sy Timoneer

SUNDAY 15TH APRIL 2007.

POSITION: 25 45N. 052 10W

DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 276 miles in 24hours

WIND: Westerly 12 knots

WEATHER: Mostly sunny and cool to warm.

NEWS: The weather continues in it’s good mode – long may it last! The wind is directly behind us now so very little apparent which means no headsail and just the main and mizzen sheeted in flat to help dampen the rolling. There are very few clouds and the sea is bright blue. Yesterday afternoon we caught another dorado but we are now seeing more and more seaweed which fouls our hooks and means the fish don’t hit the lures.

We have seen a few ships but very little else, not a single whale or dolphin and even very few flying fish. We have just less than 2,500 miles to go – and counting!

Regards = PHil

NOON, SATURDAY – 14thAPRIL 2007.

POSITION: 23 51N. 056 46W

DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 283 Miles in 24 hours

WIND: North West at about 12 knots

WEATHER: Sunny, Fine and clear. Much cooler now with the northerly wind.

NEWS:

We have now officially left the tropics and the temperature has dropped a bit which is very pleasant. We are getting close to the Sargasso Sea and seeing quite a bit of weed in the water but this is not good for our fishing lines. This morning we hooked onto a big clump of this yellow seaweed and the lines got tangled into each other, causing a big mess which took the best part of an hour to sort out.

Yesterday afternoon we caught another dorado just after lunch and then again this morning we lost one. As we get further to the east we expect to catch more tuna so we are stocking the freezer with this good eating fish, one of our favourites.

This passage to Gib is a total of 3,300 miles and theoretically we have a range of 3,500 so we are conserving fuel as much as we can using the sails to help. With only 12 knots of breeze it is not enough to shut the engine down but it sure helps with the fuel economy.

Everyone is well on board. Regards = PHil

FRIDAY 13TH. 2007.

POSITION: 20 58N. 060 47W

DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 220 miles in 19.3 hours since departure

WIND: Light Easterly

WEATHER: Fantastic!

NEWS: After our arrival in Grenada in late February we cruised up through the Caribbean stopping at many of the islands along the way. We ended our West Indian season in St Maarten where we left yesterday on the 16.30 bridge opening. We always dock at Isle de Sol Marina, inside the lagoon on the Dutch side of St Maarten which is good protection from the swell and weather outside but means that we can only leave at certain times when they open the road bridge across the only exit.

The weather was really nice as we passed through the channel north of SM and Anguilla. Once clear we were able to set some sails and with the motor making a comfortable 12 knots heading NE ly. Gradually the wind has freed us even more but died down so that just before lunch today we had to roll away the headsail.

We did not have the fishing lines out yesterday due to all the lobster pots in the shallower waters around the island but this morning they went out at first light and it was not long before we had a nice medium size dorado (mahi mahi). We had a hit on the other line at the same time but whatever it was snapped the line. Adding to our larder is a nice sized flying fish (road kill) which landed on deck during the night.

All is well on board and we are settling in nicely for the 2 week passage across to Gibraltar.

Regards = PHil

15 FEBRUARY 2007.

POSITION: 11: 59.9N. 61: 45.5 W
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 235 MILES
WIND: 17 KNOTS FROM THE E.
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
At 13:00 local time (GMT -4) TIMONEER arrived to Grenada. We were able to proceed directly to our moorings at Prickly Bay Marina. The Customs and Immigration have a building in the marina area, so this was easily accomplished. The exception is for the Antipodeans amongst us, who must go to the airport, and apply for a special visa on account of the World Cup of Cricket. We hope they are allowed to stay!

It is nice to be in this marina again. It has not changed much in the last 7 years, but all around there is new construction and reconstruction. This is more the result of a terrible hurricane in September 2004 than any attempt to modernize.

Time to wash down and store away the gear from the passage.

Best regards,

Robert

14 FEBRUARY 2007.

POSITION: 12: 52.9 N. 65: 37.9 W
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 206 MILES
WIND: 17 KNOTS FROM THE E.
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
There is very little news to report aboard the TIMONEER in the last 24 hours. The wind has abated from 25 to 18 knots, so we are happy about this. It is still very easterly, and through out the duration of this voyage if one had any doubt as to the bearing for Grenada, one only had to look into the eye of the wind.

Progress is still slow but steady. Our current ETA is for late in the afternoon tomorrow. It looks as if we can arrive just before night fall. If not, there should be room in the anchorage, which is a straight forward approach from the SW.

Best regards,

Robert

12 FEBRUARY 2007

POSITION: 15:40.7 N. 71:07.5 W – HALF WAY BETWEEN HAITI AND COLUMBIA
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 180 MILES
WIND: 25 – 30 KNOTS FROM THE E.
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
At 0800, Timoneer passed the half way meridian for this voyage.

Timoneer continues to motor sail against the formidable trade winds of the Caribbean Sea. For the last 24 hours, we have been sailing toward the N.E. on the starboard tack. We are searching for wind that is more moderate than it is in the south along the Columbian coast. So far, it has evaded us. On the bright side, the seas are more uniform than before, and we can adjust the course and speed for the smoothest ride in these conditions.

There is allot of shipping about. We are in the middle of the shipping lanes between the Panama Canal and Europe. The radar and AIS system give exact information regarding the course and speed of the other vessels, so there never any doubt about what manuver to make.

All onboard are well.

Best regards,

Robert

11 FEBRUARY 2007

POSITION: 13:42.5 N. 73:29.0 W – NORTH OF COLUMBIA
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 205 MILES
WIND: 20 – 25 KNOTS FROM THE E.
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
Another beautiful day in Paradise. The Caribbean weather is all that one would expect; warm, sunny, and 25 knot easterlies. Our job on this trip is to bring the yacht 1,200 miles to windward. Even though we have good weather information, there is no way around this. Fortunately, the TIMONEER is very sturdy and comfortable in these conditions.

We are using the main sail, the staysail and the main engine with varying degrees of success. There is steady progress toward Grenada. Today there is no fishing, except for the many flying fish that land on deck. We will have to depend on the freezer for our dinner tonight.

All on board are well.

Best regards,

Robert

10 FEBRUARY 2007.

POSITION: 12:42.2 N. 76:46.9 W – 195 MILES NORTH OF CARTAHENA, COLUMBIA
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 225 MILES
WIND: 20 KNOTS FROM THE N.E.
WEATHER: PARTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
Timoneer is motor sailing almost directly up wind now. This will be our tactic for most of the trip to Grenada. The wind is up slightly, and the seas are getting to the lumpy stage. We are comfortable onboard.

Lena surprised us all with home baked muffins this morning, and served lasagne for lunch. Even though it is difficult to cook while underway, she is doing a great job.

Everyone has settled into their delivery routine, and small projects and jobs are being done between watches. There is no fishing today, our arms are still aching from yesterday’s marlin.

Best regards,

Robert

9 FEBRUARY 2007.

POSITION: 10:18.7 N. 79:01.3 W – 60 MILES NORTH OF PANAMA
DISTANCE TRAVELLED: 60 MILES
WIND: 15 KNOTS FROM THE NORTH
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY

NEWS:
TIMONEER departed the San Blas Islands of Panama today at 09:00. Destination: Grenada. Weather predictions are a good as can be expected for this time of year…North to East, 15 to 20 knots. We are on the Starboard tack sailing NW. After about 24 hours, we will take the port tack. The thinking behind this is to keep us well off of the Columbian coast, with it’s heavy winds and vessel traffic. Unfortunately, as we go farther North, the winds are expected to veer more easterly. Right on the nose.

On Wednesday, Timoneer visited a local school in Porviner, where we delivered school supplies for Global Yacht Aid. This was a huge success with the indigenes Kuna Indians. The village elders, civic leaders and police all turned out for the presentation. The school itself is a very modest, one room building, with an estimated 80 students between grades 1-6. There are five teachers attend the students. The teachers were extremely grateful, and gave us several very nice Molas in return. For the students it was a very welcome distraction from their studies. They were all very well behaved even though terribly excited.

Of course the fishing lines are out. We missed a very nice Mahi -Mahi, then caught a HUGE Marlin. It was a impressive fighter. Twice it was reeled up to the boat, and twice it ran off, taking most of the line on the reel with it. We finally got it along side and Jeff and Bevan released it with out any harm. It was just to much fish for us.

We have interesting photos of the school and of the fish, and they will appear on http://www.usemypics.com shortly after our arrival in Grenada.

Best regards,

Robert

FRIDAY 2ND FEBRUARY 2007

TIMONEER PASSAGE REPORT
Position: 09: 22.15 N, 079: 57.01 W
Course: 092
Speed: 12.7
Wind: N.12

Timoneer is underway today, from the Shelter Bay in the Panama Canal to Porviner in the San Blas Islands.
Conditions are good, and we are enjoying a beautiful, sunny motor sail. We plan is to arrive to the anchorage early, with plenty of light to navigate through the reefs in the approach.
The fishing lines are out, and the boys have promised fresh fish for our dinner tonight. So far there have not been any hits, but hopes are running high.
All onboard are well
Best regards,
Robert