Well, I've avoided another storm that I thought I was going to get into. Commander's Weather have been doing a great job keeping in me out of the contrary winds. Even though I had been looking forward somewhat to my first gale out here I guess its better for the boat that we missed it.
I had been stuck in a frontal zone for the past several days which is why I have not been sailing south but east and even north. If I headed south I would have ended up in strong S and SE winds. The wind has shifted to the NW now but I will keep sailing east to stay in these good winds as long as I can and then duck down to the SE, towards Cape Horn, hopefully Thursday. The weather down here is always changing and always brewing up some kind of trouble. I'm around 2500 miles from the Horn now and I'm getting super excited to finally be doing this!!
Other than counting down the miles to Cape Horn daily, there hasn't been a lot of excitement out here. Its rained almost all day long the past two days so I've been staying down below a lot. So things are pretty normal and time is flying by out here.
For a while it had been getting really cold! At night it got all the way down to 70 degrees! (well, its cold compared to how it has been!) Now that the cold front I was near has passed and the current front from the NW is warm it is warming up a little. 78 degrees tonight!
Have a safe ride to Cape Corn!
you are so brave, God bless you, stay save and take care of yourslef, Good luke.
Hi Abby -- Really glad to get your post tonight! You don't have any idea how much your 'adopted family' out here in bloggerland fret about you when we don't hear from you. That's not said to apply pressure for you to write more....it is said so you will know we really do care VERY MUCH about you and your wellbeing.
Only 2500 miles to Cape Horn! Those miles are going to fly by and soon you will have one Cape at your back. You are doing SO well. Keep up your good work, and remember 'safety first'!
Skipper, thanks for another good entry on your quarterdeck log. More power to you, stay safe and dry.
Well done avoiding the storm. Thank you for the update and for the photo's. I love the powerful cloud, and the sea looks rather flat. Maybe the camera makes it look flat. I take photo's of all the snow we have here, but unfortunately when I look at the photo, it doesn't show how much it really is.
70 seems good. I guess you are prepared that the temp. can become much lower the closer you come to the Horn.
Sail on safe Abby with fair winds.
Before if you were asked that question would you give the same answer as you would give now.
Now that you are out on the ocean away from all. Have what seems like forever to think feel study analize like never before the ocean and all that it is bringing you clarity.
Being away opening your mind more and more with every moment.
Hold on to good it is always with you it will guide you into your potential your future.
Trust what you feel you will find everything to be just as it is so so real.
Not just dreams or endless seemingly random thoughts or feelings.
Thanks for the lovely pics. Great decorations! The sea looks so tranquil - Good Sailing. Our prayers are with you.
Stage 7 of the great Around the World Scotch Relay (AWSR) will be posted soon.
Nice blog as usual, and things appear to be looking up for your weather requirements.
May the wind Gods smile on you. Really like the way you enhance your blobs with appropriate 'phots, good ones too.
Your "beautiful sky" photo is as dramatic as the other world that you are passing over below you. Until the mention of the Akademik Kurchator fracture zone on your blog map I had totally forgotten about.....the ridges, shelves, plains, drifts, trenches, plateaus and fracture zones of the ocean floor. When you get to the cape I think you will pass over the "Shackleton fracture zone". Maybe we could have a fracture zone renamed after you Abby....or would you prefer a drift or a trench?
As you complete Day 45 it's wonderful to read that you are SUPER EXCITED. And you should be...look at what you have accomplished so far...your are doing a terrific job.
Stay alert and have a comfortable night Abby. Pleasant dreams.
john, Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canada eh!
Man good for you, enjoy and be proud of your talents and remember God the giver.
Glad you missed the storm. You will be around the Horn before you know it.
Right now, you are headed for two world records: (1) youngest person to circumnavigate the world; (2) only person to sail around the world and not catch a fish.
I'm going to talk to some local fishermen about the latter and I'll be back with some cheap advice.
Hi Abby, So good to hear from you again, as always. We all worry so much about you. It is nice for you that your time is flying by. Nice to see the sea is calm. Your decorating is nice as well. Our weather too, has been cold, here, but more in the high 50's or low 60's. Keep safe and god be with you always.
Dee T. Santa Clarita, ca.
