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American Spirit II - Day 279; Crisis in the Indian Ocean - Day 7 of 11; Saturday, October 11, 2014



Six days down with our mast still up but 5 more days to go until we get to Mauritius and safety.



Up at 6:00 AM. Relieved Jeremy coming off the 3:00 AM to 6:00 AM watch. Almost a full moon, with clouds all around. What else is new. Merlyn is 1.5 miles astern.



At 7:00 AM the wind is 15 knots and our speed thru the water is 3.9 and over the land 4.5 knots. The lightest wind we've seen in a week. Thank God. I call Jonathan on Merlyn at 7:07 AM and he advised me they're getting ready to put a pole out, go wing on wing. Will call me back when they're ready to go. We're 732 miles from Mauritius and will start motor sailing once Merlyn is set. We should be able to stay up with them, whereas before when it was blowing 25 knots they'd have to shorten sail or they'd leave us behind. If Merlyn starts to gain on us, we'll throttle up the engine to stay ahead. By doing this we can reduce our mainsail somewhat and keep less stress on the mast and rig. It's our intention to not have any more mainsail out than one reef; and to keep the storm jib up as long as the wind is behind us or on the quarter. Motoring will also allow us to steer a straighter course, putting less demand on the auto pilot. Furthermore, we've adjusted the 'sensitivity' setting on the auto pilot from 7 to 5, and this has resulted in the auto pilot working less and subsequently making less groaning noise. At 7:36 AM Merlyn's pole is up, the jib is set. By watching their position on our AIS we will know exactly how far they are behind us at all times, and we will know their speed at all times so we can match it. At 7:58 AM I turn the engine on and start matching their speed. Our first objective after securing the mast was to make it to a position where our fuel on board can propel us all the way to Mauritius. Objective number one is accomplished. We're motoring at 1400 RPM at 6.0 knots thru the water and 6.6 over the land. 727 miles to go.



The net is held at 10:00 AM but I can't remember who hosted it. I do hear Civetta II and Folie a Deux on the net talking.



At 10:15 AM as I'm cooking breakfast the propane tank stops working. Its empty. We put in a spare and I continue cooking. We normally have two propane tanks on board, but since I could not get an empty one filled in Cocos Keeling, I purchased a 3rd tank; the one we're using now.



Breakfast at 10:35 AM consists of scrambled eggs; potato cut up and cooked in olive oil with spices on the stove top skillet; chilled pineapple pieces; and bread with butter, jelly and peanut butter.



At 11:13 AM we put 3 fishing lines in the water. I'm trolling for Mahi Mahi; Joel is trolling for Tuna. Stay tuned!



Our noon position is 18 degrees, 47 minutes South; 70 degrees, 2 minutes East; and we're 706 miles from Mauritius. From noon yesterday we've traveled 131 nautical miles at an average speed of 5.5 knots.



In talking with Merlyn this afternoon we tell them that its 'Beer Thirty.' Jonathan responds that on their boat its 'Beer O'Clock.' After 'Beer Thirty' follows 'Pee Forty Five.' I don't think I need to explain that one. Don't look at me; talk to Joel. And later tonight at sunset it will be 'Wine O'Clock.' I'm trying to keep these logs interesting, so bear with me!



At 12:50 PM Joel goes to the bow and we adjust the two halyard wear points. As I've indicated before, a tense time as we take the pressure off one of the two primary halyards holding up the mast at a time. It only takes a minute to do each one.



At 1:10 PM Joel and Jeremy have 'Hearty Irish Stew' for lunch. In a can from Australia. I'm told its not bad.



I nap from 1:15 PM to 4:00 PM. I guess I was tired. Since I'm now sleeping in the main cabin until we resolve the auto pilot noise issue, I put a towel over my eyes to simulate darkness. It works. Once I hit the pillows I was out like the recipient of a Mike Tyson punch.



Dinner at 6:30 PM is blackened chicken marinated by your's truly and cooked on the grill by Chef Joel; corn on the cob; chick peas; quasi home made garlic bread;and chilled pear halves. Everybody agrees that it is a superb meal. Jeremy says he's full, a rarity on this boat. If you want to gain weight sailing, do not crew on American Spirit II.



Charlie from Celebrate hosts the 7:00 PM net; and as always, he does an outstanding job.



The sun sets at 7:51 PM (Cocos Keeling start time), and though there is a green hue to the clouds above the setting sun, there is no green flash.



I type a log and do emails from 7:15 PM to 8:42 PM, then go on watch from 9:00 PM to midnight, relieving Joel.



During my watch the wind is 11/17 and we're moving 6.1 thru the water and 7.7 over the land. Since we've got the engine on we also make four hours of water, about 30 gallons. Its really, really dark out; with a lot of stars showing. We're not clouded over yet. The mainsail is 12 inches short of a double reef.



At 10:25 PM I get rained on from a passing black cloud. At 10:57 PM the moon rises above a cloud bank on the horizon behind us. Always a nice sight.



Joel relieves me at midnight; and I go right to the SSB radio to send out a log and emails; and receive emails. I connect with a station in Brunei, Philippines 3,052 nautical miles away at a heading of 67 degrees. It takes me 4 frequencies to finally get the job done. The send speed is lousy at 600 and 200 bytes per minute; but the receive is good at 1400 to 3200.



