We are in an area of deep upwelling and the water is a weird yellow green colour in the daylight. At night the bioluminescence is an astonishing fluorescent blue green ripple radiating out behind us in our wake. At the transom trails a broad stream of glowing turbulent foam kicked up by the propeller, the same colour. Far out!
Position 14° 29.948′ N 52° 58.656′ E
COG 255T
SOG 5.8kt
entered the High Risk Area (HRA) at 1500UTC and turned to port. We are just outside the westbound shipping lane, to the north and proceeding parallel to the IRTC (Internationally Recognised Transit Corridor). Just over 600 miles from here to Djibouti – four days if we maintain our pace of 150 miles a day.
Position 14° 30.133′ N 53° 04.426′ E
COG 268T
SOG 5.6kt
Arbutus and Libert‚ still about 300 miles ahead of us, motoring in calm conditions. Acalephe is about 50 miles south east of us but cutting the corner to the IRTC so they’ll catch up once in the IRTC. They are also motoring in light winds.
Position 14° 30.133′ N 53° 04.426′ E
COG 268T
SOG 5.6kt
Forecast is for 25 knots (so expect 40 knots!) and 2.2m seas (so expect maximum waves of 4m) from late Wednesday, so we’re preparing for 48 hours of challenging conditions running before a breaking, following sea. We’ve washed, dried and bagged the staysail and replaced the big laminate Genoa on the furler with the smaller and more robust No. 3 Dacron headsail. Tomorrow we’ll strike the main, bag it and secure the halyards. We will ride this one with only the headsail. We will move the spare anchors and rolled-up Zodiac to the mid-ships cabin, clearing the cockpit lazarettes from heavy items (about 100kg) and lowering the centre of gravity. Diesel will be transferred from the jerry cans (on deck) to the auxiliary tank, shifting another 160kg low down and aft.
Position 14° 28.283′ N 53° 29.681′ E
COG 272T
SOG 6.2kt