Thanks for the up-date and the pictures. That storm looks like it covered a lot of territory. Maybe it’s a good thing that you didn’t get there, looks like Commander's Weather is doing a fine job keeping you safe. I know you’d like to get into some challenging weather, and I would like to see you get your wish, but lets not go to extremes, ok,….please.
I liked your console but I was surprised at how well lit the cabin is. I guess the well placed lights account for that. Very nice.
Jessica has been at sea for 144 days and just passed 16,500nm’s. She’s in pretty good spirits, topped her meal off with some chocolate.
Take good care of yourself and your crew. Be cautious and stay tethered.
Nice Blog Abby. Must be frustrating with the winds but you will get there!! Keep smiling brave girl! We are all following you.
Thank you for the update, Miss Abby. We're Habby -Happy- to read that you avoided that storm and that everything is well on board. A good time for some schoolwork, maybe? (Huh, forgive me, it was a nasty joke!).
Safe and smooth surf... The roaring ones shouldn't be very far, now?
nice pics, is that blue thing like your cockpit inside? I clearly know nothing about boats :). Looks pretty cosy anyway.
Stay safe, wishing you all the best.
Nothing like beating a storm! Onto the Cape!
Hi Captain Abby,Your doing great! Hang in there and you will be crossing the Cape in no time.
Be Safe! Be Happy! Godspeed!
I just found your official website. Very high tech, & informative. It's great to have someone from the U.S. to cheer on in your quest to be the youngest person to circumnavigate the globe solo, non-stop & unassisted. If you can complete it after Jessica Watson, I think your record is going to be safe for a while. Your both amazing young women in a class by yourselves.
As a mom I must say, thank the Lord you avoided that storm! However, I can understand why you would want to at least experience the storm. I am sure you will get that chance.
Girl, I love that you are decorating your boat. That will make it very homey. The pics are great and love your blog. keep it up and Psalm 91!!!
After all our snow and frosts recently we are now having longer spells of sunshine and blue skies. It is spring-like here in the English Lakes. The daffodil buds are full to bursting point.... soon we will see their golden heads!
I am so happy to read that your team are making sure you avoid the worst of the bad weather.
Cape Horn...My that will be an enormous feat for you. When through with it... one to put under your belt as being the best of times.
Hello from Ohio, where our only seas are the corn fields!
I'll be praying for you! I'm sure you've been told this multiple times, but what you are doing is awesome! You are really inspiring!
Dear Abby you are one amazing young women, along with Jessica, Mike and your brother Zac. You may not think so at the moment but later in your life you will. Keep the faith and don't give up.
Glad you missed the storm. Looking froward to you rounding the Horn, as well. Kinda like a major point to reached.:) Was wondering what you do in a rain storm. Makes sense.... stay inside. Oh well, only thing I know about boats is it has a stern and a bow. That's it.. Keep up the good work. Wishing you Blues Skies and friendly winds.
Abby nice post good to see pictures thought the decorations were stunning Happy Days!Great weather routing avoiding heavy weather when possiable !Enjoying following your Voyage ! Cheers!
Have to give the watermaker a run at least once a week to stop it getting all yucky!
You are so brave. I love seeing the photos you post. It was pretty cool to read that your boat came from Rhode Island!
cool pic of the storm. post pics often; good luck!
Great post! My son Cole loves the pics of the inside of the boat. He is also counting the miles till you get to the Horn.
Thanks for the great post and pics, Abby.
That first photo the sky looks ominous!.. Are u getting cabin fever from being down below alot?
Your sky pic reminds me of June gloom on the way to Catalina. Of course it brightens up as soon as you get to Eric's (best cheesburgers in the world on the wharf in Avalon)as I am sure you know. Your nav station looks very cozy and homey with your new 'decorations'.
I can 'feel' your excitement about reaching the Cape. Trust me, we all are very excited as well.
Please stay safe and vigilant and enjoy every minute of your GREAT adventure. I know I am!
What an amazing voyage. You realize, don't you, that you will be able to publish your blog as a book when you've completed the journey?
Could you not center the text, but align it to the left? It's kind of hard to read.
On top of being a good photographer you make very intelligible descriptions of the wind conditions. Ever thought of becoming a marine meteorologist?
