On Sep 4, 5:12*pm, "Gregory Hall" wrote:
....
I scoff because I can take a look-see using Google Maps.

http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworl...rt_Moresby.htm

You might want to zoom *it in a couple notches so you can see the reef and
other obstructions. And you can readily see if there's a headwind leaving
port then there will be a tailwind returning to port. You can also see the
area is wide open with few dangers and obstructions until you get to the
pass in the outlying reef proper. ...

Nice picture. I have a chart of the area. It is a bit reefier than
you might guess from the photo. The entrance to the yacht harbor is
particularly full of bommies and they don't show at all in the sat
pic. The prevailing winds in that area are the SE trades but, of
course, I don't know what Zac was seeing. The waves that you see in
the pass are likely refractions from incoming surf rather than wind
waves. I'm not going to argue that Zac is telling God's own truth.
He is, after all, a sailor selling a drama. I also don't know where
he was when his motor went south. Still, it is very possible that
when his engine quit he was drifting onto a dangerous lee shore. If
he was near the Basilisk Passage in a SE'r'ly then he'd be hard on the
wind on stb to return to the harbor. I admit, I'm guessing about the
particulars but, the story is not beyond belief to me.

-- Tom.

From his blog:

The faulty oil pressure sensor inside the engine turned out to be the
problem. The guys at Lohbergers didn't have the exact one for my engine so
they had to machine the one they had to fit my engine. Everything was
running well so I got everything prepped to go. Martin gave me a hand with
decommissioning my dingy. I said my goodbyes and checked out of the yacht
club. Around 4:00pm I dropped the mooring and headed out into the bay. It
was blowing a good 25 knots, gusting higher and right on the nose so
progress was slow. The way out of the port is a bit tricky at the best of
times with two large reefs and lots of shipping. As I headed out I had to
dodge a tug towing a barge. Right as I got past it the engine stopped dead!
I tried to start it again with no success. So now it's blowing 27 knots
blowing me on a reef about half a mile away. I spun the boat around, pulled
out the genny and turned back toward the yacht club about 2 miles a way
sailing in between massive container ships all the while trying to make
enough up wind progress to clear the reef. It was tricky but I was managing
OK tacking back and forth in 25s and 30s so I ran down below and called the
yacht club for a tow in. Their guys had gone home and it was going to be 30
mins before I could be towed in. I had to kill time tacking back and forth
in between ships trying to stay away from the the patches with sunken ships
that were only a few feet beneath the surface but invisible til you're right
on top of them. After about of 20 minutes of tacking around off the mouth of
the yacht club the guys came out and towed me back into a mooring. I got my
dinghy out, set it all up and went in for dinner at the club. I got back to
the boat for a good sleep - all the stress is exhausting. This morning I've
been working with some mechanics to drain my tank and hook out whatever is
inside.

Endquote.

I'd agree with the OP subject line but without the sarcasm. Well handled
under trying circumstances for someone so young.

--
Roger Long

On Sep 4, 8:40*pm, "Roger Long" wrote:


I'd agree with the OP subject line but without the sarcasm. *Well handled
under trying circumstances for someone so young.

--
Roger Long


The OP is very intimadated by Zac. I think he is a dis-abled bitter
old fool.

Neal hates Zac

"Hatred is the coward's revenge for being intimidated.” G. B. Shaw

Fred

wrote

The OP is very intimadated by Zac. I think he is a dis-abled bitter old
fool.

Most likely. Some nuggets of wisdom sprinkled in his posts over the past
few months were beginning to make me think that he might actually have been
a competent sailor in his pre-Gollum like existance but this post banished
those thoughts. No one who had ever dealt with real cruising issues and
emergencies could have questioned Zac's decision to turn back at that point.
While the OP may have re-fitted the boat that was shown on his defunct web
site, it's pretty clear that not much water ever passed under her keel.
What water may have, didn't do much to develop the owner's judgement.

--
Roger Long

In article ,
says...
wrote

The OP is very intimadated by Zac. I think he is a dis-abled bitter old
fool.

Most likely. Some nuggets of wisdom sprinkled in his posts over the past
few months were beginning to make me think that he might actually have been
a competent sailor in his pre-Gollum like existance but this post banished
those thoughts. No one who had ever dealt with real cruising issues and
emergencies could have questioned Zac's decision to turn back at that point.
While the OP may have re-fitted the boat that was shown on his defunct web
site, it's pretty clear that not much water ever passed under her keel.
What water may have, didn't do much to develop the owner's judgement.

--
Roger Long


Quite the opposite in fact. Had he proceed without an engine his
judgement would be in doubt.

Can you imagine the posts had he continued on without an engine and
arrived at a convoluted and jam packed marina only to run into some
millionaire's yacht while trying to sail in?

--
Cheers,

Bruce in Bangkok

Zac is back at sea FWIW.

Two days lost in a non-racing circumnavigation. So much for "giving up".

--
Roger Long

Great news!

According to the list of those making donations to Zaks great
adventure, both Wilbur and his sock puppet Gregory have contibuted.
Perhaps they're trying to make amends for contibuting nothing of
substance to this board.

Thanks Rodger for you insightful summation of the OP in this thread.
Hard to even imagine that some people are so cold hearted as seen
exhibited by Wilburrrrrrrrrrrr

As I read some of his ranting, I have to wonder if he's reading
the same sorry on Zac's blog that I have been following since
the day he left MDR..

This kid's got both balls and brains and is doing one hell of a job
as far as I can tell.

Those who can do, those who can't I guess just bitch out loud
in these news groups Go Zac..

Bill White

"Roger Long" wrote in message
...
Zac is back at sea FWIW.

Two days lost in a non-racing circumnavigation. So much for "giving up".

--
Roger Long