Position Update, Arafura Sea, noon 19th July 2019
Vega
Hugh and Annie
Fri 19 Jul 2019 04:07
Despite being slower than the other yachts we have actually been averaging about 5.5 knots over 24hrs which, given the adverse current or tide we have been experiencing, is a good passage time for Vega. We are now consistently sailing at over 6kts so either the bottom has been scoured clean (which is possible with our Coppercoat anti fouling) or we now have no or favourable current. Maybe both apply.
Last night we managed to sail through a fishing net. I was below at the time and could feel and hear the strain as we caught the top of the net or the line from which it would have been suspended. The strain increased until there was a relieving thump and the line parted. We have a bulb on the bottom of the keel and the front of the bulb prevents a line from passing under the keel and possibly catching the rudder, which might be bad news. Fortunately our momentum from 10 tons travelling at 5kts was enough to break whatever we were caught on. We subsequently worked out that the green and red flashing lights we could see marked the southern end of the net and the distant white flashing lights the north. Not an experience we wish to repeat!