Voyageur - Log day 160 - Single Sideband Blues!

17 September 2010
Two nights ago we had the first signs of a favourable current, the south equatorial current, and by this morning it is even up to a knot at times. Since reaching the 10th degree of longitude this is what we had been anticipating having had a counter current against us since the start, Now Java curves away to the north and the Indonesian fishing fleet are gone from our surrounding seas. Many a loom of light we have seen just over the horizon but that is as close as they ever got. Tomas (Destiny) following Stephen's lead of the night before did a roll call of the fleet at the 9pm listening watch. Now only 6 boats checked in. Leaving aside the two newest additions to the fleet that leaves only four boats that have been on the rally since its inception, tuning in. I know I keep harping on about this but it really is disappointing and does not leave us with the confidence that If we have a problem and one of those other five are nowhere near, (on the long passages we could be spread out for as much as two hundred miles) then it is going to be of little help...

We have had two rather long and slow days sailing in light and fickle winds. From the daily roll call, the engine hours reported are quite high but we are trying hard not to use the engine. The fuel costs in the Cocos Islands are very high at 3$ a litre. Late this afternoon we have two yachts to starboard of us, Drammer and Tzigane. Drammer are on the opposite tack to us and every second day our paths cross. Tzigane have caught up so David and John can now chat via the VHF radio whereas up until today they had a prearranged "conference call" via SSB every evening at 6pm. It is just like old times again for us.....

Susan Mackay