Looking ahead

Okay, plans change all the time. First of all, by the time I was through the Panama canal, and left for the Galapagos, two years around the world was not within reasonable reach (other than turning into a race around the world). So, it became a three year around the year plan. 2008 was used mostly to cross the Pacific. Now before December 1st I need to be in the Solomon Islands, since that is when the cyclone season starts. Northern and western part of the Solomons are outside the cyclone region.

Original plan was to go to the Philippines next. Then I met Ayako in Fiji, and that made me consider diverting myself to Japan. First thought was Philippines and then Japan. Closer study of pilot charts showed me that is not the best in distance, and even a worse plan when thinking about prevailing winds. So, it is now quite possible that I will leave the Solomon Islands and head straight for Japan (Fukuoka prefecture, Kyushu). Challenges to face are: crossing the equatorial doldrums (but that is included in any travel north from the Solomons), the last 600 miles have a lot of head winds, and it will happen in winter (leaving late December, arriving late January) so it is going to become cold (average daily maximum in Fukuoka in January 9 Celcius, average minimum 2 Celcius).

Realizing that the seas around of Japan have a lot of ship traffic, and that there is a high risk of fog, I am thinking about buying a radar (I have had that in consideration for a while, since my AIS is broken). Of course it comes with the challenge of ordering one and then shipping it to a place where I will be. Also the boat needs its yearly bottom paint job. There are facilities in the Solomon Islands, but I don’t know if they will have a selection of anti-fouling paint.

So, those are the current considerations.