Time Bandit - Are we there yet?

36 23N 44 41W
12 noon UTC
23rd May


Firstly, for all (or any) Yachtmasters out there....

1. What shows a fixed yellow light - or maybe it was a dirty white?
2. and if it's showing 2 vertical reds?
3. and if it has both red and green nav lights?
4. and if it has a flashing yellow above the 2 vertical reds?

Answer below.

The wind finally gave up the ghost about 6am yesterday and we had to put on the donkey until about noon when a light SSE filled in giving us a pleasant yacht along at about 4 knots until early this morning (like 1am) when again, it vanished. We've only just turned the engine off, hopefully for the last time until we get to Horta although its filled in from the north which is the remains of the "old wind" so it could die before the forecast westerly fills in. As soon as we get that we're, wind wise, home and dry, in theory - touch wood.

The weather pattern has stronger winds to the north and while we're gently sailing along, just a touch north of due east there's what seems like a huge 2 maybe 3 metre swell long, lazy swell moving north - south. We just gently rise and fall but given a few more Beauforts you could imagine how these could quickly turn from easy rollers to steep and breaking.

It's a bit ironic that each time we walk the length of the boat we walk past our bright orange storm trysail when there's hee haw wind outside. I once spoke to a guy that sailed an Island packet round the world. I asked him what he had for storm sails. His replay was, "I don't go out in storms". Seemed reasonable then and still does now. I think the percentage of ocean crossings that experience seriously bad weather is just 3%. Hopefully we'll keep in the 97% and the storm sail can stay in its bag, but it does make a comfy pillow.

This ocean sailing stuff really does mess with your body clock. We've tried 4 on, 4 off but the last hour on watch is a killer so we've moved to somewhere between 2 and 3 1/2 and we get up or get relieved as we need it. This more flexible approach is giving more quality sleep and indeed sunbathing!

And so, to the answer to the opening question.

Two nights ago, a light appeared on our horizon. As there was no AIS we thought it would be a fishing boat but as we were 900 miles from land it seemed unlikely. While we were doing a good 6 knots, we were only slowly closing the gap and which was odd as we could see his green starboard light to our red..... but then we'd see a red as if he was coming straight at us.

However, we were slowly closing and about an hour later more lights appeared on the horizon, dipping in and out of view over the swell. "Great", I thought "now we're in a fleet of fishing boats".

As, other than the first boat on which we were closing, the lights of the fleet were dipping on the horizon I estimated they were a good 3-5 miles away. We needed to keep a close eye on them as we were on course to go through the middle of the fleet at a good 6 knots.

Somewhat to my surprise, the fleet of fishing boats 3-5 miles away turned out to be blue flashing lights marking (did you get the right answer??) marking the 5 mile net of a purse seine fishing boat.... about 50 yards away and we were ploughing straight into it.

While with our long keel and now free hanging rudder I was tempted to go over the net I didn't think it was worth the risk so crash tacked and then spent an hour heading the wrong way to get around the boat and its enormous net lit like a mid ocean night club.

1. What shows a fixed yellow light - or maybe it was a dirty white? - Power driven vessel less than 50 metres.
2. and if it's showing 2 vertical reds? - not under command (asleep or busy boogie-ing on the back deck with his disco lights)
3. and if it has both red and green nav lights? - under way
4. and if it has a flashing yellow above the 2 vertical reds? - purse seine boat

Correct? Answers on a postcard.......


S&A