Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 13:49:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Yvonne Allen
Subject: Libelle Update - 17 May 99

Here's the latest from Wally and Mary
Wally couldn't get through to Peter this morning, but
did get this information at l:30:

Latitude 35 degrees, 57.6 min north
Longitude 66 degrees, 32.6 min west
1830 GMT.  Waves as high as a house.
Distance to Horta is 1764 nautical miles
Bearing to Horta 74 degrees.  Island is Faiel.
Getting weather information from Herb daily.
Boat performing well.
Slow progress is due to east wind.
xpecting nice weather soon.

FYI: "Herb" is Herb Hilgenberg; a ham radio
operator/meterologist who provides daily weather
information to sailors in the North Atlantic and some
in the Pacific as well.  I had a chance to hear one of
his broadcasts while I was in Charleston helping
outfit the boat.  You contact him to sign up for his
services.  Then at about 3:30 everyday, boats start
calling in for "check-in".  At 4:00 Herb reads out the
names of vessels that he was able to hear and then
goes through the list, contacting each boat, getting
position, weather conditions, course etc...  He then
gives that boat a weather forecast and his take on
what their best course is with the given weather
conditions.

His broadcast is usually quite lengthy (more than four
hours when I was there) as he goes through the list.
When he finishes the first list he makes a special
effort to try to contact those boats that have signed
up for his service, but who he did not hear in the
first check-in.  He will also chastise you harshly on
the air if you "weren't able to make it to the radio
that day".  He wants check-in every day - I suppose
it's only fair.

At any rate I'm glad to hear that Libelle is in daily
contact with Herb.  I believe they can also get Coast
Guard radio weather, but of course you're on your own
for interpretation.  I guess the days of looking into
the sky to set your course as long gone - and mariners
are a LOT safer as a result!

I hope they see nothing but 10-15 off their beam for
the rest of the trip!

Bye for now,

Yvonne