Sunday, June 3, 2007

Day 95 – Steep Waves, Keeping Course, Ein Stein

03 June, 07 – 22.57    
17.2164N,57.3336W
24 hr progress: 32.8 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 238 Nautical Miles ( 440 km)
Distance completed: 3140 NM (5809 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 18-20 knots E - SE, Bearing: 270-290 degrees.

Last night, I rowed into the 57W meridian. Thats another merry crossed off the list. Almost officially in the Caribbean sea now, which starts at Barbados which is at 59'60W. Got an email today about a low pressure front arriving in the Canaries over the next 4 days. Not sure how long it will take to reach here.
Anyway, closer to home, the winds have been fairly strong and waves steep, but overall the conditions have been better than expected. I was prepared to deploy the sea-anchor out, but haven't had the need to use it.
Its quite an exhilarating experience being lifted up by a steep wave. The boat is raised about 10ft off the surrounding water, the bow is raised right up into the sky as if the boat is about to be shot into space. For a split second, there is an incredible view of a 15 foot valley forming just in front of the wave. Just before the boat slides back down the back of the wave.
My mileage today (32.8 nm) was above average and if the wind swings around overnight (ie. blow from the East or North East), I should be able to steer more efficiently towards Antigua. Currently, I've been trying to correct my course all day and steer towards Antigua in the face of SE winds. I managed to reduce being blown off course completely and was only pushed 7 miles to the North. Its incredibly difficult to aim a piece of wood and two oars across 3000 miles of ocean. Land fall will be within 50 miles N or S of Antigua (if not Antigua), so I'm quite pleased about that.
Still some way to go. No sign of human life as yet. I suppose all the yachts around the islands have been taken out of the water, packed away or transported further South, out of harms way. Looks like I've got the 200 miles of sea ahead to my self. How exclusive.
My 2 Dorado friends are still around swimming in the shade of the boat. Beautiful blue,yellow and silver fish, about a meter long. They have been faithfully following me for the past 400 miles. (I don't know if the flying fish I've been feeding them everyday has anything to do with it! ). I now recognize them by their stripes and have named one Ein and and the other one Stein. Its been quite entertaining watching them jump out of the water trying to catch flying fish. Very graceful and confident, as it they belong in the air. Anyway, I hope Ein and Stein turn back home soon, before they get caught by fishermen on the other side (here you go - me and Ein, Stein in the same sentence :).
Allrighty. Back to the oars....
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

md-070603_1seaanchor

Sea anchor on deck, ready to deploy

md-070603_2me

Me

md-070603_3dorada

piccy of Ein

No comments: