Project BlueSphere

I know you’ve had to deal with some bitching lately but it’s coming to an end. When I was in Hiva Oa in the Marquesas I had a “protection” Tiki carved into Namaste’s compression post. I know it’s not a good name for a Marquesan Tiki but I call him Charlie. Charlie looks out after […]

I’ve been looking at larger boats all over the world, yachtworld.com is awesome isn’t it? I want to “step up” and know the right opportunity will present itself at some point. I had an interested buyer for Namaste however I got word this afternoon that he’s passing. He is in Southern Australia and delivering from […]

The sun will continue to set over the Pacific for me, although tonight, it’s under heavy sky. I’m not going to buy the Force 50! I was able to raise the money “Thanks Chuck” and even find an interested buyer for Namaste here in Tahiti. I even went as far as finding a job in […]

Sorry I’ve been a bit detached. I’ve been working double time on Namaste getting her ready for a long passage. All the “must fix’s” and “would like to fix’s” are getting my undivided attention. I should have a good idea by the end of the week if I can make the deal on the new […]

I really burned my belly and hand (hot oil) cooking pancakes this morning. I swear the most dangerous thing I’ve encountered about cruising is the stove, now I know what aprons are for. My engine part (fuel line) is on the way it should take a week or two. The bummer is I can’t work […]

You know what they say “Ship Happenz”. I was changing my oil yesterday and noticed that one of my hi-pressure fuel lines from the injector pump to the injector is leaking. It had leaked in Panama and I replaced it with a new one, The new one was a strait piece of tube that I […]

I got the following Instant message yesterday and it got me thinking: “First and foremost I want to say “this is your life and dream you are living”. I think the reason you get some negative feedback is we are living vicariously through you; you are cutting our trip around the world short. Myself I […]

Well I’ve contacted brokers in Australia and New Zealand and I don’t think there is much more I can do at this point. I’ve been reading about the Cooks and Tonga and I’m excited to get to sea again. I’m giving this thing my best shot, but if I can’t swing it, I can’t swing […]

Someone sent me a great quote from “Jaws”. To steal a line form Sheriff Brody, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”! Well, the negative comments have seemed to stop and I’m getting some amazing feedback. I think it’s hard not to see the beauty in this. So many people are offering to come to Florida […]

These are some of the faces in my head when I think of the “BlueSphere” upgrade. So many of you are still sending me messages saying “sorry to see you quit, or are implying I can’t make it”. Well you know what, I am “making it”, and I will do it spreading humanity as I […]

Sometimes one needs to drink beer to put things into perspective, Cheers Aldo! I’ve gotten hundreds of emails and instant messages regarding getting into the new boat. Some people were offended that I would conceder going back to do this, and others helpful and supportive. I think the people who really know me, know this […]

I want to put out the feelers again to see if anyone is interested in Namaste. Tahiti would be a great place to keep a boat, one could spend years here sailing the Tuamotos, Society islands {Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea, etc}, Austrials and so on. The Marina here is not expensive to keep a boat […]

My friend Oriana (from Osprey) came by yesterday and suggested that we hitch-hike to the other side of the island to see the botanical gardens “You need a break Alex”! Oriana is ending her travels after a year and flying to LA today for a few weeks then returning to Bolivia and eventually back to […]

I’m really at a transitional point in my trip. I wanted to meditate on my thoughts for the day. Yesterday I hitch-hiked around the island to visit Chowpu (spelling) it’s a famous surfing beach with an awesome reef break. I spent hours sprawled out on the black sand thinking about my future journey and where […]

Okay, someone needs to come to Tahiti and shoot me. I don’t know why I’m so confused! Being on the fence about my new plan is an understatement. Some people think my new idea sounds crazy, which is what everyone said when I decided to start Project BlueSphere to begin with, and others think it’s […]

I think you can still watch the original “intro” video on the website, I think it’s available in the video player. I’ve been thinking back to the beginning of Project BlueSphere and when I shot that video. Project BlueSphere wasn’t so much about a guy sailing around the world; as it was to be a […]

I’m having some problems getting my pix up in the gallery, I’ll post a few here. I’m going to work on posting some videos that I took crossing the Pacific, I’ll try to get them posted in the next few days. I didn’t get the Diseal yesterday but Namaste’s water tank is full, she is […]

