11:59N 77:06W

 

Thank goodness for pre prepared meals and AIS!  Sea conditions yesterday afternoon and evening were pretty rough and, with the wind constant at 25 knots, with gusts to 35 it made for unpleasant and rolly sailing.  One day we will have flat sea sailing!  Having been caught before I had made muffins and several meals which came in handy meaning no slaving over a hot stove in a rolling galley.

 

For those who don’t know about AIS (automatic identification system) it is an invaluable tool and it proved its worth about 8pm when we had a close encounter with a large ship heading into Baranquilla on the Colombian mainland.  AIS sets off an alarm when a ship comes within a set circle (4miles/8miles etc) and then identifies its course, heading, speed and name.   At night lights can be really hard not only to identify, but to measure distance accurately.  That’s where the AIS comes in and it indicated we were on a collision course with the ship.  It’s hard to alter course in lumpy seas and strong winds – especially as it looked as if we’d have to head into wind to avoid him.  He obviously spotted us and changed course slightly and, to be extra safe, we did to.  But we still passed only 300m from him.  We had a visual on him the entire time and both of us would have sworn he was further away than the 300m the AIS told us.   Night encounters with shipping is not something we enjoy.

 

First night at sea is always a bit tough and so it proved with the conditions not helping.  But we snatched some sleep and, with breakfast and coffee and raspberry muffins down the hatch and a cold shower (it’s stinking hot still) we’re starting to feel human again.  Seas are starting to ease slightly and we’re hoping the rest of the trip is a bit more comfortable.

 

Just ticked over our 18,000th sea mile since buying Bandit and about 5500 since we left Gibraltar in November to cross the Atlantic.....only another 10,000 or so to go before we get to NZ.