Update for anyone following this amazing young adventurer,Zac Sunderland.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Grenada Update
I hit the docks running here in Grenada. I've got to fill you all in on the last 3 days before I got in. I had called home on Tuesday evening to check over the weather and update my position. I put my phone in the drawer where I keep it while underway but keep forgetting to turn it off which drains the batteries by morning.
My radar had been broken and I had been waking up every 20 minutes to check for nearby shipping. I got in my bunk and started the long night of messed up sleep. I was up around 11:00 that night when I saw the line holding up the port side lazy jack was chaffed through and was now dragging in the water. I clipped on my harness and went out on deck to pull in the lines. It was pitch black all around with the green glow of phosphorescence lighting up the sea.
As I was pulling in the line I heard a roar like a huge wave breaking. I looked up just in time to see the white water and glowing phosphorescence of a 30' rogue wave as it broke over Intrepid. I grabbed the mast the best I could. The decks were under water and I was just able to hold on when the water cleared. I went back to the cockpit and immediately noticed that I only had 2 (of 4) washboards in the companionway hatch and the inside of the boat was drenched.
I flipped on the bilge pump and flipped all the switches off on the drenched electrical panel. As I did the inverter caught on fire for a couple of seconds and went out smoking. Needless to say, it never worked again which meant I had no AC outlet power and no way to charge my phone or computer.
The next days passed slowly waking up every 20 minutes and getting more and more tired. The wind was shifting and lightening all the time so it was slow going. Thankfully, I didn't see many ships til I got closer to Grenada.
The night before I got in I had light winds but was making enough progress. As the night went on, a fog rolled in and I was up all night looking hard in to the darkness for any sign of ships lights. Luckily, I did not come across any. As the sun rose and the fog burned off, I saw Grenada, the first land in 34 days! I sailed around the southern end of the island and set a course for the bay. I began hailing port control at about 5 miles out but heard nothing. Then I saw a small speed boat with my dad and everyone on board. They showed me into the harbor and where I would be docking Intrepid. Needless to say, it was a huge relief to see everyone and finally be in!
Since arriving in Grenada I have been busy getting to know Christian Pinkston. Christian owns a public relations firm in Washington, DC and has kindly offered to handle the PR from now til my return. We are blown away that Christian would do this pro bono and that he would fly down to Grenada to help out as well! He is a great guy but is keeping me pretty busy. I have interviewed extensively with ESPN Magazine for their June issue. It has been an awesome experience to work with the entire ESPN crew.
I did an interview via Skype with a school in San Antonia Texas. Christian thought of this, thinking it would be a great way for me to talk to kids without all the travel. Should have some clips of the interview soon.
While I have been busy with eating, sleeping and media, my dad and Mike Smith have been hard at it on Intrepid. They ave been incredible - working long, hard days and checking off the repairs. All being well, I am still on track to pull out of Grenada on Wednesday.
Have to run to another interview now....I'll write more tonight.
Peace,
Zac
