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The following email message was received from Gary (KE6FD) and Bill (N6JRD) onboard the sailing vessel "Amadon Light." It describes their truly epic journeying over what is now a close to 25 year cruise by recreational sail boat around the world. Of interest to Winlink is how these cruisers became Winlink Users and assisted other cruisers with weather information that was obtained via Winlink. The message was sent to Tom (KA6IQA) one of the long time Winlink PMBOs located in Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego, California.

QUOTE

Subject: Letter Of Introduction On Pactor

Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 01:20:42 -0000 (GMT)

Hello Tom,

Recently, you have seen a new call sign showing up on your daily Pactor users list. I like to send a letter of introduction when moving to a new region and new MBO's, to give an idea of how your wonderful service is being put to use. I am aboard a Tashiba 40 named Amadon Light, a 40 foot canoe stern, full keel, cruising boat; home port of Honolulu, Hawaii. There are two aboard: myself, Gary Walls, 68, ke6sd, and Bill Healy 64, n6jrd, both longtime residents of Los Angeles.

We left Los Angeles in July 1979 to have a quick look at some Pacific Islands. We never never stopped looking. To say it has been a slow and meandering circumnavigation of the world, I guess, is an understatement (Words in bold added for emphasis):

Pacific: We spent six years doing a circle of the Pacific - Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, New Zealand, and Australia;

South East Asia: Then, three years in Southeast Asia: Taiwan, the Philippines, Borneo, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand;

Indian Ocean: Next, several years in the Indian Ocean, in Sri Lanca, Maldives, Chagos, Comoros, and Madagascar;

East Africa: Next two and a half years cruising the entire east coast of Africa: South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Kenya, Aden, Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt:

Mediterranean: Followed by 6 years in the Mediterranean: Israel, Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Malta, Sicily, France, Spain, and Gibraltar;

West Africa: The next several years: Gibraltar to the Canaries and West Africa - Senegal and 165 miles up The Gambia River;

South America: All before crossing to South America and Brazil and French Guiana;

Caribbean: Then, up to the Caribbean: Tobago, Trinidad, Bonaire, Curacao, Colombia, and Panama; and

Pacific: This year we sailed from Panama to Ecuador, the Galapagos, and now back to French Polynesia, 23 years after leaving these waters.

We both are hams and got started on digital - Amtor - in 1993 in South Africa, with the help of Joost, zs5s. He translated the seemingly Greek instructions on the Kam Plus modem; without him we would never have linked up. We continue the friendship with Joost and Marjoke through the wonder of digital ham radio.

For the past 17 years, beginning in Micronesia, I have been doing a daily weather broadcast for yachts in the region we are sailing in. In the early days it required taping voice weather broadcasts from Hawaii, New Zealand, and Australia, as well as downloading up to 7 charts a day on Weatherfax, to write up the broadcast. Pactor, and especially Pactor 3, has been a great help in providing more information, both quickly and conveniently. I do try to download during off peak hours - at night, when I can - and I also try to use different stations since I download quite a few catalog items each day.

Depending on where we are, the number of boats checking in or listening, has varied quite a bit. From a dozen in the South Atlantic to several hundred in the Mediterranean. Other areas have ranged from 25 to 150 boats a season with 93 boats this season from Panama to French Polynesia. It has been a great hobby for me, fortunately, as it takes several hours each day to put the information together and do the broadcast twice each morning. So, what you and the other (Winlink) MBO's are doing certainly is passed on to a lot of people. I am sure that you enjoy the whole activity of ham radio – and running an MBO as well. Even if it leaves little time for such chores as eating, sleeping, and working. But, important things must come first.

The past four years I have been using MBO's operated by Steve - K4CJX in Tennessee; Rick - KN6KB in Florida; Deni - WB0TAX in Louisiana; and Frank - ZF1GC in Grand Cayman Island. Before that, stations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Amazingly, I have been linking with Steve and Rick from Italy to the Marquesas! There is little I can say to adequately praise what they and the other MBO's have been doing. It has changed the way of life while ocean voyaging. Both for safety at sea, as well as for keeping in touch with family and friends around the world.

Again, nice to make the link, and I look forward to lots of chirping – as Joost puts it - with you in San Diego.

73, Gary Walls - ke6sd

Amadon Light in French Polynesia.

UNQUOTE

A circumnavigation can be done in months by the hyper-driven solo sailors and in three to five years by people in less hurry. These cruisers really took in the sights of the places they visited. It puts them in a category all by themselves together with the couple of dozen or so cruisers who make cruising their life styles.

We wish them continued Fair Winds and Following Seas,

AussieWinlink
13 October 2003

Note: To view their current position go to: http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/tracker.php?ident=KE6SD

Copyright © 2002-2008 AussieWinlink. Material may be quoted with acknowledgement of its source. Last modified: September 28, 2008