What else will this day throw at me?
I wonder what else this day is going to throw at me.
Those were the words I muttered to myself just a few days ago. I had already sailed solo non stop over 100 nautical miles through all kinds of conditions and had 20 more to go.
Little did I know that an intense two hours was about to start as giant swells built near the coastline and I was nearly toppled more than once!
But I have made it this far!
And some of the events of the past few days, and indeed the last three years, seems surreal!
This is a significant week for me. It is my birthday week and a time when I have often made key decisions.
All my life I have dreamed of sailing across an ocean and I had all but given up on when I moved to Japan.
Birthday Milestones for Pacific Solo
March 20, 2018 (63rd Birthday):
Sailing was still distant dream but, almost immediately, I was introduced to people in the Japanese and foreign sailing communities and, within weeks, had obtained my Class 2 boat license.
March 20, 2019 (64th Birthday):
I announced my Pacific Solo Challenge: to sail across the Pacific through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch before I turned 70. At that point, I had spent only a few hours at the helm with my newly issued boat operator's license. And the idea of owning a boat was still a dream. But within a few weeks of turning 64, I found Wahine.
March 20, 2020 (65th Birthday):
I had been living on Wahine, a Gib Sea 402 (French built 40-foot fin keel sailboat), since June the previous year at a place called Yumenoshima Marina (the Island of Dreams).
March 2021 (66th Birthday Week):
Having left the Island of Dreams (for good) a few weeks ago, and after three months of intense preparation, procuring sponsors, and learning, learning, learning with the help of so many volunteer crew, sponsors and Patrons, I have sailed, over 200 nautical miles, from Tokyo to Mie Prefecture, all solo and the last 129 nautical miles non-stop (over 27 hours). The purpose of this voyage is to test, train, and prepare myself and the boat for our crossing.
So here I am, sitting in a sheltered bay, just days away from my 66th reflecting on my passage thus far.
I am reminded that Pacific Solo is not solo at all. I could not be doing this without the solid support of all my family. Kande (and indeed everyone) has been amazing in their support of my endeavor despite the worry I am causing them.
Educating and Telling the Story
Pacific Solo has become more than just a personal quest . . . . my route will take me through the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and I am linking with an increasing number of schools and students who will experience the ocean vicariously through Wahine and me.
History Channel, Sorted Magazine, and Outdoor Japan have approached me to tell the story to their viewers. And then there is the growth of the Pacific Solo You Tube Channel that seeks to inform and inspire.
As I said, such a steep learning curve and now doing all of this as a pensioner.
So, thank you to all those who have helped me so far. But, before I can go further in my training, I have to fix some things, add some things, and better equip Wahine for offshore. It's still early days, but already each day has thrown new challenges my way and I wonder what is next.
Even Solo Requires a Crew
Some people have asked how they can support me on the next phase. Well, the easiest way to give a birthday boost to Wahine and me as we continue her upgrade, is to go to my GoFundMe page.
Or you could also consider becoming a Patron, which by giving a small monthly contribution you help keep the YT Channel going and, in so doing, help inform and inspire.
There is also the Pacific Solo Store which can help a little if you purchase something. Or even just subscribing to my YouTube Channel (it's free) gives me a list and increases the potential of Google providing a bit of revenue to the project.
Pacific Solo is really a misnomer. I have only gotten this far because of the community that has formed around the Pacific Solo idea. I am humbled, not only by the sea but, by the generosity and love of others.
