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Andy Lamont

World record ATTEMPT 
SOLO NON STOP WESTBOUND CIRCUMNAVIGATION 
​40 FOOT CLASS

Ready to leave St Lucia

30/4/2017

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Its been great to spend a few weeks in St Lucia. Once I was resigned to the fact that I had to wait here until everything showed up I really enjoyed being here. But Im all ready to leave now so I'm heading out this afternoon.
You need to have a minimum of 4 people on the boat to transit the Panama Canal which means  there is no way I can do that part of the journey singlehanded so I am taking a French guy who was looking for a ride to Panama with me. 
His name is Robin and he sailed here as a crew from Europe. It will be strange having someone else on the boat but the company will be good.
Picture
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No Choice but to stop for repairs 

20/3/2017

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Hello everyone - if you have been tracking Andy you will notice his course has changed. Andy made the decision last week to stop for repairs. Right now his auto pilot is not working , his sat phone that he originally had isn't working and he is on the back up phone which is constantly giving off warning signals so he isn't sure how long that will last and he hasn't had an internet connection since Tasmania and finally  his self steering needs repairing. He has been repairing the self steering consistently since it had issues around the bottom of Western Australia but doesn't have the parts he needs so thankfully Phil George is sending them to St Lucia where he will stop. 

Whilst he was initially devastated with the decision because this will disqualify him from the world record attempt, he  cannot attempt Cape Horn without a weather report, auto pilot or self steering. 

This will mean that he will alter his course and come home through the Panama Canal after his stop off at St Lucia and across the pacific. 

Thank you for following him it means alot to him and he looks forward to catching up when he gets home I am sure he has some stories to tell xxx
​Deb
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FROM THE INDIAN OCEAN TO THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

16/2/2017

1 Comment

 

Andy has offically crossed over into the atlantic ocean!!!  He is getting some fairly shifty seas with waves crashing over Impulse and was unable to stand up but he is doing great - here is is weather report from weatherman Bruce .............. you are actually getting it before Andy - he will ring for this report this evening



​Hi Deb and Andy
Welcome to the South Atlantic Ocean. It is a real feat to round the Cape of Good Hope without getting beaten up so that is one dangerous area now almost beyond you. Andy is a bit further ahead than expected and so the short term wind forecasts are a little different given the rapid wind changes in his area.
Overview: The main thing to consider ahead is the expected building up of the SSE winds through Sunday and Monday to sustained 30 knots and more. So a way point further west than would otherwise be expected is suggested to reduce the strength of the winds and – just as important – the sea state. It will still become rough and windy – just not as bad as closer to the coast.
In the shorter term you will have a moderate westerly change moving through but this should not be an issue for you. There will be rapid directional changes and a period of showery weather but nothing extreme.

Course recommendation next 24 hours: Once past the Cape Town shipping lanes head towards a way point near 12.0E 30.0S.

Thursday 16 Feb morning: Winds rapidly going through a transition tending NNW 15/20kt early morning then west 10/15kt by sunrise then easing to west to WSW 08/13kt by midday.
Thursday 16 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds WSW 08/13kt tending SSW late afternoon then firming from the south to 13/18kt in the evening.
Friday 17 Feb morning: Winds S to SSE 15/20kt tending more southerly by midday and easing 12/16kt.
Friday 17 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds southerly with a little SSW in the direction 13/18kt firming to 15/20kt by the evening.
Saturday 18 Feb morning: Winds southerly 15/20kt.
Saturday 18 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds southerly 15/20kt firming to 23/28kt mid to late afternoon and 25/30kt by sunset with some SSE in the direction. Winds SSE 27/32kt bymidnight.
Sunday and Monday are expected to produce SSE winds typically in the 28/33kt range – stronger to the east and weakening gradually westwards.
So some building tailwinds are not too far away.



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NEARLY AT THE TIP OF CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - WEATHER REPORT BY BRUCE THE WEATHERMAN

13/2/2017

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Andy and I speak everyday he calls me for his weather report that Bruce emails me  - Thankyou Bruce - it is comforting to know you are directing him. Here is Bruce's weather report for  today. Andy is great has a  wonderful attitude as he always does I think he is just looking forward to getting around this cape so he can put this cape behind him. 

​Hi Deb and Andy
At this morning’s 1745UTC position report Andy has reached the fastest speed I can recall for this trip. He is well into the assisting Agulhas Current that curves southwards around 23E, after which time there are weak currents until the Cape of Good Hope when an assisting current should return.
Overview: There is a high pressure ridge to the south. There should be a weak trough approaching this afternoon but then a new ridge should rapidly form during Tuesday.

