Saturday
April 11,
0800 Sadiqi departed Puerto
Amistad, Bahia Caraquez (legally) (day 0)
Engine:
1561.8 hours
Crossing
the Rio Chone sand bar without the pilot was uneventful. I had
retained my tracks from previous entry and exits. There was very
little wind making for glassy, flat seas.
 |
| Depart Bahia Caraquez |
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - April 11
Wind
9 knots NW
Lat:
00 44.01 S, Lon: 080 38.28 W
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 4.0 knots
Engine:
1566.4 hours
16
miles since departing Bahia Caraquez.
1700
- beer o clock - motor sailing southwards to find wind.
12-04-15
Sunday (day 1)
0330
Wind +10 knots (T) S
Setup
Smithy the windpilot. With sails filled it was a relief to turn off
the engine.
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 3.0 knots
Pushing
against the Peru/Humbolt current.
0730
Wind less the 10 knots SE (T)
Started
engine to push south west against the current.
 |
| OSCAR Current GRIB File - between Galapagos and Ecuador |
Noon
1200 UTC -5 - April 17
Wind
5 - 8 knots (T) SSW
Lat:
01 37.67 S, Lon: 081 43.42 W
COG:
225 deg M, SOG: 3.5 knots
Engine:
1587.0 hours
84
miles since noon the previous day.
Motor
sailing.
1700
- beer o clock (UTC -5).
Changed
the time zone to UTC -6 hours.
1700
- Beer o clock (UTC -6 :)
This
enables the skipper to have two beer o clocks in one day. The
alternative was to wait 25 hours until the next beer o clock. It's
only taken two oceans for the skipper to finally figure that one out.
(Time management:).
I
poured 20 litres of diesel from a jerry can into the main fuel tank.
Engine:
1592.1 hours.
 |
| Pacific Sunset |
2200
wind 10 knots SSW
Crossed
latitude 02 degrees south.
2215
Wind 10 to 12 knots SSW
Turned
off the engine. The silence to be sailing was wonderful.
COG:250
deg M, SOG: 3.5 knots.
13-04-15
Monday (day 2)
0600
Winds 15 knots S
COG:
254 deg M, SOG: 6 knots
Good
sailing overnight. Some fishing boats about.
0800
Logged onto Pan Pacific net.
I
had not been able to use the SSB radio with the engine running due to
noise and interference.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 13
Wind
12 - 15 knots (T) SE
Lat:
02 30.34 S, Lon: 083 08.66 W
COG:
236 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1598.4 hours
100.2
miles since noon the previous day (25 hours).
Great
sailing in a cross swell.
14-04-15
Tuesday (day 3)
0600
Wind 12 - 15 knots (T) SE
Great
sailing overnight. The skipper had a very good nights sleep with less
fishing boats to worry about.
0800
Wind 15 kmots SE
Logged
onto Pan Pacific net
Lat:
02 51.14 S, Lon 084 25.44 W
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 14
Wind
10 - 12 knots ESE
Lat:
02 55.40 S, Lon: 084 44.70 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1599.5 hours
99
miles since noon the previous day.
Nice
sailing with the wind on the beam.
1430
Wind 5 - 8 knots SE
Sails
slatting and banging in a knarly seas. I dropped the sails, went for
a swim and cleaned some of the crud off the bottom of Sadiqi.
Water
leaking past the prop shaft seal (stern gland).
1530
Wind 8 - 10 knots SE
Seas
more settled - sailing again.
15-04-15
Wednesday (day 4)
A
slow roly sail overnight. Wind at times 7 knots from the NE.
0800
Logged on to Pan Pacific Net
Lat:
03 21 S, Lon: 085 44 W
COG:
230 deg M, SOG: 3.5 knots
Wind
10 knots ESE
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 15
Wind
10 - 12 knots (T) ESE
Lat:
03 33.62 S, Lon: 085 53.54 W
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Engine:
1599.5 hours
78
miles since noon the previous day.
1430
Winds dropped to less than 5 knots. Shortly afterward swung 180
degrees from the NW at 10 knots. I put Sadiqi onto a starboard tack.
There were several dark storm cells further to the south.
1630
The winds dropped again the sails banging and slatting.
Started
the engine.
1900
very little wind from anywhere. I stopped the engine, dropped the
sails and Sadiqi drifted with the current, which appeared to be
pushing south. The skipper went to sleep. Several times I heard
dolphins around the boat during the night. The waning moon rose early
in the morning making for dark star filled nights.
16-04-15
Thursday (day 5)
Just
after midnight I woke to the sound of heavy rain. The wind was 6 to 8
knots from the south.
I
raised the sails. There was a nasty sloppy sea which caused the sails
to bang and slat.
Sadiqi
was making about 1 knot headway southwards. It was a very long night.
0600
I woke to a grey wet day. I forgot how many times had I lowered and
raised the sails during the night when the wind picked up or eased
off.
1135
Winds less than 5 knots W.
I
started the engine and pushed further south trying to find the south
east trade winds.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 16
Wind
8 - 10 knots (T) SE
Lat:
04 11.64 S, Lon: 086 29.87 W
COG:
225 deg M, SOG: 4 knots
Engine:
1604.4 hours
52
miles since noon the previous day.
Motor
sailing to get to the trade winds.
1400
Winds 8 to 10 knots SE.
I
stopped the engine - sailing again.
