Posted: 9/19/06
Lien arrives in Hawaii
By Jane Palen
Managing Editor
Ardell Lien is on the last leg of his journey around the world, even though he has technically achieved his goal of sailing solo around the world. The 71-year-old is believed to be the first heart and kidney transplant patient to make that trip.
He decided to make the trip in his 27-ft, sailboat ěCatalystî to raise awareness of the need for organ donation. Lien received a transplant in 2003 after suffering congestive heart failure.
Lien arrived at the Waikiki Yacht Club on August 29 to a crowd of well wishers, TV cameras, reporters and his wife, Maureen. The couple celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary, which was August 25, on Oahu.
Lien left San Diego in May of 2005, and once he crossed his departing longitude the trip was accomplished. That crossing came on July 31. Hawaii was his first stop after reaching that point. He is now continuing on to San Diego. He had been at sea 43 days.
The last 2,000 miles are presenting challenges to the seasoned sailor. Maureen received the following e-mail from Ardell last Saturday:
ěIt has been a tough last 24 hours. Last night before dark I was sailing along with 12 knots of wind and the sky was clear except for clouds around the horizon. I check for any potential dangers just before the lights went out but saw no problem.
I was reading a book about an hour after dark and the wind started to increase to 15, 17, 20 so I got out of the bunk and before I could get outside it was at 27 and still increasing. I rolled up some of the jib. It was hard to do because it had so much pressure and I didnít want to let to much out and risk flogging until it ripped. I didnít realize at the time that it was already ripped. The tear was T shaped along the seam for about 3 feet from leach and a tear down the leach to form a T. I eased the main and noticed that it also had a tear of about a foot along the leach. I had a reef in the main but when I noticed the tear I went on deck, yikes, and dropped the entire main on the boom. I saw 35 on the knot meter but I think at one time it hit 40.
After 15 minutes or so the wind came back to under 20 and after that it returned to 12 to 15 as before the line squall hit. I put the main back up with a double reef until morning. I removed and bagged both sails. I put up my number 2 jib and the storm trisail.
I now have several options, first I can sail the 2,044NM (nautical miles) to San Diego with the current setup taking maybe 4 additional days. I cannot repair the jib but I could sew the main as the tear is on the edge and only 14 inches long. I also have a 150 genoa that I have never used. To put these large sail on alone in any sea condition is a dreaded task that I will have to weigh against the 4 extra days at sea. I will keep you informed, as for now I am doing 4 knots with 14 knots of winds and with this setup I need not worry about any strong winds that might happen my way as last night.î
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