Posted: 6/13/06
Sailor in Pacific on last leg of journey
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Ardell Lien, the Caledonia man who is sailing around the world, is now back in the same ocean from which he started his journey.
A 70-year-old heart transplant recipient, Lien undertook the journey in an effort to draw attention to the need for organ donation. He embarked from San Diego in May of 2005, in the 27-ft. Catalyst. Ardellís wife, Maureen, returned Saturday from a visit with Ardell in Panama. Also on the trip were the coupleís son Eric and his wife, Jody; daughter Karen Kennedy and grandsons Karsten, 8, and Hunter, 10. The group accompanied Ardell through the Panama Canal.
At about 7 p.m., the group began its journey through the first three locks, which raised them up from the Atlantic Ocean to Gatun Lake, which is 31 miles across and 85 ft. above sea level. After crossing the lake, they reached the Pedro Miguel Locks, and are gradually lowered through another series of three locks to Miraflores Lake. From the lake, the ship is lowered through another set of locks and travels under the Bridge of the Americas to the Pacific.
In order to pass through the canal, a ship is required to have an advisor and four line handlers. The group hired one line handler and Ardell, Eric, and Jodi were the other line handlers.
Maureen said that her daughter Karen fell overboard while trying to get a photograph of one of the line handlers jumping into the boat. There were crocodiles in the water, and the group had a hard time getting her back on the ship.
Another incident occurred in Panama City when the board got stuck in reverse. Ardell hit a dock, and broke his wind vane. He thought his journey was over at that point, because he couldnít continue without a wind vane. Luckily, he was able to realign the clogs in the wind vane and got it working again. Maureen said she hopes the same angel who has been watching over Ardell throughout the trip will now help him get his computer working. His computer broke down and it has all the maps he needs to navigate. He canít buy a new one, because he lost his billfold and had to cancel his credit card.
If he averages 100 miles a day, Ardell can make it to Hawaii in about 45 days, and to San Diego in about 2 1/2 months. Maureen said she is not sure if Ardell will stop in the Galapagos Islands, but said he will stop at Clipperton Island and then decide whether to zig-zag up the coast or go to Hawaii. She said she is looking forward to having him home and on solid ground.
ìItís been a long time,î she said.
Lienís progress can be tracked at www.shiptrak.org. Enter the call sign N7PCY.
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