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July 25, 2006 04:09 AM
Arrived in Australia
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - Two days ago we limped into Australia, broken, a little bruised, but not beaten; certainly not beaten. The fact that I've made it here represents a big milestone for me. Since sailing out of Panama 3 1/2 months ago, I've managed to cross the worlds biggest Ocean, logging 8400 NM (15,000km) in the process. I've visited 5 different countries and 9 Pacific islands, most of which I'd never heard of a year ago. I've seen more sunrises during this crossing than I'd seen in my lifetime.
This last leg has been agonizingly slow for us. To take 7 days to sail 700 NM from New Caledonia to Australia is agonizingly slow for a boat that managed to sail the entire Atlantic Ocean in less than 18 days. The reason for such a slow crossing had to do almost entirely with the fact that our rig nearly fell over when the port shroud broke in some heavy seas. Thanks to an emergency tack and a quick bit of jury rigging we were able to keep the mast from toppling into the sea. The real pain, the agonizing bit, was that we no longer could sail the boat with the wind blowing across the port side. We spent an entire 24 hour period drifting backwards, albeit slowly thanks to our sea anchor (an underwater parachute), waiting for the wind to change.
In any case, we made it. I'm here in Australia.
Comments
congrats bro.
that's a big step you just completed.
i'm gonna be in malaysia aug 11-22. don't think i can make it down to oz, but if by chance you can get up to malaysia...you know how to get ahold of me.
keep it up.
Ryan that's awesome!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
Those of us still on this side of the planet raise our glasses to you.
Nice job man, that's a huge accomplishment and it must be pretty sweet out there. Keep up the great work(if you call it that) and have FUN!! Hope all is well.
Hey Ryan. I can't believe you're actually out there, livin' the dream. And all I got was the crummy t-shirt!...
Glad to hear you are safe and sound, and will probably get some rest, before you head out on your next adventure. Is it mapped out yet, or are you waiting for the wind to blow?
ps. nice beard you're workn' on there! Fits the whole profile... ;-)
Mm-mmm... Sounds pretty intense, but sooo nice.
Un peu en retard dans mes lectures du blog sur la Route de la vie, mais woooo qu'elles sont débiles émenthal toutes les aventures qui te sont arrivées... Des tortues géantes des îles Galappagos à l'arrivée tant attendue en Australie, man, you rock! It's always nice to read about a traveler's adventures, it almost feels as if we're travelling along with you...
Anyhoo, gotta go do some translations, I hope - I don't have any doubt in fact - you'll have lots of fun in kangoroo kingdom...
à plus,
amélie
PS. BTW, I did my Advanced Open Water Diver certif in fucking freezing cold Quebec water, saw lots of nice... trouts. we-ou!
Amazing, amazing, AMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAZING!!!
Dude, this is officially amazing! (Have I said that already?!)
Am SO proud of you, what a feat! You're like a proper, full-on adventurer-explorer now, hats off to ya.
Am in a sweaty, stuffy office in London, insane with jealousy.
Have fun in Brisvegas. This deserves a drink...
xxx