Course recommendation next 24 hours: Staying close to 35.0S until past Cape Agulhas is best following by the direct route past the Cape of Good Hope.

Monday 13 Feb morning: Winds ESE 13/18kt tending easterly 13/18kt by sunrise then easterly 10/15kt by midday.
Monday 13 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds east then ESE 11/16kt shifting SSE 10/15kt mid-afternoon then tend S 06/10kt in the evening.
Tuesday 14 Feb morning: Winds southerly to SSW 06/11kt tending SSE 05/10kt by midday.
Tuesday 14 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds SE 08/13kt increasing 13/18kt during the afternoon then firming 18/23kt in the evening.
Wednesday 15 Feb morning: Winds SE 20/25kt building 25/30kt by sunrise then shifting ESE 15/20kt assuming Andy is nearing the Cape of Good Hope.
Wednesday 15 Feb afternoon / evening: Winds SE 10/15kt tending SSE then S 05/10kt during the afternoon ahead of a SW change 13/18kt.
The SW change looks like peaking 15/20kt Thursday morning then easing back to 10/15kt as the direction shifts southerly. Then SSE winds should firm.
So a generally helpful period lies ahead.


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WEATHER APPROACHING CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 

12/2/2017

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​It is great to see Andy has picked up speed and is staying near 35.0S. This is the best latitude to stay at as he heads westwards as there will be the greatest assistance from the Agulhas Current in coming days. In the short term there is the opposing current just south of him through to 28.0E then he will be past the opposing current region.
Overview: The low of interest is expected to move to 35.5S 25.0E by 18UTC today. This should move through early Sunday bringing a sudden westerly change – soft at first but then rapidly building. There should be increasing showers with the potential for a squally thunderstorm or two moving in from the NW so watch that direction.

Course recommendation next 24 hours: Staying close to 35.0S is the best option.

Saturday 11 Feb morning: Winds NE 18/23kt tending 20/25kt after sunrise. Winds firming to 23/28kt by midday.
Saturday 11 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds NE 23/28kt easing NNE 15/20kt during the evening ahead of the approaching low and change. Winds should tend northerly towards midnight. Showers and a thunderstorm or two could move in from the NW with squalls possible ahead of the thunderstorms.
Sunday 12 Feb morning: Winds north then NNW 10/15kt shifting west 08/13kt before sunrise. Then the main WSW to SW change firming to 18/23kt near sunrise building to SW 20/25kt mid-morning.
Sunday 12 Feb afternoon/evening: SW winds 18/23kt tending southerly 18/23kt early afternoon then tending SSE 15/20kt during the evening.
Monday 13 Feb morning: Winds SE 13/18kt tending ESE 10/15kt by sunrise then easterly 10/15kt by midday.
Monday 13 Feb afternoon/evening: Winds east 10/15kt shifting SSE 05/10kt mid-afternoon then tend southerly 13/18kt in the evening.
Strengthening SE winds look likely from Cape Agulhas westwards Tuesday and early Wednesday but nothing too extreme.
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BOOM VANE BROKEN

28/1/2017

4 Comments

 

Feeling a little disappointed - two nights ago the Boom Vane broke due to strong winds, ended up taking it off completely and he set up some kind of rope system that runs to the top of the mast and back down again to hold the boom up. 

Strong winds last night and heavy lightning he said it was pretty scary so today he is tired and a little disheartened due to lack of sleep mostly. 

Just about under Madagascar and not far off Africa - he is looking forward to getting past that point - all in all good progress though - thanks again for your support 

Here is weathermans Bruce's weather report for him for the next few days. 

​Overview: There is a low centred near 43S 62.6E moving away to the east with a new low forming just off the SE corner of South Africa. There is a high to Andy’s distant SW that will move south of him tomorrow.

Course recommendation next 24 hours: Once winds allow alter a heading to angle back up close to 35.8S to reduce the developing opposing current which builds south of 36S west of 52E. This current is what is known as the Agulhas Current retroflection and can be 2-3knots strong in places.

Saturday 28 Jan afternoon/evening: Winds an unsteady westerly 05/10 kt shifting WSW 07/12kt late afternoon then shifting SSW and firming to 13/18kt during the evening, reaching 18/23kt by midnight.
Sunday 29 Jan morning: Winds southerly 18/23kt shifting SSE 16/20kt by midday.
Sunday 29 Jan afternoon / evening: Winds SSE 16/20kt tending SE 16/20 kt later in the afternoon and turning ESE in the evening.
Monday 30 Jan morning: Winds ESE 16/20kt tending easterly to ESE 12/16kt by midday.
Monday 30 Jan afternoon/evening: Winds easterly 12/16kt easing to 10/15kt during the evening.
Tuesday should see the easterly winds easing 08/13kt in the morning then tend NE 04/08kt in the middle of the day then turning northerly 08/13kt in the evening ahead of a weakening front.