My water tank went dry this morning, I will spent a few hours hauling fuel and water to the boat today. It would be easier to take Namaste to the fuel dock but last time I did that I lost a section of toe rail, I don’t do docks anymore. I want Namast ready for […]

I got my new satellite phone (Motorola 9595a) working yesterday, what a difference, I can actually use it as a phone. My old Motorola 9500 was really shot. It didn’t get good signal, the mic didn’t work (I could only use it for data), and it was all glued (9500) together. The only reason I’m […]

Wow, I’ve been getting a lot of mixed input. About half of the people are saying “Go for it, if you can travel and help people along the way it would be really special”, and some are saying “Finish what you have started; you’ll be a looser if you don’t”. First of all my travels […]

I must say I never thought I would conceder selling Namaste to buy another boat on this trip, especially here, after I’ve worked so hard, but let me explain. The 50’ sailboat that I’m looking at is a “fixer” and one that I’ve dreamed of owning for many many years. I’ve never considered trying to […]

I’m starting to wonder if cruising guides are a good thing. I’ve been studying Charlie’s charts, Cornell’s books, South Pacific anchorages, Landfalls of Paradise, and the Pacific crossing guide. My head is starting to spin! These are all good guides but everyone seems to have different opinions about things and I think it’s time to […]

Part of my journey is looking for signs that guide my way. When I clear my mind of useless chatter like TV, billboards, radio, and the ever prominent tug of society I can see signs. I know many of you will think I’m sounding “New Age” or something, but this works for me and guides […]

My buddy Steve is taking off tonight and I wanted to post a picture of us. I still don’t know what my plans are but I feel things are starting to take shape. My visa is up today. I was at the immigration office at 7:30 and the officer wasn’t happy with me waiting so […]

Since Project BlueSphere is my forum I think it’s necessary for me to be honest about my feelings and travels. I know I seem a bit ADD sometimes but I like throwing everything up on the board uncensored. I’m feeling like my path is unclear and I don’t really know where to go…, I’m feeling […]

I went to a “spear throwing” contest a few days ago and wanted to post a picture. These guys were throwing spears at a coconut perched atop a 50 foot pole. I’m amazed how many were able to hit it. I’d hate to be running through the jungle trying to evade a spear attack, OUTCH!!! […]

You know how I always say I don’t like to make plans; well I’ve been planning BIGTIME! I’ve become possessed by this boat. I’ve found myself looking at it hard and for hours, it’s what I want! I’ve been living this amazing life for a while now and perhaps it’s time to shift gears and […]

I found something else I can afford to eat, SASHIMI!!!! Steve and I went shopping yesterday and bought 2 large chunks of tuna ($20) for a sashimi fest. Steve, Vatina, and I had an awesome dinner and half of the fish is still left over. So baguettes are around $0.40 each, brie is only a […]

I don’t know about the extended visa thing. At this point I’m planning on heading west by the end of the month. I think I’ll check out Bora Bora and then make tracks for the Cooks and Tonga. My new (used) sat phone arrived yesterday. It didn’t have a charger and I’ll need to find […]

Vatina picked my up at 17:30 yesterday and we drove to the airport. My buddy Steve arrived without a hitch. Vatina made fresh flower lays and gave one to me and made two more for Steve, one for each of us to give him. I don’t know if you’ve ever had a flower lay but […]

My old friend Steve is arriving today, I’m psyched; I haven’t seen him for about 10 years. We met on our boats in Catalina around 97, then sailed the Channel Islands and hung out a bit. He has a nice boat and is planning on cruising soon. I’m hoping to convince him to take off […]

Okay, let me update my last log! Wow, I’m really shocked to some of the responses I got to my last log; I hope it was just the Gore link at the bottom of the page, that kind of slipped in, don’t go there on my account. I’m not connected to any political party, NONE! […]

Dear friends, One of the nice things about my lifestyle is I don’t consume much energy. Most of my energy consumption is generated via wind and solar power. Please, Please, Please do what you can to reduce your energy consumption. Buy a bike, wear a sweater in your house if it’s cool, and open the […]

A few people sent me Instant messages asking what Yoga video to buy. I started with “Yoga for Dummies”, and later moved to the “Advanced Yoga for Dummies”. After my accident it really saved my ass. I had become dependant on pain killers and mussel relaxers trying to escape my Sevier back pain. After 2 […]

