Lat: 40 28.76′ S
Long: 0 41.12′ E
Inst Speed: 17.1
Wind Dir: 333
Wind Speed: 27.2999
Distance last 24hr: ?
Distance to finish: 5976.2
Email from the boat to shore:
From: OmanTri
To: update
Subject: Thusday
Date: 26/02/2009 05:16:15
we are back in the Eastern Hemisphere!
we slipped past the Meridian about 03:10hrs, of course it was dark, and
with out ceremony, or celebration, we just keep going east.
After yesterday’s experiences of zero gravity things have calmed down a
bit – the wind is still as strong as it was but we are downwind rather than
nearly upwind, so motion onboard is significantly improved. As a final send
off the the violent motion i was treated to whacking my knee against the
(very solid) carbon fibre cabin door. Mohsin had woken us up ( I was going
on deck to keep Thierry and his thumb dry) and we were on the way when we
heard a bit of commosion on deck, usually this isn’t anything to be worried
about – especially as often you have a 6th sense about these things, but
none the less Mohsin appeared in the hatch saying come quick…. so i pulled
up my wet weather trousers, thew on just a light jacket and made a turn (
ill timed as it turns out) to run on deck to see what i could do to help…
as i turned the boat jolted and i kneed the door harder than you would your
worst enemy….Ouch!!! any way get on deck…. as i got to the main hatch
Loik was there all calm saying there was a mistake. Unfortunatly Mohsin’s
ears – burried beneath hat and hood, had heard Loik say “go get the others”
where as what loik actually said was ” take off your gloves to come and
help”. it’s such an easy mistake to make – especially with the wind howling
like it was, and going upwind there is so much wind and water across the
deck, and other bumps bangs and sweeks, that we ofter turn to one another
and ask what they just said – only to get a shaking head and “wasn’t me” in
response.
The Thierry scuffed up his thumb the other day whilst going up the rig –
it’s requird a few bandges and importantly to be kept dry – very difficult
in these conditions – he manage 24hours below, before getting back on deck –
he couldn’t resist it. His thumb will mend fully, and will be way better in
a few days if only we can keep it dry – managing well so far.
With Thierry back on deck, and me not having slept a bit due to my zero
gravity experiences, Loik and he gave me a bit of a lie in… which was
nice, still managed to do last minuite video conference with APP in Oxford,
run the generator, collect the weather, sort the food etc. but managed some
good sleep too – we still have another 12hrs or so of fairly strong
conditions so it’s good to put some sleep in the bank.
Looking slightly further ahead conditions look mixed, SE of S.Africa will
be sitting a large High pressure which we must either sail upwind to the N
of or get S … but it’s huge, so will be hard to get to the south of it..
we’ll just have to see how that moves the next few days… and hope it can
move in our favour – else we are in for a fair bit of up wind work again..
with the associated side effects.
Second email from the boat:
From: OmanTri
To: update
Subject: update to earlier update
Date: 26/02/2009 06:46:30
we are full main and gennaker now, heading east waiting to watch the wind
rotate throgh to the W then may be as far as SW, during that time we’ll Gybe
from current port to stbd and head a little more S or E
now that sun is up, we can see – well not much, grey murk, and fine
drizzle, only occasionally do we catch sight of the sky, hoping this
clears later and the grey murk too.. be nice to see a little sun to dry
things out
Weather Router’s advice:
From: Commanders’ Weather
To: Charles Darbyshire , Musandam ,updateoman
Subject: weather Thu 2-26
Date: 26/02/2009 15:06:11
To: Charles Darbyshire and the crew of
ìMusandamî
From: Commanders Weather Corp
Event: sail around the world
Last Position: 40 25s/03 42e at 1200utc Thu Feb 26
Prepared: 1430utc Thu, Feb 26, 2009
SummaryÖWill send you latest Agulhas current
1) Frontal system has passed off to the E.
2) Your winds will slowly back and come down somewhat next 24 -36 hours.,
3) High pressure following the front will then control your winds into next
week.
4) Expected position of the high:
a) 12 utc Fri nr 40s/5w
b) 12 utc Sat nr 42s/13e
c) 12utc Sun nr 43s/ 30e
d) 12 utc Mon nr 42s/ 44e
5) You should be able to stay in good sailing wind heading E into Sat.
6) Then as the high gets closer Sat pm expect winds will lighten to 10 kts
maybe a little less and also
back thru the S-SE-E to get to NE by 12 utc Sun.
7) At that time winds will be up to 18-25 kts and continue to increase(as
the high continues E) and you
head E on port tack tight to the wind.
8) Strongest breeze likely will be Monday and Monday night and could reach
30-40 kts from the N
9) Then next cold front will approach Tuesday with winds backing to NNW
allowing you to get some
northing in
10) Main concern in this pattern will be a very rough sea state developing
over the weekend.
11) SW swell will be increasing and may reach to 14-18 ft by Sat
12) This swell may diminish some Sunday and Monday but the conditions will
become worse with
shorter and steeper seas as NE winds increase against the SW swell.
13) For this reason think you should stay off any significant current as
much as possible passing south
of South Africa.
RoutingÖ Continue ESE then E as winds back. Be careful you do not get into
the center of the high on
Sat.
Expect as high approaches from the W and winds back thru SE
you will get forced NE Sat
night
As winds back to NE Sunday you will be back on port and
heading ESE-E(along 41s) early
next week S of the main portion of the Agulhas current.
Can then get some northing in E of 30e as winds back to NNW
Estimated positions below.
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, and time is UTC
Thu, Feb 26 ñ winds continue to back
18: 260-240/18-25
WeatherÖconsiderable cloudiness
Seas 8-12 ft
Fri, Feb 27 ñ winds slowly back
00: 230-250/18-25
06: 220-240/17-22
12: 220-240/17-22, nr 41 30s/11 30e
18: 210-230/15-22
Weather…Cloudy to partly cloudy
Seas 10-14 ft WSW swell
Sat, Feb 28
00: 210-230/15-20
06: 190-210/15-20
12: 180-200/10-15, nr 41 30s/18e
18: 140-120/ 8-12
WeatherÖPartly cloudy
SeasÖincrease to 14-18 ft WSW swell
Sun, Mar 1
00: 070-090/ 10-15
06: 060-080/ 15-20 ñ now on port tack
12: 040-060/ 18-25 nr 41s/ 24e
18: 030-050/ 22-30
WeatherÖPartly cloudy to cloudy
Seas 12-16 ft WSW swell – confused and rough seas
Mon, Mar 2
00: 020-040/ 22-30
06: 010-030/ 25-32
12: 360-020/ 25-35 nr 41s/ 30e
18: 350-010/ 25-35
WeatherÖConsiderable cloudiness
Seas 12-16 ft ñ confused and rough.
Tue, Mar 3
00: 340-360/ 30-40
12: 340-360/ 25-35 nr 39s/ 36e
WeatherÖConsiderable cloudiness
SeasÖ12-16 feet
Best regards, Tom Mattus
—
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