|
Date |
Position |
Avg. Speed |
Distance |
Avg.
Course |
Wind |
Weather |
Comments |
| Salalah, Oman
to Red Sea |
| 3/04/03 |
13�00.17N
42�44.62E
|
6
kts |
160nm |
300�
|
ESE
15 |
Clear |
We
cleared Aden Harbor midday on 3 April and headed for the Red Sea.
Winds overnight started light. |
| 29/03/03 |
12�47.49N
44�58.79E
|
3.3
kts |
|
266�
|
ENE
12-17 |
Clear |
Of
course the wind picked up to 18 kts. just as we were trying to slow down
so that we would not arrive before daybreak. In addition we had a
1.2 kt current pushing us along. We finally took down all sail and
just used boat windage to move us ahead of the wind at a speed of 2-3 kts.
We arrived at the ship channel at 0700 and were anchored in Aden harbor
by 0800 hrs. where we planned to stay for about 4 days. |
| 28/03/03 |
12�45.8N
46�03.6E |
3.5 |
86nm |
266� |
ENE
4-12 |
Clear |
Quiet
day after our rough night before. Light winds made for easy
sailing. Seas were smooth and flat. We are sailing slowly
along so that we may arrive in Aden, Yemen harbor at daylight. Lots of
ships passing by on both sides. |
| 27/03/03 |
12�51.7N
47�32.9E |
4.5
kts |
113nm |
263� |
E
NE 14-20 |
Clear |
Morning
dawned and we had successfully transited the highest-risk piracy area,
but had been separated from Tara 3 by about 3 miles. Since the last
2 attacks happened mid-morning, we were somewhat concerned and so arranged
to sail on a converging course to quickly get back together.
We were both up all night hand-steering, looking for pirates, dodging
ships and communicating with Tara 3, so the rest of the day was spent
catching up on sleep. Sea conditions eased and we sailed comfortably
along at about 3.5 knots. |
| 26/03/03 |
13�51.3N
50�39E |
3
kts. |
85nm |
237� |
ENE
14-22 |
Partly
Cldy |
Reached
the edge of the "Danger Zone" at last light and
motor-sailed in 20-24 knots of wind behind us to go as fast as we could through the
30 miles of the most dangerous part. 2 larger yachts (Hesperine
& Why Not) left Salalah a day after us and we all arrived at this spot
at about 1930. Our plan with Tara 3 was to stay within 1/2
mile of each other. No known boardings have happened during the
night, so all boats now try to transit this area under cover of
darkness. Wind 20-24 knots and large swell so it is very
difficult to stay close to Tara 3 in these conditions. |
| 25/03/03 |
13�05.2N
49�25.7E |
3.5
kts. |
89nm |
237� |
ESE
10-17 |
Clear |
Slowly
motor-sailing. We are trying to reach the beginning of the piracy
area off the Yemeni coast at last light, so are adjusting our speed to
do so. The wind picked up at night and so did the seas which makes
for very rolly conditions because we had to keep our speed down.
Judi was rudely awakened from her sleep when a squid jumped through
the center hatch onto her leg! Wind came up at night and we had to
hand-steer for several hours because the tiller-pilot/windvane combination
wandered too much for the conditions and put us beam on to a large
swell. Very uncomfortable conditions. |
| 24/03/03 |
14�39N
51�57E |
3.8 |
84nm |
220� |
E
5-8 |
Partly
Cldy |
Another
light day as we travel in company with Tara 3. We are traveling this leg
of the passage slowly so as to pass through a piracy area off the Yemeni
coast at night. |
| 23/03/03 |
15�41.7N
52�57.8E |
4 |
90nm |
219� |
SE
4-10 |
Clear |
Left
Salalah on 22 March and motored about half of the time in light winds. At
noon a pod of hundreds of dolphins swam around the boat for 1/2
hour or more. |
| Uligan,
Maldives to Salalah, Oman |
| 5/03/03 |
16�56.3N
54�00.3E |
6.8 |
175nm |
300� |
ENE
18-21 |
Partly
Cldy |
We
really pushed the last day, motor-sailing when necessary to keep our speed
over 7 knots most of the way. Swells were 10-12' until we got 100
miles from shore; they decreased again at about 30 miles from Salalah.
