Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska.
After some 2,230nms we have finally made it to Kodiak Alaska and in doing so, have officially crossed the Pacific Ocean all 7,700nms of it (our total route distance).
We have had great days at sea and some pretty dreadful days overall during our Pacific crossing, but one thing is for sure that the sense of pride, satisfaction and accomplishing a goal by ALL on Pendana is on par with nothing any of us have experienced before. Just to think, one family, a very small motor boat, the world’s largest ocean and we have crossed it! Are their smiles from ear-to-ear? There sure as hell are!
I have always said, satisfaction in life comes from achieving goals set, however ridiculous those goals may be. Doing nothing seven days a week, 365 days a year is a sure fire way of allowing negative feelings to enter one’s life and corrupt ones views. As human beings we all need, we all must have goals to accomplish if we are to feel a sense of satisfaction, pride and achievement – it’s that simple.
When we first raised the idea of crossing oceans, even I thought it was ridiculous but as time progressed and planning took hold we soon realised that it was possible so long as we wanted it enough and were prepared to do the hard yards to achieve the goal. We all have doubts but those doubts can now be laid to rest as here we are on our tiny little boat tied up in Kodiak Alaska!
I must say that I am incredibly proud of Bianca and Abi for sticking with it and achieving what for some must seem a rather odd thing to do. I truly feel that they to now realise and appreciate what it is that they have done and are basking in the satisfaction of a job well done. Maybe now they both truly appreciate that everything in life is possible. This will in itself, provide them both with a compass for their lives yet to be lived and provide the necessary drive to get things done.
I am also incredibly proud of my wife Claire (Commander Claire) whom, god-bless her has always looked at life being a glass being half full. Out of all of us on board Claire is probably the one who hates the idea of long passages than most (Yes, even more than Abi!) and yet, she is the one who complains the least. Claire is, as you can imagine, thrilled to bits that the Pacific and its crossing is now officially behind us.
To my beautiful girls and lovely wife, WELL DONE, WE DID IT!
So, the crossing for Hawaii to Kodiak took a total of eleven days, six hours and was without doubt the best crossing we have ever had. From the eleven days we only had one day of head seas which proved a little uncomfortable with the remaining days being either following, beam or just forward of the beam seas. Average wind speed for the trip was 14.1kts with the majority coming from between 270-340 degrees. Average seas would have been 3ft (basically calm for us) with the biggest seas at around 12ft. We also enjoyed two days of complete and total calm with mirror finish seas and no wind at all. Pendana consumed an estimated 1,750 gals of fuel (to be confirmed) and didn’t roll more than 16 degrees to port and 11 degrees to starboard (not including our twenty degree roll when the engine shut down). Overall, we had a dream run, a blessed run, a run that people only read about and a run none of us will soon forget.
For those not following along on Facebook will not know that we did have one incident while at sea which was an unauthorised engine shut down.
Unauthorised Engine Shut Down
6:00pm local time Monday 6th (KDAK) and I had just risen from an hours nap, Joey was doing his end of watch engine room check, Claire was on watch in the pilothouse with Chase and Abi and Bianca was downstairs playing with the cats. This was when the event occurred.
As I exited the master cabin, I noticed Joey in the engine room so stopped to say hello when all of a sudden the familiar hum of the Cummins N14 stopped. Very quickly we identified the issue was with the battery switch on the stairs leading into and out of the engine room. I then scrambled back to the pilothouse to the view of Claire, Chase and Abi looking a wee bit nervous to say the least. Within seconds the engine was running again and the TRAC stabilizers were doing their job once more but not until we experienced one or two rolls to port and starboard while we lay dead in the ocean.
Joey and I then then went back downstairs to the engine room to check and double check everything and in doing so noticed that even the slightest touch on the 24V engine start battery switch would cause a shutdown, which is precisely what happened when we tried to remove the safety toggle from the switch. Oh no, not again.
