Arabian Sea - Day 6
Jackamy
Paul & Derry Harper
Tue 22 Feb 2011 11:00
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19:47.53N 60:04.49E
Tuesday 22nd February
Another glorious day! I know I keep
mentioning it but the weather is just beautiful. We came across a lot of
shipping yesterday now that we're closer to shore and the shipping lanes. And
with the superb visibility we even managed to spot 10 yachts up ahead around 10
miles away. We have no idea who they could be, perhaps another rally or maybe
just a group who have got together for safety.
We had planned on stopping for fuel as it is
unlikely we will have enough and I think others are only just going to make it
so they'd like to be safe too. But another BWR group had stopped along the coast
to re-fuel, were just ahead of us and so they picked up enough fuel in
gerry cans for us to take if necessary, eliminating our need to stop. It was on
their way back out from shore that Natibou got caught in fishing nets.
As the net was around their propeller and skeg they were unable to
start their engine and they were drifting at between 1 and 2 knots along the
coast, back in the direction we'd just come! The other 4 boats in their group
had managed to pick their way through the nets and were waiting out in deep
water until the morning when Hans could get in the water and cut himself free.
It was now midnight and we weren't happy with sailing on by and letting Hans and
Monica drift off the Omani coast all night long with Somali pirates out there
somewhere so Paul, Brian and Gavin, now named 'The Blue Water Rally Special Boat
Squad', jumped into Gavin's dinghy and picked their way through nets for 3 miles
until they found Natibou in amongst the fishing boats and a mass of flashing
lights. Armed with underwater torches and dive gear, the three of them managed
to cut him free, but it was by no means easy and required all three of them, so
had we sailed on by, Hans would have had no chance by himself in the morning. It
took around 3 hours to cut them free and then navigate their way back out
through the nets to where we were standing by. We were all exhausted, yet
another night without sleep except this time it's for very different reasons.
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