At 14:24 our time I received this message from our sailors
DOING WELL LAT IS 45 48 LONG IS 49 37 LOVE TO ALL
Mary and Bonney Shelley are going to post a map / chart to the blog.
That way we will all be able to follow their progress.
It is a relief to know that we can still stay in touch and it will be exciting to
follow their course.
Rainer has over a thousand pictures and is busy putting some of them on his own website.
He has to start with the later pictures and work backwards so that they will all be in order from leaving Quebec to arriving in St. John's. He is also adding comments to each one so that we know what we are looking at.....oops just heard via the mokum grapevine that he may be posting the pictures directly to the blog. I am dying to see them....I am sure it will be worth the wait.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Mokum the adventure - part 2!
At exactly 11:30 local time this morning (10:00 for us here in Cambridge, KW area) the sails were hoisted and I watched Mokum sail out of sight past Signal Hill and around Cape Spear. Nobody made speeches, no popping of corks, just goodbyes and waves as Mokum slipped away from the dock.
The weather was fabulous - warm and sunny - blue skies - but that will all soon change - according to the weather forecast.
I waved until I couldn't wave any more and watched until they disappeared around the Cape. I just arrived back in Cambridge and there is a message which reads HELLO WE ARE SAFE BYE BYE sent from the sat phone. Erik also sent a message which reads
SIGNAL HILL SEZ HI.
With the satellite phone they are only capable of sending text messages to a cell phone. This is disappointing because we had hoped to receive a daily report by e-mail. I will pass on any messages we receive. Probably they will report their position in longtitude and latitude so we can follow along.
That's all for now folks.
Time for a drink.
Cheers. "To Mokum"!
The weather was fabulous - warm and sunny - blue skies - but that will all soon change - according to the weather forecast.
I waved until I couldn't wave any more and watched until they disappeared around the Cape. I just arrived back in Cambridge and there is a message which reads HELLO WE ARE SAFE BYE BYE sent from the sat phone. Erik also sent a message which reads
SIGNAL HILL SEZ HI.
With the satellite phone they are only capable of sending text messages to a cell phone. This is disappointing because we had hoped to receive a daily report by e-mail. I will pass on any messages we receive. Probably they will report their position in longtitude and latitude so we can follow along.
That's all for now folks.
Time for a drink.
Cheers. "To Mokum"!
Ocean Conditions and Links
For updated ocean conditions, visit: http://www.oceanweather.com/data/
More coverage today in the Kitchener Record (see link): http://www.therecord.com/home_page_local_story/home_page_local_story_1102253.html
More coverage today in the Kitchener Record (see link): http://www.therecord.com/home_page_local_story/home_page_local_story_1102253.html
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Set to Sail
I have just had a call from Martin - the Crew have had a busy few days re-stocking and fine-tuning the boat, but have managed to take in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of St. John's. Having dined on lobster, cod, and steak, they are about to settle in for their last night in port before setting sail in the morning - next stop - UK!!! The weather forecast is good for tomorrow and they hope to be in the Gulf Stream by the time the rains catch up with them. Thanks for all the farewell messages - they have been appreciated. The satellite phone is up and running and we're hoping to keep you posted as we receive text messages from the crew.
Mary Shelley
Mary Shelley
erik signing in, thanks to lesley...
hello to all - the trip is, well, what a trip, as we say !!
i'm only sorry that each and all of my friends are not on board as well - Nfld. is a treat, anyone looking for a destination for a few weeks of travel can safely check things out here - geography and hospitality combine to a make a fine brew - we were lucky to be invited to participate in a harbour race (and booze up, to be sure), and i very luckily got invited (thanks Diedre) to the closing night of the White Stripes Canadian tour - nothing like a really loud concert to clear the sea air out of your system........
love and hugs to ALL, good luck to Kundan with the move to Guelph, and happy birthday Niels !!!
more from the salty water later.
erik.
i'm only sorry that each and all of my friends are not on board as well - Nfld. is a treat, anyone looking for a destination for a few weeks of travel can safely check things out here - geography and hospitality combine to a make a fine brew - we were lucky to be invited to participate in a harbour race (and booze up, to be sure), and i very luckily got invited (thanks Diedre) to the closing night of the White Stripes Canadian tour - nothing like a really loud concert to clear the sea air out of your system........
love and hugs to ALL, good luck to Kundan with the move to Guelph, and happy birthday Niels !!!
more from the salty water later.
erik.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Sunday morning! All hands on deck!