Pulled into Salalah at 1700 Oman time. |
| 4/03/03 |
15�32.0N
56�40.0E |
4.8 |
111nm |
300� |
NE
15-20 |
Partly
Cldy |
Wind
has decreased a little, and we have been able to steer further down-wind
so we are headed at Salalah. Looks like 1 1/2 days to go at the
moment. Seas 12-15 feet. |
| 3/03/03 |
14�21.1N
58�11.3E |
5 |
113nm |
320� |
N
18-25 |
Partly
Cldy |
Wind
is veering around to the N but the seas are rough and we struggled a
little to avoid being boarded by waves on the beam - very uncomfortable
day and night. |
| 2/03/03 |
13�22.5N
59�49.9E |
4.5 |
109nm |
300� |
NNW
to N 7-20 |
Clear |
Winds
started to build about noon on 1 Mar, and the seas followed. It
became rough and lumpy - we reefed down to 2d reef in main and full reef
in mizzen as we sail close-reaching. |
| 1/03/03 |
12�36.1N
61�31.1E |
4 |
101nm |
303� |
NNE
1-15 |
Clear |
Wind
all over the place this day at times as light as 1knot, others up to
15. We motored quite a bit. |
| 28/02/03 |
11�45.0E
63�01.2E |
4.5 |
108nm |
304� |
NNE
8-12 |
Partly
Cldy |
Wind
speed good for sailing and we have a comfortable day and pass HALF-WAY
mark. |
| 27/02/03 |
10�46.4N
64�33.3E |
5 |
108nm |
304� |
NNE
8-12 |
Clear |
Finally
a full day of sailing - felt good! A few ships about but we are getting N
of shipping lane. Tried drifter at 50� off the wind but unable to carry
it until wind veers to NE. |
| 26/02/03 |
10�10.76N
66�13.7E |
4.5 |
102nm |
306� |
NNE
8-10 |
Partly
Cldy |
Wind
up a little, finally. We put up the drifter (very light sail similar
to a spinnaker) and sail with it the whole day. Bob sees a very
bright meteor |
| 25/02/03 |
9�21.1N
67�50.1E |
4.2 |
100nm |
302� |
N
6-8 |
Partly
Cldy |
Similar
to previous day. Ships to the right - ships to the left of
us. Engine on, engine off. We finally start sailing slowly to
windward. |
| 24/02/03 |
8�33.46N
6917.6E |
4.5 |
110nm |
310� |
NNE
5-8 |
Partly
Cldy |
A
frustrating day of little wind in the wrong direction. Lots of
motoring and dodging ships at night. |
| 23/02/03 |
7�35.6N
70�56.9E |
4.5
kts |
105nm |
300� |
5-12
kts |
Ptly
Cld |
A
little sailing, a little motor-sailing - we had variable conditions
over-night. We put 'Betsy' our trusty windvane back in service and she
steered us beautifully with her new bearings. |
| 22/02/03 |
7�10.1N
72�42.0E |
4.5
kts |
20nm |
282� |
10-12
kts |
Clear |
After
a beautiful 6 days in Uligan, set out for Oman into moderate NNW winds and
thus spent the first day close-hauled sailing 20� south of our rhumb-line
in smooth seas. |
| Galle,
Sri Lanka to Uligan, Maldives |
| 16/02/03 |
7�05.1N
72�55.0E |
3
kts |
40nm |
276� |
3-10
kts |
Clear |
Slowly
motored to Uligama so that we may arrive when sun is overhead to aid in
seeing coral reefs in the water. Anchored at 1130 at an incredibly
beautfiul tropical island with sugary-white beaches and turquiose
waters. Plan to stay about 4 days. |
| 15/02/03 |
6�58.2N
74�32.5E |
4.5 |
105nm |
276� |
3-12
kts. |
Clear |
Moonlit
night very bright with a big full moon. Very good for passage
making. Winds very light or non existent. Sailed most of the
night but we have been motoring off/on all day. Sea very
calm. Except for the engine noise, it is very peaceful and
beautiful. We should arrive at the pass into Uligama sometime in the
morning. |
| 14/02/03 |
6�41.1N
78�10.9E |
4.5 |
110nm |
279� |
ENE
9-12 kts |
Partly
Cloudy |
Happy
Valentine's day. Light winds again, motorsailing.
Fishing boat about 30 ft. long came over to have a look at us. They
are probably from the Maldives. We were 200nm from the
islands. Had fresh tuna and salad as a special Valentine's day
dinner. Wind directly behind us - difficult to hold our desired
course and very rolly. |
| 13/02/03 |
6�18.71N
76�25.2E |
4.5 |
115nm |
280� |
NE
10-15 |
Partly
cloudy |
Light
winds, Slow day, with sloppy, rolly seas. Motoring off and on.
