Current Position: 9 49.885’S 22 38.891’W; Timezone: UTC-3; SOG: 4.7 kt; COG: 324; TWS: 15; TWD: 132; Current Speed (includes effect of surfing): 2.1 kt; Current Direction: 312; Distance to Waypoint (IFN, 300): 675 nm; Distance to Endpoint (Bridgetown): 2601 nm; Total Miles Sailed: 20,520 nm; Engine Hours: 414; Estimate Fuel: 60+8+50;
Comments: Beginning with this entry, I will use Barbados time (UTC-3). Sunset is at 17:28 at 32.5W (Ilha de Fernando de Noronha). At 21.5W it should be at 16:44. Sunset was at 16:55. I went to sleep at 18:00. The only vessel I see is a boat. If it maintains its course, we should cross paths about 22:00, so I set the first timer for 2h. I woke at 22:00 and saw the cargo ship on the AIS 10 nm away. It would pass at 3 nm in 30m. At 22:45 I went to the cockpit to watch it pass, then went back to bed with a 2h timer. I woke at 4:00 and downloaded the new GRIB. Sunrise is at 5:10 at 32.5W (Ilha de Fernando de Noronha). At 22.25W it should be at 4:29. The sun came up behind clouds. A gale warning has been issued up to 300 nm off the coast of Brazil. I am currently about 750 nm off the coast. The route has me on a starboard tack until midday. I noticed the 5.80 racers are still at St. Helena. It’s been 8d since the first one arrived. I have noticed large fleets of fishing boats N of 8E. I am glad to be avoiding them. If the pattern continues, I won’t have to deal with them until Monday. I am 700 nm from IFN and should be passing by around Friday. It is 5:15 and the morning gusts have started, 20 kt, driving the boat over 6 kt. Once at IFN, I would be about 2w from Barbados. The wildcard is the ITCZ. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind a gale to blown me through there. The sun broke through the clouds by 5:45. A large and very dark heavy cloud passed over at 6:30, but there was no rain. I marinaded some fish this morning to prepare for dinner … eighth straight day of marlin. The last package of fish was not completely frozen. Because of the clouds the past few days, I have not been able to keep the fridge as cold. There was very good sun after about 9:00 and the batteries were charged by 11:30, so I made water again to bathe. The membrane is going so the salinity is high. I will wait to but the new membrane in this summer as I have plenty of fresh water onboard. The distance sailed towards IFN in the last 24h was 773-675=98 nm. The total distance sailed was 20520-20378=142 nm (142/24=5.9 kt avg).
Comments: Beginning with this entry, I will use Barbados time (UTC-3). Sunset is at 17:28 at 32.5W (Ilha de Fernando de Noronha). At 21.5W it should be at 16:44. Sunset was at 16:55. I went to sleep at 18:00. The only vessel I see is a boat. If it maintains its course, we should cross paths about 22:00, so I set the first timer for 2h. I woke at 22:00 and saw the cargo ship on the AIS 10 nm away. It would pass at 3 nm in 30m. At 22:45 I went to the cockpit to watch it pass, then went back to bed with a 2h timer. I woke at 4:00 and downloaded the new GRIB. Sunrise is at 5:10 at 32.5W (Ilha de Fernando de Noronha). At 22.25W it should be at 4:29. The sun came up behind clouds. A gale warning has been issued up to 300 nm off the coast of Brazil. I am currently about 750 nm off the coast. The route has me on a starboard tack until midday. I noticed the 5.80 racers are still at St. Helena. It’s been 8d since the first one arrived. I have noticed large fleets of fishing boats N of 8E. I am glad to be avoiding them. If the pattern continues, I won’t have to deal with them until Monday. I am 700 nm from IFN and should be passing by around Friday. It is 5:15 and the morning gusts have started, 20 kt, driving the boat over 6 kt. Once at IFN, I would be about 2w from Barbados. The wildcard is the ITCZ. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind a gale to blown me through there. The sun broke through the clouds by 5:45. A large and very dark heavy cloud passed over at 6:30, but there was no rain. I marinaded some fish this morning to prepare for dinner … eighth straight day of marlin. The last package of fish was not completely frozen. Because of the clouds the past few days, I have not been able to keep the fridge as cold. There was very good sun after about 9:00 and the batteries were charged by 11:30, so I made water again to bathe. The membrane is going so the salinity is high. I will wait to but the new membrane in this summer as I have plenty of fresh water onboard. The distance sailed towards IFN in the last 24h was 773-675=98 nm. The total distance sailed was 20520-20378=142 nm (142/24=5.9 kt avg).