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American Spirit II - Day 396;Extaordinary Sunrise, Blue Ocean, Another Twin Yoke, Deck Light Pulled Out & Green Flash No. 40; Friday, February 6, 2015



One year ago today:

"Day 34; Last Full Day in Las Perlas Islands; Thursday, February 6, 2014. Today is one of the few days that we had to get up early for a Rally event. At 7:15 AM something called a 'Hash' is being run by the World Cruising Club. During this event we walked around the island following symbols left in the road way. Once done, drinks and fruit awaited us back at the Romantica Hotel. The fruit included pineapple, water melon and mango."

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Relieved Jeanine at 6:05 AM. The wind is 14 knots and we're sailing at 6.2 knots thru the water and 6.4 knots over the land. The spinnaker is up, port side. Its cloudy and warm.

At 7:00 AM the wind is 13/14 knots and we're sailing at 5.9 knots thru the water and 6.2 knots over the land. We're sailing into a squally area. Not good. Dawn is fast approaching. I have a concern with the spinnaker up and running into higher winds in a squall.

At 7:46 AM I see one of the most beautiful sunrises I've seen in the entire circumnavigation. Swirly and wispy clouds, blue sky, some black clouds; with light shining up to illuminate the clouds from below the horizon. The 'picture' is like a painting. A take some pictures with my camera, but the lens doesn't do the sight justice. Still, I got some very good photos.

The sun rises at 8:00 AM. There is no green flash due to clouds on the horizon. The wind is 12 knots and we're sailing at 5.3 knots thru the water and 5.6 knots over the land.

I got a spinnaker wrap at 8:02 AM and woke Joel up to help me deal with it. We couldn't unwrap it, so I opened the front hatch and we stuffed it down below, to be sorted out later by Joel. The wind is now 12/13 knots and we're moving at 4.6 knots thru the water and 5.4 knots over the land. Joel goes back to bed at 8:40 AM until the 10:00 AM net.

At 9:01 AM the wind is 9/10 knots and we're sailing wing-on-wing at 4.2 knots thru the water and 4.6 knots over the land. If the wind keeps lightening we'll need to unwrap the spinnaker and put it back up. The spinnaker is our 'light air sail.'

Another quote from the Jesse Martin in the Lionheart (circumnavigation) book: "Thinking outside the square;" an Australian saying. Versus "Thinking outside the box," an American equivalent. We may speak the same language, but there are noticeable differences in word context.

At 10:00 AM the wind is 13 knots and we're sailing at 4.4 knots thru the water and 5.0 knots over the land.

Joel hosts the 10:00 AM net. Eight boats are on the net: Adela, American Spirit II, Bongo Alive, Civetta II, Merlyn of Poole, Polaris, Saphir and Shay Moya. A couple of boats Joel can't hear but their positions are relayed to him via another boat.

Breakfast at 10:45 AM consists of eggs; cut up potato; chilled fruit cocktail; and brown bread for Joel and me. Jeanine has oat meal, fruit cocktail and tea with honey. For the 2nd time this week, one of the eggs I break open has two yokes. Twins again! Who knew? During breakfast Joel utters the following 'truism,' concerning advice he gave his daughters when they were growing up: "You have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince." Really?

Our noon position is 13 degrees, 28 minutes South; 30 degrees, 28 minutes West; and we're 458 miles from Salvador. We're 117 miles closer than yesterday, and have averaged 4.9 knots since then.

At 12:20 PM Joel disappears below to sort out the spinnaker wrap we have, and to repack the spinnaker bag. He finishes this monumental task at 1:14 PM.

At 12:56 PM I see a white and black boobie flying around the boat, 460 miles from shore. Amazing.

At 1:00 PM the wind is 13 knots and we're sailing at 5.0 thru the water and 5.0 knots over the land. Joel and I put on some sun tan lotion due to the intense sun, which we've gotten to calling 'blow torch.' Hot and sticky is back! Much better than the 'freezing' conditions we had to endure in the Indian Ocean and Africa.

At 1:45 PM I cut the fat off of the 3 T-Bone steaks we're having for dinner tonight; then marinate them in a blackened mixture of spices and olive oil. If I don't do this the grill will turn into a fire storm, with the dripping fat creating a fire in the grill we can't put out. Not to mention charred steaks!

Jeanine showers at 2:00 PM; and does so in record time.

From 2:01 PM to 4:10 PM I type 2 logs and do some emails.

At 4:13 PM the wind is 12/13 knots and we're sailing at 4.8 knots thru the water and 5.2 knots over the land. At 5:03 PM the wind is 18 knots and we're sailing at 6.0 knots thru the water and 6.3 knots over the land.

Joel and I discuss and agree that the color of the South Atlantic Ocean is different than the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its much prettier, with a blue color that borders on amazing. A cross between turquoise and dark blue. I took some pictures of the ocean and the blue color comes out pretty good.

Dinner at 6:10 PM is blackened T-Bone steaks cooked on the propane grill by chef Joel; homemade French fries (cut from potatoes) by yours truly; and green beans. We rolled the jib up for dinner and then rolled it back out after dinner.

Joel noticed while on the foredeck that the whisker pole topping lift had pulled against our mast mounted LED deck light and ripped it out of its mounting on the mast. It was hanging by 2 (?) wires. A project for Salvador when we get in.

At 7:00 PM the wind is 12 knots and we're sailing at 4.3 knots thru the water and 4.9 knots over the land.

Joel hosts the 7:00 PM net again.

Jeanine and I use the satellite phone and send out the logs and emails at 7:20 PM.

I take a nap from 8:00 PM to 8:45 PM, while Jeanine and Joel watch the sunset and see Green Flash number 40 on our trip. A small one.

I'm on watch from 8:50 PM to midnight while Jeanine and Joel sleep down below. At 9:00 PM the wind is 13 knots and we're sailing at 4.3 knots thru the water and 4.8 knots over the land. At 10:00 PM the wind is 15 knots and we're sailing at 5.2 knots thru the water and 5.8 knots over the land. There are a million stars out tonight because the waning moon hasn't risen yet. I take out the canvas insert between the dodger and bimini so I can see the stars better. Venus is low on the port bow and Jupiter is rising behind me on the starboard quarter.

The waning moon rises behind some clouds on the horizon at 10:25 PM. The light of the stars diminishes as the moon rises.

At 11:00 PM the wind is 12 knots and we're sailing wing-on-wing still at 4.4 knots thru the water and 5.1 knots over the land.

At 11:29 PM we have 400 miles to go to Salvador. Yeah!

Joel relieves me at midnight.

I received the following two emails from the boat CHIKA-lu which was the first boat to finish into Salvador. The information they've put in the attached emails is very useful to boats like us coming in later. Another advantage of being in a Rally:

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Hi Fleet,

the report keeps going:

2. Mooring

is stern to the dock med style. There are mooringlines. Someone will help you. Let the breakwater at terminal nautico to starbord as well as the fort and the small red buoy (unlit at night). Proceed to the second jetty finger but keep 50ft off to port at low water. We were to close and got stuck in soft sand. Inside it is deep enough. World ARC is helpful and give you advice where to berth via VHF72.

3. Immigration & customs

Don't know if this will apply to every boat. The Chikalu crew got two taxis with some friendly help of Suzana to go to the police office in the container terminal area. Suzana handled the negotation with the immigration whereas the crew had to present their tired faces with a smile on it. At this moment Suzana and Hubert are at customs.

4. Facilities

You will find water and shore power (110 + 220V, 60Hz) in comfortable places on every pontoon. ATMs seem to be limited to 1000 Real. The convenience fee is 17 Real, the equivalent USD value is 373.06 at an exchange rate of 2,71 R$ to 1 US$.

We got no keys to get into the yacht habour. The gate is security guarded and this hopefully 24hrs a day.

To get a simcard you have to have a brasilian VAT account, so it's the best to order needed cards by some guys working in the marina. So we are told.

We didn't find a supermarket yet but there is no idea to leave tomorrow. So we should have some time to explore the city...

Hope that is helpful. If questions remain don't hesitate to give me a short notice.

Safe voyage to everyone...
chikalu crew

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Hi Fleet,

Chikalu is in Salvador, so here comes the report:

1. Approach

Chikalu entered the bay between the Santo Antonio light and the Banco de San Antonia. You have 1/2 nm to pass north of the northern lateral buoy and the coast. Our waypoints to the SUDESB Terminal Nautico were then

WP1: 13-00.78S / 038-3260W (the entrance of the bay)
WP2: 12-58.00S / 038-31.33W (west off the fort)

Please note that the ARC's picture is wrong insofar that the 2nd outlined waypoint could NOT be at 13-59.95S but must be 12-59.95S. Same mistaken position you may find in the 'Brazil Cruising Guide'. Just a misprint (shit happens :-)).

You may call Rallycontrol when passing the finish line. They're coming in loud and clear, leading you up to the Terminal Nautico where you get advice where and how to find your berth.

Due to 3.10 mtr draft we did sit in some shit but did easily maintain going back and out. Keep clear at 100 feet from the 1st pontoon to get deep water unless you are coming in at high tide. The second inner pontoon keeps about 4 mtr depth, so you are clear even in manoevring. However, Rallycontrol did a great job piloting us in, so they will do for you...

They and we will greet you heartily (as usual) with warmth and the national brasilian drink, which is??? Yes, you are right: It is caipirinha :-))

Immigration, customs, health will follow, when we are through.

Safe voyage to everyone...
-wolf @ chikalu

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Brian Fox


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