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Email from the boat to shore:
From: OmanTri
Date: 16/03/2009 05:21:35
To: update
Subject: Exit to doldrums – far from simple
as you can see from the attached image, the last 12 hours have been fairly
hard work…. we have changed sails, got rained on ( heavily ) and manage
to move just 15nm. This is some kind of record. especially for this boat.
We hope now to have found some slightly more consistant wind, and perhaps
things can improve from here on. Unfortuately that new wind is from due
North, exactly where we want to go – and it’s only 5kts, so it’s far from
the keys to the exit to the doldrums we wanted. We still have quite a bit
more twisting and turning to do before we are out, but the horizon is
clearer now, so perhaps it’s the begining of the end.
Apart from that we had managed to make some progress between noon and 1700,
a massive 35nm.
All these distances we are used to doing in two or 3 hours, infact it’s
possible to do that 15nm in 30 mins in the right conditions so it’s quite
odd to be looking at the computer distances and seeing how low they are,
even the scale on the electronic charts to see our 24hr period is a long way
from it’s normal view – a good day is 400nm, a bit day 500nm.
Obviously it’s still hot, and only the hours of darkness really offer a
respite, sun hats, suncream and sunnies are the 3 S’s that you need before
heading out on deck during daylight. then head for the 4th S – shade, and
try to conserve energy by the 5th S, sitting. Loik just woke up looked
around, and said ” the doldrums have cost us a lot of energy”, that says it
all – the miles here are the hardest fought for anywhere on the planet. We
can’t rely on the efficiency of the yacht designer’s hull shape, or the
sailmakers sail shapes, or the skill of the crew to steer them, or sheet
them correctly. No wind means no power, and just like a car with no fuel, we
go no where.
We are all hoping onboard ( and we know others ashore are too) that this is
our last day in true doldrum conditions, and that the N wind we have now
signifies the end, these winds should shift NE as we get to and past the
equator – only then will we really know we have left behind a lot of hot
air. There is every chance that it’s not quite the end, and further light
patches will hinder our progress across the equator now 150nm to our north.
If that’s the case eventually escape will taste even better.
The flip side of all of this is that we are not totally loosing our sense of
humour, and are lucky to have at least two stiff upper lips onboard, and
generally in better spirits when Haribo time comes around. We keep reminding
ourselves how ‘lucky’ we are to be here, and that there are far worse things
to do, in far worse places than this. AND WE ARE NOT TOO FAR FROM ARRIVING
BACK IN MUSCAT. which we are all looking forward to very much!
Date: 16/03/2009 05:21:35
To: update
Subject: Exit to doldrums – far from simple
as you can see from the attached image, the last 12 hours have been fairly
hard work…. we have changed sails, got rained on ( heavily ) and manage
to move just 15nm. This is some kind of record. especially for this boat.
We hope now to have found some slightly more consistant wind, and perhaps
things can improve from here on. Unfortuately that new wind is from due
North, exactly where we want to go – and it’s only 5kts, so it’s far from
the keys to the exit to the doldrums we wanted. We still have quite a bit
more twisting and turning to do before we are out, but the horizon is
clearer now, so perhaps it’s the begining of the end.
Apart from that we had managed to make some progress between noon and 1700,
a massive 35nm.
All these distances we are used to doing in two or 3 hours, infact it’s
possible to do that 15nm in 30 mins in the right conditions so it’s quite
odd to be looking at the computer distances and seeing how low they are,
even the scale on the electronic charts to see our 24hr period is a long way
from it’s normal view – a good day is 400nm, a bit day 500nm.
Obviously it’s still hot, and only the hours of darkness really offer a
respite, sun hats, suncream and sunnies are the 3 S’s that you need before
heading out on deck during daylight. then head for the 4th S – shade, and
try to conserve energy by the 5th S, sitting. Loik just woke up looked
around, and said ” the doldrums have cost us a lot of energy”, that says it
all – the miles here are the hardest fought for anywhere on the planet. We
can’t rely on the efficiency of the yacht designer’s hull shape, or the
sailmakers sail shapes, or the skill of the crew to steer them, or sheet
them correctly. No wind means no power, and just like a car with no fuel, we
go no where.
We are all hoping onboard ( and we know others ashore are too) that this is
our last day in true doldrum conditions, and that the N wind we have now
signifies the end, these winds should shift NE as we get to and past the
equator – only then will we really know we have left behind a lot of hot
air. There is every chance that it’s not quite the end, and further light
patches will hinder our progress across the equator now 150nm to our north.
If that’s the case eventually escape will taste even better.
The flip side of all of this is that we are not totally loosing our sense of
humour, and are lucky to have at least two stiff upper lips onboard, and
generally in better spirits when Haribo time comes around. We keep reminding
ourselves how ‘lucky’ we are to be here, and that there are far worse things
to do, in far worse places than this. AND WE ARE NOT TOO FAR FROM ARRIVING
BACK IN MUSCAT. which we are all looking forward to very much!
