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Written by: 3/16/2010 8:22 PM
To say I am anything but scared and nervous right now would be an out and out lie. The weight of this next 4000 miles, more than I’ve sailed in the last 14 months combined, sits heavy on my shoulders and I am tired from the strain of pushing the preparation forward. Nevertheless, the boat is very nearly ready, the winds are blowing from the North, and tomorrow, Wednesday March 17th 2010 I’ll hoist anchor and start sailing West across the Pacific, solo.
The first of two legs will be a 900 mile jump to the Galapagos Islands of Ecuador. I used to dream of retracing Darwin's great voyage on the s/v Beagle as he gathered the data that was to fuel his Theory of Evolution. My time there will be limited, but I have a date with a turtle named lonesome George, the last of his species, and I’ll finally get to play with some penguins in their natural habitat. The trip should last between 7 – 10 days if all goes well.
The second jump, the largest of most every circumnavigation, is 3,100 miles and can take anywhere from 4 – 6 weeks. Do you remember building forts in your living room as a kid? Working to find that heavy object that would support the sheets draped across multiple pieces of furniture? Once the structure was there we’d always pull in food, pillows, blankets, and any other games we wanted to play. Getting ready for this sail has been something like getting the fort ready. I’ve bought new sheets and pillows, throw pillows for the settees, rugs for the floor, food of all kinds, books, music, and other diversions. Almost 2 months of sailing is a lot of alone time. I was joking with some other sailors that I’ve spent the last day, “nesting” and I have.
Updates may be slow coming depending on how quickly I settle back into offshore sailing after a pretty long break. I can still get Instant Messages via the instructions on the Contact Us page and I do love the entertainment they provide so don’t hold back. My SPOT messenger is going to quit working. There just are not satellites covering the South Pacific so when it stops posting my position, I didn’t sink, I am just truly in the middle of nowhere. Thanks once again to all of you for the words of support. I wish I had more time to contact each of you to talk more before the sail, but please forgive me for this collective thank you.
And so, in those famous words from Elwood & Jake, “It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. Hit it”.
12 comment(s) so far...
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. Lee- wow man, just wow. I can't even imagine all the excitement going thru your head right now and I can honestly say I would be looking for clean pants of that was me. Hope you have all the rum you can drink. Maybe you should get a parrot and an eyepatch too / I would. vaya con Dios amigo - keep the updates coming!!!!
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles.
Lee- wow man, just wow. I can't even imagine all the excitement going thru your head right now and I can honestly say I would be looking for clean pants of that was me. Hope you have all the rum you can drink. Maybe you should get a parrot and an eyepatch too / I would. vaya con Dios amigo - keep the updates coming!!!!
Re: Hit it. Yea My Brother. . . . . You can do itmake some memories - take some pictures - and touch the life of everyone you can reach Os
Re: Hit it.
Yea My Brother. . . . . You can do itmake some memories - take some pictures - and touch the life of everyone you can reach Os
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. Good luck Lee!!! Can't wait to see pictures of the Galapagos Islands. After all, we did have to study about them in Geology class because of Darwin. You're gonna do great!Bon Voyage!Cheri
Good luck Lee!!! Can't wait to see pictures of the Galapagos Islands. After all, we did have to study about them in Geology class because of Darwin. You're gonna do great!Bon Voyage!Cheri
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. I wish I could give you some advice, but I have never done anything that compares to what you are about to accomplish. That being said, I will simply tell you what I always tell you.Godspeed and good winds, brotherLet us know when you reach the other side
I wish I could give you some advice, but I have never done anything that compares to what you are about to accomplish. That being said, I will simply tell you what I always tell you.Godspeed and good winds, brotherLet us know when you reach the other side
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. I'm very proud to call you my friend; thanks for all your help on the dock in Kemah.Thumbs up and Godspeed my friend.
I'm very proud to call you my friend; thanks for all your help on the dock in Kemah.Thumbs up and Godspeed my friend.
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. Good luck and safe sailing Lee. Look forward to the updates. Godspeed
Good luck and safe sailing Lee. Look forward to the updates. Godspeed
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. What an adventure! So exciting. Can't wait to hear your stories!
What an adventure! So exciting. Can't wait to hear your stories!
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. I'm praying for sunny skies, gentle winds and smooth seas for you! What an adventure! Godspeed!
I'm praying for sunny skies, gentle winds and smooth seas for you! What an adventure! Godspeed!
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. Fair winds my friend .May the angels hold you in their arms .Keep up the post when you can . See you again soon.Patricia
Fair winds my friend .May the angels hold you in their arms .Keep up the post when you can . See you again soon.Patricia
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. I loved visiting with "Lonesome George" and all of the wildlife around the Galapagos. Some of us even got to "swim with some whales". Enjoy every moment of this adventure knowing that you are never really alone with all of your friends sending their thoughts and wishes your way every day. Since you plan to leave on St. Patrick's Day, may the "luck of the Irish" be with you. -- Don't forget to offer King Neptune a bit of rum with your request for a safe voyage. You have taken good care of Jargo, so trust that she will take good care of you. Have a great voyage.
I loved visiting with "Lonesome George" and all of the wildlife around the Galapagos. Some of us even got to "swim with some whales". Enjoy every moment of this adventure knowing that you are never really alone with all of your friends sending their thoughts and wishes your way every day. Since you plan to leave on St. Patrick's Day, may the "luck of the Irish" be with you. -- Don't forget to offer King Neptune a bit of rum with your request for a safe voyage. You have taken good care of Jargo, so trust that she will take good care of you. Have a great voyage.
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. fair winds, I wish for you lots of fish along the way to eat. Perhaps you can sell some of that spam later one (just joking)Terrys/v Sea time.
fair winds, I wish for you lots of fish along the way to eat. Perhaps you can sell some of that spam later one (just joking)Terrys/v Sea time.
Re: Hit it. Panama City, Panama to Galapagos – 900 miles. Good work Lee, the hardest part is done - The prep, the pre-mental stuff... Now you're off, in a few days you'll be wondering why you were worried at all. Congrats and enjoy the Pacific my friend. Nick.
Good work Lee, the hardest part is done - The prep, the pre-mental stuff... Now you're off, in a few days you'll be wondering why you were worried at all. Congrats and enjoy the Pacific my friend. Nick.