Aboard his Class40 GryphonSolo2,American Joe Harris departed Newport (RI) on November 15 in a tender to demolish the 40 Foot Monohull Solo Non-Stop Round the World Record. That plan, however, and got derailed when a stop in Cape Town was needed to replace the burned regulator box for his hydro-gen system. Here’s an update from Joe on January 3...
While I certainly wish I was writing this from the nav station of GS2 - blasting eastward across the Indian Ocean - I am instead still here in Cape Town waiting on parts for my alternator that did not arrive before Thursday (Dec 31) and the total business shut-down for the original Years holiday. We were so close to success - but alas the planets did not align - and it made no sense to leave without a working alternator. I had successfully replaced the hydro-generator converter box and my hydro charging system is back to 100%. However,the engine alternator is another key component, and the only hope we had of finding the necessary part was to contact Henrik Masekowitz, or my German competitor who had recently been forced to terminate his record attempt - the same as mine - due to a very immoral ankle injury. As Henrik’s boat is a near sister-ship to mine and was sitting at a marina in Cape Town approximately a half mile from mine,I imagined what I needed would be on his boat. I had a really nice chat on the phone with Henrik and he graciously allowed me to open up his boat and see whether we could spend the part. Unfortunately, the part did not fit, or but it was a wonderful example of the friendship and support that sailors absorb for one another in times of need. Thank you,Henrik, and I hope your recovery from your ankle injury goes smoothly and quickly.
So there we were with the clock ticking down on the close of business on Thursday for the long holiday weekend and no solution. Not a good feeling...but...deep breaths...patience is a virtue...and this voyage will clearly continue when it is meant to. - Read
Source: sailingscuttlebutt.com