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Around the World from West coast?

As PJ is currently driving a rent-a car to San Diego to meet CHANGABANG, I hope he doesn't mind my sharing a brief update. STAR LIMA will arrive in port sometime tonight and offloading will begin bright and early tomorrow.
Here's PJ's latest comments:

"Yes I was asked by the San Diego Port Ops to present myself at 8am Friday.
I'm driving down today, Thursday. Port Ops requested a chase boat so Lee will sail Morning Star to Star Lima and then escort us to Silver Gate Yacht Club on Coronado. I must board Changabang from the water; they won't allow me to go down from the ship ...
I'll be happy when the last page of this chapter will be turned!"
 
Philpott said:
If you took this photo from your motorcycle we can just hope you are wearing your life jacket?
Click to expand...

Oh I was driving :-)
Left at 4:20 and went straight to SD, with a stop to fill up and one for a leak. Lee picked me up and showed me around, for which I'm very grateful. It was nice to reconnect with SHTP memories.

Things have really fluctuated here. We went from Thursday afternoon to Friday evening for the discharge. Star Lima has slowed down significantly, possibly to align with the port's schedule.

Makes today D-1!

My room for the night :-) Thanks Lee!

IMG_20200305_222621.jpg
 
jamottep said:
Oh I was driving :-)
Things have really fluctuated here. We went from Thursday afternoon to Friday evening for the discharge. Star Lima has slowed down significantly, possibly to align with the port's schedule. Makes today D-1!
Click to expand...

PJ, if you're listening, the cargo ship CHILBROK GALAXY is occupying STAR LIMA's berth in San Diego. CHILBROK GALAXY was scheduled to depart at 0300 this morning. But for some reason is delayed..hope not related to being flagged from Hong Kong. Until CHILBROK GALAXY vacates berth 10-4, STAR LIMA has no place to park.
https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/home/shipid:690645/zoom:14
 
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Philpott said:
Aaahhh. Stairway to heaven?
Click to expand...

I must admit so far I'm not impressed with San Diego Port ops. I was told to be here at 5 pm. At 10:15 they had not yet started on Changabang and the union stevedores retired to come back at midnight. I'm waiting in a conference room on Star Lima. And as I write this a crew member offers me a slice of pizza and a drink, then offers me to charge my phone. All crew is Filipino and very friendly and professional, and young too. A world apart ...
 
By 0330 PST Saturday, March 7, Changabang and Morning Star were secured in their respective slips at SGYC. A long afternoon into evening into the wee hours of the morning with more adrenaline-producing segments than expect. Neither boat damaged and no one injured, but . . .
More to be written in due course.
 
I take it those are multiple crack at the leading edge of the hull to keel joint? I'm not sure what you meant by "fixed" but I wouldn't just fair that out. Could be much more hiding underneath. Those were they during the survey?
 
PJ reports CHANGABANG is motorsailing off Catalina with the wind dead aft at 8 knots and all well. Rob T.and Lee are also aboard. Their current weather window looks good for getting north with SE winds from a stationary low offshore. Current routing includes a stop tomorrow at Oxnard, presumably Channel Islands Harbor.
 
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I am currently sitting here at the nav station of Tiger Beetle while listening to the rain pitter patter on the cabin top - it's raining in Oxnard this norning, not much wind, not too cold - but definitely wet. I can observe Changabang slowly motoring across the Southern California bight from San Diego northwards towards the Ventura/Oxnard/Anacapa Channel.

Changabang must have a tiny engine and spinning an egg-beater propeller, as it is definitely not going fast. Buoy reports show 2 knots ESE gusting 4 with south swell at 3.6' @ 7 secondes - good conditions for motoring and crummy for sailing north. Changabang's AIS signal is visible via marinetraffic.com as the little pink arrow moving along at 4-5 knots of boat speed.

I sent a text message over to Rob T (assuming I have the right Rob T), if they do pull in to Channel Islands Harbor I am here and enjoying the morning while working on my trip preparations (today's task is continuing to scan equipment manuals so I can get the paper off the boat). I've got my pickup truck if they need transport, and would be happy to loan Philippe jerry jugs if they additional fuel for motoring up the coast. Conditions look good for going north later in the week if you don't mind motoring and wet as the next Low settles in.

- rob/beetle
 
Hatfield 1.jpg

Here's one for the record books and for PJ to challenge: The World Sailing Speed Record Council has just confirmed a record time for sailing solo around the world westabout in a 40-foot boat. The elapsed time of 258 days, 22 hours, 24 minutes, an average speed of 3.48 knots, was set from June 2019 to February 2020 by Bill Hatfield sailing Brisbane, Australia and return via the Canary Islands and Cape Horn on his Northshore 38 L’EAU COMMOTION. It was Hatfield's 3rd attempt.

Bill lived on strict rations at sea. “For fresh water I had a desalinator, and my daily diet was a third of a tin of beans, a tin of tuna, 100 grams of rice and flour and oats, and 150 grams of milk powder.”

Bill Hatfield is 81. At one point he fell overboard without a tether. But managed to grab the toe rail, work his way aft, and climb back aboard using his water generator as a foot step. Amen.

Hatfield 2.jpg

https://www.sailblogs.com/member/leaucommotion
 
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