Update 28/07/2005 - Thursday the 28th of July, 1:44am (NZ Time)

"From Cape Town to the Equator I averaged 150 nautical miles per day. From there to 13 degrees North, through the area known as the Doldrums and famous for light winds. The Doldrums are a spawning ground for hurricanes that form in the Caribbean area, and one was falling behind me as I left them. If it intensifies it will be known as Hurricane Harvey. Through the Doldrums I averaged 160 nautical miles per day and collected rain water in the many squalls. Happy to have a full water tank now, as I was down to 15 days of bottled water (30 of ration) and now have enough water to get home on. Not bad for week 13.

Saw a Blue Whale and now more shipping, especially large tankers. Just passed three months at sea and all going well and looking like being at Lancaster Sound at the beginning of the North West Passage on time, about August the 22nd. It was 33 degrees on-board yesterday. I will remember these temperatures in a month’s time.

Hello to supporters and welcome to Variety Clubs from the USA, UK and Canada.

From Graeme Kendall, Astral Express, North Atlantic."

"Pleased to be over the Equator and now in the Northern Hemisphere. I can cross the South Atlantic off my list. Hoping for a fast passage to the Arctic, 4,200 miles away."

"I have Saint Helena Island to starboard at about 120 miles and Ascension Island is 400 miles ahead and will sail by her at the same distance. My way point at the equator is 28 degrees West, 1200 miles away, then North through the doldrums. Wish me luck. Brazilian radio stations are coming in strong and will pass about 450 miles away. Enjoying their music. This is my 12th week and about half way in distance. Time to take stock and assess usage etcetera. The boat still feels brand new and I'm still 58. Receiving good weather info and now on hurricane watch as i proceed westward. No fish, no ships, no whales, but the skies are clear and I'm making progress. I was given Wilson for Christmas. You will pleased to know that so far I haven't opened the Fed Ex box. Hello to everybody from the mid South Atlantic. Cheers, GK"

"In a long life we have about 650,000 hours. How many do we have left and what are we doing with them before the atoms that form our bodies form something else? Be thankful, be responsible, but above all, don't take it all too seriously."

"Starting to get back to what is now for me a normal routine after leaving South Africa. Mainly sleeping at night with the radar alarm on and auto pilot steering to wind vane. Light winds and easy seas predominated in the Indian Ocean, and I had to work hard for it every mile. Now that I have left land, shipping is not such a problem. Up the west coast of South Africa I had little sleep for about 35 hours. The Atlantic is a little more vigorous. Sailing in light to moderate seas with south east trade winds and making good progress. Hope it lasts. My daily runs are about 165 nautical miles. Saint Helena is 750 miles and the equator about 2000 miles ahead. Getting warmer each day and enjoying daily life on board as the North West Passage slowly becomes a reality."

"Just over nine weeks out and now past Cape Agulhas. Cape of Good Hope said goodbye to the Indian Ocean, a brief hello to the Southern Ocean, and welcome to the Atlantic. Some testing times, but all is well with body and boat. Round 5 now, the countdown to the Arctic begins, which is hopefully about 50 days away. Best Regards, GK."

• "Two ways to cure seasickness:
  1) Jump in the water
  2) Sit under a tree"
  
  
• "Some days are good, others excellent. The excellent ones usually come after a good night's sleep."
  
  
• "Nothing stays the same for long. If it's good, enjoy it. If it's bad, wait... it'll get better."

"Land Ahoy!!"

For those who would like to make a donation to Variety Club South Africa, please visit www.varietyclub.co.za and click on "Donations".

"Now west of Madagascar and about 300 miles from the South African coast. I am averaging 157 miles per day from the Torres Strait so far. I had an albatross circling the boat periodically for the last two days, and there have always been some birds around for the entire crossing. My only problem has been keeping the mermaids off the boat!! Construction of the Astral Express started one year ago this week. Cape of Good Hope here we come! Cheers, GK."

"Have had a good week, with better than average daily runs, although today is quiet. I have just passed a quarter of the way around the World and have Mauritius Islands at 600 miles, Madagascar at 950 and Cape of Good Hope at 2300 which is about 14 days away. I can almost hear the drums.

Now 29 days sailing from Torres Strait. What a huge ocean this is. There's definitely plenty of water in the world. If a quarter of a year's global military expenditure was spent on solar powered desalination plants we would never see a fresh water shortage in the world again. I guess it's all a matter of priority.

The Summer Arctic ice forecasts look favourable which is encouraging at this stage. I have carried out some preventative maintenance and got the boat ship-shape and ready for the challenges that lay ahead. Passing Cape Town will be a rewarding experience. Thanks for the emails. They do get through and are read with pride and anticipation. GK."

1) "This is called an MPS (Multi-Purpose Spinnaker). Aptly named because I can use it to brighten up a dull day, use it in the arctic to identify the boat... and cut it up for handkerchiefs when I'm finished."

2) "Three sail reaching at 6 knots in 10 knots of wind. My boat is so small - the ocean so vaste - I wish the damn thing would go fast".

3) "View from the office."

“Hi this is Graeme here aboard Astral Express just off the top of Australia. Having negotiated the Great Barrier Reef and Torres Strait at night on Friday the 13th was quite a relief and rewarding to now be in clear waters across the top of the Gulf of Carpentaria. After Torres Strait my daily average was 140 nautical miles due to light winds of 8 to 10 knots. Distance from Torres to Lancaster Sound via Cape of Good Hope is 14,478 Nautical Miles and at an average of 157 per day that would take 92 days to be in the Arctic about the 14th of August. Yesterday's run was 156 so I'm hoping for fresh Tradewinds across the Indian Ocean. Body, mind and boat are in good shape and fresh fish is now regularly on the menu. I'm reading your emails and hope your geography lessons are as interesting as mine. Cheers for now.”

“I'm now entering the Great Barrier Reef with light trade winds. A little frustrating as my daily average is dropping. Very pleasant conditions, what most cruising sailors would dream of. I got invaded by small land birds last night, about 10 of them like sparrows with swallow tails, obviously migrating somewhere and got tired. They ended up in pairs inside the boat. Quite a novelty at first, but a mess to clean up in the morning after they left. Well we're on the journey, and thanks again to the encouraging support and emails. All is well on board, cheers.”

“Animal and mineral got through the first night okay. For me, the emotion of leaving and a stormy night of sail changes. For the boat, having every reef tested and slamming off a few waves, with everything intact. Now 140 miles past Norfork Island, of even trade wind sailing, at an average daily run of 150 nautical miles. Target is 160 miles a day, be in the Arctic Lancaster Sound about August the 10th. Thanks to all the well-wishers and those who sent reassuring emails. A long way to go, but life is good on board. One day, one week, one headland at a time. Watching the miles reel off the wake and knowing there’s one left to cover, and thinking of the 0900 CHILD support, encourages me to give this circumnavigation 100 percent of discipline, experience and faith.”

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