JesseMartin.Net
20th April 1999
DAMN those milk cartons. I spent an unpleasant afternoon scrubbing a cupboard that was floating in curdled milk.
Some had started bulging when water got through the seams and finally burst.
Unfortunately this must have happened a few days ago and if only I noticed, I wouldn't have needed the peg.
To make matters worse my nose is sunburnt and as a result is even more tender.
I've been able to get on to my old solo friend, Peter, who has flown past me since we were last in contact at the Falklands and is now above the Azores.
He has been sailing non-stop since New Zealand and is only 10 days away from finishing in the UK.
This of course means that I've only a few days left to chat with him.
Two days ago I crossed the equator into the northern hemisphere, but my plan to observe the Coriolis force by seeing if a cup of water would drain the opposite way when I crossed the equator will have to wait.
It was during the middle of the night and I didn't feel like getting up to fetch a bucket of water.
I will make sure I don't miss it when I cross back into the southern hemisphere after rounding half way.
I've been having a pretty good run through the Doldrums compared with the experience of others, however it has still been extremely frustrating just bobbing around as the wind always dies.
I got a question from Brad, at Mirboo North Secondary, and he wanted to know what will happen to Lionheart when the voyage is over.
Well, she is such a fantastic boat and the only one I would want to have of her size. However, I'm already planning the next trip which will require a larger vessel and so I'll have to part with her a little time after I return.
Last Sunday the Melbourne to Osaka race left from Portsea and with them went my mate Vinny on his yacht Vision Quest.
He is sailing with one other person, but what is amazing is that Vinny is confined to a wheelchair and his crewmate Graham is missing a leg.
If you think that is determination then wait until you hear about Vinny's ultimate goal which he has been working at for more than eight years - a solo non-stop circumnavigation like myself.
His progress with sponsors is coming along and I can't wait for the day he returns and his book comes out so I can learn a few tricks about perseverance.
I am experiencing a rather annoying occurrence with my guitar. The second string keeps breaking in exactly the same position after only a couple of days. I've tried oiling them to keep the salt off but nothing seems to work.
I've got six or seven spare sets left - this could be a real disaster is things keep going the way they are. I'm going to have to monitor the situation closely. I'll keep you posted.
The shipping is certainly picking up and I've seen ships at night for the past five days.
This is because I am on a major shipping lane from the US to Brazil.
Most of them I've called on the VHF haven't spoken English so I don't usually try calling them any more. Hopefully this week I'll be much faster as I get into the NE trade winds.