30 May, 07 – 23.37
16.2652N,55.3910W
24 hr progress: 30.4 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 352 Nautical Miles ( 651 km)
Distance completed: 3012 NM (5572 km)
Wave height: 8-10 ft, Winds: 10-15 knots SE, Bearing: 270-300 degrees.
(Apologies for the delayed updates. The cabin is still a bit wet and I have to make sure the equipment is dry before I can post dispatches – read Day 88)
My bet - on following a course South , past the latitude of Antigua and then using the currents and winds from the South East to approach the island – paid off!. However, the wind and the currents seem much stronger than marked on the charts. I got pushed North by 5 miles more than I would have liked.
The boat has been pushed to its limits in the process of getting as much mileage as possible. Its amazing how much stress she has been able to handle already – being suspended between waves while she was fully loaded and going beam on for 2 weeks and the endless amount of waves breaking over the sides.
I'm not sure how much more the steering system will be able to handle, but this is the last 300 miles, so Im pushing it to the max. I tried to steer back South by re-tying the rudder at an angle, but the stress caused by the force of water on the hinges started vibrating thru the boat with each wave. So I had to re-tie the lashings back to its normal position. Its back to steering with the oars again which is not impossible, just harder.
Another ship on the radar today.
I spoke with the crew of another ship over the VHF around 10.30 GMT. A very brief conversation, but it was good to hear another voice. It's hard to imagine I have not see a human being for 91 days now. I wonder who the first person will be?
The area around has been very silent. The GPS says 651 kms more so its still a bit of a hike ahead.
I plan to spend some time this weekend on trying to have another try at fixing the water maker. I've got a manual backup water pump but using it to make freshwater is slow and tedious job. Alternatively, I could stop a passing ship, but I wanted this crossing to be solo and unsupported – which means no outside help at all.
Its a full moon out here now, so its very peaceful rowing in the moonlight with the sound of breaking waves and the occasional whale or dolphin breathing heavily thru their blow hole.
I'm just taking a break before my night rowing session to write this. So its back to chugging away at the oars!
Here are photos took just a few minutes ago. The sun setting off the bow (due West) at the same the moon rising over the stern (due East).
Thx for the messages...keep firing away...they are much appreciated out here...
B
Email: mail@bhavik.com
Confused by any of the nautical terms? Visit the Glossary: http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlantic/about_glossary.htm
Get automatic alerts each time news is updated: http://www.humanedgetech.com/expedition/bhavik/newsletter/index.php
Send me a short message via my webpage http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlantic/messages.asp
Map Position
Sun set off the bow, 23.05 GMT
Full Moon rising over the stern, 23.05 GMT
No comments:
Post a Comment