The Cosmos Adventure - News

George Hotz Report -- Across to Tobago

Cosmos

2/4/03:

We're off. We didn't wait till Tuesday to leave for the Caribbean; we left Monday night after a late dinner, aboard Cosmos. We took a tour of the Island that lasted from 0930 to 1500, then we had a late lunch, and split up to get some last minute chores done. These included shopping for groceries, Email, pick up our laundry, retrieve the propane canister that the vendor could not fill, purchase a new bolt for alternator mounting, and start filling and hauling the water jerry cans to the boat. By leaving St. Helena with full water tanks, we will minimize the amount of time we have to run the watermaker. This will save diesel fuel that we might need for making it through the doldrums, or for making additional water and/or electricity, during this very long passage of about 3000 miles. While Captain Grandpa Joe and Joost went grocery shopping, Daniel and I moved Cosmos closer to the city waterfront. This made for shorter watertaxi trips during the hauling of the water jugs. At this point I feel compelled to explain that the watermaker, makes water, and the water generator, makes electricity. I feel that I may belabor some of my descriptions and explanations. I do this because I know that some people reading these journals are not boaters, and I can't have them thinking that we are totally nuts.

The hardware store did not have the right size bolt that was needed for the alternator, but they did have three foot lengths of all- thread rod. Being of a lesser grade of steel than a bolt might have been, it would have to do. So, I bought a length of threaded rod, nuts, and lockwashers, and made a bolt for the alternator. Back in business; new bolt and v belt, with enough threaded rod left over to make six more bolts.

Daniel and Joost hauled water all evening while Captain Joe and I got Cosmos ready to get under way. Fortunately, one only pays one pound per day for the water taxi; ride all day if you want. We had dinner ready  when the water tanks were full, so, we ate and left St. Helena.

We have been sailing under spinnaker all day with the wind and seas behind us, of course. We had to motor  out of the harbor last night with no breeze. The wind arose during the night and we used the genoa and staysail, wing and wing, until 0730 this morning. Then, up with the chute. It has been a nice first day. We will BBQ under the spinnaker this evening.

2/6/03:

2030 hrs.

We are starting our fourth day of this passage. We have 1384 miles to go to our 1st waypoint; the Equator. The spinnaker has been flying since the morning of the 4th, except when we have taken it down for practice, or to repair something. Actually, I think that we have been doing the damage by practicing so much. We've had to repair holes that show up in the lower panels of the sail, untwist the sail within the sock, untwist the sock, untwist the sock halyard, repair sheet chafe, reshape and polish the pole end, retrieve and replace halyards. In spite of all of this, we are using the spinnaker all the time. We have kept it up all of the last two nights, and it is up tonight. This has really kept our speed up, and Cosmos is making good time. We have been very careful about flying it at night with respect to the weather. We have also practiced handling the spinnaker with our life jackets and harnesses on to simulate a night time emergency; like a storm, high wind, or the need to tack.

The quality of our meals is improving and the weather is getting nicer every day. I guess we'll cross the Equator in a week, or so.

2/7/03:

1430 hrs.

Cosmos is flying her spinnaker, again, under these ideal conditions. We flew it all last night, also. I suppose we will pay for this magnificent weather some day. I believe that this type of sailing is exactly what Prout had in mind when they designed, and built, this model of catamaran. Everything on the boat falls into place, so to speak. The mainsail can't be put out far enough to take advantage of a following wind because it will hit the upper shrouds halfway out. So, we do much better to do without the mainsail, in a following wind, and use the genoa, with or without the pole; or staysail and poled genoa, wing and wing; or the spinnaker. All of this pulling power forward of the mast is supported by the 1/2" wire rope upper and lower shrouds, as well as, two 1/2" wire rope, full length, backstays. All of the hatches open  towards the stern and this is what really convinces me that Cosmos is intended for exactly this type of sailing. The following breeze is channeled down into the cabin for excellent, needed, ventilation, by the hatches. All of the boats that I've been associated with had hatches that opened forward.

So, we are doing 6 knots, in a 12 knot following breeze, on a coarse of 297 degrees, true; with 1283 nautical miles to the 1st waypoint; the Equator. Then we will head on to Tobago. We may make a pit stop in Iles Du Salut, on the way, if time allows. all in all, this is about a 3000 mile passage.