I then take a shower and I'am in bed by 1:30 AM. 6:00 AM comes soon.



Our latest weather report from the Rally forecaster is:



*************************************************************************************************************************************************



WEATHER ROUTING INC. IS PROUD TO BE THE OFFICIAL WEATHER PROVIDER FOR THE WORLD

ARC COCOS TO MAURITIUS

PREPARED: OCTOBER 11 00:47Z

FM: WEATHER ROUTING INC. (WRI)



SYNOPSIS: GOOD MORNING. AN ELONGATED HIGH COVERS MUCH OF THE S'RN INDIAN OCEAN

ALONG 30S NEAR AND EAST OF 60W. THIS HIGH WILL DRIFT E'WARD THROUGH THE 13TH.

ANOTHER HIGH CENTER WILL MOVE E-NE'WARD FROM SOUTH OF MADAGASCAR TO NEAR37S/70E

BY LATE 13TH.



RIDGING ASSOCIATED WITH THE INITIAL HIGH IS MODERATELY STRONG AND THIS EXTENDS

N'WARD TO 10S. THIS RIDGING WILL STEADILY WEAKEN THROUGH EARLY 13TH. RIDGING

ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECOND HIGH WILL BEGIN TO STRENGTHEN ACROSS THE MORE W'RN

GRIDS (NEAR AND WEST OF 65E) BY EARLY 13TH AND THIS RIDGING WILL CONTINUE TO

STRENGTHEN AND EXPAND E'WARD THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE 13TH.



CONCLUSION: ENHANCED TRADE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE AS RIDGING

WEAKENS OVER THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS. LONG PERIOD SW SWELL WILL MIX WITH A SHORTER

PERIOD E-SE SWELL. EXPECT TRADE WINDS TO BEGIN TO FRESHEN AGAIN BY THE 13TH AS

A NEW AREA OF STRONGER RIDGING BEGINS TO BUILD ACROSS THE REGION.



ZONE 11L VICINITY FORECAST:

11/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 18-23 GUSTS 25KTS. SEAS 4-5 SWELLS E-SE/MIXED/SW

9-11FT (9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM

ESE @ 0.8KTS.

11/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 17-22KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS E-SE/MIXED/SW 9-11FT

(9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE @ 0.5KTS.

12/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW/MIXED/SE 8-10FT

(14SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE @

0.7KTS.

12/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 14-19KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW/MIXED/SE 7-9FT

(13SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SE @

0.4KTS.

13/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW/MIXED/SE 7-9FT

(12SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE @

0.7KTS.



ZONE 11N FORECAST:

11/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 17-22KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 9-11FT

(9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ENE @

0.8KTS.

11/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 16-21KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 9-11FT

(9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM E @

0.3KTS.

12/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 14-19KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 8-10FT

(10SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM E @

0.7KTS.

12/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 13-18KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 7-9FT

(9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM E @

0.3KTS.

13/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW/MIXED/SE 7-9FT

(11SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE @

0.7KTS.



ZONE 11Q FORECAST:

11/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 7-9FT

(9SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NE @

0.5KTS.

11/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 7-9FT

(9SEC). SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NNE @

0.6KTS.

12/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 14-19KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE/MIXED/SW 8-10FT

(9SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NE @

0.5KTS.

12/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 13-18KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SE-S 7-9FT (11SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM N @ 0.8KTS.

13/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS ENE-ESE 8-10FT (10SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM NNE @ 0.6KTS.



ZONE 11R FORECAST:

11/06 GMT: WINDS ENE-ESE 14-19KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW 7-9FT (13SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ENE @ 1.7KTS.

11/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 13-18KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW 6-8FT (12SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ENE @ 1.8KTS.

12/06 GMT: WINDS ENE-ESE 12-17KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS S-SW 7-9FT (12SEC).

SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ENE @ 2KTS.

12/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 13-18KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW 7-9FT (11SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM E @ 1.7KTS.

13/06 GMT: WINDS ENE-ESE 16-21KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW 9-11FT

(15SEC). SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ENE @

1.8KTS.



ZONE 11S FORECAST:

11/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 11-16KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS SSW-WSW 5-7FT (13SEC).

SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM S @ 0.4KTS.

11/18 GMT: WINDS ESE-SSE 12-17KTS. SEAS 2-3 SWELLS SSW-WSW 6-8FT (12SEC).

SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SSE @ 0.3KTS.

12/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 13-18KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW 6-8FT (11SEC).

SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM SE @ 0.3KTS.

12/18 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS S-SW 8-10FT (14SEC).

SKIES MOSTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM S @ 0.3KTS.

13/06 GMT: WINDS E-SE 15-20KTS. SEAS 3-4 SWELLS SSW-WSW 9-11FT (14SEC).

SKIES PARTLY CLOUDY. ISOLATED SHWRS/SQUALLS*. CURRENTS FROM ESE @ 0.3KTS.

* WINDS AND SEAS HIGHER IN SQUALLS



BEST REGARDS, WEATHER ROUTING INC. (WRI)



Brian Fox


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