Laura Dekker - Marquesas on the horizon

"Hup, Guppy, Hup!
You are the best!
I established a new record: 194 nautical miles in a day... I beat my father's record by one mile..."
Laura - 13th May.

Roz Savage - "Purple Hearts" from Mother Earth

Photo: Colin Leonhardt.

Sponsor-A-Mile for Roz Savage: http://bit.ly/FollowGreenRowe

To follow Roz's voyage and/or show your support, go to http://www.rozsavage.com/

Laura Dekker - Galapagos to Marquesas

I don't know who took this picture and I hope they don't mind me posting it here but it is sooo beautiful I just had to share it.

With a heavy heart upon leaving the "most extraordinary" Galapagos Islands and the people she met there, Laura and Guppy set sail today for the Marquesas Islands.

The distance between the Galapagos and the Marquesas is approximately 3,000 miles which would make it the longest leg of Laura and Guppy's epic voyage of adventure.

Laura Dekker - Celebrates Guppy

Laura Dekker and Guppy have had a number of reasons to celebrate recently, including crossing the Panama Canal, then the Equator to arrive at the Galapagos Islands exactly one year after Guppy was launched.

Next stop...Marquesas.


HAPPY 'BERTH'DAY GUPPY!

Roz Savage - Indian Ocean challenge

A 43yo British woman, Roz Savage left Fremantle today in a bid to row solo across the Indian Ocean.









Roz has already rowed across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and will attempt to be the first woman to row across three oceans.

She hopes her journey, spanning 6,400kms across the Indian Ocean (destination yet unknown for security reasons) which is expected to take four months, will raise awareness about marine pollution.

At the very least, may it serve to inspire everyone to do their bit, notwithstanding those who have actually had first hand experience sailing through such destructive pollution and...well, when all is said and done, there is more said than done!

I sincerely wish you fair winds and calm seas and that you stay well and healthy throughout your epic voyage. Respectfully....Sam

Laura Dekker - Crosses the Panama Canal

Laura Dekker and her lovely ketch Guppy are on track to navigate the next leg of their voyage, the crossing of the Panama Canal.

(Image courtesy of NASA Earth Observatory)

Making their way between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans amongst ever-increasing traffic in a relatively confined space could be a cause for concern at the best of times.

Fortunately Laura took advantage of an opportunity presented to her beforehand to experience the crossing there and back as a line handler on another vessel which has given her some knowledge of what to expect when she and Guppy go "live" on the 10th and 11th April.

So apart from "good luck" there's nothing more to say other than "goodbye Atlantic, hello Pacific!" Woohoo!!!

Vietnam - March 2011

Each woman was as skilled as the other. It was awesome to watch!

Laura Dekker - Precious moments

When all is well with your boat and she seems to be sailing along beautifully, as in this great shot of "Guppy", it's inevitable that you find yourself mesmerised by the sea in quiet contemplation.

I dare say, "Spot" may be ever present in Laura's mind during such precious moments.

Perth on Cyclone Alert

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a cyclone watch for coastal areas from Jurien Bay to Albany as the category four storm continues to track south.

People in the areas between Jurien Bay and Albany are told to prepare now for very dangerous weather as Severe TC Bianca, now a category 4 cyclone, tracks toward WA's South West coast.

There's nothing normal about the weather anymore so I don't know what to expect.
Residents are being warned to prepare for dangerous weather conditions over the next 48 hours.....eeekkk!!!

Australia Day 2011

Australians all let us rejoice
For we are young and free
We've golden soil and wealth for toil
Our home is girt by sea

Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair

In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair

Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands

For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair

In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia Fair

Laura Dekker - Stad Amsterdam

Laura Dekker's plan to set sail from St Martin next week has been postponed as the opportunity to crew on a magnificent tall ship, the "Stad Amsterdam" was too good to miss.

I'm not sure how "Guppy" feels about that but she is ready and waiting to sail off just as soon as she is re-uinited with her intrepid captain in 10 days time.

Laura Dekker - Back on dry land

Laura Dekker is back on dry land and is pictured here (AP Photo/Judy Fitzpatrick) walking toward the immigration office upon her arrival at St Maarten in the Caribbean on Sunday 19th December 2010.

Laura and Guppy left the Cape Verde Islands off the northwest coast of Africa on the 2nd of December and took 3 weeks to sail 2,200 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to effectively complete the longest leg of their voyage around the world.

While she is aiming to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world in the long term, Laura is happy to learn that she is the youngest ever to have done the Atlantic crossing solo and unassisted.

Congratulations Laura and Guppy on a fantastic effort and all the best for a most enjoyable stay in the Caribean.

Laura Dekker - Hurricane Season 2010

This track map (Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons) shows the hurricane activity in the North Atlantic so far this year.








The hurricane season officially started on 1st June and should end on 30th November but evidently there's nothing normal about the weather anymore.

Laura and "Guppy" plan to up-anchor from the Canary Islands tomorrow and head south towards the Cape Verde Islands, off the north-west coast of Africa and estimate the journey to take about a week. Presumably they will stay there until the end of the hurricane season at the end of this month before making their way across the vast expanse of the North Atlantic Ocean to the Caribbean.

Perth WA - Spring 2010

A view of the city's skyline from King's Park.















A roadside display of everlastings at King's Park.














Eternal flame for silent contemplation.