Current Position: 29 54.183’S 31 36.992’E; Timezone: UTC+2; SOG: 8.0; COG: 233; TWS: 18; TWD: 82; Current Speed, 2.8 kt; Current Direction, 250 Distance to Waypoint (East London, 246): 266; Total Miles Sailed: 15645 nm; Engine Hours: 318; Estimate Fuel: 58+13+50;
Comments: it started to rain at 18:20. The last of the daylight was fading, but nothing looks threatening. The wind speed and direction was variable. Furthermore, it is supposed to change direction almost 180 degrees overnight. For that reason I decided to use the TillerPilot. The wind speed has dropped to single digits and I am only doing 4.5 kt, but I know that will change as the wind and current speeds pick up. I see Paradise Falls, which I have not seen since the Cocos, is about a day away from Richards Bay. It is 19:30 and I am tired. There does not seem to be any traffic in my way. I may be crossing a shipping lane in about 12 nm. The boat is moving away from the coastline. I will try to sleep for 1h. It is 21:20 and a cargo ship will come within 1 nm in about 1h. At 23:00 the current had increased to 2.4 and the wind 14 from 105 driving a SOG of 7. Bibi of Cork, one of the 5.80 racers, contacted me a little after midnight by VHF. We are 5 nm from one another and on a collision course. I had been dosing and got up to navigate around him. The boat is doing close to 8 kt in 14 kt wind and 3.1 kt current. I radioed Bibi of Cork at 00:45 and told him I was giving way, then adjusted my course 30 degrees to pass 0.5 nm behind him. I passed 3 nm in front of the 5.80 racer Little Wren (Adam) about 3:09. Sunrise was 4:55, and at the same time a large cargo ship came up behind me and passed 1 nm to my starboard. It is partly cloudy and no evidence of rain. I downloaded a new GRIB and nothing has changed. I will have wind from the NE until the early morning hours Tuesday. The prediction is I will arrive midnight Sunday night, having picked up 5h overnight. I am about to pass Durban. I am a go for East London.
Comments: it started to rain at 18:20. The last of the daylight was fading, but nothing looks threatening. The wind speed and direction was variable. Furthermore, it is supposed to change direction almost 180 degrees overnight. For that reason I decided to use the TillerPilot. The wind speed has dropped to single digits and I am only doing 4.5 kt, but I know that will change as the wind and current speeds pick up. I see Paradise Falls, which I have not seen since the Cocos, is about a day away from Richards Bay. It is 19:30 and I am tired. There does not seem to be any traffic in my way. I may be crossing a shipping lane in about 12 nm. The boat is moving away from the coastline. I will try to sleep for 1h. It is 21:20 and a cargo ship will come within 1 nm in about 1h. At 23:00 the current had increased to 2.4 and the wind 14 from 105 driving a SOG of 7. Bibi of Cork, one of the 5.80 racers, contacted me a little after midnight by VHF. We are 5 nm from one another and on a collision course. I had been dosing and got up to navigate around him. The boat is doing close to 8 kt in 14 kt wind and 3.1 kt current. I radioed Bibi of Cork at 00:45 and told him I was giving way, then adjusted my course 30 degrees to pass 0.5 nm behind him. I passed 3 nm in front of the 5.80 racer Little Wren (Adam) about 3:09. Sunrise was 4:55, and at the same time a large cargo ship came up behind me and passed 1 nm to my starboard. It is partly cloudy and no evidence of rain. I downloaded a new GRIB and nothing has changed. I will have wind from the NE until the early morning hours Tuesday. The prediction is I will arrive midnight Sunday night, having picked up 5h overnight. I am about to pass Durban. I am a go for East London.