Weather Router’s advice:
From: Commanders’ Weather
To: Musandam
Subject: weather
Date: 16/03/2009 11:00:58
To: Charles Darbyshire and the crew of
ìMusandamî
From: Commanders Weather Corp
Event: sail around the world
Last Position: 2 12s/62 25e at 1045utc Mon, Mar 16
Prepared: 1100utc Monday, March 16, 2009
SummaryÖ
To try and stay east of 8n/59e, then will need to try and get some easting
in when you can. So, suggest we use the N or NNW flow now to head NE and
then come more NNW and N as wind becomes NE which we think it will do ñ will
be tough trying to stay E of, or around, 60e if canít get a little easting
in now
1) Almost a crap shoot on reliable wind direction and choosing a model that
may be more accurate is a shot in the dark
2) We like trying to get NE, coming a little more E when you can is better
for setting us up later on
3) Wind speeds have come up some, but this may be short lived, and flow
quite light until the Equator and then may become more consistent
4) Anyway, N to NNW wind probably will become more NE near/after 15-16utc
a) come NE more than N with this scenario and do the best you can to get
NE as much as possible
b) want to get E some now to make it better later on, but also want N to
get into the better breeze sooner
5) Flow likely to be more ENE nearer/north of the Equator and should fill in
better
a) come as much to the N as you can and limit westing
6) Expect a little better wind later Tues-Wed and likely to be ENE
7) A little high may then bring lighter flow and maybe at least a few hours
of a more NE flow as we get to Fri night then clocking on Sat as it shifts
east
RoutingÖget some easting in when you can ñ most likely during the next 3-6
hours, then try to come as much N as you can ñ basically, want to limit the
westing as much as you can over the next 48 hours ñ this will set you up
better later on especially if you want to be E of 60e
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, and time is UTC
Mon, Mar 16
18: 340-360/ 5-10
Tues, Mar 17
00: 040-060/ 5-9
06: 040-060/ 5-10
12: 050-070/ 6-10, nr 0n/62e ñ if you can be a little to the E, that would
be better
18: 060-080/ 6-10
Wed, Mar 18
00: 060-080/ 6-11
06: 060-080/ 8-12
12: 060-080/ 7-12, nr 3n/61 10e – stay to the E as much as you
18: 060-080/ 8-12
Thu, Mar 19
00: 060-080/ 9-13
06: 060-080/10-14
12: 060-080/10-15, nr 7n/60 10e
18: 060-080/ 9-14
Fri, Mar 20
00: 050-070/ 9-15
06: 060-080/10-15
12: 060-080/10-15, nr 11n/60e
18: 060-080/ 8-13
Sat, Mar 21
00: 040-070/ 5-9
12: 080-100/ 5-10, nr 14n/60e
A southerly swell up to 3- 4 ft for the next few days
Best regards, George Caras
—
PLEASE NOTE: AS OF JANUARY 1, 2008, OUR NEW EMAIL ADDRESS IS :
info@commandersweather.com
Commanders Weather Corp.
Tel: 603-882-6789
To: Musandam
Subject: weather
Date: 16/03/2009 11:00:58
To: Charles Darbyshire and the crew of
ìMusandamî
From: Commanders Weather Corp
Event: sail around the world
Last Position: 2 12s/62 25e at 1045utc Mon, Mar 16
Prepared: 1100utc Monday, March 16, 2009
SummaryÖ
To try and stay east of 8n/59e, then will need to try and get some easting
in when you can. So, suggest we use the N or NNW flow now to head NE and
then come more NNW and N as wind becomes NE which we think it will do ñ will
be tough trying to stay E of, or around, 60e if canít get a little easting
in now
1) Almost a crap shoot on reliable wind direction and choosing a model that
may be more accurate is a shot in the dark
2) We like trying to get NE, coming a little more E when you can is better
for setting us up later on
3) Wind speeds have come up some, but this may be short lived, and flow
quite light until the Equator and then may become more consistent
4) Anyway, N to NNW wind probably will become more NE near/after 15-16utc
a) come NE more than N with this scenario and do the best you can to get
NE as much as possible
b) want to get E some now to make it better later on, but also want N to
get into the better breeze sooner
5) Flow likely to be more ENE nearer/north of the Equator and should fill in
better
a) come as much to the N as you can and limit westing
6) Expect a little better wind later Tues-Wed and likely to be ENE
7) A little high may then bring lighter flow and maybe at least a few hours
of a more NE flow as we get to Fri night then clocking on Sat as it shifts
east
RoutingÖget some easting in when you can ñ most likely during the next 3-6
hours, then try to come as much N as you can ñ basically, want to limit the
westing as much as you can over the next 48 hours ñ this will set you up
better later on especially if you want to be E of 60e
Wind directions are TRUE, wind speed in kts, and time is UTC
Mon, Mar 16
18: 340-360/ 5-10
Tues, Mar 17
00: 040-060/ 5-9
06: 040-060/ 5-10
12: 050-070/ 6-10, nr 0n/62e ñ if you can be a little to the E, that would
be better
18: 060-080/ 6-10
Wed, Mar 18
00: 060-080/ 6-11
06: 060-080/ 8-12
12: 060-080/ 7-12, nr 3n/61 10e – stay to the E as much as you
18: 060-080/ 8-12
Thu, Mar 19
00: 060-080/ 9-13
06: 060-080/10-14
12: 060-080/10-15, nr 7n/60 10e
18: 060-080/ 9-14
Fri, Mar 20
00: 050-070/ 9-15
06: 060-080/10-15
12: 060-080/10-15, nr 11n/60e
18: 060-080/ 8-13
Sat, Mar 21
00: 040-070/ 5-9
12: 080-100/ 5-10, nr 14n/60e
A southerly swell up to 3- 4 ft for the next few days
Best regards, George Caras
—
PLEASE NOTE: AS OF JANUARY 1, 2008, OUR NEW EMAIL ADDRESS IS :
info@commandersweather.com
Commanders Weather Corp.
Tel: 603-882-6789
A selection of pictures from today: