This is a special weather report we received this morning. We are in Grid 14D south of Madascascar, then will move into grids 14E, 14F and then 14G.
WEATHER ROUTING INC. IS PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL WEATHER PROVIDER FOR THE WORLD
ARC MAURITIUS TO RICHARDS BAY
PREPARED: NOVEMBER 04 22:15Z
FM: WEATHER ROUTING INC. (WRI)
SYNOPSIS: HIGH PRESSURE NEAR 33S/56E WITH A RIDGE NW'WARD TO E'RN MADAGASCAR
WILL MOVE E'WARD THROUGH TONIGHT. THE RIDGE WILL REMAIN STATIONARY ALONG THE
E'RN COAST OF MADAGASCAR THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON, THEN SHIFT E'WARD THROUGH THIS
EVENING. A THERMAL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE W'RN COAST OF MADAGASCAR
WILL WEAKEN THIS EVENING. A STRONG LOW ALONG THE E'RN COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA
WILL TRACK NE'WARD WHILE STRENGTHENING INTO A GALE NEAR 31S/40E BY THIS
EVENING. THE GALE WILL MOVE ENE'WARD WHILE WEAKENING TO NEAR 39S/44E BY
TOMORROW MORNING. THE LOW WILL TRACK SE'WARD TO NEAR 34S/53E BY TOMORROW
EVENING. A COLD FRONT WILL TRACK THROUGH MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL TONIGHT AND THROUGH
S'RN MADAGASCAR BY TOMORROW EVENING THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT. A STRONG RIDGE OF
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FROM SOUTH AFRICA E'WARD TO 45E
BY TOMORROW EVENING AND SPREAD SOUTH OF MADAGASCAR ON THE 07TH THOUGH 08TH.
CONCLUSION: IN 14B, THE HIGHEST WINDS WILL BE WEST OF 50E TODAY THROUGH THE
07TH. LARGE E-SE SWELLS EAST OF 53E WILL DIMINISH BY TONIGHT AND WILL BE
HIGHEST SOUTH OF 25S TOMORROW THROUGH THE 07TH.
IN 14C, THE HIGHEST WINDS AND SWELLS WILL BE WEST OF 48E THROUGH TONIGHT, THEN
SPREAD FROM WEST TO EAST ON THE 06TH THROUGH 07TH.
IN 14D, THE HIGHEST WINDS AND SWELLS WILL BE NORTH OF 30S DUE TO THE
INTERACTION BETWEEN THE TROUGH AND RIDGE TODAY. THE HIGHEST SW SWELLS WILL
DEVELOP WEST OF 50E BY AFTERNOON THE 06TH AND SPREAD E'WARD THROUGH THE 07TH.
THE LARGEST SWELLS WILL DEVELOP IN 14E, 14F AND 14G BEHIND THE GALE TODAY
THROUGH TOMORROW MORNING. THE SWELLS WILL BUILD HIGHEST WEST OF 45E TONIGHT
THROUGH TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND WILL SPREAD FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST. AS THE
RIDGE BUILDS E'WARD THE SE WINDS AND SW SWELLS WILL GRADUALLY LOWER THROUGH THE
07TH ACROSS THESE GRIDS.
ANY VESSELS IN 14C AND 14D SHOULD COMMENCE A MORE SW'LY COURSE TO MINIMIZE ANY
INCREASING HEAD WINDS AND BUILDING SW SWELLS REACHING 14D AND 14E TONIGHT
THROUGH TOMORROW NIGHT.
14B FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS NE-E(45 - 90) 15-20 GUSTS 25KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS
ESE-SSE 7-10FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM ESE @ 1.9KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS NNE-ENE(23 - 68) 20-25 GUSTS 28KTS. SEAS 3-4
SWELLS ENE-ESE 6-8FT (5SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM ESE @ 1.7KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS N-NE(0 - 45) 18-24 GUSTS 26KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
NE-E 6-9FT (3SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE
@ 1.2KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS N-NW(0 - 315) 18-23 GUSTS 25KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
NNE-ENE 6-9FT (4SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM
ESE @ 0.5KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS WSW-SSW(248 - 203) 17-22KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS N-NE
7-9FT (3SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SE
@ 0.7KTS.
14C FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS NE-N(45 - 0) 21-27 GUSTS 29KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
ENE-ESE 7-10FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM SW @ 1.5KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS NNE-NNW(23 - 338) 25-30 GUSTS 33KTS. SEAS 3-4
SWELLS NNE-ENE 7-10FT (5SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM WSW @ 1.6KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS N-NW(0 - 315) 22-27 GUSTS 29KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
N-NE 8-11FT (6SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SW
@ 1.8KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS NW-W-SW(315 - 225) 19-24 GUSTS 26KTS. SEAS 3-4
SWELLS N-NE 7-10FT (5SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS
FROM WSW @ 2.6KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS SW-S-SE(225 - 135) 19-24KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS NW-N
7-9FT (6SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SW @
2.5KTS.
14D FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS ENE-NNE(68 - 23) 27-33 GUSTS 35KTS. SEAS 4-5 SWELLS
NE-E 9-12FT (6SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM
ENE @ 0.8KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS NNE-NNW(23 - 338) 27-33 GUSTS 35KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS NNE-ENE 9-11FT (5SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM NW @ 0.3KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS NW-W-SW(315 - 225) 21-26 GUSTS 28KTS. SEAS 3-4
SWELLS NE-E/MIXED/SW 10-12FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED
SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM E @ 0.2KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS SSW-SSE(203 - 158) 17-22KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
SSW-WSW 7-10FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM SSW @ 0.4KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS S-SE(180 - 135) 22-27 GUSTS 30KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS
SW-W 7-10FT (8SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS
FROM ESE @ 0.7KTS.
14E FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS NNE-NNW(23 - 338) 21-26KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS NE-E
9-12FT (6SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NNE @
0.4KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS NW-W-SW(315 - 225) 29-35 GUSTS 38KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS NE-E/MIXED/SW 12-15FT (7SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED
SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM W @ 0.3KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS WSW-SSW(248 - 203) 27-33 GUSTS 35KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS SSW-WSW 13-16FT (6SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM WSW @ 0.4KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS SSW-SSE(203 - 158) 23-28 GUSTS 30KTS. SEAS 3-4
SWELLS SSW-WSW 9-12FT (7SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM SSE @ 1.1KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS S-SE(180 - 135) 20-25KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW
8-11FT (7SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NNW @
0.2KTS.
14F FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS NE-NW-W(45 - 270) INCREASE 25-35KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS NE-N/MIXED/SW 12-15FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED
SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM W @ 1.1KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS SSW-WSW(203 - 248) 30-35 GUSTS 40KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS SSW-WSW 13-16FT (6SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM SW @ 1.7KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS SW-S(225 - 180) 27-33KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW
13-16FT (6SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM
SW @ 1.4KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS SSW-SSE(203 - 158) 25-30KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW
11-13FT (7SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SSW @
1KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS SE-S(135 - 180) 17-22KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSE-SSW
8-11FT (7SEC). SKIES CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SSW @
0.8KTS.
14G FORECAST:
05/00 GMT(T + 0): WINDS S-SW(180 - 225) 27-33 GUSTS 36KTS. SEAS 4-5 SWELLS
SSE-SSW 12-15FT (5SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM NNE @ 0.9KTS.
05/12 GMT(T + 12): WINDS SSW-SSE(203 - 158) 25-30 GUSTS 33KTS. SEAS 4-5
SWELLS S-SW 11-14FT (3SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*.
CURRENTS FROM ENE @ 0.4KTS.
06/00 GMT(T + 24): WINDS SE-S(135 - 180) 22-27KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSE-SSW
10-13FT (5SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM
NNE @ 0.3KTS.
06/12 GMT(T + 36): WINDS S-SE(180 - 135) 15-20KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS SSE-SSW
8-11FT (5SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM
ENE @ 0.7KTS.
07/00 GMT(T + 48): WINDS SE-E(135 - 90) 11-16KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS SE-S
6-9FT (5SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NNE
@ 0.7KTS.
* WINDS AND SEAS HIGHER IN SQUALLS
BEST REGARDS, WEATHER ROUTING INC. (WRI)
EMAIL:
[email protected]TELEX: (23)48155763
PHONE: 518.798.1110
FAX: 518.798.4939
***
Up at 6:00 AM. Didn't sleep well because my cabin kept getting violently tilted all night long, necessitating that I flex my legs to keep from bouncing off the rear cabin wall at the foot of the bed all night.
I relieve Jeremy and see that the wind is blowing a steady 32-36 knots. Gale force winds start at 34 knots; so now we're into a full gale. Isn't this fun?! Saphir, another boat near me, has winds of 39 knots. Folie a Deux has the same high winds.
