can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Celebrate - We are Sailing!



We have finally turned the engine off. The sea breeze that blew us out of Darwin did not last long followed by almost two days of motor sailing. On Charlie's 6AM till 10 AM this morning the South South Easterly breeze started to build sufficient to roll out the genoa and full main (they flap if there isn't enough wind)while still running the motor. By 10AM when Peter came up on watch there was enough wind to hoist the colorful Genniker and after a few adjustments we are bounding along without engine assistance between 5 and 7 knots.



No matter how many times it happens turning off the engine, enjoying the silence and relying solely on sail power is a great moment. That does not mean we have not had any other good moments; there was a beautiful red sunset that filled the sky on Charlie's watch and when Cathy took over from Peter at 2AM and we enjoyed a dramatic setting moon.



Some looking at our yellow brick track might wonder why the zig zag course? after all we have been motoring! Well the Indian Ocean is not as deep as the other oceans crossed and we are periodically changing course to avoid a series of shallow banks (some as shallow as 20 feet) and some production well heads.

Peter


Previous | Next