2/10/03:

When I came on watch this morning, at 0100, the spinnaker was hanging limply at the bow. We had lost our wind right at shift change. Joe and I dropped and bagged the sail, then fired up the starboard engine and water maker. Then, late this morning, we got enough wind to fly the cruising spinnaker until late afternoon. Now, we are running the port engine. It is nice to have the batteries charged, and plenty of hot water, but, we are using fuel that we expect we will need in the doldrums. There are new crew arriving in Tobago on March 5th, so we can't just sit here and wait for wind.

To the tune of the diesel, we had BBQ'd beef with macaroni and cheese for dinner, after a saltwater dip and hot showers on the stern; with a Happy Hour in between. Then, we watched a movie in the saloon; after another fabulous sunset in the West. We were able to enjoy all this while the Auto Pilot guided Cosmos into the night. I hope we get the wind back; it is still 865 miles to the equator.

2/12/03:

Cosmos is experiencing what may be considered to be unusual wind conditions. We are out in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, a thousand miles from anywhere, and we have very little wind. We have been losing the wind, altogether, in the late afternoons, and getting a little back in the late mornings. This forces us to run an engine through the nights. We are not at the location of the doldrums, yet, so it may be a local weather condition.

We have nearly exhausted the contents of Cosmos' library so, to provide some activity for our spare time, Captain Grandpa Joe has invented a helmsmanship contest in which all hands aboard compete by steering manually.  A byproduct of this competition is that Cosmos' batteries save over an hour of power that would be normally be consumed by the autopilot. Additional battery power is saved by the hour of each shift during which everyone is practicing their manual steering technique.

Here is the bottom line. The three major components, electricity, water, and fuel, are very closely related. Cosmos needs electricity for lights, pumps, refrigeration, autopilot, computer, navigation instruments, etc. The solar panels and water generator are always making some power and eventually we have to run an engine to fully satisfy the battery's needs. Running an engine consumes fuel. Cosmos needs fresh water for drinking, dish washing, cleaning, and cooking, etc. The watermaker will make all of the fresh water we need, but, it uses electricity to operate. If we don't have enough electricity in the batteries to make all the water need, we have to run an engine. Running an engine consumes fuel. Cosmos uses Diesel fuel for running the engines to get in or out of harbors, travel in harbors and rivers, propel the boat when there is not enough wind or room to sail, and to make hot water and electricity. If Cosmos has to use an engine everytime we lose the wind, to propel the boat, then there will be less fuel available to run an engine to do all of these other things. Most important, we will need a lot of fuel just to get through the doldrums. So, having these light winds, or no wind, is a great concern.

1430:

Having just completed this afternoon's session of the helmsmanship competition, the score indicates that our champion helmsman is Daniel Walters, of Poland. Daniel will be awarded one of the highly coveted certificates, suitable for framing, personally authored, edited, printed, and signed, by the famous Captain Grandpa Joe, attesting to Daniel's expertise and professionalism under pressure.

2015:

It has been a big day for us. We have just passed the second, small, Chinese ship. They are about 150 feet long, old, and I think that they are charting the bottom of the ocean. We passed the first vessel at about 1430. They were both sitting , idle, until we passed them. Then they slowly got under way on a zig zag coarse; and we saw the second vessel drop a pair of buoys. Our imaginations went wild in trying to figure out what they were doing way out here in the middle of nowhere. After all this time of seeing only sea and sky, it was a real treat to see these ships. We contacted them on the radio, but they did not speak English, and we didn't speak Chinese; other than the one word, "Taiwan".

2/14/03:

Happy Valentine's Day. Captain Grandpa Joe and I called home, today, to deliver Valentine messages. We have been flying the spinnaker anytime there is enough wind to support it; day or night, to save diesel fuel. We have not been this frugal with our beer; the last beer was consumed this evening. In order to keep our minds busy, each crew member is giving a dissertation, on the subject of his choice. This follows the helmsmanship competition. With the mental stimulation from reading, conversation, piloting the boat, making presentations, and operating various equipment, etc; along with the physical exercise of sail handling, routine chores, swimming, keeping our balance on a continuously gyrating pelagic platform, etc, we should remain quite fit.

Cosmos is still angling towards the Equator at 291 degrees with 465 miles to go to that waypoint. Then we will turn towards Tobago.

2/18/03:

A weather map from NASA shows that the light winds that we have been experiencing are the current trend throughout a large area of the South Atlantic. With this information, and the fact that we have been motoring more than we expected, Captain Grandpa Joe decided to visit the Brazilian island of Fernando de Noronha to get diesel fuel. This island was not far out of our way and proved to be rather special.

