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American Spirit II - Day 320; An Immigration Experience and then off to Port Elizabeth, 390 NM away; Friday, November 21, 2014



Up at 4:55 AM to call Immigration. They have to be called 3 hours in advance of your leaving, and we want to leave at 8:00 AM. I'm also calling for Civetta II, Lluiton and Saphir. I call but the Immigration officer won't let me give the other boat names. He says I can give the names to the officer that comes to my boat. He also said that they're in the marina now checking out 3 other boats.

At 6:10 AM I call Immigration again and get a different person answering the phone. He accepts the other vessel names and berth numbers.

At 7:10 AM I call Immigration again; and the officer I talked to said he would call me back after checking with his people at the marina. He calls me back and tells me the officers will be there shortly. At 7:25 AM two officers show up at the boat and after chatting with me for a minute they leave. They didn't even get on the boat. So much for clearing us out thoroughly.

At 8:05 AM we start the engine and depart the marina at 8:10 AM. By 8:35 AM we exit the harbor and turn south down the coast. The wind is 6 knots and we're making 7.2 knots thru the water and 7.1 knots over the land. Its fogy and cloudy with rain showers around us. Plus its cool out, temperature wise. An ugly day. We're motor sailing at 2000 RPM's. Civetta II and Saphir are nearby.

At 10:00 AM the wind is 4/6 knots and we're moving at 7.1 knots thru the water and 6.2 knots over the land. We're in the north flowing counter current. We put the mainsail out to the first reef to help stabilize the boat.

At 10:28 AM I called the KN Forest, a 623 foot cargo ship. We were on a collision course and agreed to go port to port. I also advised the ship that I was turning 20 degrees to starboard. The KN Forest passed by at 10:40 AM going to Durban.

Our noon position was 30 degrees, 7 minutes South; and 31 degrees, 3 minutes East. We're 353 miles from Port Elizabeth.

Lunch at 12:35 PM consisted of canned chicken and pita bread with mustard or BBQ sauce.

At 2:45 PM the wind is 6/7 and we're moving at 7.3 knots thru the water and 8.1 knots over the land. We're 13 miles off the coast. The Aghulas Current is with us, pushing us along at .6 to .8 of a knot. Lluiton is ahead of us on the starboard bow, 1 1/2 miles away. East London is 214 miles ahead and Port Elizabeth is 332 miles now.

Joel and I both take naps after lunch.

The coast line is visible to our starboard, with cliffs, sand dunes or small mountains visible. Its hazy so I'm not sure which.

At 4:15 PM I notice that the mainsail is sagging at the top and middle. Big time. We investigate and determine that the main halyard sheet stopper must have gotten released by someone accidentally. We tighten the halyard. We're now moving at 8.7 to 8.9 knots over the land.

At 4:20 PM 20 - 25 porpoises, in 3 groups, swim off the starboard side. They never came near the boat. One jumped 10 feet straight up into the air. At 4:43 PM another group of 8 - 10 porpoises are all jumping together going after a school of fish. They are aft, starboard 200 yards.

During the 5:00 PM Peri-Peri net Ghost and Kind of Blue are on the net with us. Ghost says they're trying for East London. They had left Richards Bay mid afternoon along with Nexus, Alpheratz and a couple of other boats.

At 5:42 PM we have more porpoises starboard, aft about 70 yards. One of them jumped straight up out of the water, like the one previously did.

Ghost hosted the 6:00 PM net. I heard Adela on the net; and someone said that Bongo Alive had gear box problems and was making for Durban? Tim from Ghost said he'll host a 9:00 AM net tomorrow. Good.

Dinner at 6:40 PM is blackened chicken legs grilled on the back of the boat by chef Joel; corn on the cob; and baked potato.

I napped from 7:10 PM to 8:10 PM, but didn't sleep any. At 8:20 PM I relieved Joel early. The wind is 7/8 knots and we're moving at 7.5 knots thru the water and 9.5 knots over the land. We're still motor sailing. The seas are lumpy and uncomfortable; and we're 11 miles offshore. Lluiton is 3 1/2 miles from us.

After sunset lights on the shore are easily visible.

At 10:00 PM the wind is 8/9 knots and we're moving at 7.4 knots thru the water and 9.8 knots over the land.

At 11:00 PM there are fewer lights along the coast. I think we're in a more desolate area. The wind has dropped to 4/5 knots and we're moving at 7.5 knots thru the water and 9.8 knots over the land. Our heading is 222 degrees.

At 11:45 PM its overcast with no stars visible. Typical South African coastal weather. Not very good.

At 12:19 AM I try to send and receive emails but propagation is no good, so no luck. I'll have to try again tomorrow night. My propagation display indicated that there are a lot of sun spots (124). A number higher than normal. Maybe that's the reason why I can't connect with a land station. I turn the SSB radio off at 12:31 AM and go to bed.

Brian Fox




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