Driving around Tahiti was Fantastic. My friend Oriana joined us and we had a blast. We saw beautiful black sand beaches, 3 water falls, and tons of magnificent coastline and rain forest. Vatina took us to a restaurant for an amazing sashimi lunch. It was the most amazing meal, I can’t remember the last time […]

I went out to a local dance show with some friends last night, what a nice evening. It was a really big production. At one time there were 100 hula girls dancing on the stage backed up by local Polynesian music and singers. Today I’m going to see the island with a friend of a […]

I’ve got so much to do and so little time. The worst thing about crossing the Pacific is the visa situations; one always needs to be on the move. The French will only give me 3 months in every six and that is just not enough time.  I need to leave French Polynesia by July […]

Liberty, autonomy, sovereignty, emancipation, choice, freedom…, these are all words associated with independence. For many, the 4th of July is just an excuse to have a party or drink beer, but let’s not forget the blood that was shed to earn our independence. We paid for this holiday with human life, and many other nations […]

Chris and I battled with the prop for hours, it wouldn’t come off, I guess I’m just supposed to continue under powered. Next time I haul Namaste I try again. I went to the supermarket and spent hours trying to make the most of my money; I did splurge on a steak for tonight. I […]

Well I’m deep into putting my PC back together. The bad news is I’m having a hard time getting the proper drivers from dell, the very good news is I have my project back. I’m going to sail over to the west side today or tomorrow to put on my 3-blade prop. I just emailed […]

Tahitit is awsome!!! I dont even want to think of how much I spent last night but I needed a night on the town. I went out with Cass and her parents for dinner and drinks and had a good time. I met other friends and just got to the drinking chatting thing and before […]

Lat -17.613333 Lon -149.755 Well, it’s like this. I left the Ahi atoll and had 35 knots of sustained winds for the first half of my trip. The seas were large and pooped my cockpit twice. I was cursing the sea and came to the conclusion that it wouldn’t get much worse. As soon as […]

Lat -16.716667 Lon -2.473194 Well I made it through the pass with no problems. As soon as I was free of the Ahi atoll I felt fantastic. If you can tell I’m not a big atoll fan, I like my boat.   The wind quickly freshened to 25 knots, and in a few hours was […]

Its still blowing like snot but I’m low on food and I’m bored to tears. I’ve seen nothing more then a small village for going on 4 months. I want a decent shower, a good meal, and someone to do my laundry. I think I’ve ruined all my clothes. I really like my seclusion, but […]

Well the guy came and I scored a few pearls for my radio. Laurent had many questions about boats and invited me to help him raise the sunken boat in the pass. It is a French “Toy” (thin fiberglass) boat about 42’ long. He said he would give me some of the equipment (winches, roller […]

Alll may not be lost on the computer front. A few people have assured me the damage is probably to my application and operating system. I will have to reinstall windows in Tahiti. I went to shore last night to do some shopping and met the French guy (franswa) on the boat next to me. […]

Well I figured out how I got the virus. My friend came over a few days ago and gave me some music. The virus jumped over from her ipod. I’ve really been looking for some Simon & Garfunkle, and Cat Stevans, and I was so psyched to get it, but boy do I wish I […]

Technology will be the death of me! I tried opening my project (DVD) in Adobe premiere pro and it wouldn’t open. I battled with it all day yesterday. Today I decided to do a virus scan and my computer came up with an r32/rjump.worm. If I’ve lost my project I don’t know what I’ll do. […]

Without risk there would be no reward and if it was easy everyone would cruise. Whenever I hear of a boat going down it strikes a somber chord in my heart. One boat, a Hans Christian, was lost during the Galapagos to Marquesas run this year. The captain and crew were rescued by a nearby […]

Life has been pretty laid back. I spent the day working on the boat yesterday. It’s been really windy and I’m happy I pulled in here despite all the stress of hitting the reef. The wind charger has been working overtime and I have plenty of power for the computer. There is a black pearl […]

I haven’t had a drink for a while as I’ve been in my work mode but that all changed last night. I put away a nice cache or rum and I’m pretty hung over. When I woke up and put all my thoughts together through my rum drinking haze, I remembered…, I hit a reef. […]

