Current Position: 16 34.525’S 9 51.088’W; Timezone: UTC+0; SOG: 3.0 kt; COG: 355; TWS: 10; TWD: 140; Current Speed (includes effect of surfing): 1.3 kt; Current Direction: 300; Distance to Waypoint (To tack, 292): 25 nm; Distance to Endpoint (Bridgetown): 3455 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 19232 nm; Engine Hours: 412; Estimate Fuel: 60+10+50;
Comments: Sunset is at 18:59 at 5.75W. At 8.75W it should be at 19:11, but it is unlikely I will see it given the cloud cover. It is 16:15 and I am about to get hit with another (tenth in the last 24h?) shower. It is 18:45 and I have the second rainbow of the day. This one is behind me, in dark rain clouds, and I can just see two small sections that flow into the water. It is like I am sailing out of it. I went to sleep at 20:00. The OTH AIS shows no threats tonight, so I set the timer interval for 2h. The nighttime was uneventful. The TillerPilot performed well, wind averaged about 10 kt, and the SOG averaged 3.5 in a deep broad reach on a course very close to the waypoint. It rained off and on. No traffic was encountered. I downloaded a new GRIB at 5:00. There were no surprises and I am to tack to the starboard this afternoon. It looks like the wind will return by Saturday morning (48h). On Sunday I should be able to set up a starboard tack for ten days or so, setting me up for the coastal run. The ITH AIS shows no obvious threats. Sunrise is a 5:58 at 5:75W, so it should at 9.25 it should be at 6:16. The sky is partly cloudy this morning with rain clouds on the horizon. It could be a repeat of yesterday with a dozen light rain showers. The sun rose behind clouds. I replaced the monofilament line of one of the squid lures with stainless steel wire and will try to catch a fish today. I have been told that the parasites I have seen in the fish are not toxic and can be removed. Strange that I see them here and did not in the Pacific. It is 6:30 and the sun just showed itself. While enjoying my tea in the cockpit I have noticed that the temperature is fairly constant and near perfect. Even when rained on in the wind yesterday it was not uncomfortable. The wind has been constant at 11 kt for the past 12h or so. Another 4-5 kt would be great, but at least the sails are not slatting anymore. Unfortunately, the boring worms are back. I will have to treat the wood with insecticide. It occurs to me that the infestation and hatching may be related to the temperature. I was at a similar latitude when I last saw them. It was in Richards Bay two months ago that I treated the wood. I sprayed the outside with insecticide and will wait to see if there is more activity. Another rainbow this morning. The rain showers seem to be smaller, more isolated. The batteries were not completely charged yesterday … the first time in months. Hopefully there will be more sun today. I saw a bird at 9:00, the first since St. Helena, which is about 225 nm to the E. I saw very large schools of flying fish this afternoon. As I approached the waypoint, I downloaded a new GRIB at 13:00 and there was a significant change. The wind is going to stay soft N of me longer than expected. I racked to starboard to take advantage of a change in wind direction, and I am supposed to tack back to port in 9h (21:00). I am supposed to be making 4 kt, but am only making 3.5. There was enough sun to make water today. The total distance sailed was 19232-19165=67 nm (67/24=2.8 kt avg).
Comments: Sunset is at 18:59 at 5.75W. At 8.75W it should be at 19:11, but it is unlikely I will see it given the cloud cover. It is 16:15 and I am about to get hit with another (tenth in the last 24h?) shower. It is 18:45 and I have the second rainbow of the day. This one is behind me, in dark rain clouds, and I can just see two small sections that flow into the water. It is like I am sailing out of it. I went to sleep at 20:00. The OTH AIS shows no threats tonight, so I set the timer interval for 2h. The nighttime was uneventful. The TillerPilot performed well, wind averaged about 10 kt, and the SOG averaged 3.5 in a deep broad reach on a course very close to the waypoint. It rained off and on. No traffic was encountered. I downloaded a new GRIB at 5:00. There were no surprises and I am to tack to the starboard this afternoon. It looks like the wind will return by Saturday morning (48h). On Sunday I should be able to set up a starboard tack for ten days or so, setting me up for the coastal run. The ITH AIS shows no obvious threats. Sunrise is a 5:58 at 5:75W, so it should at 9.25 it should be at 6:16. The sky is partly cloudy this morning with rain clouds on the horizon. It could be a repeat of yesterday with a dozen light rain showers. The sun rose behind clouds. I replaced the monofilament line of one of the squid lures with stainless steel wire and will try to catch a fish today. I have been told that the parasites I have seen in the fish are not toxic and can be removed. Strange that I see them here and did not in the Pacific. It is 6:30 and the sun just showed itself. While enjoying my tea in the cockpit I have noticed that the temperature is fairly constant and near perfect. Even when rained on in the wind yesterday it was not uncomfortable. The wind has been constant at 11 kt for the past 12h or so. Another 4-5 kt would be great, but at least the sails are not slatting anymore. Unfortunately, the boring worms are back. I will have to treat the wood with insecticide. It occurs to me that the infestation and hatching may be related to the temperature. I was at a similar latitude when I last saw them. It was in Richards Bay two months ago that I treated the wood. I sprayed the outside with insecticide and will wait to see if there is more activity. Another rainbow this morning. The rain showers seem to be smaller, more isolated. The batteries were not completely charged yesterday … the first time in months. Hopefully there will be more sun today. I saw a bird at 9:00, the first since St. Helena, which is about 225 nm to the E. I saw very large schools of flying fish this afternoon. As I approached the waypoint, I downloaded a new GRIB at 13:00 and there was a significant change. The wind is going to stay soft N of me longer than expected. I racked to starboard to take advantage of a change in wind direction, and I am supposed to tack back to port in 9h (21:00). I am supposed to be making 4 kt, but am only making 3.5. There was enough sun to make water today. The total distance sailed was 19232-19165=67 nm (67/24=2.8 kt avg).