News

Saturday November 20, 2004 am
Alas! There goes my chance to break my 200 mile a day run record.
The wind just dwindled to 6 knots. Sailed all night at 3.5 knots. At 0200 hrs this morning I woke up and saw that the wind had backed. We were heading 5 degrees. Goosewinged the headsail again, getting back on our heading. At 0700 hrs I started the main engine and we are still motorsailing at present.

Position at 0800 hrs UTC
03 38 N
39 00 W
Cog 320
Sog 5
Wind 5
Motorsailing
Total daily run----127 miles

A lightning storm is brewing to the north of us. I hope it comes this way so I can cool off and catch some badly needed rainwater.

Friday November 19, 2004 pm
Position at 2000 UTC
03 06 N
38 18 W
Cog 330
Sog 5
Wind 8
Wind from the NE
On a beam reach, starboard tack.

We hit the North Atlantic trades at last.
Speed is down due to lack in wind strength.
Another hot day, 92 degrees fahrenheit!
I am sweating my butt off!
Can't wait for dusk when it gets cooler.
Have to use water sparingly.
Reading Patrick Robinson's 2nd book, another high seas thriller!

Friday November 19, 2004 am
Position at 0800 hrs UTC
02 25 N
37 17 W
Cog 320
Sog 7.5
Wind 18
Wind from the ESE
On a broad reach, starboard tack.
Total daily run---159 miles

All night on a broad reach, a first since leaving Cape Town. IT is smelling land again and I do not have to spur her on, she is giving all she's got. Go IT, go !!!
Very muggy at the moment, despite being overcast. My skin is sticky and I smell! Will have to take some more baths regularly!!!!

Thursday November 18, 2004 pm
Position at 2000 hrs UTC
01 50 N
36 02 W
Cog 325
Sog 7.5
Wind 18
Wind from the ESE
On a broad reach, starboard tack !!!!

Wind started to veer this afternoon, bringing a huge squall and it rained for two hours. The squall passed and with the wind from the ESE, we finally could go on a broad reach at last! The rolling motion is down and IT is galloping happily again! IT is hitting speeds up to 8.5 knots occasionally. I hope this wind direction and wind strength lasts as I really want to break the 200 mile aday barrier just for once!

Thursday November 18, 2004 am
Position at 0800 hrs UTC
01 20 N
34 52 W
Cog 304
Sog 5.5
Wind 9
Wind from SE
Still running

Wind is down, though it is veering.
No drama here, a little cross swell but that's all.
Almost at the halfway mark between Cape Town and Palacios.
Still heading for St.Lucia.

Wednesday November 17, 2004 pm
Crossed the equator at 1025 hrs UTC this morning. Welcome to the North Atlantic!
Position at 2000 hrs UTC
00 39 N
33 58 W
Cog 320
Sog 6.5
Wind 12
Wind from SSE
Still running

At noon the heat became almost unbearable, wish the wind would become stronger so that the breeze could pass over me. Sweating just by sitting on my butt.

Wednesday November 17, 2004 am
Position at 0800 hrs UTC
00 08 S
32 48 W
Cog 325
Sog 7 kt
Wind 16 kt
Wind from the SSE
Still running.

Another pitch black night. Stayed awake most of the time keeping watch. Catnapped an hour at a time. Skies overcast and it is also very much cooler today.

Tuesday November 16, 2004 pm
Position at 2000 hrs UTC (sunset)
00 56 S
31 46 W
Cog 330
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind 15 kt
Wind from the South
Still running

Jibed both the main and headsail this morning as the wind has backed, coming from the south and we are being pushed more northerly.
Got news from Bev that the marina at Barbados is full, so I am still heading that way. Will stop at Rodney's Bay and marina at St.Lucia, 60 miles past Barbados.
With the refrigerator on, the ice cold water makes the Oros taste like heaven. Reading Ken Follet's "The Pillars of the Earth".
Took a refreshing cold water bath in the cockpit.
Not long and we will cross the equator again, entering the North Atlantic.

Tuesday November 16, 2004 am
At sunset yesterday, we encountered our first freighter since the Walvisbaai to Rio express. It was heading NE, in fact we encountered 3 more freighters last night. No sleep for me. I stayed awake until 0200 hrs this morning. We are on the SW and NE shipping channel. All freighters passed us in a 2 mile raduis. There was no danger but I kept a wary watch until the last one was 10 miles away. Then I set my radar's guard zone and watchman to catch up on lost ZZZZ.
Position at 0800 hrs UTC
1 46 S
30 45 W
Cog 330
Sog 6 kt
Wind 12kt
Still running
Very cloudy this morning. Have started up the refrigerator so I could have
something cold to drink. Breakfast: Granola and ice cold long life milk!

Monday November 15, 2004 pm
Position at 1800 hrs UTC
2 43 S
29 47 W
Cog 331
Sog 5 kt
Wind 7 kt
Running

Another very hot day. Zipped the suncover back on. Took everything out of the hell hole and reorganized it again, just to stay busy. Replaced all the rotten straps that keep the jerrycans in place. Ran main engine for 3 hrs to charge batteries. Checked all water levels in battteries .Seas almost calm, not a whitehorse in sight. We are getting closer to the equator. Still 2015 miles to Barbados.
3280 miles from Cape Town.

Monday November 15, 2004 am
Position at 0800 UTC
3 22 S
29 02 W
Cog 325
Sog 6.5 kt
Wind 12 kt
Still running

Total daily run-170 miles

Just another night of smoothe sailing.
We are 220 miles from De Fernando De Noronha Island which is part of Brazil. Will pass the island within 150 miles.The island is a sort of National Park and you can drop anchor there and explore the island. However it is not a port of entry. Still heading for Barbados which is 2075 miles from here.
Lots of flying fish around here. The deck is littered with baby flying fish and some baby squid too. Got a visitor, but was unable to find out what kind of bird it was. All signs it left was poop on the front dodger window!!!

Sunday November 14, 2004 pm
With the sun out again, I re-installed the solar panel on the dodger. It is still working very well. Took the mainsail down and after installing slugs in the old main, I hoisted it all the way up. It is probably the first mainsail, made in 1977, but looks good. It is a full baton mainsail, but without the batons now. Anyway it is working well and we do not need the batons as we are sailing downwind.
Another hot day and I got sunburnt, my back feels like it is plastered with sand!
Had Bokomo Weetbix for breakfast, for lunch it was tuna in mayonnaise with crackers, peanuts, jelly babies and a big Tex chocolate bar for snacks inbetween. Squeezed a few oranges for a fresh orange drink mixed with lime. The scurvy is gone now since I started drinking lime juice again. Have to make it a habit to drink lime every day.
Position at 1800 hrs UTC
4 19 S
27 44 W
Cog 319
Sog 7
Wind 15
Running,full main and genoa goosewinged.

Sunday November 14, 2004 am
Position at 0800 hrs UTC
4 54 S
26 40 W
Cog 320
Sog 6.5
Wind 14
Wind from SE
Running, double reefed main and genoa goosewinged.

No drama here, smoothe sailing all night. Cross swells somewhat down. Looks like
another sunny day.

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