Letters


forget: (1) the incredible absence of any ships, aircraft, or other human presence, and (2) how fast the weather can turn deadly in the latitudes south of 40°S. Even though we camped on Heard Island during Austral Summer (late January), our weather station recorded sustained winds of 55 mph gusting over 70 mph during one storm (at night, of course). It was small comfort that we had bolted our 100 mph-rated polar shelters directly to the bedrock of the island. We were lucky. The first team of 14 Australians, who established the original outpost on Heard in 1947, were very nearly shipwrecked when, on the first day of Austral Summer, they survived a storm of 100+mph winds, during which their barometer dropped to 27.88 in. In the tropics, this is category- 4 hurricane pressure. Our transportation for the Heard expedition was a 400-foot French research vessel, Marion Dufresne, built specifically to survive in these waters -- but even this strong, massive ship stops making the voyage before the autumnal equinox (last sail, mid-March) and doesn’t attempt it again until six months later! It was impressive to experience her being pounded on the beam by 55 knot winds and 30-foot seas as soon as we departed Heard. And this was summer! On Kerguelen, we were in a good anchorage with


shelter from the westerlies, but it was common to see the winds build from flat-calm to 35 knots in 10 minutes, without any warning whatsoever. Fortunately, we were lucky on that trip, never seeing more than about 15 foot seas, even though it was uncomfortably late in the season (March/April).


I can’t imagine someone with zero sailing experience in the southern ocean attempting a single-handed crossing in mid-winter. I’m still dumbfounded that Miss Sunderland would agree to put herself in that much danger. But, I suppose that’s why we’ve always sent young people to war: they’re still too young to comprehend their own mortality.


Michael Mraz Bellevue, WA


Experience aside, there were a great many seasoned ocean racing veterans that stated they wouldn’t even think of sailing the Indian Ocean at that time of year. I sincerely hope that this “youngest” to do whatever record trend stops. Hopefully, Abby’s “fortunate” experience will make people think twice about putting themselves or their children’s lives purposely in jeopardy - but I doubt it.


Selfless Support in Tahiti


I wanted to share my experience with Tahiti Yacht Agents and give them my wholehearted endorsement. My wife and I departed in our trawler yacht from the Galapagos on May 29th, enroute to the Marquesas. On June 10th, my wife started complaining of numbness


48° NORTH, AUGUST 2010 PAGE 14


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90