We anchored Cosmos, yesterday,  in the harbor of Fernando de Noronha at 0900, and departed at 1850. During that interval we set-up the dinghy, decanted twelve,  5 gallon, jerry cans of fuel into Cosmos' fuel tanks, dinghied to the town dock, refilled all of the jerry cans at a nearby gas station. While the crew was doing this, Captain Joe was checking in with Customs and Immigration; who weren't the slightest bit interested in us because we were only staying there for one day. They didn't even stamp our passports. Then we took a tour of the island in a VW powered dune buggy. Everyone on the island seems to have one of these open two seater bodies on a Volkswagon frame with big rear tires.  The four of us, and our guide, made a full load. We drove through downpours, hiked muddy trails, stopped to check our Email and do some grocery shopping, and eat lunch. Then we dinghied back to Cosmos with all this diesel fuel, groceries, and memories of what I think may be the most beautiful island we have visited during the whole circumnavigation. We stowed the dinghy, stowed the jerry cans of fuel, stowed the groceries, took showers on the stern, weighed anchor and left this fine place; too soon.

It is a rainy day, today, and the wind has been variable. Sails up, sails down; motor on, motor off. We are getting very good with these spinnakers. We watched a movie in the saloon, during this rainy afternoon.

2/20/03:

The sailing weather is improving. We had the main and genoa up all last night; doing 6-7 knots. Today we flew the asymmetrical (cruising) spinnaker, and main, doing 7-11 knots. It was mostly sunny, today, with late afternoon showers. The wind and seas are coming from abeam so there is a lot more boat motion than we've had previously, but Cosmos is moving along smartly.

1950 hrs:

The bearing to Tobago is 299 degrees; we're doing about 312 degrees to compensate for leeway and the fact that we couldn't hold the coarse perfectly with the spinnaker during the day. Cosmos is doing about 7 knots, now, with the main and genoa flying, with 1481 miles to go to Tobago. We will be at the Equator in a couple of hours.

2/21/03:

February is going by fast. Today's weather is grey and rainy with the same wind as yesterday; we are really moving along.  Cosmos crossed the Equator this morning at 0100 hrs. Later this morning, Captain Grandpa Joe performed a ceremony for those that had just crossed the Equator for the first time. His chanting had something to do with evolving from a pollywog to an honorary member of The Royal Order of Neptune, and the process was enhanced by generous applications of shaving cream and mustard to the participant. Daniel was the recipient of this honor and wore it proudly.

1545:

We are spinnakering in the rain; 1360 miles to Tobago. 

2/23/03:

1810 hrs;

Cosmos has been under full main and genoa sails all last night and today. We've had 21-26 knot winds from the Northeast. It has been a rough beam reach and Cosmos is tearing along at 8-10 knots. We were going to have BBQ'd beef today, for lunch, but the wind kept blowing out the fire. We were passed by a Dutch container ship this morning and Joost had a long conversation with them, in Dutch. We have 1017 miles to go to Tobago.

2/24/03:

1900 hrs;

Today was the same as yesterday. Only 820 miles to Tobago.  We've seen no traffic, today; only flying fish and Portuguese men-of-war. (great big jellyfish) 

2/25/03:

1320 hrs;

Still rambunctious, beam reach, sailing. Cosmos reached a speed of 11.4 knots during my 0400-0700 watch this morning. The speed instrument remembers the highest speed attained, and someone reached 12.8 knots during last night. The waves are so big that they lift the starboard quarter out of the water far enough that the watermaker pump sucks air at the throughhull fitting. When this happens, which is 10-20 times an hour, we have to back off the relief valve until the pump re-establishes suction, then adjust the relief valve to restart flow through the membrane.  So, now we stand watch over the watermaker in order to restart it as I described. Each crewmember baby-sits for an hour; I'm on now. Oops, there it goes again. We have been doing this all morning, and will continue, until we think we have enough water to last us to Tobago, or calmer seas.

We are 658 miles from Tobago, and fantasizing over what we'll do when we get there.

2205:

Cosmos News Bulletin---As of 2000 hrs. this evening, a new Cosmos record was set. In the 24 hour period of 2000 hrs; 2/24/03, to 2000 hrs; 2/25/03, a Cosmos distance record of 217 nautical miles was attained. I am sure that you are totally blown away by this startling phenomenon, but, it is a pretty good achievement for a 45 foot heavy cruising vessel.