Back upstairs I went with the speed of a gazelle back into the pilothouse to the stunned faces to the audience waiting. Seconds later we were up and running and both Joey and I reassured the now nervous crew that we knew exactly what the problem was and that it won’t happen again. I am not sure they understand why we shut it down on purpose the second time but we needed to know what caused the shutdown in the first place.
So in short, as I was talking to Joey on the stairs leading to and from the engine room he must have knocked the start switch with his elbow causing the initial shutdown. The shutdown occurred because it would appear the fuel solenoid is held open when it sees power and shuts off when it loses power which seems a ridiculous way to wire this up to me and I will investigation further once in Kodiak. Never a dull moment when at sea!
It’s time to now relax, soak in the moment and enjoy all Kodiak has to offer as we won’t be here long with Seward and Prince William Sound yet to be explored but not before I share a few pictures of Kodiak Alaska.
I must say the beauty of Kodiak has to be seen to be believed. We arrived on one of the best days they had this year to a mirror finish harbour with snow-capped mountains in the background. Concentrating on the job at hand was made harder by this stunning scenery and the escort of Puffin Birds who had decided to follow Pendana in.
Kodiak Harbour is a fishing harbour and very much a place of work. Boats moving about here and there the only issue being is it is not a big harbour and our marina that lay just ahead was also not without it space restrictions.
There is one symbol that is the USA and that is the American Bald Eagle. High on our list of must see birds these magnificent animals graced us with its presence on the very first day.
Anyway it’s now time to sit back, relax and explore Kodiak and all it has to offer.
Thank you for following along on the trip and thank you for all the lovely comments and emails we have received. A special thanks to FB friend Tim whom provided daily updates on our position in relation to certain cities both port and starboard. Tim, we all loved them!
Take care now let’s see if we survive our bear encounter!
James
Stay safe
James
SUBJECT: RE: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
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SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
wow.. just wow… congratulations and now I want to sell EVERYTHING and buy a 62 and JUST DO IT!!!
and now I am also even more excited about going to Alaska, although I am not going to Kodiak…
my camera is going to get a workout for sure!
Penny TAlbot
Northern Ranger 1
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
> Hi James,
Well done to all!
I toured Alaska for 10 days on mv Ursa Major, a malahide trawler in 2007. There are about 10 movies on my facebook page if you”re interrested. We visited a bear reserve, did a floatplane trip, visited Wrangell, Sitka, Petersburg, obviously saw whales (breaching, bubble feeding or simply cruising and diving), eagles, brown and black bear ( shout “hey bear!” Every 30 seconds in the forest to avoid a scare, and
Response to a post by bert who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
> Hi James,
Well done to all!
I toured Alaska for 10 days on mv Ursa Major, a malahide trawler in 2007. There are about 10 movies on my facebook page if you”re interrested. We visited a bear reserve,…
All great tips and all duly noted…. Thank you .
Response to a post by lawrence_talbot who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
wow.. just wow… congratulations and now I want to sell EVERYTHING and buy a 62 and JUST DO IT!!!
and now I am also even more excited about going to Alaska, although I am not going to Kodiak…
my camera…
You will love it up here.. its amazing and yes make sure you have a BIG memory card for the camera!!
SUBJECT: RE: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Thank you for all your very interesting posts of your journey. My wife and I look forward to your continuing adventure. Safe sailing and calm seas.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone Date: 6/10/16 11:39 AM (GMT-05:00) To: 1114john@[…] Subject: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
——– Original message ——–From: “WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM”
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Oscar smelling land is a great pic! We”ve never met as is the case with
most of social media, but it is social in other senses nevertheless. I”ve
been to Kodiak, and much of but not anywhere near all of Alaska even after
living there for 25 years.
