Day 6 - Passage to the Caribbean
Misterx
Mon 7 Apr 2025 01:14
06/04/25
8:30 pm
Day 6
South Atlantic Ocean
DTD : 3,064 NM (107NM)
Well it was bound to happen... the wind dropped dramatically this afternoon!
And we were doing so well... still doing 3.5/4 knots, so still moving but it
is slow... painfully slow... At least it is in the right direction!
According to our weather predictions and our weather guru, we'll not suffer
this slower pace too long, within 24 hours it should picked up, hopefully.
We've had all the hatches open today, still very little air movement... it
is so very warm!
Not much traffic around these parts, we've only seen a couple of ships since
we've left St Helena. A huge change from the constant parade of ships around
South Africa. What it means is although you still have to keep a lookout, it
is not so high octane, with ships coming towards you from all directions,
prioritising which one was the imminent danger! We do tend to call them,
just in case they are not looking on their AIS... not very talkative these
guys... very professional and not into small talks. In all these years at
sea, I can recall only one wanted to have a little chat, know where we were
heading and how long it was going to take... guess they are not paid to have
little chit chat with any passing sailing boat! We have lots of information
on these vessels, name, registration numbers, length, width, what they are
transporting, where they are going, and sometimes where they are coming
from, as well as their speed, and course... and more importantly for us, how
close will they be from us at the closest point and in how many ... crucial
information... takes all the guessing out of the game.
Some destinations are easily decipherable, other a bit more arcane... So I
am looking at Diavolezza just now, his destination is INVTZ... and I have no
idea where he is going! I keep meaning to download a list of port references
so i would be able to identify them...keep forgetting!
I have been watching our speed plummet to 2.5 knots as I write, amazingly,
the wings are still fully filled, no flapping nor collapsing... I was
worried we might have to roll the them away but so far so good... would not
work with the genoa! Love the wings!!!
Sounds like birds are having a fight outside, loads of squawking... better
go and have a look... yep, it was 2 huge black birds circling around the
boat... no idea what they were, it is pitch black out there, but they were
making a lot of racket! Not too much of an issue until one of them decided
to perch on the wind vane... now that will play havoc with our wind
steering, changing our course.... can't have that... god know where we would
end up!
Shouting does not seem to impress them so the whistle comes out... birds
were not so impressed with that either, and nor was Ian... since I woke him
up he joined me in the cockpit, clapping and shouting like a loony... me
blowing the whistle... and still they try to settle on top the wind vane...
circling the boat, coming back to the wind vane...This little game lasted
for a good 20 mn before they disappeared... hopefully they won't be back
and Ian can go back to sleep! Guess I'll have to be on bird watch all night
now, whistle at the ready!
Never a dull moment on Mr X!!
M