After
a few very pleasant days anchored near Rio Cacique it was time to
move on.
Thursday
February 12, at 1105, Sadiqi departed Rio Cacique, Las Perlas,
Panama.
The
wind was forecast to build during the day. It was around 10 to 12
knots from the NE as Sadiqi motored southwards after Fagel Bla.
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 12
Wind
10 to 12 knots NE
Lat:
08 14.22 N Lon: 078 53.61 W
COG:
217 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1515.4 hours
4
miles since leaving Rio Cacique.
1230
Winds 8 to 10 kts. NE.
I
raised Big Bertha the asymmetrical spinnaker.
Bearing:
217 deg M, SOG: 5 kts.
 |
| Sailing wing on wing with Big Bertha |
1630
Winds 15 to 18 kts (True) NE.
Boisterous
seas – I dropped Big Bertha.
Overnight
the winds were 20 to 25 kts NNE.
On
the dark moonless night I heard the distinctive ploop and blow of
dolphins. I went up on deck to see the sea light up with the
phosphorescence of 20 or so dolphins streaking through the water
around Sadiqi. It was an amazing sight. They seemed to play in the
bow wave, as they do. I presumed that Sadiqi's hull must glow with
the phosphorescence for them to see it.
Sadiqi
rolled about with reefed mainsail.
Bearing:
217 deg M, SOG: 5 to 7 kts in a 1 to 1.5 knot southerly current.
13-02-15
Friday.
0900
Pan Pacific Net report on 8143.0 Mhz
Gave
position of Lat: 06 31 N Lon: 079 59 W
Wind
20 to 25 kts North
Current
1 to 2 kts South.
Rolling
along at 5 to 7 kts SOG.
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 13
Wind
20 to 28 knots NNE
Lat:
06 14.12 N Lon: 080 12.84 W
COG:
215 deg M, SOG: 7.5 knots
Engine:
1515.8 hours
143
miles since noon the previous day
Partially
furled mainsail and poled out partially furled jib.
This
sail configuration gave Smithy, the WindPilot, the easiest control,
as there was little if any weather helm as Sadiqi surfed down some of
the bigger waves at up to 10 knots. Fast down wind sailing.
 |
| Not much sail up |
14-02-15
Saturday.
Sunrise.
Winds 12 to 15 knots NE.
The
skipper had a good nights sleep.
Overcast
skies – in the ITCZ.
0730
Spotted Isla Malpelo on the horizon.
0900
Pan Pacific Net report on 8143.0 Mhz
Position
of Lat: 04 10 N Lon: 081 34 W
11
miles north of Isla Malpelo.
Wind
12 to 15 kts North East – Overcast skies.
Current
0.5 to 1 kts SSW.
Rolling
along at 5 to 6 kts SOG.
Sea
temperature 25.5 degrees C
1100
Rounded the rocky islands of Isla Malpelo.
Winds
13 to 15 kts NE
Sailing
with reefed main and jib.
Bearing
167 deg M. SOG 5 kts.
 |
| Isla Malpelo |
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 14
Wind
10 to 12 knots NNE
Lat:
03 53.55 N Lon: 081 37.20 W
COG:
170 deg M, SOG: 5.0 knots
Engine:
1517.2 hours
164
miles since noon the previous day
1800
Winds 5 to8 kts NE. Current minimal.
Drifting
along with sails banging and slatting.
1930
Started the engine to make progress southwards.
15-02-15
Sunday.
The
engine was ticking over most of the night at 1500 RPM.
Batteries
fully charged. The New Balmar Alternator and Regulator working well.
I reduced the Belt Load on the alternator by 10%.
0300
Winds 6 to 10 kts N.
Turned
off the engine.
Winds
steadily increased before dawn.
0730
Winds 25 to 30 kts N.
Reduced
sail to reefed main only.
0900
Pan Pacific Net report on 8143.0 Mhz
Position
of Lat: 02 30 N Lon: 081 17 W
Wind
20 to 25 kts North – Overcast skies.
Pushing
against 0.5 to 1 kts current.
Rolling
along at 4 to 5 kts SOG.
Sea
temperature 25.0 degrees C
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 15
Wind
18 to 20 knots N
Lat:
02 14.85 N Lon: 081 18.13 W
COG:
175 deg M, SOG: 5.0 knots
Engine:
1525.4 hours
100
miles since noon the previous day
Nearing
the equator the winds were more fickle. By late after noon and within
one degree of the equator the winds were less than 10 knots from the
north east. The sails were starting to bang about again. There was a
1 knot south westerly setting current that pushed Sadiqi in that
direction. The winds were forecast to get lighter and the influence
of the north setting Humbolt and Peru currents more apparent.
0900
Pan Pacific Net report on 8143.0 Mhz
Position
of Lat: 00 58 N Lon: 081 04 W
100
miles NW of Bahia Caraquez
Wind
10 kts SSW – Overcast skies.
Pushing
against 0.5 to 1 kts current.
Rolling
along at 2 to 3 kts SOG.
Sea
temperature 26.0 degrees C
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 16
Wind
10 to 12 knots SW
Lat:
00 50.62 N Lon: 081 01.49 W
COG:
160 deg M, SOG: 4.0 knots
Engine:
1535.4 hours
85
miles since noon the previous day
It
was a beautiful sail by mid afternoon with 10 to 12 knot winds from
the south west. The Volvo was given a rest. Sadiqi was making 4 to
4.5 knots in flattish waters, pushing against a half knot current.
Beer
o clock was partaken with libations to absent family, friends and
alas absent fish.
A
significant amount of diesel was being used with some reluctance.
Fortunately, the Volvo did not complaining, other than making the
cabin damn hot and noisy. The reason for the use of the good old donk
is time of arrival in Bahia Caraquez. The anchorage is up a river and
there is a sand bar which has to be crossed. A wise mariner would
only consider crossing this around high tide – preferably slack
tide. High tide was due at 1445 on Tuesday, February 15. Sadiqi
needed to be at what is called the “Waiting Room” at least an
hour before high tide to wait for Pedro the local Pilot to guide her
through the shallows.
17-02-15
Tuesday.
0124
Sadiqi crossed the Equator. Given the hour of the night I figured
Neptune would forgive the lack of shenanigans. This was the fourth
time that Sadiqi has crossed the Equator in as many years.
0900
Pan Pacific Net report on 8143.0 Mhz
Position
of Lat: 00 18 S Lon: 080 34 W
18
miles NW of Bahia Caraquez
Wind
10 kts SW.
Pushing
against 0.5 to 1 kts current.
Rolling
along motor sailing at 2 to 3 kts SOG.
Sea
temperature 26.0 degrees C
A
small pod of large speckled dolphins played in Sadiqi's bow wave
before moving on.
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - February 17
Wind
6 to 8 knots W
Lat:
00 30.61 N Lon: 080 29.75 W
COG:
150 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1543.6 hours
87
miles since noon the previous day
 |
| Bahia Caraquez |
I
contacted Puerto Amistad on VHF 69 to confirm my arrival time at the
“Waiting Room” (Lat: 00 35.80S. Lon: 080 26.83W). Pedro the local
pilot was to come on baord and guide me through the shallows and over
the sand bars into the Rio Chone. The bar crossing was uneventful
with minimum depth of just over one metre under Sadiqi's keel. The
tidal range was a little over 3 metres.
1505
I dropped anchor at Puerto Amistad Yacht Club, Bahia Caraquez,
Ecuador.
Engine:
1547.0 Hours. (some 33 hours of engine run time).