Scrubbing brushes in hand the crew are literally swabbing the decks of Mokum on this fair morning in St Johns.
Yesterday they were challenged to participate in a race that was organized there in the bay. I don't know how they placed but i I am sure they will all have enjoyed themselves.
The last I heard Erik, after 3 hours on the phone with the technical department, had finally managed to resolve the issue of the laptop, program and sat phone all working together. Although I have not noticed any mails coming our way just yet.
Long time friends of Jan Pieter and I, Joanne and Warren Bitch, are on their way to St. John's today to offer support and say goodbyes. I will get there early this evening and Martin Shelley and David Meier will arrive just after midnight tonight.
Monday morning we will all be reunited. I am looking forward to breakfast.......I wonder if Pim is rustling up that specialty we all had to drool over when the first pictures came out?
Thanks to all who have posted comments. The guys on board will be able to tune in and read them when I get there with my laptop and we have a wireless connection at the hotel nearby.
Yesterday they were challenged to participate in a race that was organized there in the bay. I don't know how they placed but i I am sure they will all have enjoyed themselves.
The last I heard Erik, after 3 hours on the phone with the technical department, had finally managed to resolve the issue of the laptop, program and sat phone all working together. Although I have not noticed any mails coming our way just yet.
Long time friends of Jan Pieter and I, Joanne and Warren Bitch, are on their way to St. John's today to offer support and say goodbyes. I will get there early this evening and Martin Shelley and David Meier will arrive just after midnight tonight.
Monday morning we will all be reunited. I am looking forward to breakfast.......I wonder if Pim is rustling up that specialty we all had to drool over when the first pictures came out?
Thanks to all who have posted comments. The guys on board will be able to tune in and read them when I get there with my laptop and we have a wireless connection at the hotel nearby.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Safe in St. John's
After the best day of sailing to date Mokum and the crew arrived in St.John's yesterday - right on schedule. Actually they are ahead of their projected schedule - but there is still a lot to do before they finally wave goodbye and set out across the Atlantic next Wednesday. Yesterday they did some "real" sailing and experienced seven foot swells.
It was a beautiful sail into port for Reiner and Pim whose time on board has come to an end. They will return home within the next few days, no doubt with tales to tell and hopefully lots of pictures to post on the blog.
Yesterdays sightings included an "enormous" whale - as opposed to the, I guess, relatively smaller ones they have been seeing all along!- and lots of Puffins who swim along using their wings and slapping the water and actually seem to be racing against Mokum.
When I spoke to the crew this morning they were making to do lists which include going up the mast to check the antenna connection, renting a car for Monday to get the final tasks seen to, filling propane tanks...although they have downloaded the program onto the computer they are unable to connect with the sat phone in order to send their own e-mails so that to will be another of the many tasks that have to be dealt with before Wednesday.
I hope to get to St John's on Sunday and will be there to wave them out.
I just want to mention, to the many people who want to wish our sailors well, that anyone can post a comment. Just click on "comments" at the end of this entry and enter your comments, messages or well wishes. Over and out.
It was a beautiful sail into port for Reiner and Pim whose time on board has come to an end. They will return home within the next few days, no doubt with tales to tell and hopefully lots of pictures to post on the blog.
Yesterdays sightings included an "enormous" whale - as opposed to the, I guess, relatively smaller ones they have been seeing all along!- and lots of Puffins who swim along using their wings and slapping the water and actually seem to be racing against Mokum.
When I spoke to the crew this morning they were making to do lists which include going up the mast to check the antenna connection, renting a car for Monday to get the final tasks seen to, filling propane tanks...although they have downloaded the program onto the computer they are unable to connect with the sat phone in order to send their own e-mails so that to will be another of the many tasks that have to be dealt with before Wednesday.
I hope to get to St John's on Sunday and will be there to wave them out.
I just want to mention, to the many people who want to wish our sailors well, that anyone can post a comment. Just click on "comments" at the end of this entry and enter your comments, messages or well wishes. Over and out.
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