2/26/03:

1800 hrs;

We've enjoyed more of the super sailing throughout last night and today. We made a little more water, today, babysitting the watermaker as we did yesterday. We only made about a quarter of a tank yesterday, and we consumed that. I got a chance to shave this afternoon; the first time since the 1st of  February. It sure feels good. It was a nice, sunny, day today. Only 413 miles to Tobago; won't be long now.

2/27/03:

1736 hrs;

We flew the spinnaker all day, today, with the weather as we expect it will be in the Caribbean. We made more water, saw porpoises frolicking about the boat, and talked to a large crude oil tanker as it motored by. Daniel and Joost have started cleaning up Cosmos in preparation for entering port. It is only 212 miles to Tobago; we might make it tomorrow, but I doubt it.

2/28/03:

1230 hrs;

I am babysitting the watermaker, again. Our water supply usually presents a great mystery when we attempt to account for its consumption. It is like money; no matter how much we make, we will consume it. We can probably fill Cosmos' water tanks in Tobago, but, we may be charged for it and it may be of questionable quality. I hope we get to Tobago with our own water; it is the best, and I have to use the Cosmos water, only, to flush the watermaker. Flushing the watermaker with chlorinated water, or water containing any petroleum products, will damage the filtering membrane. Also, running any harbor water through the unit will only clog up the filters sooner.

Well, I have to tell you about last nights' spinnaker episode. As I have mentioned in the past, we occasionally fly a spinnaker at night. When we do, we are very cautious about the weather conditions and our course. We have also practiced handling this huge sail at night. Shortly after midnight, while dozing in my bunk prior to going on watch at 0100, I heard a loud crack. Then Captain Grandpa Joe hollered for all hands on deck. As we reach the cockpit we were confronted with the sound of the spinnaker flailing in the 22 knot wind, horizontally, at masthead height; glaring deck light and personal head lamps, severe boat motion, and a bit of general confusion, and an overwhelming odor resembling that of raspberry yogurt. After some consultation, it became apparent that the spinnaker pole guy had separated, and we needed to lower and retrieve the sail. We then lowered the sail with the halyard, pulled it aboard with the sheet, and stuffed it in the cockpit. We then raised the mainsail and genoa and resumed our coarse, sailing wing and wing. Then we tidied up all of the lines, and other gear, adrift in the cockpit. All that was left to deal with was this 'eau de yogurt', as well as the slimy goo that now covered our hands and portions of the helm area. It turned out that Captain Grandpa Joe had been enjoying a midnight snack of raspberry yogurt and when the heavily loaded spinnaker pole guy (5/8" polyester line) chafed through against the starboard, lower, shroud, it parted with a loud crack that startled the skipper and the yogurt went flying. Yuck.

2008 hrs:

Tobago is fully in sight at 11.9 miles away. The wind has slackened so the Captain has taken the genoa down and we are heading for Scarborough harbor, in Rockly Bay, with mainsail and diesel. I took the water generator in and stowed it. We will soon get the anchor ready and enter the harbor; the crew is excited.

2200 hrs:

We have anchored Cosmos in Rockly Bay, Scarborough, Tobago. We were unable to raise the Harbor Master, or Harbor Control, or Port Athority, or anyone else on the VHF radio. Captain Grandpa Joe tried earlier this afternoon to call the Harbor Master on the satellite phone, but was just passed from one office to the next. We assume that everyone is preoccupied with the festivities of Carnival. Today is Carnival Friday. We have entered Port on the eve of the biggest party weekend of the year; Carnival. However, we cannot go ashore until we have been cleared by Customs, Immigration, Harbor Master, etc. The crew is itching to start partying, so, we listen to the rhythmic music pounding away in the distance and have a Happy hour aboard Cosmos.

3/1/03:

  0530;

I am awake, the music has finally stopped ashore. I have slept all night without having to stand a watch. It is quiet and still. The sounds of the sea passing the hull and the following seas nudging Cosmos forward, the whining and groaning of the spars and lines as they stretch and stress their way through the blocks and around winches, are gone. I am not tired enough to sleep anymore, but I guess it is the quiet that woke me up.

There is actually a gentle motion to the boat caused by the swells entering the harbor. Cosmos is effected by these swells because she is protruding into the channel just a little. We might have to move Cosmos farther into the anchorage so she doesn't obstruct any boat traffic. What's that noise... sounds like big props...oops, here comes the 0600 big ferry, loaded with Carnival Saturday party folks...and Cosmos is in the way. I better get topside; might have to move the boat.

Later,

George