Current Position: 19 43.972’S 63 05.977’E; Local Timezone: UTC+4; SOG: 6.3 kt; COG: 267; TWS: 20 kt; TWD: 155; Distance to Waypoint (26s47s, 261): 965; Total Miles Sailed: 13692 nm; Engine Hours: 269; Estimate Fuel: 48+14+50;
Comments: The cargo ship left at 16:00. Jacob joined Christian and me in the bay as all three of us are leaving in the morning. Ertan decided to remain at the port overnight. I woke up at 3:10 and saw Jacob in the distance. A catamaran had arrived in the night. Since I did not have to wait for Ertan, I got up at 4:00 and began making final preparations to leave. The wind had died down overnight and the boat was not rocking as severely, making it easier to work. I started cooking a dish of sausage and vegetables, then I helped Christian get off, at 5. It was light enough now to ready the deck and do a final check of the rigging. I was underway by 9:30. I have three waypoints for this passage: RBay 1 (26s, 47e), RBay 2 (26s, 34e), and RBay 3 (28 48.63’s, 32 06.08’e). RBay 2 is 984 nm away from Rodrigues on a course of 261 M. It is at the SW tip of Madagascar just S of its shoals. After making the first waypoint, I will travel due W towards the second waypoint (but not necessarily all the way). I created two waypoints for places to wait out storms, St Augustine Bay – Nosy Ve (Augustine, 23°38S 43°36E) and Inhaca Island off Maputo (Inhaca, 25°38.346’S 32°52.898’E). The final preparation of the deck was finished at 6:00. I cleared the rats nest of fishing lures, clothes, and random items from beneath the dodger so I could be ready to handle the sheets for the storm staysail. I deployed the staysail and lashed to the railing figuring that would be easier to do at anchor. I raised the anchor at 8:00 and by 9:00 I was outside the barrier reef and halfway across the N side of the island. I was doing a little over 5 kt on a broad reach using half the Yankee, the storm staysail, and a double-reefed main on a course of 282!in 18 kt wind from 144. Once I clear the island, I will be able to set a course of 261 (the rhumb line to RBay 1). Trekka followed me out of the bay and gained on me while I was raising my sails. We will part company when I clear the island as my course will be 20 degrees further S. By 10:00 I was clear of the island and on a course for the waypoint a 261. Wind was 17-20 from 148 and I was making close to 6 kt in a broad reach. By 11:00 I had cleared the shadow of the island and was making close to 7 kt in 19 kt wind with the help of a 0.9 kt current. It feels good to be back at sea. Sailing conditions are almost ideal.
Comments: The cargo ship left at 16:00. Jacob joined Christian and me in the bay as all three of us are leaving in the morning. Ertan decided to remain at the port overnight. I woke up at 3:10 and saw Jacob in the distance. A catamaran had arrived in the night. Since I did not have to wait for Ertan, I got up at 4:00 and began making final preparations to leave. The wind had died down overnight and the boat was not rocking as severely, making it easier to work. I started cooking a dish of sausage and vegetables, then I helped Christian get off, at 5. It was light enough now to ready the deck and do a final check of the rigging. I was underway by 9:30. I have three waypoints for this passage: RBay 1 (26s, 47e), RBay 2 (26s, 34e), and RBay 3 (28 48.63’s, 32 06.08’e). RBay 2 is 984 nm away from Rodrigues on a course of 261 M. It is at the SW tip of Madagascar just S of its shoals. After making the first waypoint, I will travel due W towards the second waypoint (but not necessarily all the way). I created two waypoints for places to wait out storms, St Augustine Bay – Nosy Ve (Augustine, 23°38S 43°36E) and Inhaca Island off Maputo (Inhaca, 25°38.346’S 32°52.898’E). The final preparation of the deck was finished at 6:00. I cleared the rats nest of fishing lures, clothes, and random items from beneath the dodger so I could be ready to handle the sheets for the storm staysail. I deployed the staysail and lashed to the railing figuring that would be easier to do at anchor. I raised the anchor at 8:00 and by 9:00 I was outside the barrier reef and halfway across the N side of the island. I was doing a little over 5 kt on a broad reach using half the Yankee, the storm staysail, and a double-reefed main on a course of 282!in 18 kt wind from 144. Once I clear the island, I will be able to set a course of 261 (the rhumb line to RBay 1). Trekka followed me out of the bay and gained on me while I was raising my sails. We will part company when I clear the island as my course will be 20 degrees further S. By 10:00 I was clear of the island and on a course for the waypoint a 261. Wind was 17-20 from 148 and I was making close to 6 kt in a broad reach. By 11:00 I had cleared the shadow of the island and was making close to 7 kt in 19 kt wind with the help of a 0.9 kt current. It feels good to be back at sea. Sailing conditions are almost ideal.