Monday, April 30, 2007

Day 61 – Almost overboard

30 Apr, 07 – 21.35    
15.2775N,45.3549W
24 hr progress: 32.9 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 936 Nautical Miles ( 1731 km)
Distance completed: 2140 NM (3959 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20-25 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


Last night, I got caught off guard by a freak wave just as I was walking back from the deck to the cabin. I had my back to the waves and my eyes were still getting adjusted to the darkness when a giant wave hit the boat broadside, bringing the gunwales within inches of the water and throwing me onto the rails. Fortunately I had just enough time to grab hold of the rails and I had my life line still on.
Usually, while rowing, I am facing the waves which gives a few seconds of advance warning. And with a breaking wave, its always possible to see the white foam reflecting in the moonlight. The problem with freak waves is that they tend to be unusually large (often an accumulation of waves) and break at the very last minute (under the weight of the crest), making it quite difficult to spot them until the very last minute.
After yesterdays close call, I have put out additional life lines from the stern, , that trail behind the boat, to grab a hold of in case I fall overboard and snap my primary life line.
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md-070430_1morain

More morning rain storms

md-070430_2lifeline

Additional lifelines trailing out from the stern

md-070430_3sset

Sunset taken at 22.16 PM GMT

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Day 60 – Course Update, Routine Change

29 Apr, 07 – 21.35    
15.3466N,45.0217W


24 hr progress: 32 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 967 Nautical Miles ( 1788 km)
Distance completed: 2105 NM (3894 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20-25 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


I reached 45W sometime around midnight yesterday. Since leaving El Hierro, I have been following a course SW, using the NE winds and Canary Current. From here on, for the next 600 miles, I follow an almost straight line course due West before making my a South Easterly approach to Antigua with the help of the Antilles current and the hopefully a helpful South Easterly wind.
The leak has worsened since the bad weather yesterday and water started poring in again around 3 in the morning yesterday. On closer examination I found that some of the sealant around the mooring ring has given away to the water pressure from the waves.
I am using my sleeping bag to soak up the water for now and will carry out fresh repairs once the waves settle down a bit.
I've changed my day routine around, so that I can row more at night when its cooler and sleep during the day.
Afternoons spent reading in the shade of the cabin (one eye on the hatch for breaking waves trying to enter the cabin) and swimming. Trying to minimize exertion and water consumption in the heat till I have fixed the water maker.
Currently reading – The Kon Tiki Expedition, about the raft voyage by Thor Hydral in 1945 from Peru to Polynesia.
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md-070429_1plug

Using the sleeping bag to absorbe water from the leak.

md-070429_2hot

Sun outside as seen from the cabin while sleeping.

md-070429_3readingcoff

Reading inside the cabin. Slightly bigger than a coffin.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

Day 59 – Wave day, VHF antenna snapped, tripod lost

28 Apr, 07 – 21.35    
15.3738N,44.2916W
24 hr progress: 36.1 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 998 Nautical Miles ( 1846 km)
Distance completed: 2076 NM (3840 km)
Wave height: 12-15 ft, Winds: 20-25 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


Quite a day to sit on deck and watch dark rain clouds dump rain over the boat as the pass overhead followed by giant 15 ft waves breaking their tops as they rolled past .
Today has been the worst conditions for rowing since leaving El Hierro.
Big waves are ok, as long as they are coming consistently from a certain angle and do not break.
For the past few days waves have been coming at all sorts of angles, which makes it very hard to cut a steady path thru the water. As soon as I have gained some momentum SW, a wave from due W or NW comes crashing thru, pushing the boat in a different direction. Very frustrating.
The wave hight today felt a lot higher than usual. Got hit by a few unusually large waves mid morning that washed the tripod off the stern and snapped the VHF antenna. The VHF radio is still working and I have fixed the antenna back with gaffa tape. The snap does not seem to be affecting reception or transmission. Should hold up till landfall.
Less of rowing today and more of surfing. Still making progress though.
Looking forward to crossing the 45W meridian. The next big milestone.
Latest logs for the past 5 days as recorded by the Argos satellite tracking beacon.
Day 59 - Apr 28 2007 (19:00 GMT)15:37:12N 44:27:18W41 miles (66 km) (36 n/miles)
Day 58 - Apr 27 2007 (19:00 GMT)15:36:07N43:50:17W43 miles (69 km) (37 n/miles)
Day 57 - Apr 26 2007 (19:00 GMT)15:46:12N43:13:05W48 miles (77 km) (42 n/miles)
Day 56 - Apr 25 2007 (19:00 GMT)15:48:11N42:29:53W42 miles (68 km) (37 n/miles)
Day 55 - Apr 24 2007 (19:00 GMT)15:58:26N41:53:28W41 miles (66 km) (35 n/miles
B