Caught a 3-4lb. yellowfin tuna. Autopilot belt broke - Bob replaced
while Judi steered with the emergency tiller. See lots of flying
fish. |
| 12/02/03 |
6�18.7N
78�10.9E |
5 |
6 |
280� |
SE-NE
10-35 kts. |
Squally |
Left
Galle Harbor 12 Feb for Uligama island in the Maldives. There was
little wind and cloud cover. Just as dinner was ready, squalls,
thunder and lightning delayed the meal until 10pm. It was a very
unpleasant night. Sailing in
company with yacht Piquet with Peter and Karen. They are
several miles ahead. |
| Phuket,
Thailand to Galle, Sri Lanka |
| 0/01/03 |
6�01.95N
80.13.34E |
3.5
kts |
50
nm |
265� |
3-12
kts |
P/C |
Motoring
along very slowly. Anchor down in Galle Harbor at 0800 hours.
Yacht Talinga Too picked up Tramontana about 60 miles from
Galle and towed them into the harbour. We all arrived at the
same time. Argonauta I arrived yesterday morning. |
| 29/01/03 |
5�56.9N
81.17.8E |
5
kts |
138
nm |
262� |
8-16
kts. |
Prtly
Cldy |
Trying
to slow boat down as it look like we will arrive in Galle after sundown
today. We are not able to enter harbor at night for safety reasons
and the rules of the Sri Lankan Navy. |
| 28/01/03 |
6�19N
83�31.1E |
5.5
- 6.5 kts |
138
nm |
270� |
15-20
kts. |
Clear |
Winds
increasing and we are flying along at 6.5 up to 7.5 knots. Seas big
and spray sometimes wets the deck. Unbelievably, Phil and wife on
Tramontana are able to steer with just the spinnaker pole and are
making 3-4 kts toward Galle. |
| 27/01/03 |
6�41N
85�48.1E
|
5
kts |
140
nm |
269� |
10-15
kts |
P/C |
Winds
up and down - engine on, then off. We still sailing in company with
3 other yachts. We are about 20 miles from each other.
Sometime even in sight of one another. Yacht Tramonta,
about 40 miles ahead of us, hit something at 1am and lost his
rudder. They are now steering the boat with a spinnaker pole. We will stay in contact with them thru our SSB radio
net. Best distance run of the trip so far. |
| 26/01/03 |
7�24.9N
88�6.6E |
6
kts |
132
nm |
268� |
10-15
kts |
P/C |
A
little more wind today and we are making good progress. We are
getting good weather info from www.Bouyweather.com. We send an email
requesting info for a particular Lat./Long. position and they respond with
an email containing wind and sea conditions. |
| 25/01/03 |
7�23.3N
90�16.6E |
5
kts |
117nm |
262� |
8-12
kts. |
Prtly
Cldy |
Light
winds again so we motor-sailed 2/3 of the day. Dolphins
surrounded the boat at times and the one fish that struck got away! |
| 24/01/03 |
7�33.8N
92�11.6E |
4
kts |
125nm |
270� |
8-12
kts. |
Clear |
Light
winds- 1-2 kt current setting us SE, so must steer more northerly course.
We are making 5-6 kts thru water, but only about 4-5 kts.
over ground. |
| 23/01/03 |
7�37.4N
94�14.89E |
5
kts |
120
nm |
269� |
10-15
kts |
P/C |
Moderate
winds today and smooth seas as we approach the Nicobar Islands. |
| 22/01/03 |
7�39.9N
95�11.9E |
6
kts |
110
nm |
268� |
10-15
kts |
P/C |
Great
winds today and helping current. The winds dropping down in the
night. Make VHF contact with another yacht sailing to Sri Lanka - Talinga
Too. The 3 yachts set up an SSB radio schedule 3 times a
day to trade weather and other info. |
| 21/01/03 |
7�44N
97�13E |
4.5
kts |
80
miles |
269� |
2-8
kts |
P/C |
Anchor
up at 1015 from Phuket. Good winds for 2 hours, then very
light. Motor-sailed thru the night. We left Phuket with S/V
Argonauta I . |
| 19/01/03 |
7�57N
98�26E |
5
kts |
15
miles |
180� |
10-15
kts |
Clear |
Fixed
loose wire, charging OK. Motor-sailed around tip of Phuket to Nai Harn and
anchored with 20 other yachts. |
| 18/01/03 |
7�48N
98�18E |
5
kts |
30
miles |
270� |
5-15
kts |
P/C |
Slipped
lines at Yacht Haven noted that batteries were not being charged. Motored
to Ko Rang Yai and anchored. |
