Quiet Achiever
by John Curnow, Sail-World.com AUS Editor 24 Feb 21:00 GMT
The Iron Pot Lighthouse at the mouth of the Derwent Estuary © Alamy.com
Just slugging it out. Bit over one hundred days have passed now. Under 5000nm still to run. Something like 30 to 45 days left to get back to the Iron Pot near Hobart. The living embodiment of, 'In order to finish first, first you have to finish!' Yes. It can only mean we are talking about Tristan Gourlay, who we featured in Keep it in the family. Keep it Tasmanian. That was back at the beginning of December, 2025, BTW.
As it has come to pass, it really is back to the future. Primarily, this is because the auxiliary Diesel has failed, so generating power is down to just solar, and there's often not a lot of that down in the high latitudes. So, the Starlink is down, and there goes WhatsApp amongst other things (hence why we have no new pics), and you're left with a lot of hand steering, and the old Satphone for text and calls.
So, it's a good thing the guy on the other end of the line is your Dad (Ken), who's down it all before, has all the good intel, and possibly the keenest one of all to see you break his own record.
Sounds like it is time to cue Ken, himself. "It's a bit of nostalgia to a large degree. He had Starlink, and all the information I had for the Pacific, but certainly it's all very different now. Tristan has had his 100th day afloat and he's passed his third Cape out of the five, and he's now just got the Indian Ocean to travel. Apart from a headsail that has been repaired, then tore again, and the power scenario, everything is fine aboard Blue Moon II."
In regards to the Diesel, Ken said, "He said it's done a seal. He still had Starlink then, and he showed me footage of oil running down over the bell housing. We haven't gone to try and diagnose anything further, but it made noises, and that's when he shut it down. I'm worried that if he starts it up again, it could easily cause a much greater issue. So, it's just no go now."
At less than 5000 nauticals to go, it could be about a month left to travel, which places Tristan well inside his Father's mark of 179 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes, and 58 seconds. "Yes, it looks like at six knots he'll be probably still making it in March, where I was the 6th of May, so he's sailing the boat extremely well. He's a very good sailor, a very technical sailor, whereas I'm a little bit more of a cruiser. There is the chance, if he averages seven knots, that he would actually get in in four weeks' time, which would be just simply amazing for someone by themselves on a family cruiser." NB. Remember this is a centreboarder, as well.
A big question for this family is, what is the fish tally? "He's had a few - mainly tuna. Tristan actually caught a marlin, but it straightened the hook out. He didn't quite get the Mahi Mahi on board, which is a real shame because he loves that. In fact, we've got a fantastic photo of when he caught one when we first bought the boat two years ago off the Gold Coast. He also got a Wahoo, which is another good hook straightener... (and terrific eating)."
At the time of our conversation, Tristan was in the vicinity of the Kerguelen Islands, at about 46 degrees South, give or take. Tristan has calculated this in order to ensure he achieves the required 21,600nm for the Great Circle Route, and thus the WSSRC minimum distance. The stretch home from there is changeable, at best, and we continue to wish Tristan all the best breezes to blow Blue Moon II home. As Ken says, "It's a pretty fearsome place."
Trainspotters will remember that Wild Eyes was abandoned in roughly the same part of the world... (and much later would show up off Kangaroo Island).
All of this is important, because it means he can beeline it straight home past South East Cape, and not have to duck down into the Furious Fifties to rack up the tally.
Importantly, the family, especially Mum Wendy, and Sister Carly, say he is good shape mentally, for the many hours a day on the wheel can be very taxing.
Ken had quite a few hurdles to overcome during his lap, especially knockdowns, and thus far, Tristan is soldering on brilliantly. "A big low came down from Madagascar and he passed across that the other day. He's now back on an Easterly course, heading straight for home," added Ken.
It's not like you can jump on the Cyclor for a few hours a day whilst you hand steer to put power back into the system. All of this means the journey has very much become one of managing oneself. As Ken says, "He'll be well in the rhythm by now, just as long as he still keeps managing his sleep, because that's a very important thing. You can get overtired, and then you make mistakes, but I think he's good."
Now despite it all, clearly humour has not left the building. The Gourlays put a sugar scoop on the back of Blue Moon II. Ken said, "It made the boat a lot quieter as it left the trail of water behind it, which was lack of turbulence noise. So that certainly helped her. It also provided a good place for the life raft to be stowed. It also meant we could turn the large (100mm) cockpit drains around by say 45 degrees, and have them exit through the chine. They do get rid of water promptly, but the trade-off is that in a following sea, it also comes back in."
Tristan's take on it all was shorter. "We should have antifouled the floor of the cockpit. It just stays wet."
Long may the humour and swift passage prevail for Tristan Gourlay and Blue Moon II. Record awaits you...
Thank you for being a crucial part of Sail-World.com
John Curnow
Sail-World.com AUS Editor