If you cut Alaska in half, Texas would become the third largest state 🙂
I”ve moved back to be with the grandkids in Ohio and Indiana, but I so do
miss it. I had a visiting friend break
Oscar smelling land is precious – great pic! We’ve never met as is the case with most of social media, but it is social in other senses nevertheless. I’ve been to Kodiak, and much of but not anywhere near all of Alaska even after living there for 25 years. If you cut Alaska in half, Texas would become the third largest state 🙂 I’ve moved back to be with the grandkids in Ohio and Indiana, but I do so miss it. I had a visiting friend break down in tears one time at the majesty. It is truly God’s country. Take as much of it in as you can.
Lastly, there is an old saying, something like this; “Never visit Alaska until late in life, because nothing else is comparable.”
Ronnie Stacy
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
It was a pleasure.
I thought the girls might need some encouragement to know they where actually making significant progress when all they could see was the blue sea every day.
Tim.
From: “WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM”
Reply-To:
Date: Saturday, 11 June 2016 at 1:39 AM
To: Tim Smith
Subject: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Well done guys. What an incredible achievement! We are in awe of Pendana and her crew. Keep sending the photos as we will view them from Copenhagen when we arrive there tomorrow. We are looking forward to our Scandinavian adventure.
The bald eagles are incredible and I have some amazing photos of the raptor refuge we visited many years ago in Sitka. If you go there be sure to visit the Raptor centre!
Keep well and happy sailing
Kerrie
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Well done. The adventure continues
Peter Peebles0488151822peterpeebles48@[…]
——– Original message ——–
From: “WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM”
Date: 10/06/2016 23:40 (GMT+08:00)
To: peterpeebles48@[…]
Subject: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
SUBJECT: Blog
Hi James,
Well done. a mile stone in your life.
I have been following your adventures with envry.
We all at CKSMAC send our regards.
Wayne McGuiness
SUBJECT: Your voyage
Congratulations on your achievements. Would have enjoyed being on watch with you all.
Barry Crispe
Sydney
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Dear James,
Congratulations to you and the Pendana crew on your successful transit. One quick question please. Have you considered writing a book about your crossing from Sydney to Kodiak, complete with all details of planning, provisions, spares, and costs? I know I would buy it!
Best wishes for warm weather as you journey through Alaska and onward South.
My best,
Bruce
Sent from my iPad
> On Jun 10, 2016, at 8:40 AM, http://WWW.P
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Hi James,
Glad to see that you and the family have had a good passage north and are safely arrived in Kodiak. You clearly chose a good window for the trip and you”ve arrived early enough that you should have plenty of time to explore Kodiak and PWS before heading toward SE Alaska. If you have time, it”s worth getting across to Geographic Bay on the Alaska Peninsula – lots of bear viewing there. While we were in Kodiak the second time, we indu
Response to a post by tomandvicky who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Hi James,
Glad to see that you and the family have had a good passage north and are safely arrived in Kodiak. You clearly chose a good window for the trip and you”ve arrived early enough that you shoul…
Thank you and yes we are thinking about Geographic Harbour… James
Response to a post by blcarlile who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Dear James,
Congratulations to you and the Pendana crew on your successful transit. One quick question please. Have you considered writing a book about your crossing from Sydney to Kodiak, complete wit…
Many thanks indeed… a book, no I havent considered it seriously but one just never knows!!
Response to a post by wotyot who said:
SUBJECT: Your voyage
Congratulations on your achievements. Would have enjoyed being on watch with you all.
Barry Crispe
Sydney
Thank you Barry very kind. We were blessed with incredible weather that is for sure!!
Response to a post by waymcg who said:
SUBJECT: Blog
Hi James,
Well done. a mile stone in your life.
I have been following your adventures with envry.
We all at CKSMAC send our regards.
Wayne McGuiness
Good to hear from you Wayne..yes quite an undertaking thats for sure! Hope everyone at the club is doing well.
James.