Hey Abby ... You got to take a right girl as you are heading back to Peru! Just kidding as I understand Wild Eyes is powered by the wind and it's therefore impossible to head in a straight line to your next way point. I can totally identify with non-stop rain driving you inside as I am waiting out the rain here in the Pacific NW to get back to gardening and outside projects. Soak in all the warmth you can now because soon you'll be eastward bound in the great southern ocean and you'll probably not feel really warm again till you start heading north from New Zealand.
Did Scott successfully trouble shoot the autopilot glitch?
Abby, Ive read enough your blog entrees now to understand you're level of sailing expertise and it answers my question as to why you are doing what you are doing. Talking about frontal zones shows your education in weather, talking about outer tracks and foresails shows your intimacy with the boat (and it wouldn't hurt to add definitions here and there please, like "sheets"; how many readers knew they were lines to pull the sail?) And sailing from a very young age all equates to taking on a circumnavigation. You have to also be courageous to be alone at sea for such a long period and a visionary to plot your future.
Cheers and how about another video when you have time.
thanks for the photos and update.
Hello from the midwest, just outside of Chicago, where the land is as flat as the ocean in your picture looks.
Although the journey might seem long, the day will come when you look back on your adventure and it will seem to have gone by in a flash! So, savor each day and know that a lot of us out here are thinking about you.
Well Abby, while I'm tardy and intermittent on my interaction on your blog (due to my insane schedule) but, I must say, your pictures, your frequency of blog entries, and your “friends” make one feel more intimate than with Zac… No offense to Zac by any means, love him, but you’re quite the character… Sail safe!
Didn't know about you...now I do.
So young and so ahead a lot of us, wish you luck.
Omg! I can`t believe your sailing solo! That is ssssooooo awesome! I really love what you are doing! People should make a whole movie about your world adventure! I`d like to be friends with you email me!
I'm enjoying following your Journey..and I've kept pace with Jessica too. She is using a Fleming windvane for her auto pilot..You mentioned you are down below but I presume you too have an autopilot that helps keep your heading..while you nod off..or read a good book..is your wind guided too as hers is? Hopefully you put in some of those french fried potato sticks..(in the can) those are quite nice too for snacking and keep well..
Loving your little cabin, looks quite spacious for a boat! :D ... not that I know a lot about boats! lol Looks like your having an amazing adventure! Good luck and God Bless!!
It is super well written and beautifully illustrated.
The "New Complete Sailing Manual"
@Trentgs ... If you had been here since the beginning, you'd have read many informative opinions about Fleming windvanes vs electronic autopilots. Abby uses the latter and has a backup. One commenter said Abby's Open 40 does not steer as well with a windvane under different wind directions as Jessica's S&S 34.
Great to hear from you again. Can I suggest you try out the heater before it get too cold and you find that it doesn't work a quick run every few days will keep the lines of diesel running freely before you reach the extreme weather conditions of the Cape. It will not be very comfortable without heat if you dont check it now.
Glad you missed the weather front you will be getting all the bumps and bashes from rough weather soon enough instead of wishing it on yourself.
Safety first keep your harness on and be prepared for the unexpected.
Abby, we note that no one mentioned Akademik Kurchatov Fracture Zone today ? Google knows where it is but the scenery there is substantialy disappointing. Now Easter Isle, that's different or so I'm told!
Mother Marianne did a touching interview with the sailing mag., excellent grades there all around. Thanks again for the highly anticipated updates Captain Abby.
From the B4 first graders at Jesse Hall Elementry School Sparks, NV!!!
I can't wait to follow your trip as you round the Cape. Maybe we can get some video of the rough seas down there? My first exposure to solo circumnavigation of the globe was in reading a book called The Voyage of American Promise (from about 20 years ago). It was written by Dodge Morgan, who at the time set the record for solo circumnavigation. He set sail from Maine and rounded the Cape of Good Hope then stayed in the southern ocean all the way to Cape Horn. I'll never forget his descriptions of riding out the 60 foot waves that the storms kicked up down there. Hope you can avoid anything like that!
When you get to Cape Horn do you sail out around the Cape or cut inside and through the chain of islands there?
None of us can even begin to imagine what an adventure it must be. You are VERY brave soul. God be with you on your journey, Abby. And look for the flash of green light at sunrise and sunset! You should have plenty of opportunities!