Lat -14.576667 Lon -146.470833 I flipped a coin 5 times this morning trying to decide to go to Tahiti or not, and 5 out of 5 times told me to go to Tahiti, why didn’t I listen to the damn coin? I’m in a beautiful anchorage; however I almost lost my boat today! The wind […]

Lat -14.330556 Lon -146.214444 The wind really freshened (20-25) yesterday and I spent the whole day trying to slow Namaste down. I took down the main and only flew the smallest scrap of jib. Then I dragged a bucket in the water and I was still doing 3.5 Kts. 20 miles off of Ahi I […]

My 6 th sense is working well. I think I can smell the squalls coming. I woke up just in time to douse the drifter and rig the boat for a squall. I fixed the drifter with some duct tape. I find that Namaste does best with 2 reefs in the main and a full […]

Lat -12.873889 Lon -144.336389 I was in the cockpit dreaming that I was living back in Santa Barbara last night. My uncle Sasha was with me and helping me prepare for my first day as a school teacher. We looked up in the sky and the eye of a storm was passing over head, we […]

Lat -11.416667 Lon -142.777778 Only Gods should live like this. I’ve always aspired to become the kind of sailor that feels totally comfortable in the sea. The past 30 hours have been windlass, and I’m drifting at 1.5 – 2.0 Kts. I’m having problems with my monitor again it will only stay on for a […]

Lat -11.672222 Lon -143.131667 These are the sailing days I wanted on my crossing. This is the gentile pacific that I’ve imagined in my minds eye. I sleep outside under a blanket of a million stars. I watch the sun rise on the horizon and set on the horizon each day. I play my guitar. […]

I’ve been a sea 5 days and I’ve only made 266 miles. I guess I’ll shoot for stopping at the Ahi atoll in the Tuamotos, still 266 miles away. The little wind I had shifted to the ENE around 2am. It blew around 5 knots for a short while and is back down to nothing. […]

Lat -9.752778 Lon -144.100833 What a glorious day to be alive! I lost Aki’s lure right off the bat. I caught a large shark that took the lure and three quarters of my line, ARRRGGG! Yesterday was a wonderful trade wind sailing day, 10-15, and calm seas. The night was equally as nice with a […]

Well I’m off to Tahiti; the trip should take 7, or 8 days. The sun is rising for me in the Marquises for the last time. It’s been an honor to spend time with these beautiful people in this magical place. This is what Tahiti was like 200 years ago I’m told. I’m really bummed […]

What is it with me and technology lately, is my Saturn in retrograde or something? My New HDV camera (Sony HDR-HC1) bit the big one. I bought it last July 25th so I think I’m still in luck with the factory warrantee. I can’t finish my DVD without it. It’s eating tape and telling me […]

I’ve really been putting in the hours. I’ve been in front of the computer for 11-14 hours a day and I’m getting wiped-out. I’m thinking of wrapping it up for a while and sailing for the Tuamotos day after tomorrow. Sorry for the lapse in updates but my OCD has been working overtime and the […]

I’ve been an editing machine! The video will be awesome, I’m surprising even myself. Whenever I go on a crossing, start an editing project, or anything that requires a lot of mental aptitude I quit drinking. I stopped drinking 5 days ago. I also started drinking noni juice in the morning. As wonderful and delicious […]

I’m on fire. I had an awesome work day yesterday and I’m planning to keep it up for a while. I think the next DVD will be quite good and I’m excited to finish it. A gust of wind rolled down the hill last night that must have exceeded 50 knots. I think something is […]

I started working on my DVD bright and early yesterday morning. I had to unpack one of my external hard drives from a pelican case and set it up. I double-clicked on my project and waited for it to open; it usually takes a few minutes as it is quite large. My project wouldn’t open. […]

Lat -9.107222 Lon -140.3725 Some places are just nicer then others, and Daniels Bay is one of those places. I’m a very sensitive person. In the previous years I’ve become hyper-sensitive to people and places. I don’t surround myself with negative energy and try to follow the positive path in front of me. If you […]

Lat -9.107222 Lon -140.3725 What a magnificent anchorage! If you have access to Google earth you should check out this anchorage. I have 100% protection from the sea. The mountains climb thousands of feet in every direction. I’m sure one could weather a cyclone here. I could even work here, I’m thinking of spending a […]