md-070428_1clouds

Gray mountains, Gray skies

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15 ft wave astern, as seen from the bottom.

md-070428_3wave

The top crashing down the back of the wave as it passes under the boat

Friday, April 27, 2007

Day 58 – More rain, more wind, heat

27 Apr, 07 – 21.35    
15.3580N,43.5178W


24 hr progress: 36.2 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1034 Nautical Miles ( 1912 km)
Distance completed: 2020 NM (3737 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20-25 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


More of the same, awful conditions. Morning squall. Clear skies. Squall again. Clear skies, More rain.
The sea color keeps alternating between silver, grey and blue to match an equally confused sea.
Struggling to keep course amongst other things on my mind, including fixing the water maker, adjusting the height of the radar reflector.
The breeze is getting distinctly warmer and so its the water temperature as we head further south and also towards the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. Today felt exceptionally hot inside the cabin. I suspect the red paint on the outside as well as the black solar panels must be heating up quite a bit with all the absorbed sunlight. In hindsight, it would have been better to paint the boat white or silver so as to reflect more of the sunlight off the surface. It just so happened that the boat was used in a previous attempt sponsored by Virgin Atlantic and we decided to keep the original color of the boat, as it would be easier to spot from the air in case of an emergency.
Took the afternoon swim and found that the marine life under the boat is increased since a few days ago and gotten a bit more colorful. Noticed a beautiful white – yellow-blue fish with a black stripe down its body, swimming with its mate by the side of the boat, from stern to bow, turning around at the bow and swimming back again to the stern, turning around and back again to the bow. The did not alter routine even as a shark turned up around feeding time to feast on the tuna underneath the boat. It seems that the sharks are quite picky about the type of fish the feed on and not so mindless after all. Quite entertaining to watch these two fish calmly swim alongside the boat while hundreds of others swam for their lives.
I'm saving my energy till the weather improves. At least till the waves make up their mind which way they want to go.
B
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md-070427_1beautfish

Fish swimming alongside the hull

md-070427_2squallapproaching

Another approaching rain storm

md-070427_3sset

Sunset taken at 21.59 GMT

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Day 57 – Best mileage, Squall forecast

26 Apr, 07 – 21.35    
15.4585N,43.1568W
24 hr progress: 42.8 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1067 Nautical Miles ( 1973 km)
Distance completed: 1981 NM (3664 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 15-20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


One of the best days as mileage as yet. On track to reach the next major way point at 15N and 45W as planned.
Rain showers have become a regular feature in the mornings.
The afternoons are as hot and balmy as ever with a textbook clear blue sky. I have started taking fairly regular swims in the afternoon to cool off in the water. It is way to hot to row and impossible to stay in the cabin with the hatches shut.
Todays swim was shorter than usual. Waves are still massive and winds high.
There is nothing I can do about the conditions but wait for them to ease.
The weather forecast for the next few days:
26th Apr 15E, 27th Apr 20E, 28th Apr 15E, 29th Apr 20E, 30th Apr 20ENE, 1st May 20ENE, 2nd May 15ENE
The squally conditions are expected to stay for the rest of the week.
A very exhausting day and looks like a harder week ahead. Somehow, the 20 knot forecast always feels like a lot more out here. Maybe its just the muscles complaining.
B
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md-070426_1sunset

