Heeled over, under full sail and throwing water everywhere Ella's Pink Lady has been flying along today. It can't just be me that's busting to get south! The wind has come round to the east a little more, meaning that we've been able to ease off the wind a little, making life a little more comfortable and reach along directly south.
While giving the galley a reorganize today I was pretty thrilled to come across a stash of tinned mangoes! I've been hearing all about how lovely the mangoes are back home at the moment, so finding I had my own supply on board was a lot like Christmas! Sure they are not quite the same as fresh but they're not bad either. I have a feeling that this just isn't something that I'm going to be able to ration! Oh and I think I can safely say that tinned mangoes are every bit as messy to eat, as the fresh ones or maybe that's just me?
Nothing too much else to report out here today so I thought I'd explain a little more about the plan for the next leg to the cape. The distance (5450nm) that I gave yesterday as the distance to Cape Horn is the distance in a straight line but weirdly we're actually going to be sailing a slightly shorter route, I know it sounds really strange but it's all to do with something called the great circle route and the curvature of the earth. I'm probably not the best person to explain it but as an example, if I were to plot out our course directly to South America taking in to account the earth's curvature the fastest way to get there would actually be to sail in an arc to the south. Our great circle route or the fastest way to get to the cape is to sail south and then gently arc over to the east (5130nm). So if we can keep up an average speed of 5 knots, eta (estimated time of arrival) at Cape Horn should be around the first week of January, but who knows there's every chance that we might pick up a little speed down south and get there bit earlier?
That would all be easy enough but then there's all these annoying islands and reefs in the way! And to add to the fun, it's not like the wind ever just lets us go where we want to.
I'm going to finish up by apologizing to all the people my explanation maybe just completely confused!
That's me for the night, Parker's wondering off course a little as the wind is dropping off slightly so I better go set us back on course, then I'm faced with a bit of a tough decision, do I or do I not open another can of mango?
Jesse
P.S Thanks for all the Happy Thanksgiving's from America!
Friday, November 27, 2009
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213 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 213 of 213Looks like you're in the middle of prime tuna grounds. Expect to see a boat load of fish real soon.
Great job, Jess. We're pulling for you here in the USA>
Jim
As we witness Jessica's entry into the history of our seas. . .
Sea-Fever
By John Masefield (1878-1967)
I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.
By John Masefield (1878-1967).
Hi Jessica,
The Mango trees in my area are pregnant with fruit, it looks like one of the best seasons ever and I expect the trees will have some night time visitors apart from flying foxes.
Sliced mangoes soaked in Port for a few hours and served cold with a scoop of vanilla ice cream is simple and fabulous dessert.
The great circle path you are tracking is used in aviation, it's the shortest path between 2 points on a sphere, easy to follow with modern navigation aids.
Jessica, for over 60 years my hero has been Joshua Slocum. Now I have a real live hero in you Jessica. Yours is a living adventure. You are The Spirit of Australia... my deepest wish is that one day I might shake your hand. Thank You. Frank Davis Gunalda, Queensland.
Way to go Jess - I'm another person who's been following your progress from Day 1 but haven't sent a message until now. I've been sailing since I was a child and love reading your words and seeing your photos.
We're eating mamgoes too and loving it!
All the best,
Kathy of Adelaide
Mangos sound great for Thanksgiving dinner. You just need to add a little bit of turkey.
Hi Jesse,
Just a good explanation!
emgb1 from South Wales, UK, (GMT+0)
Hi ! jess !
I'm very interesting to read your experience.
I'll give you a great power behind of you ! Go jess
From South Korea.
Jin tae
"Unlike the parallels of latitude,the meridians of longitude are of equal length, and cutting along any longitude line would result in two equal halves of the globe. This makes each meridian a *Great Circle*, the term given to a section through Earth whose plane passes through the center of the planet. The perimeter of a Great Circle is actually the shortest distance between any two points on the perimeter. This is not the case for a segment that does not pass through Earth's center."
. . . Steve Sleight, "The New Complete Sailing Manual"
I read that a few weeks ago and the Meridians being Great Circles passing through Earth's Center made sense...but the shortest distance bit was a little foggy. It's useful to see it's practical application and get your explanation also, but I confess I still don't totally get the shortest distance & perimeter bits. The other part I don't get, while we're on the subject, is where nautical miles are only measured north and south along longitudinal lines. Does that mean if you went East or West along a latitude, you wouldn't count the distance at all?
Thanks for the class. (smile)
Glad you've got some wind and are making progress again.
Take care and many blessings,
Tracie
I have been reading your blogs daily and there's no problem with your spelling or grammar.
Could you tell me what movies and music you carry with you?
Sail on Jessica!
Geoff, 54 (Melbourne)
Gday Jess,
Been watching your progess mate with great Interest and Pride.
i just want to say that you handled all the "Kockers' and "Doughters' with clamness and the Steely Determination showed in your eyes.
You do what you were meant to do and you go all the way!!.
Your a Champ Already Jess!!
Take Care
Pete and Carmel
Hi Jess!
I know how you feel about mangoes!
my school has a chart and we're keeping track of where you are!
you are a big fan of mine!
I know you can do it!
Hello Jessica
I vote for more mangoes! You can’t get enough of mangoes. I hope your trip south goes well, lets hope the annoying riffs and islands don’t get in the way. It sounds pretty interesting with the shorter route, and it makes sense.
May the wind be with you!
-Zoe
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