Erling from Saphir calls me at around 8:30 AM and tells me that the Rally weather service has issued a special weather bulletin about what we're experiencing. He reads it to me and its BAD. Due to some sort of problem on Saphir they're currently hand steering. Not good.
During the 9:00 AM net hosted by Tim from Ghost he read the same bulletin over the air for those boats that hadn't downloaded it yet. I tried to download the report after the net but had no luck - lousy propagation. I couldn't connect with my SSB radio with a SSB station.
Breakfast at 10:15 AM is freeze dried Beef Stroganoff with Rice and bread. Its too rough to cook on the stove.
Our noon position is 27 degrees, 22 minutes South; and 45 degrees, 50 minutes East.
I nap from 12 PM to 1:30 PM; and Joel naps all day. Jeremy is on watch in the cockpit, getting 'pooped on' all day.
At 1:30 PM Joel gets up temporarily from is nap because the pump is running too much. He can't find a leak so he goes back to bed.
At 2:00 PM the wind is 24/25 knots, its overcast and we're still getting visited by really big waves. Most are 12-15 feet, but some at broad and 20 feet. We're getting slapped and pooped so much that I'm going to stop reporting these any more, at least until we get to Africa.
Jeremy tell me we need to make a T shirt called 'I Survived the Indian Ocean.' I agree. This will be fun. Stay tuned. I then tell him we're not in the Zululand Marina yet, so don't count your chickens...yet.
At 3:16 PM Jeremy spots another 'rope nest' in the water. A bunch of ropes floating that we miss by 10 feet. Could be a big problem if they wrapped around our keel, rudder or propeller.
At 4:15 PM I notice that the wind has dropped to 18 knots. We're only going 3 knots with a big current against us. I put more sail out and our speed increases to 4.5 knots. I put more out later and get our speed over 5 knots.
Joel turns the generator on at 4:35 PM. We'll run it for 4 or 5 hours. Its ironic that we even have to use it. Because of the high winds and huge seas, we're not going fast enough for the hydro generator to charge our batteries fully; and the wind turbine is turned off because it starts free wheeling at 25 knots like a runaway propeller on an airplane.
Dinner at 5:40 PM is freeze dried Rice with Chicken; baby corn; and 2 fruit cocktail. Joel gets an extra portion and says he's 'full.' Joel has been complaining that he's not getting enough food.
At 7:30 PM we pass the halfway point to Richard's Bay - 700 miles to go!
I send out some SSB log and emails at 7:36 PM. The send is good but the receive is too slow at 200 bytes per minute. So I disconnect. I'll try after midnight tonight.
I nap from 7:50 PM to 9:30 PM. Joel lets me sleep a half hour later. I really needed it. Tired. Gales do that to you. An almost full moon tonight. The wind is 13 knots and we're moving at 4.8 knots thru the water and 6.0 over the land. Heavy overcast and 100% humidity. All boat surfaces in the cockpit are damp and slick. Really good 'I'll slip overboard weather.' Wear your harness and tether on.
At 11:00 PM I'm sailing into a dark cloud area. I don't know if it's nothing; rain; a squall; or a weather change that could be dramatic. We seem to have a lot of those on this leg. I set up the winches so I can reduce sail in a hurry if need be.
At 11:31 PM I see my first star tonight. Yeah!
At 11:44 PM I call the ship Aurora SB, a 656 foot cargo ship, on channel 16. He responds and we go to channel 06. I tell him I'm the sail boat on his port bow 6 miles away. He changes course from 240 degrees to 250 degrees so he doesn't run us over. We're on course 260. I ask for a weather report but I don't get it. I think its a language thing. We're getting a lot of that around here.
At 12:11 AM I sail into a clear sky area. Its so bright with the moonlight that its like daylight. The wind is 12 knots and we're moving thru the water at 5.0 knots and 6.0 knots over the land.
The ship Aurora SB passes starboard abeam at 1.1 miles at 12:25 AM.
I wake Joel at 12:30 AM and at 12:39 AM we turn the motor on and roll in the jib. The wind is starting to go from northeast to northwest to west to southwest. So we'll motor along the rumb line to Richard's Bay until we can sail again when the wind reaches southeast.
At 12:57 AM I start receiving emails via the SSB. Its faster this time; at 200/600 and 1400 bytes per minute. I connect with Africa, 914 miles away at a bearing of 266 degrees true. Then I type a log and will send it out at 1:30 AM. Who needs to sleep?
Brian Fox