Start of the night rowing shift

md-070426_2dusk

Rowing at sundown

md-070426_3nitehatch

Checking the rudder from the rear hatch

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Day 56 – Squalls, re-fixing leak,

25 Apr, 07 – 21.40
15.4803N,42.3145W
24 hr progress: 35.8 Nautical Miles (1 nm = 1.85 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1109 Nautical Miles ( 2051 km)
Distance completed: 1936 NM (3581 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


A quick shorter post than usual due to bad weather.
There sea was so bad all of last night that here was no flying fish to be found on deck. What a pleasant change. No sign of any other wildlife under the boat as well, apart from the odd solitary pilot fish swimming alongside the hull.
I was greeted by a squall once again this morning. Very unpleasant rowing conditions. The squall however did provide a change of scenery, as I sat on deck watching a stormy curtain of rain racing across the sea towards the boat and passing over it followed by sunshine minutes later.
Above average mileage in the last 24 hrs, thanks to strong winds. Keeping course has been a challenge without the rudder fully immersed. The stern has taken a bit of a beating overnight and there is more water in the boat due to the sealant coming off from the outside. Will have to re-fix the leak again.
In todays dinner time news, I spilt treacle pudding on the black mattress as I was eating dessert in the darkness. It happened when I left the packet for a few seconds to go an re-tie the oars on deck. Unfortunately, I did'nt discover it, until I laid down to sleep and started sliding around on my back. By this time, it had run over the sides of the mattress into the other mattress below and the wood. So the smell of Treacle now joins the other smells in the cabin including Fish, Salt, Dampness, Blue cheese, Lemon Deodorant, Sealant, and Mint toothpaste.
Looking forward to the next milestone, crossing the 45W mark.
B
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Approaching rain clouds


