Day 89 – Tendrils of Agulhas

Where Next?
Bob Williams
Sat 12 Mar 2022 12:39
Noon Position: 42 49.6 S 021 03.7 E
Course: ESE Speed: 5.5 knots
Wind: NNW, F4 Sea: moderate
Swell: W 2 m Current: negligible
Weather: sunny, warm
Day’s Run: 148nm sailed (122nm of Easting)

I think we have at last cleared the last tendrils of the Agulhas current. This time the water temperature went to a maximum of 21.5 degrees, so warm that late yesterday I decided to have another cockpit bucket bath, even though I had only had one the day before. However, this morning at 0550 I recorded the sea temperature as back down to 12.5 degrees, and while in the last few hours it has climbed back up to 14 degrees, according to my passage planning software this is about average for this area for this time of year.
The wind has eased and veered more into the north overnight so we have been reaching since sunset and under full sail since first light.
I have now switched charts from the South Atlantic to the West Indian Ocean. While I am not sure where the official boundary is between the two oceans, given that we have switched charts and that our way point for the Cape of Good Hope is now behind us, I will consider the Atlantic as done and dusted. My next way point for the voyage is to leave Amsterdam Island to port, but on reviewing my passage plan it seems that the Iles Crozet lie only a little way off the great circle route to Amsterdam Island, and the Prince Edward Islands aren’t far off either. Also, looking at the weather charts for the IO, there is a semi-permanent high pressure system that extends quite a way south, down to about 45S, so I am thinking I might do a sail past of at least one of these island groups to add a bit of interest. We will see how the weather actually unfolds and leave it in the hands of the Ineffable.
All is well.