No Plastic Waste Voyage update
by Stephen Davis 19 Oct 2020 20:16 UTC
Jon Sanders © Stephen Davis
At the time of sending this update Jon is 370 nm east of Bundaberg, Queensland. Jon has sailed 21,366nm (40,000kms) since leaving Fremantle almost one year ago. He is currently on a WSW course making 3.7 knots in moderate conditions.
Jon departed Tahiti Friday 18 September 2020. The non-stop passage from Tahiti to Bundaberg was expected to take about 22 days in moderate sea and wind conditions.
However, Jon has been hit by three significant storms in quick succession. "It's the worst conditions I've seen in decades" was Jon's assessment. The anemometer has been knocked out of action as the wind speed passed 65knots (120kms per hour). Earlier this week Jon was sailing bare pole (no sails up) dragging a tyre over the stern as a drogue once again in an attempt to keep the boat into the wind and waves. With floorboards awash all three bilge pumps were working hard. Perie Banou II, despite having no sail aloft was heeling so much that water flooded the engine. As a consequence, Jon has lost use of the engine for power back-up and emergency use.
Jon has also lost instruments as electronic navigation system has been knocked out. He is sailing with wet charts and sextant only (Lieutenant James Cook style) for navigation. He continues on course to Bundaberg with ETA revised today to be Wednesday 21 or possibly Thursday 22 October. ETA Bundaberg is very much dependent upon wind conditions in the next few days.
An application for quarantine exemption has been lodged with Queensland Health. Arriving after 34 days at sea, a solo sailor with no contact with another other person, one would hope the Queensland Government would grant Jon a quarantine exemption. He very much needs a rest and the time to make repairs to Perie Banou II before continuing south along the east coast of Australia.
Jon's account of his passage from Tahiti can be found at jonsanders.com.
Jon's current position and his track can be found on Minderoo Foundation's No Plastic Waste site.
With our thanks for your support and ongoing interest.