Noon Report Pasage to Cape Verde
Oyster Moon
Paul Foskett & Rhu Nash
Thu 17 Nov 2011 16:49
16 November 2011, day seventh on the passage to the Cape Verde Islands.
Noon report total distance travelled in the last 24 hours is 170 miles, that leaves approximately 26 miles to go. (Trip 894 miles from setting off at 9.00 am on the 10th)
24 hour sailing report
The wind has maintained a speed from 10 to 22 knots. We are still sailing with just the Genoa out as the wind is coming from directly astern of us (behind).
We are still sailing at a steady 6 to 7 knots, and in the right direction.
No rain over the last 24 hours.
This has been a real wild life day today, starting from 03.24 when we had a visitor on deck!!!
I had just come up in to the cockpit when a flying fish landed at my feet and flapped around.
Fascinating little fish about 6 to 8 inches long with very large fins which allow it to glide once it has leap from the water surface. I have taken a photo of it and will put this up on the blog if we get WI-FI in Cape Verde.
Note it was returned to the sea still alive, but for how long!!
As the dawn arrived, we have started to see lots of these flying fish leaping and gliding over the waves. They seem to be able to glide for a distance of one to two hundred metres before plopping back into the water. They are doing this to escape danger from other fish planning to eat them.
We have just been visited by another pod of dolphins about 50 in number. They have been leaping out of the water and playing in the bow wave of Oyster Moon.
We are sailing in company with two other boats, Moin a German boat about 40 feet long, and Marite 111 also 40 feet and one of our group boats.
Twice a day we have a SSB radio net, so each boat can give its position and weather report.
Moin who set off 24 hours ahead of us on the first day's net call was some 120 miles ahead of us. On today's the 16th November morning net, their reported position puts them now only 20 miles ahead. Marita 111 is now about 60 miles behind us.
This will be the last noon report of this passage, as we should make land fall at Cape Verde at about 18.00 UTC today.
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