Monday 19th May 2014

Rodrigues lies 1995 miles west south west from Cocos (Keeling) Islands. We are hoping for a two week passage averaging 6 knots all being well. We checked out of Cocos yesterday and thankfully at 07:30 this morning had a high and rising tide to see us through the reefs.

Our waypoints for getting out, and in case anyone wants to use them in reverse for getting in, were:

•         12 05.441S 96 52.947E at anchor, then

•         12 05.470S 96 52.948E,

•         12 05.788S 96 52.660E leaving the triangular green marker very close to port where water is deepest over the reef,

•         12 05.554S 96 52.284E,

•         12 05.338S 96 52.109E

•         12 04.653S 96 51.524E taking us out of the lagoon, passing Port Refuge between Direction and Horsburgh Islands and into open sea.

For those going in to the anchorage it is best done in daylight although we know a catamaran that entered at night but we also know a mono-hull that touched bottom during a daylight entry as the tide was too low. There is a place before the reefs to anchor and wait either for tide or daylight.

We knew it would be fairly rough out of the lagoon as the weather has been so poor at Cocos but the sea was in a furore and the wind was capping 28 knots as we left the land behind. By 10:00 the wind was down to 22+ knots and the seas settled slightly to give a 3 metre swell with lots of white horses from steep breaking waves and with heavy slapping at the hull. Unfortunately George the Hydrovane, our mechanical wind driven autopilot, was just not working. We both watched and realised the problem, after not being used for so long the shaft had gone out of alignment so Chris had to spend several unpleasant ½ hours hooked on at the back of the boat with the socket set and spanners putting it right.

In the meantime we had to use the electric autopilot and decided to keep it on overnight in case George needed tweaking, consequently our batteries were running low as a result.

Wind and waves kept on coming in the same rigorous fashion making every tasks twice as difficult in the jerky swinging motion. This was the pattern for our first 24 hours giving us a day’s run of 140 miles. Just 1845 miles to go!

Tuesday 20th May

We now have George the Hydrovane working well in the big following seas that have been our lot so far.

We haven’t used it since arriving in Asia. It is much easier to use the electric autopilot especially when needing to motor so frequently. Now with good strong winds it is frustrating, hot and noisy to have to motor simply to charge the batteries so it is a relief to see the vane nodding away and keeping us on course.

We have also been using other pieces of kit that have been ornaments for a number of years. This email will be sent by satellite phone and each day we also download “GRIB” files, simple weather maps that show us what the winds will do. They are suggesting the wind should drop from its steady 23 knots that we have had today. A good thing especially if the seas drop a bit too, it’s tiring having to do everything whilst trying to balance and hold on at precarious angles.

We have also been using our short wave radio to speak to our friends on Tahina and Three Ships, still back in Cocos, now over 200 miles away. This is our radio safety net for checking our position and that all is well on board on a daily basis. It will continue when they also leave for Rodrigues on Thursday. Tonight we could only just hear each other but it may be the signal will improve when we get further away. We shall see.

We have had the line out today but the fish have been unable to keep up with us so we must leave them in peace for now. Second day’s run 136 miles – well done George.