Trust the Process

Day 7, odometer 211M, distance from start 167M

Sunday and Monday were difficult days with a westerly breeze which periodically turned WSW. Even though the seas were fairly calm with rolling long period waves, combined with the current that runs down along these shores, they threatened to pull my rowboat toward shore, costing me the westing that I had fought to gain.

There was sea fog around me reducing visibility at times to a couple hundred meters. When I spotted a vessel nearby, I raised them by VHF to confirm that they could see my AIS and radar signals. Yesterday we were chastised by USCG Fort Bragg about 40M east of us when the navigator on a tanker chatted me up about my voyage and my rowboat. We are supposed to raise another vessel on channel 16, common hailing channel then ask to meet at a different working channel to continue our conversation, so we complied. I was actually pleased to confirm that with my simple handheld VHF, I could talk clearly from such a distance.

My 360-degree white navigation light was not going to help in those conditions. The worst part about the marine layer was the slow soaking mist that it swept across all surfaces including my clothes. If I slept or stopped to eat or to make water, I lost ground due East, and I had to stay out and fight. If I slept, it was on the clock. Four hours in two hour blocks monitoring, then back out for 12.

Late yesterday, the wind turned NW and today the skies are clear blue. The high pressure system is restoring itself, bringing me much needed northerly winds. As I write this in the cabin, the rowboat is traveling south at an average of 1.5 knots. Last night while I slept it traveled about 19M! These favorable conditions should remain through the rest of this week which is my chance to get farther away from land.

To summarize, I must first design a route that is most likely to succeed. I do this by studying climatological data going back over a decade. As such, I get a statistical sense of what the ocean will offer at a given location at a given time of the year. I also take into account storm seasons and tracks. Then my challenge is to stay on that route. The process is to stop or slow unfavorable outcomes on my course, say by rowing or putting out a para-anchor and to take advantage of desirable conditions to either accelerate toward the favorable outcome or to rest. Accomplished enough times, this cycle of effort and rest brings me closer to my destination.

Erden