Squall passes overhead


Half squall, Half clear skies


Day 56 – Progress Log, Trip Odometer vs Dist Lef


25 Apr, 07 – 21.40
15.4803N,42.3145W


Note: The straight line distance between El Hierro and Antigua is 2499. However, the actual distance rowed to reach Antigua is far more as the boat takes a curved route to Antigua (17 degrees N) ie: Heading further South to 15 degrees N until 45 degrees W and making a South-Easterly approach. Also, the actual distance rowed daily (shown here), does not count miles spent tacking (zig zag) to get the best mileage with the prevailing wind and wave conditions at the time.
Distance from El Hierro, Spain to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles (4623 km)
Total distance traveled to date: 1936 Nautical Miles. (3581 km)
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1109 Nautical Miles ( 2051 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Day/Date Latitude Longitude Progress
(time is GMT) (degrees/minutes/seconds) (degrees/minutes/seconds) (miles,km,nautical miles)
Day 51 - Apr 20 (17:00 GMT) 16:24:04N 39:44:49W 39 miles (62 km) (33 n/miles)
Day 50 - Apr 19 (20:00 GMT) 16:34:16N 39:11:38W 39 miles (62 km) (33 n/miles)
Day 49 - Apr 18 (19:00 GMT) 16:34:16N 38:36:47W 33 miles (53 km) (29 n/miles)
Day 48 - Apr 17 (19:00 GMT) 16:26:13N 38:07:55W 28 miles (46 km) (25 n/miles)
Day 47 - Apr 16 (18:00 GMT) 16:30:50N 37:42:36W 28 miles (46 km) (25 n/miles)
Day 46 - Apr 15 (19:00 GMT) 16:37:26N 37:17:46W 31 miles (50 km) (27 n/miles)
Day 45 - Apr 14 (19:00 GMT) 16:44:42N 36:50:46W 25 miles (40 km) (22 n/miles)
Day 44 - Apr 13 (19:00 GMT) 16:55:12N 36:30:58W 44 miles (71 km) (38 n/miles)
Day 43 - Apr 12 (19:00 GMT) 17:07:41N 35:28:08W 24 miles (39 km) (21 n/miles)
Day 42 - Apr 11 (19:00 GMT) 17:07:41N 35:28:08W 24 miles (39 km) (21 n/miles)
Day 41 - Apr 10 (18:00 GMT) 17:15:47N 35:07:44W 18 miles (30 km) (16 n/miles)
Day 40 - Apr 09 (19:00 GMT) 17:26:20N 34:55:12W 23 miles (37 km) (20 n/miles)
Day 39 - Apr 08 (19:00 GMT) 17:34:59N 34:36:36W 19 miles (30 km) (16 n/miles)
Day 38 - Apr 07 (19:00 GMT) 17:36:47N 34:19:48W 21 miles (33 km) (18 n/miles)
Day 37 - Apr 06 (19:00 GMT) 17:47:31N 34:04:44W 19 miles (30 km) (16 n/miles)
Day 36 - Apr 05 (19:00 GMT) 17:59:28N 33:53:17W 16 miles (25 km) (14 n/miles)
Day 35 - Apr 04 (19:00 GMT) 17:58:16N 33:38:56W 16 miles (25 km) (14 n/miles)
Day 34 - Apr 03 (19:00 GMT) 17:55:30N 33:24:58W 17 miles (27 km) (15 n/miles)
Day 33 - Apr 02 (19:00 GMT) 17:56:31N 33:09:32W 21 miles (34 km) (18 n/miles)
Day 32 - Apr 01 (18:00 GMT) 18:04:55N 32:52:30W 16 miles (25 km) (14 n/miles)
Day 31 - Mar 31 (19:00 GMT) 18:10:34N 32:39:25W 23 miles (37 km) (20 n/miles)
Day 30 - Mar 30 (18:01 GMT) 18:11:56N 32:18:18W 33 miles (53 km) (28 n/miles)
Day 29 - Mar 29 (19:00 GMT) 18:04:41N 31:49:30W 32 miles (52 km) (28 n/miles)
Day 28 - Mar 28 (19:00 GMT) 18:00:29N 31:20:24W 42 miles (67 km) (36 n/miles)
Day 27 - Mar 27 (19:00 GMT) 18:10:16N 30:43:55W 43 miles (70 km) (38 n/miles)
Day 26 - Mar 26 (19:00 GMT) 18:24:43N 30:07:26W 35 miles (57 km) (31 n/miles)
Day 25 - Mar 25 (19:00 GMT) 18:38:06N 29:38:10W 35 miles (56 km) (30 n/miles)
Day 24 - Mar 24 (18:00 GMT) 18:44:35N 29:07:01W 25 miles (40 km) (22 n/miles)
Day 23 - Mar 23 (19:00 GMT) 18:47:53N 28:44:20W 29 miles (47 km) (25 n/miles)
Day 22 - Mar 22 (19:00 GMT) 18:54:29N 28:18:36W 28 miles (46 km) (25 n/miles)
Day 21 - Mar 21 (19:00 GMT) 19:03:43N 27:54:22W 32 miles (52 km) (28 n/miles)
Day 20 - Mar 20 (18:00 GMT) 19:24:25N 27:33:58W 29 miles (47 km) (25 n/miles)
Day 19 - Mar 19 (19:00 GMT) 19:39:36N 27:12:36W 47 miles (76 km) (41 n/miles)
Day 18 - Mar 18 (18:00 GMT) 20:05:35N 26:39:07W 39 miles (63 km) (34 n/miles)
Day 17 - Mar 17 (20:00 GMT) 20:22:01N 26:07:44W 54 miles (86 km) (46 n/miles)
Day 16 - Mar 16 (19:00 GMT) 20:43:16N 25:23:38W 49 miles (79 km) (43 n/miles)
Day 15 - Mar 15 (19:00 GMT) 21:03:47N 24:43:30W 42 miles (68 km) (37 n/miles)
Day 14 - Mar 14 (19:00 GMT) 21:36:32N 24:25:12W 53 miles (85 km) (46 n/miles)
Day 13 - Mar 13 (18:00 GMT) 22:15:36N 23:59:24W 55 miles (88 km) (48 n/miles)
Day 12 - Mar 12 (19:00 GMT) 22:43:44N 23:17:49W 39 miles (62 km) (33 n/miles)
Day 11 - Mar 11 (18:00 GMT) 23:02:31N 22:47:46W 44 miles (71 km) (38 n/miles)
Day 10 - Mar 10 (18:00 GMT) 23:17:10N 22:09:14W 44 miles (71 km) (38 n/miles)
Day 9 - Mar 09 (18:00 GMT) 23:46:41N 21:42:18W 40 miles (64 km) (35 n/miles)
Day 8 - Mar 08 (18:00 GMT) 24:17:06N 21:23:42W 37 miles (59 km) (32 n/miles)
Day 7 - Mar 07 (19:00 GMT) 24:40:08N 20:59:31W 45 miles (72 km) (39 n/miles)
Day 6 - Mar 06 (19:00 GMT) 25:05:31N 20:27:11W 48 miles (77 km) (42 n/miles)
Day 5 - Mar 05 (19:00 GMT) 25:38:13N 19:58:44W 53 miles (85 km) (46 n/miles)
Day 4 - Mar 04 (19:00 GMT) 26:14:20N 19:27:00W 52 miles (84 km) (45 n/miles)
Day 3 - Mar 03 (19:00 GMT) 26:57:36N 19:11:42W 34 miles (54 km) (29 n/miles)
Day 2 - Mar 02 (18:00 GMT) 27:14:56N 18:45:14W 33 miles (53 km) (29 n/miles)
Day 1 - Mar 01 (18:00 GMT) 27:35:13N 18:22:34W 24 miles (39 km) (21 n/miles)
Start day - Feb 28 2007 (13:15GMT) 27:37:48N 17:58:48W Start day

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Day 55 – PHOTOS OF THE DAY

24 Apr, 07 – 21.40

15.5784N,41.5671W

Photos of the days cloud cover, continued from the previous page.
B

13.02 GMT Rare 360 degree view of half the sea covered in storm clouds and the other half with clear blue sky - as the squall cleared and moved Westward

16.47 GMT Altostratus clouds with cirrus (white wispy aka mares tales) clouds and cumulus clouds (fluffy white)

19.10 GMT Stratocumulus clouds re-appear, lumpy rolling masses bringing light showers

Day 55 – Squalls continue, cloud watch


11/30 GMT Low dark blanket of Stratus clouds


10.20 GMT Curtain of rain moving across the sea towards the boat


0935 GMT Approaching squall from the East

24 Apr, 07 – 21.40
15.5784N,41.5571W
24 hr progress: 35.4 Nautical Miles
Distance to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1134 Nautical Miles ( 2097 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.

The rudder was taking a beating in the heavy seas all of last night and I lifted it partially out of the water to ease the surface pressure and thus the pressure on the hinges. As a result of diminished rudder effectiveness, a lot of work steering all day to keep the stern into the waves.
Very pleased at achieving above average mileage, despite the rudder problem, by surfing down the waves to increase speed.
More wind and squalls this morning. However, a fantastic day just to watch the cloud patterns change over the day as the squall moved across the horizon from east to west. (see photos).
As the day started clearing towards mid-morning, I had the rare chance of witnessing a 360 degree view of half the sea covered in storm clouds and the other half with a clear blue sky as the squall cleared.
In contrast to the progress, the menu today was a catastrophe. The pasta in tomato sauce tasted like pasta in cheese sauce. I managed to salvage it a bit after performing emergency surgery with some Tabasco and a packet of ketchup. (After typing this sentence, I noticed that the spell checker corrected my spelling of Tabasco. Wow..its that brand recognition or what?. Quite cool.)
On the dessert front, a break in the landscape with a new pack of Chocolate Pudding – that I had not tried before. Surprisingly chewy. Maybe the packet had been stepped on too many times or left it out in the sun too long.
B

Monday, April 23, 2007

Day 54 – More confused C's, Squalls


Squall right over the boat

Approaching squall


Morning start , metallic gray seas

23 Apr, 07 – 21.40
16.0031N,41.1905W
24 hr progress: 27.4 Nautical Miles
Distance to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1177 Nautical Miles ( 2177 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 15-20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.

Gray, windy and rainy. Very difficult rowing conditions today. Waves from the East and South East, wind from the North East. No wild life around, apart from the breakfast breakfast show put on by the flying fish, gliding about 6 ft off the water near the boat. Sharks, dolphins, whales have all disappeared off the surface in the bad weather.
As I stepped onto the deck this morning, I saw the mast of a yacht near the horizon, heading due West. There was no warning from the radar reflector, so seeing another boat took me by suprise. Its been my first sighting of another man made object in 20 days (since that tanker that ran me over). Quite a weird moment. I've got quite used to seeing nothing around but water in all directions.
Had a shorter night rowing session as the conditions were too rough to row. It was also too cloudy to see any of the April Lyrids, the peak of the meteor showers that were promised to show up on the 22nd.
Not much luck in the sleeping department as well. Crashing waves all around. We got hit by a massive freak wave at around 4.00 am last night. It made such a huge crash, that for a moment I thought we had hit a floating shipping container or some other submerged object in the water.
The wave dumped a lot of water in the bilge again, making the boat roll even more than usual. I had to pump out about 1 foot of water from bilge before going back to sleep. Didn't have much memory of it this morning. Thought I had dreamt about about pumping water out of the bilge, until I found the torch that I had left out on deck.
A very exhausting and frustrating day of rowing – as reflected in the quality of todays posting.
B

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Day 53 – Rough & confused sea


Sunrise in the East, taken at 09.33 GMT


Reflection in the clouds due West at 09.22 GMT

Gray confused sea

22 Apr, 07 – 21.40
16.0730N,40.5148W
24 hr progress: 29.2 Nautical Miles
Distance to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1202 Nautical Miles ( 2223 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


Crazy winds all night and day. But me and Miss Olive are flying along despite the cross waves. Trying my best to maintain a daily average of 30 nautical miles.
The forecast was for 15 knots, but at times it feels a lot more than that, especially in the mornings and night. Not sure, if its because I am rowing without a shirt, and the wind and water on the skin give a different perception of strength.
This morning, as I was having breakfast on deck, I thought I saw about 50 small birds flying skimming over the water before diving in at intervals of 50 feet. It took me quite a while to get a closer look as the boat was rising and falling 8 feet between the waves and there were 2 waves between me and the fish.
It turned out to be a school of flying fish (or a flock?). I had never seen this variety before. The looked a lot more sleeker and faster than the usual belly-flopping variety of flying fish that hang around the boat. Or maybe it was just the force of the high winds that increased their range and speed.
I got woken up as we got hit by an unusually large wave in the afternoon that went right over the back and into the hatch. It poured a bucket of water into the cabin, as I was sleeping underneath.
Proud to say that after 50 days at sea, I have perfected the routine of damage control after a waves enters the cabin. In 15 minutes I can collect the water before it spills over the electronics, roll up the sleeping bag with the water inside and hanging it out in the sun on deck, dry the pillow (my towel and survival suit) and wiping the salt off my skin with baby wipes. Then went back to sleep.
Will keep this one shorter than usual. Very exhausted and trying to catch up on sleep after yesterdays extra-long rowing session.
Thanks to all for the messages. The are a welcome diversion out here.
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Saturday, April 21, 2007

Day 52 – PHOTO TOUR - A typical day - PART 5

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30    
16.1641N,41.2701W

Hot Afternoon – The afternoon is usually still and sweltering. It's too hot to be out on deck or row. To hot to be in the cabin. Usually take a swim around the boat to cool off or get some sleep.
Evening Row – Wind picks up again and a few more hours rowing till sun down.
Sunset - Coffee and Dinner usually had on deck with the sun-cooked meal of the day. Checking messages, mails, updating the ships logbook etc.
md-070421_14hot
Afternoon
md-070421_15evening
Evening
md-070421_16dinner
Night

Day 52 – PHOTO TOUR - A typical day - PART 4

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30    
16.1641N,41.2601W


Argos Beacon re-location – I have 2 Argons beacons on board to track my position via satellite. The first is an active beacon that is tied on deck (pictured here) and the second is a standby beacon – to be switched on when the batteries on the first one run low (usually after 65 days or so). Since the leak, I have made arrangements with the land team, that in case of an emergency or capsize, I will hit the emergency buttons on BOTH beacons as well as set of the EPIRB. While checking the beacon the other day, I realized that if I did capsize, I may not be able to reach both beacons or set them off in time. I've decided to relocate the standby beacon to the inside of the GrabBag and secure the active beacon to the outside of the GrabBag which is tied to the deck. Another task for my to-do list, that I will do later in the week.
Gray Rowing – The morning usually starts off with gray dull weather and choppy seas.
Clear Mid Morning – By mid-morning, the sky clears and huge long swells replace the choppy small waves. Good (a bit ruff) rowing conditions last till noon.
_______________________________________________
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md-070421_11argosfix
Argos satellite beacon
md-070421_12grayrowing
Gray rowing conditions
md-070421_13clear
Clear skies by mid morning

Day 52 – PHOTO TOUR - A typical day - PART 3

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30    
16.1641N,41.2501W


Coffee – My day's ration of coffee. About 1 liter, black coffee powder mixed with cold water in a sports water bottle. I leave it on deck in the sun, which sort of warms it up a bit. Not too bad tasting. The coffee will never know the difference.
Breakfast – Coco Chia – South American Coconut and Chia Seed Mix, added to cereal and powdered milk, plus some raisins and nuts.
Clothes Drying – Drying out some of my Helly Hansen base layers, that got soaked in the previous nights row by a wave.
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Coffee
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CocoChia breakfast
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Drying out the HH baselayers

Day 52 – PHOTO TOUR - A typical day - PART 2

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30
16.1641N,41.2401W


I thought the Half Way point would be a good a day as any to give you all a photo tour of what my typical day on board is like. So here you go. Indulge!.
PS. Apologies to those who have subscribed to Automatic News Alerts. I can only upload 3 images per page, so you may receive 5 email alerts for this post as it runs into 5 pages / 15 images.
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Sunrise: Taken at 10.42 am GMT (08.00 am Mid-Atlantic time). A very gray start to the day. Spectacular special effects on the sunrise show due to the clouds.

Sleeping area & Water leak – Checking the level of water and bailing water out from the watertight compartments underneath the mattress. I'm using the survival suit stuffed with clothes as a pillow with a blue towel as a pillow case. Quite comfy actually. At the end of the cabin is the 1 inch fiberglass back of the stern with the rudder hinges on the other side.
In rough weather, it takes some getting used to sleeping with the noise of waves crashing on the other side. Almost everything, maps, music, vhf radio, electrics etc except the oars (unfortunately) is within arms length and a foot kick. Which is very very useful.

Primus – Tried to get the gas cooker to work by scraping off the corrosion. Some hot water to make coffee would be nice to celebrate the half way point. No luck however.
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Sunrise
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Sleeping area
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Primus

Day 52 – PHOTO TOUR - A typical day - PART 1

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30
16.1641N,41.2301W

I thought the Half Way point would be a good a day as any to give you all a photo tour of what my typical day on board is like. So here you go. Indulge!.
PS. Apologies to those who have subscribed to Automatic News Alerts. I can only upload 3 images per page, so you may receive 5 email alerts for this post as it runs into 5 pages / 15 images.
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GPS Co-incidence - Checking the GPS at 12.21 at night. It shows distance to Antigua (1255), which is 5 miles to my half way point (calculating a distance of 2499 miles from El Hierro).;
The GPS also showed W 039'55.152. which co-incidentally also happens to be 5 miles short of crossing the 40 degrees West Meridian. Two milestones at the same time.
Roof Cabin Foam – The foam padding on the support beam that runs thru the roof cabin has been coming off as I've bumped my head into it way too many times. Another task added to the to-do list.
The 'Office' – My work space. Laptop, chargers, sat phone, maps & charts, vhf radio. Taken at 12.20 am, just after I updated the map and updated the ships logbook. The cabin ceiling, just above the laptop is 3ft and is the highest point in the cabin before sloping down to 2ft at the stern. Pictured here is the black plexi-glass entrance, thru which I step outside onto the deck.
Email: mail@bhavik.com
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GPS
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Foam padding on ceiling
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Workspace

Day 52 – HALF WAY! 2 Milestones, Antigua in Sight.

21 Apr, 07 – 21.30    
16.1741N,40.2301W
24 hr progress: 32.3 Nautical Miles
Distance to Antigua: 2499 Nautical Miles
Distance left to Antigua (straight line): 1229 Nautical Miles ( 2322 km) (1 NM = 1.85 km)
Wave height: 10-12 ft, Winds: 15-20 knots ENE, Bearing: 270 -310 degrees.


At 00.21 GMT last night (morning, 21st Apri), I checked the GPS to find a reading that I have no way of explaining. I was exactly 5 miles short of my halfway point (my first milestone) AND 5 miles short of crossing 40 degrees West (my second milestone). A very unsual co-incidence.
Last night was the big one. After writing on here and 3 protein bars for ' a late snack', I decided to row into my halfway point. With the moon and stars hidden behind the thick cloud cover, I rowed away in the solid darkness.
At just a little before 4.00 am GMT I reached my halfway point, 1250 nautical miles from El Hierro, and crossed 40 degrees W. The two biggest milestones I have been looking forward to since Feb 28.
Since leaving El Hierro, my North Atlantic pilot chart is folded into two sections along the 40 degree W meridian. For the past 51 days, as I have plotted my daily position, the view has been of Europe, Africa and the Canary Islands. Today, I finally turned over the chart and made a little pencil mark, about 1400 nautical miles directly above Brazil. Antigua and the rest of the Caribbean islands are finally within sight. Though I still have 1250 nautical miles to go, it's unbelievable what a great psychological difference it makes to see Antigua finally on the map.
As I sat alone in the solid darkness after crossing the halfway mark, I had a few moments of mixed emotions. Elation - at the thought of making it even halfway this time around, after 3 failed attempts. And sadness - as I know the second half will go much faster than the first and this dream like existence will end.
I am determined to get the jobs on the task list (fixing the watermaker etc) possible and enjoy the last leg of the journey much more.
I will write on here more about my mental and physical state after my 52 days of solitary confinement. For now, I am going to celebrate my half way crossing by trying to get some sleep to make up for no sleep last night. As I type this, its 11.30 pm GMT here.
Celebration was extravagant by on board standards. Fruit. A tin of peaches, a tin of lychees (woohoo!), double ration packs, coffee and the last bit of aquavit. Warm coffee would have been nice, but could not get the Primus to work. Nah worries! Its only 7 weeks away now.
I thought the Half Way point would be a good a day as any to give you all a photo tour of what my typical day on board is like. So here you go. Indulge!.
/ B
PS. Apologies to those who have subscribed to Automatic News Alerts. I can only upload 3 images per page, so you may receive 5 email alerts for this post as it runs into 5 pages / 15 images.
Send a satellite SMS message: http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlantic/messages.asp
Email: mail@bhavik.com
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Turning the map over: My North Atlantic Pilot Chart - The Orange land mass on the lower left is Brazil.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Day 51 – PHOTOS OF THE DAY

20 Apr, 07 – 21.30    
16.2253N,38.5097W


The ships clock is still GMT.
As we progress westwards, the sun sets about 5 minutes later each day. At present, around 22.00 GMT.
B
Send a satellite SMS message: http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlanti
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Taken at 20.18 GMT
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Terns and Petrels checking the boat out and staying till sunset to fish around the boat
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Taken at 21.44 GMT