Category Archives: Ocean Passages

Posts about ocean passages with S.V. Sunny Spells. These can go on a bit, so have a glass of your favourite muscle relaxant close at hand…

Rocking and Rolling in Gubal Strait

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Sunny Spells is just inside Gubal Strait at the southern end of Suez Gulf.

We have about half a knot of north setting current with us and gusty E-SE wind, 10 to 30 knots true. We had a very nice day of downwind sailing with 15 knots over the starboard quarter the whole day. We poled out the headsail (goosewing) and hand-steered. Just before the Strait the weather looked ominous: dark clouds and big dust clouds. The wind dropped to 5 knots. We rolled away the headsail, put 3 reefs in the main and motored. Now we have a gusty southerly that fluctuates from 5 to 25 knots apparent without warning and direction between dead square and on the starboard beam. Must be turbulence caused by all the mountains either side of the Gulf. We have doused the main sail completely and now have about half the headsail set on starboard tack. We are running the motor to keep momentum in the lulls and surfing the gusts. As I write, the wind has gone dead square and less than 5 knots apparent so now we have only a small little triangle of headsail out for stability.

Position 27° 40.372′ N 33° 56.353′ E
COG 319T
SOG 6.0kt
Log 11,317 nm
Engine 401.2 h

Lat 27.672867: Lon 33.939217

En route, off Hurghada

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For once, the actual wind has turned out to be consistent with the GRIB forecast model. The wind dropped steadily overnight and by midnight it was pretty much calm and the sea state had abated to nothing more than a barely perceptible undulation. We also have a very weak north setting current helping us along, so around 23:00 last night we reduced power to 1,850 RPM to preserve fuel. Expecting to get a little push from the southerlies this afternoon and for the current to get a little stronger as we enter the Suez Gulf. Fairly positive we will be within easy striking distance of Port Suez tomorrow evening.

Position 26° 46.642′ N 34° 18.331′ E
COG 345T
SOG 5.5kt
Log 11,247 nm
Engine 395.2 h

Lat 26.777367: Lon 34.305517

En route, off Marsa Toronbi

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Ariel 1 left Sha’ab Marsa Alam at 08:30 UTC+2 (local time) this morning, and we followed two hours later. The wind was still around 12 to 15 knots from the north at that time and the sea quite lumpy. We hoisted the main with 3 reefs in and motored into it. Middle of the day it started dropping and from 2:30pm to about 4:30pm we were able to sail close-hauled while slowly closing the coast at Port Ghalib. Since then we have been motoring and now the wind is about 6 knots from the north. There is still a swell of about 1m, but it is regular and well spaced, so conditions are quite pleasant. We are motoring with full main up. Ariel 1 is about 10 miles north of us. Looks like it is going to be a pleasant night’s motoring and so far the wind is exactly as per the ECMWF forecast.

Position 25° 36.674′ N 34° 41.620′ E
COG 332T
SOG 5.6kt
Log 11,166 nm
Engine 382.9 h

Lat 25.611233: Lon 34.693667