News

Saturday November 27, 2004
Alas, my hopes did not last long. The wind soon backed, coming from the SE and it was not long before it started to dwindle. At 1500 hrs I started the engine and we have since motorsailed in the never ending sweltering, soaked wet from sweat, night!
Still no wind this morning. I am down to my last day's diesel, will then have to drift the last 400 miles or so to Barbados or St Lucia. I just cannot believe this!

Position at 1000 hrs UTC ( 0600 local )
10 39 N
52 20 W
Cog 312
Sog 5
Wind 0
Motorsailing

550 miles to St Lucia, 450 miles to Barbados
We are now 4828 miles from Cape Town

Friday Nobember 26, 2004
Another sweltering day! No clouds, but very sticky and humid.
Motored until late afternoon. Another visit from a pod of dolphins! A large
squall overtook us and we sailed close hauled for two hours in this squall. When
the squall passed, the trades arrived and we have been sailing all night on a
broad reach, starboard tack in this 25 knot NE winds. The headsail has since been furled up and is at 30%.
Position at 09 00 hrs UTC
09 26 N
50 09 W
Cog 310
Sog 7.5
Wind 25
Wind from the NE
On a broad reach, starboard tack.
Total daily run---141 miles
694 miles to St Lucia.

Thursday November 25, 2004
Position at 0900 hrs UTC
08 16 N
48 04 W
Cog 315
Sog 1.7 kt
Wind 0
Drifting in west setting current.
Total daily run---125 miles
835 miles to St. Lucia

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!
Another sweltering hot day. Took a shower in a morning squall in the cockpit. Got hit by 3 more squalls during the day. Winds very variable. Ran under power 50/50 during the day and night.
No sight of those NE trade winds.
A pod of dolphins made my day, 12 of them swimming side by side in front of IT's
bow. Sighted another mast head light during the night. Must be another yacht also on the same track.

Wednesday November 24, 2004
The day was somewhat cooler due to being overcast, but nevertheless it was another sticky day. We motored most of the time and late afternoon we were surrounded by squalls and the wind picked up. Sailed all night in light rain and 8 knot wind.
The wind was very variable in the squalls. Still no sign of the NE trade winds. Eating cold food, way too hot to cook something up on the stove. Took a swim behind IT at 3 knots and let IT pull me on my harness. Did an inspection of the hull too. The water is crystal clear. The water is quite warm and the cool-off attempt did not do me any good. Took a freshwater shower in the head, using very little water. The freshwater in my holding tanks is much colder than the sea water. Five dolphins came to entertain me at dusk and I took video footage of them frolicking in front of IT's bow. They stayed with us for 30 minutes.
We are now 4420 miles from CapeTown, 2780 miles from St Helena and it is still 960 miles to St Lucia.

Position at 0900 hrs UTC
07 25 N
46 08 W
Cog 310
Sog 5
Wind 2
Motorsailing

Total daily run-----116 miles

Tuesday November 23, 2004
Another hotter than hell day! Is this ever going to end???
There is absolutely nothing I want to do, just find the nearest spot of shade with a breeze on the deck and sweat and pant like a dying fat pig.
The evenings are a little cooler but my pillows, linen and mattress is soaked with sweat every morning. I am using salt water to cool off but I am paying the price, my calves are sensitive and I have a terrible rash now.
Since the winds are down I am sailing and motorsailing on a 50-50 basis. As soon as the speed goes under 3.5 knots, I start the main engine and run it at 1800 rpm. When winds pick up again, I shut it down. The doldrums are relatively narrow as per Jimmy Cornell's book, but I doubt it as we have been in it for 4 days now. The NE trades should be blowing strong after 5 degrees North, but we are almost at 7 degrees North and still nothing. A lot of squalls and funnel clouds and I have to watch those funnel clouds. The last thing I want is to be sucked up into the clouds and end up like a bloated dead fish in the water.

Position at 0900 UTC
06 28 N
44 27 W
Cog 312
Sog 5
Wind 9
Wind from the NE(variable, as we are in some squalls right now)
On a broad reach, starboard tack.
Total daily run----135 miles

Monday November 22, 2004
It was another hotter than hell day. Used 20 gallons of saltwater to stay cool. Dusk is always a relief. The wind however is so light that there is almost no contact on my skin.
Sailed all day and night between 3.5 and 5 knots.
At least we are moving, but I hope winds pick up soon as the heat is taking it's toll on my nerves. It is very frustating. Started main engine occasionally, to keep batteries up and drinking water in refrigerator cold.
Position at 0900 hrs UTC ( 0600 local)
05 32 N
42 24 W
Cog 320
Sog 4.8
Wind 5
Wind from SE
Running
Total daily run ----117 miles

Sunday November 21, 2004
Since my last log entry, I motorsailed for 3 hrs until the wind strengthened. Sailed all day between 3.5 to 5 knots. A few squalls formed around me, but never threathened in any way.
I noticed a strange phenomenon taking place in front of my eyes. First it was a dark cloud mass on the water, like a dust devil, the water was swirling round and round. I took some video footage and it was not long before a funnel cloud made it's appearance and the snake like funnel slowly started to curl it's way down towards the ocean. In a matter of seconds a perfect waterspout appeared and I got it all on tape!
This lasted about 2 minutes then it lost its strength and disappeared altogether. I had witnessed my first ever waterspout! When it occurs on land, it is called a tornado! It all happened about 5 miles from us.
It was a terribly hot day and I had to scoop up saltwater and douse myself a couple of times, the hell with the rash. Temp was 95 fahrenheit.
Sailed on until sunset, then I started the motor again and let it run for one more hour to charge the batteries for the night.
My first ever cloudless night since leaving Cape Town and it gave me some time to study the stars again.
Slept in the cockpit as the cabin is hot as an oven.

Position at 0900 hrs UTC
04 29 N
40 44 W
Cog 315
Sog 5
Wind 7
Wind from the SE
Running, full main and genoa poled out.
Total daily run, 116 miles

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