Southern Light

Southern Light

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Southern Light is a gaff rigged schooner with bow sprit. Jim, has been a sailor his whole life and has done a number of long trips. This will be his 5th time crossing the Pacific between Canada and New Zealand. He started sailing around 55 years ago using a sextant and compass to navigate. This is the first trip where his family have been able to use technology to communicate with him while he is at sea. What a difference it makes. The boat, Southern Light, is one of a kind. He built it himself in New Zealand almost 40 years ago. Anyways, he is now 75 years old, and still out there on the sea. The 2017 south pacific fleet is really enjoying following their progress. Home port is Vancouver

Recent Updates

Southern Light - June 8, 2017
Posted:

they heard us as we got a roger roger but no copy on them so this report is estimated from their InReach report earlier. They will be smelling the coffee and croissants by now though. We are!

Southern Light - June 7, 2017
Posted:

Very light copy to Minerva this time. All going well. gettng very close. We wish we were there.

Southern Light - June 6, 2017
Posted:

This position from inReach. They were there but this is the first morning even Pigrim could not copy them. Wx OK so nothing to worry about.

Southern Light - June 5, 2017
Posted:

All well. Suggested they stay east for a bit then head direct to Tahiti in a few days. Thanks Ron on Pilgrim who has amazing ears.

Southern Light - June 4, 2017
Posted:
This is an approximate position based on the InReach report. We got a roger roger for it being close enuf for government work! Are on the edge of the frontal band so will likely have NW15-20. We get ... Read More
Southern Lights - June 2, 2017
Posted:

not much wind but he sounds cheerful. Thanks Ron on Pilgrim for the detail.

Southern Lights - June 1, 2017
Posted:

Wow, a real chatty day. Love to all. 100%happy. No fish

Southern Lights - May 31, 2017
Posted:

they could hear us but we struggled with them except for the roger roger when David talked about wx for the next few days. I asked for a message from them for you folk following them tomorrow. r

Southern Lights - May 30, 2017
Posted:

back on route for Tahiti . Message from Ginny and family passed.

Southern Lights - May 29, 2017
Posted:
Just at the end of the front and they are sounding a bit down. Even asked about diverting to Rarotonga! But this is only 10deg difference and they would get head winds so we hope they dont give up on ... Read More
Southern Lights - May 28, 2017
Posted:

Radio strong for a couple of words and then fades so is not getting good power or the batteries are low. But they are all good and in a couple of days will start heading for Tahiti.

Southern Lights - May 26, 2017
Posted:

good course. Thanks pilgrim for the relay. We congratulated the electronic genises on board

Southern Lights - May 25, 2017
Posted:
Well this took a lot of effort from several boats as their radio is very weak today. Maybe low batteries. However they can hear well and family messages have been received. Will try after the weather ... Read More
Southern Lights - May 24, 2017
Posted:

Will keep south until the low above moves off. All is well. Radio signal is light at GHRadio so we are getting relays. This time from Pilgrim

Southern Lights - May 23, 2017
Posted:

position is all we got but he can hear GHRadio and will keep tracking east until advised to head to destination.
Position corrected later . Thanks calypso 11

Southern Lights - May 22, 2017
Posted:

Waiting until tomorrow to repair the halyard. This position report from Local Talent.

Southern Lights - May 21, 2017
Posted:

hove to due rigging problems. These are fixable but not in the current conditions. It will ease by midnight. All is well.

Southern Lights - May 18, 2017
Posted:

really hard to understand their distorted radio. Hopefully it is just a charging problem. They are in touch with local Talent

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