4 Comments

49 days at sea 

18/1/2017

4 Comments

 



​ps Andy is settling into life at sea well - he  is almost halfway across the Indian Ocean and is making some good progress. His highlight today was he found toblerone in his weekly food pack !!! and he had a rookery of Albatross land on his boat ( I had to look that up) hahahah - he is happy healthy and says Hi I thought for you yachties and boaties you might enjoy Bruce Buckley's daily weather report - weatherman Bruce is the nickname I have given him - and he has kindly given me his permission to post his daily reports - so here is weather report for Wednesday 18th Jan 2017 
​Hi Deb and Andy
It is good to see Andy making progress westwards after a passing through a patch of very light winds.

 

Overview: A distant frontal system is producing a general westerly wind regime along Andy’s route with some weak troughs leading to short lived wind changes. Then during Friday a moderate high should move south of Andy following a weak frontal passage early tomorrow afternoon.

 

Course recommendation next 24 hours: Continuing west to WSW at or south of 36.0S looks the best option for the next 24hours.

 

Wednesday 18 Jan afternoon/evening: West to WNW winds 08/12kt increasing to 10/14kt during the mid to late evening.
 
Thursday 19 Jan morning:  Winds WNW 10/14kt tending westerly 13/18kt by sunrise ahead of a weakening front. The westerlies should ease back to 09/13kt as the frontal wind change draws close.
Thursday 19 Jan afternoon / evening: A weakening frontal band should move through early afternoon with a showery change. Winds are likely to shift SSW 05/10kt at first then tend S 10/15kt mid to late afternoon. Winds then tending SSE 10/14kt through the evening.
 
Friday 20 Jan morning: SSE winds 10/14kt tend ESE 09/13kt by midday.
Friday 20 Jan afternoon/evening: ESE winds 08/12kt tend easterly later in the afternoon and evening.
 
Saturday is likely to see the winds quickly turn NNE then north but remaining around 08/12kt

4 Comments

NO WIND TODAY 

3/1/2017

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Spoke to Andy briefly no wind today he is sitting waiting for next front to hit on Wednesday afternoon - today he screwed achor points and made some emergency straps for the engine in case any of the engine mounts break. In good spirits - spaghetti and meatballs on the menu and porridge for breakfast - fried rice and ham for dinner - living like a king. Weatherman Bruce  recommended he  stay 37.5s to keep impulse out of  heavy winds as much as he can. When he asked him to summarise his day all he said "I am dry and warm!! - yesterday he was wet and cold"- oh and he is reading David Copperfield at the moment - nothing like some Charles Dickens at sea. 

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A little Smashed Around !!

28/12/2016

3 Comments

 

Andy says he is putting himself back together after getting smashed last night - he is feelng a bit knocked around nothing got broken though so everything is ok waiting for the swell to drop so he can put the solar panels back up which he will probably do tonight while he has winds of 6kts he didnt get much sleep last night but had a good sleep today. When I asked him what he did today he said "nothing" what a silly question - This is weathermans Bruce's forecast for the next couple of days - Thanks Bruce dont know what we would do without you.Thursday 29 Dec morning: Southerly winds 03/06 knots tending SW 03/06 knots after sunrise then westerly 03/06 knots by midday. When winds turn west then head to the SW.
Thursday 29 Dec afternoon/evening: WNW to westerly winds rapidly firming 10/15kt early afternoon then 13/18kt late afternoon with a few showers. Then around sunset or possibly an hour or two later a band of heavy showers should approach which is the cold front. There should be a sudden shift in the winds to the SSW 20/25kt although with the heavy showers a squall to 35 knots is possible.
 
Friday 30 Dec morning: SSW winds easing to 15/20kt then gradually turning SW 10/15kt by midday.
Friday 30 Dec afternoon / evening: Westerly winds 08/13kt tend west to WNW 13/18 kt during the late afternoon to evening. Head to the SW during this period of time.
 
Finally Andy said to thankyou all for your comments on facebook he appreciates that you are interested and following him. Ditto from me - will keep you updated in a few days time. 

3 Comments

BOXING DAY LEAVING AUSTRALIA

26/12/2016

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Andy was expecting big winds today but it fizzed out a little he reefed down in expectation of 4O kts but he hasn't seen it so far 30 knots has been the maximum so far. Chatham Island was the last bit of Australia that he saw - that was a moment - he is in good spirits doing well and in anticipation of the next cold front to hit on Thursday. I have passed on all of your christmas wishes and he wishes you all a Merry Christmas and Wonderful New year -

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