Response to a post by peterpeebles48 who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Well done. The adventure continues
Peter Peebles0488151822peterpeebles48@[…]
——– Original message ——–
From: “WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM”
Date: 10/06/2016 23:40 (GMT+0…
Thank you Peter.. will chat soon for a catch up post your Italian trip!
Response to a post by jordankl who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Well done guys. What an incredible achievement! We are in awe of Pendana and her crew. Keep sending the photos as we will view them from Copenhagen when we arrive there tomorrow. We are looking forward …
we are going to Sitka so have addedd Raptor to the list although have no idea what it is, sounds prehistoric!!
Response to a post by strathclyde who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
It was a pleasure.
I thought the girls might need some encouragement to know they where actually making significant progress when all they could see was the blue sea every day.
Tim.
From: “WWW.PENDAN…
Tim thank you and yes your little tid bits did provide everyone with welcome news of where we were!! 🙂 Thank you
Response to a post by Ronn S. who said:
Oscar smelling land is precious – great pic! We’ve never met as is the case with most of social media, but it is social in other senses nevertheless. I’ve been to Kodiak, and much of but not anywhere near all of Alaska even after living there for 25 …
I hear you, this will be almost impossible to beat but we will wonder on in search to see if there is a winning contender. Words fail to do this place justice and my attempts only annoy me more – nonetheless we will cover as much ground as possible.
Response to a post by 1114john who said:
SUBJECT: RE: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Thank you for all your very interesting posts of your journey. My wife and I look forward to your continuing adventure. Safe sailing and calm seas.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
—–…
THankyou.
Response to a post by James who said:
I hear you, this will be almost impossible to beat but we will wonder on in search to see if there is a winning contender. Words fail to do this place justice and my attempts only annoy me more – nonetheless we will cover as much ground as possible.
Thank you James. Love following your family, life and sea going adventures, even if vicariously. I had two smaller boats in Alaska over the years and could tell many tales about… lol. You guys should have little worry with Pendana, although I will postulate, don’t take the Gulf of Alaska lightly on your wayward.
Response to a post by Ronn S. who said:
Thank you James. Love following your family, life and sea going adventures, even if vicariously. I had two smaller boats in Alaska over the years and could tell many tales about… lol. You guys should have little worry with Pendana, although I will …
It’s 12 hours or more to Seward at best, and likely the roughest of your journey.
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Amazing!!! so well done and so exiting. I am so happy for you and the dreams you have had the courage to pursue.Hugs to you all from France.xoxoxoT
From: http://WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM
To: t.lansky@[…]
Sent: Friday, June 10, 2016 5:39 PM
Subject: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
#yiv0646762228 #yiv0646762228 #yiv0646762228outlook a {padding:0;}#yiv0646762228 body {width:100% !important;min-width
Response to a post by t.lansky who said:
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Amazing!!! so well done and so exiting. I am so happy for you and the dreams you have had the courage to pursue.Hugs to you all from France.xoxoxoT
From: http://WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM
Thank you Tamara, we are glad to be in port for some R&R… now to find us a Kodiak Bear!!! 🙂 take care, all thinking about you.
J&C
SUBJECT: Re: Pendana Arrives in Kodiak, Alaska
Congratulations James and family. Great accomplishment and I”m very happy
for you.
James B
On Fri, Jun 10, 2016 at 9:40 AM, http://WWW.PENDANABLOG.COM <
blogcomments-3W6QY@[…]> wrote:
>
Awesome photos, brings back memories. I know you’re loving it. Seward, your next adventure was my main go to hangout summers in Alaska with my two (much smaller boats over the years). Trust me when I say, you will love it too. Keep in mind you can fish! Or, simply cruise Resurrection Bay for hours along its rocky shores and its marvels of marine life, including harbor seals, killer whales, porpoise, humpbacks, sea lions and the incredible assortment of sea birds. Then in the evenings, take in the marvels of the small town restaurants and saloons. It’s a wonderfully happy balance of nature and small city charm.
Response to a post by James who said:
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