It really is the wet season; the rain is coming down in sheets. Oriana came over yesterday morning to look at my sail and she closed my hatch on her toe, OUTCH!!! It came down on the nail of the big toe and bled for hours. I helped her to the hospital and they burned […]

I must follow the path of opportunity. Oriana (Spelling) on “Osprey” can fix my jib, they have a sewing machine. I’m going to take down the jib and have it mended in the morning. I also want to sail to Daniel’s bay (5miles). From Daniels bay one can hike 2 hours to the third tallest […]

I (not young (41)) invited Yanni (21) from Israel, and Oriana (23) from Austria over for drinks last night. They are crewing on an English boat (Osprey). Phillip (19) and Aki (old man :) joined as well. Yanni plays a nice guitar and we sang songs, drank rum, and spoke of our travels well into […]

A gypsy soul! I’m going through a transition in my life. Something happened to me on the crossing from Panama…, the world got smaller. When I study charts now it’s “700 miles here, 1500 miles there, no big deal”. The world is my oyster, I love this life, and it is truly special! I often […]

I took this picture just after I got up; I thought the light on the mountain was beautiful. It rained all day yesterday and I never went off to photograph Rose, I’ll go today. I’m also going to buy some food for the crossing. I’ll kick over the refrigeration as I leave in hopes of […]

These turnbuckles are from under Namaste’s bumpkin. The are often underwater and take a large load when sailing downwind. I checked them when I left Panama. They were a bit rusty, but no cracks. I ordered new rigging from defender and I must say they were pleasure to work with. Hugh brought the rigging and […]

I’m really torn about stopping in the Tuamotoes. It’s supposed to be like the San Blas. White sandy beaches full of coconut palms, friendly people, barrier reefs, and lots of fish. I really need to focus on my DVD though. I only have 2 more months in French Polynesia before I have to leave for…, […]

I got up uber-early and went for a walk in town. I bought hot baguettes, fruit and Veggies. On the way back I strolled through the shops as they were opening. I paid 2,700 franks (84 CFP = $1.00 USD) for a 5 hour internet hotspot card. I have internet access for the first time […]

Lat -9.166944 Lon -140.335833 I woke up in the dark yesterday in the pouring rain. It didn’t seem like the day to travel but I started preparing Namaste for sea. When the sun raised all it revealed was a world of wet grey. I let out 100’ of chain on the bow and pulled Namaste […]

I know what kind of boat I would like next. I could easily see myself in a Westsail 32, but I’ve fallen in love with Cape George’s. I visited a 40’ Cape George yesterday “Mist”, she is a beautiful boat and exactly what I would like in my next boat. They make a 36 which […]

I’ not a big fan of technology anymore but I’m convinced my ipod will make my life better. Hugh downloaded and brought me a copy of itunes and I finally got it working. I spent yesterday morning organizing my music and loading up my 4GB Nano. I rowed to shore listening to Van Morrison, pausing […]

Aki invited our friends that live on Hive Oa (Hiro & Jameina) to join him on the sail to Ua Pou. We all had a nice dinner last night as Aki caught a 35 pound Wahoo, they are anchored just next to me. The crossing was a bit rough and littered with squalls. I think […]

Hugh Again.  I think Alex is getting lazy about writing his log.  He hasn’t written one since I’ve been here. We left Hive Oa yesterday at about 3 pm local time.  We sailed through the night, through two squalls, of course during my watch, and are still about 2 hrs from Ua Pou. Nights at […]

Someone, God alone knows who, once said “every day is an adventure.”  No where is that more true than here.  I did not mention this before, but Air France lost my checked baggage between Los Angeles and Pape’ete.  They gave me 18,000 Polynesian Francs, about $150 U.S., so I would be able to buy “necessities.”  […]

Hugh here. Alex suggested that I write the log today.  It is hard to imagine being so far away from home.  I traveled about 27 hours almost straight to get here.  I think the feel of these islands is even farther away from Houston than the miles between.  I flew in on a tiny little […]

Still no guest. I tracked down his hotel on Nuka Hiva but it is either closed, or he’s not in, communication has been difficult. I spoke to a woman on the island who said he will be at the airport this morning trying to get a flight, I hope he makes it. I went hiking […]

My guest was supposed to arrive yesterday. I was at the airport all afternoon but no guest. He sent me an email last night; he is on Nuka Hiva. I’m hoping he can catch a flight today, I’m really bummed he missed the pig roast. The pig roast was awesome. I can’t get over how […]

My guest (Hugh) arrives tomorrow. I really here because of Hugh. He booked his visit when I was in Panama and the extra dollars led me to the Marquesas as opposed to Hawaii for work. He is bringing me a new VHF, rigging, and hopefully he can bring my radar pole, it’s 8 feet long. […]

The Marquesas are a tattoo culture. Women and children have tattoos. I met the Tattoo artist (Nazario) yesterday. We talked about designs and I looked at his work. It’s the best work I’ve ever seen. Mostly he focused on my bond with the sea, and finally my relationship with spear fishing. “There are many sharks […]

I had an ultra fantastic day yesterday. Aki, Massa, Phillip and I met Hiro and Jemind on the beach at 9am. Phillip and I jumped into the small open bed in the back of the land rover. We wanted to give the dry interior seats to Aki and Massa. We drove to an archeological site […]

Aki and I made friends with the guy who runs the meteorological office. He invited us for site seeing and dinner tomorrow. He has a Land Rover and we will be able to get to the archeological sites without a problem. I have to meet my yacht agent later in the day to fill out […]

I must admit I was quite sad to see Machiko off yesterday. We had a really wonderful week together. I met Machi in Panama just before I left to cross the Pacific. I was friends with her mom Yoko who I met through Aki and company.  I hope to see Machi again soon. Last night […]

There were no rental cars available yesterday so Machiko and I went food shopping and walked around town. We were invited to “Polaire” for dinner last night. Polaire is a beautiful Japanese vessel (Tayana 52), and is captained by Seki. Aki, Massa, and Phillip came as well. Machiko and I made a really nice salad […]

Time on a boat is slow. Yachties often forget the date, often the month, and not many of us wear watches as a matter of principle. Machiko and I got up early to make her noon flight and over coffee realized she doesn’t leave until tomorrow. We were both happy with the appearance of an […]

Sorry for the lapse in logs, I’ve been preoccupied. Machico and I have been having a blast. We’ve also just been kicking back. She works long hours back home and needed a rest as much as I did after the crossing. Machi goes back to Tokyo on Friday and my other guest arrives on the […]

Machico and I went hiking in search of an archeological site yesterday. We never found it but we hiked through the jungle for a few hours. We picked limes, mangos, bananas, and nonie. Nonie is a really horrible tasting fruit that is supposed to be very healthy, it really smells rancid. We saw a really […]

Machico arrived on schedule. I was told that the hike to the airport was 3 hours and not to expect a ride. Coming back would not be a problem as many people would be driving back to Aunota. I left 4 hours before she arrived. I immediately got a ride and found myself at an […]

I went to town yesterday for bread and cheese. On the way I decided to stop into the police station to study a map on the wall of the island. I wanted to make sure I hitch hiked the right road to the airport today. As I was studying the map I smelled marijuana burning. […]

I did a hard days work in the blaring sun yesterday, I’m getting quite dark. I finished cleaning the water line which took a few hours. When I was about half done Aki and Massa, came to help me. With 2 extra pairs of hands it went quickly and only cost me 2 cold Guinness’s. […]

Ia Orana (Greetings) I’m amazed!!! It’s a rainy, rainy morning, but my Paypal account is shining!!! I feel like finding a grass skirt and doing the Hula on the deck this morning, I need to find a ukulele. Just yesterday I receiver subscriptions of $120.00 a month, I am really touched. Once I reach my […]

There must have been a festival or gathering last night. I fell asleep to the sound of native drums echoing off of the steep cliffs, and the smell of fire and cooked pig. It rained most of the night and I’m kicking myself for not hooking up my water catcher, I’ll do that today. Namaste […]

I went in search of internet today, I want to upload pictures. I rowed into shore before 7am. I took a shower outside watching the mist roll off of the steep cliffs. The sunlight streamed between the clouds warming my skin and the rugged green of my world burned its impression into my memory castle, […]

Today was check in day. I went to the police station to get my entry stamp and ships papers worked out (no charge). Aki was in tow and got his boat dealt with as well. After that we went shopping to get some fresh food. IT IS SOOOO BLOODY EXPENSIVE HERE!!!! A bottle of beer […]