program:
Put up new wind indicators, the magnetic tape of Csaba Stadler.
(The previous ones fell apart in 1.5 months.)
Checked the lower- and forward
compartments. My liquid soap spilled in one,
there was enough cleaning to do. (I amused myself with its pleasant smell.) Unfortunately there was some water in the other one.
I think from yesterday’s rain.
Changed the tie down of the
casks over a little, for they came loose during the storm.
My stomach has recovered completely by now, so I quit taking any more medicine. I don’t know what Kasvirág candy is good for, but it’s really tasty. (Thanks for the candy!)
Earlier one of my slats broke, but I noticed it’s still functioning. Will not replace it for the time being.
Altered my itinerary: the new goal is
I hope I’ll have enough time to check all my ship’s compartments. Evening time I’ll cross the Skerek Channel, hoping for not too much ship traffic, (It was heavy, generally 9-10 ships near me.)
Unfortunately my Sicilian bread is gone, it was the best J An old Sicilian lady told me where the best bakery in town was. (In Italian naturally :-) And truly so, it was fine only not enough…
Evening: I tried using the GPS in the cockpit, but when I entered a new waypoint, it froze. The KO is such that it can’t even be turned off. So the large GPS remained for nighttime navigation. Luckily it’s reliable!
The winds were weak all day, so I motored a little, but it wasn’t much good. Motored yet more in the evening because a storm was approaching fast from the north (lightning, dark clouds) and tried to escape from it. I was running ahead of the storm for a while under a beautiful, starry night. Even saw a shooting star.
Around
2006.10.16. (23rd
day)
The north wind arrived at dawn, increasing steadily. Rain is falling sometimes. Unfortunately waves keep splashing into the cabin while writing my log.
Arrive in
So far I made more than 1300nm with Carina in 23 days.
The town is beautiful, but foreseeably I will continue my voyage tomorrow. Truly, this country is an Islamic one, and everything is moving a little slower here.
On top of that it’s Ramadan, so you can only take care of business either early morning or after 7 in the evening.
Went to change money at the Bizerta Resort and had a beer. (The only place in town where you can drink beer. What would happen to you here, Nemtom? J
(translated
by Laszlo AA7UY)