Port of Call -Ascension Island -March 8, 2002

Position: Port of Call -Ascension Island -March 8, 2002

We arrived at Ascension Island after 4 days sailing from St. Helena, 800 miles. The wind was ideal for sailing with the spinnaker during the day. We stared to pick up some the easterly trade winds even though we were still in the doldrums region around the equator. Our off shore anchorage was comfortable giving the crew one day needed rest.

Ascension is another British Island in middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The island has less than 1,000 local residences and several hundred USAF and RAF military on the two military bases is governed by St. Helena. It has a large airport that could have been used for emergency landings for the space shuttle. NASA also had a tracking station on the island but no longer active. The islands main purpose is now for communications for the military and Cable and Wireless. Large satellite antennas are located on the hills throughout the island.
The island shows more recent volcanic activity than St. Helena. Black volcanic dust and desolate moonscape covers the majority of the ground. We found a rental car available for us to drive the two roads, both dead-ends. The road to the highest peak, 3,000', leads to a rain forest at the peak that is usually in the clouds. At the top is the island water reservoir and a one time luxury guesthouse indicating that a greater tourist activity my have existed. During the Falkland Island war the island became very active as the British used for ships and planes support one their way to the Falklands.

The island was a welcome stop for our crossing even though it is one of the most isolated stops we have made. No one wanted to stay at Ascension for any more than a day.

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