No Worries, It’s Only Mud

Jack van Ommen wants his family, friends and many fans not to be overly concerned about what looks like a perilous situation for him and his Gig Harbor, Washington-based Naja 30 Fleetwood.

“Grounding on soft mud is nothing to worry about,” he assures everyone, “although the incident taught me not to trust the cruising guides too much.”

While Jack didn’t say where he’d gone aground, we believe it was in an estuary of El Salvador. If we’re not mistaken, El Salvador is the 53rd country he’s visited since starting cruising in his mid-60s, financed entirely by a mid-level Social Security pension. Jack’s a Latitude hero.

We know that Jack had already made it across the Gulf of Tehuantepec, having taken a little dusting from the edge of a T-Pecker, and then made an unscheduled stop at the Marina Pez Vela in Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. He reports that his boat is the only sailboat in the marina.

How quickly can you move along in a small boat? Jack sailed south with the Baja Ha-Ha fleet in early November, spent some fine days in La Cruz later in the month, then continued south. His goal is ‘Around the World in 80 Years’, which means he has to cross an imaginary line between Trinidad and Miami before he turns 80 in late February. He still has a lot of ground to cover, but we think he’ll make it.

Other noted septuagenarians on the move or about to be on the move include Jeff Hartjoy of the Longbranch, Washington-based Baba 40 Sailors Run and Jeanne Socrates of the Victoria-based Najad 380 Nereida. Having finished his singlehanded nonstop around-the-world voyage in Ecuador, Jeff is now moving up the mainland coast of Mexico to Barra de Navidad and La Cruz. Jeanne, denied on her attempt to set another singlehanded nonstop around-the-world record, is also headed to La Cruz in anticipation of yet another record attempt starting later in the year.

Let’s face it, when it comes to singlehanded sailing, the 70s are the new 30s.