2200
Wind 15 knots (T) SE
Romping
along at 6 knots on 240 deg M
Put
a reef in the mainsail.
A
nice contrast from the previous night.
17-04-15
Friday (day 6)
0600
Wind 15 knots SE
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots.
It
was a good fast sail overnight.
 |
| Sunrise Pacific |
0800
Logged onto Pan Pacific net.
Said
thanks and good bye as I was reaching the limit of the Net's range.
Wind
18 knots T SE
COG:
225 deg M, SOG: 4 knots
Lat:
04 50 S, Lon: 088 01 W
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 17
Wind
18 - 20 knots T SE
Lat:
04 49.55 S, Lon: 088 23.99 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 6 knots
Engine:
1607.6 hours
120
miles since noon the previous day.
Good
sailing in lumpy seas.
18-04-15
Saturday (day 7)
Two
squalls to 20 knots passed over early in the morning.
0340
Approximately 230 miles due south of the Galapagos Islands.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 18
Wind
12 - 15 knots T SE
Lat:
05 00.64 S Lon: 090 39.04 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Engine:
1607.6 hours
135
miles since noon the previous day.
Happily
rolling along.
19-04-15
Sunday (day 8)
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 19
Wind
10 - 12 knots T SE
Lat:
05 10.51 S, Lon: 092 59.00 W
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Engine:
1608.8 hours
140
miles since noon the previous day.
I
poured 20 litres of diesel from a jerry can filling the main fuel
tank.
Engine:
16908.8 hours.
In
the calmer conditions after the wind slop had died down I gave myself
and some laundry a good wash.
20-04-15
Monday (day 9)
A
few wind and rain squalls over took Sadiqi during the night.
First
light showed grey, damp skies.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 20
Wind
16 - 18 knots T NE
Lat:
05 44.77 S, Lon: 095 03.30 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1608.8 hours
128
miles since noon the previous day.
Miserable
Monday. Almost continuous dark clouds with drizzly rain past
overhead.
21-04-15
Tuesday (day 10)
Winds
steadily picked up through the moonless, starry night.
0600
Wind 24 – 28 knots T SE
Furled
the mainsail and sailed with the Yankee sail only.
There
was an unknown squeak and rattle coming from the head-sail furling
gear.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 21
Wind
18 - 22 knots (T) SE
Lat:
06 07.08 S, Lon: 097 24.55 W
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1609.9 hours
142
miles since noon the previous day.
Rolling
along under Yankee head-sail only.
22-04-15
Wednesday (day 11)
A
roly night under head-sail only.
0600
Wind 14 - 16 knots (T) ENE
I
raised the mail, leaving the equivalent of one reef and poled out the
jib.
COG:
170 deg M, SOG: 6 knots
Made
and baked bread. The Ecuadorian Bimbo bread had finally succumbed to
mould.
Noon
1200 UTC -6 - April 22
Wind
15 knots (T) ESE
Lat:
06 15.26 S, Lon: 099 34.45 W
COG:
280 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1609.9 hours
129
miles since noon the previous day.
The
swamp, formerly known as the fore cabin smelt damp. The bears were
complaining. I had noticed water coming in when heading to windward
in rough seas. The new Goiot Traditional hatch leaks! The rubber seal
is so stiff that it can not be compressed enough to make a complete
seal with the plastic locking handles. I managed to tie a line to
seal the hatch better. Goiot hatches are now on Sadiqi's shit list!
1700
- Beer o clock UTC -6
Change
time zone to UTC -7 hours
1700
Beer o clock UTC -7 :)
Wind
8 to 10 knots T ESE
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
23-04-15
Thursday (day 12)
0600
– Looked to be a nice sunny day.
Wind
10 – 12 knots T ESE
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
I
used Chuck on Jacarandas' idea of dragging a line from the bow to
discourage goose neck barnacles on the hull. I improvised further and
dragged the aft end of the line up the hull, moving forward. The aft
section of Smithy, the Windpilot's, rudder had a few goose neck
barnacles attaching themselves.
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
12 -15 knots (T) SE
Lat:
06 14.66 S, Lon: 101 40.20 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 5.0 knots
Engine:
1609.9 hours
125
miles since noon the previous day.
Rolling
along. Fish are not being particularly cooperative. This is despite
actually dragging a hook behind the boat and performing suitable
libations at Beer o clock.
24-04-15
Friday (day 13)
0600
Wind 16 - 18 knots (T) ESE
GOG:
250 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
10 -14 knots (T) ESE
Lat:
06 21.55 S, Lon: 103 46.74 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1609.9 hours
126
miles since noon the previous day.
25-04-15
Saturday (day 14)
0600
Wind 14 - 16 knots T ESE
GOG:
240 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
0930
Wind swinging more to the east.
Poled
out the jib - running dead downwind.
GOG:
270 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
8 -10 knots (T) ENE
Lat:
06 44.76 S, Lon: 106 04.03 W
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1609.9 hours
138
miles since noon the previous day.
26-04-15
Sunday (day 15)
0600
Wind 14 - 16 knots T ESE
COG:
275 deg M, SOG: 6.5 knots
Sailing
overnight with poled out jib.
Made
and baked bread while surfing 2 metre swell at up to 9 knots.
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
12 -16 knots T ESE
Lat:
06 15.67 S, Lon: 108 26.65 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 6.0 knots
Engine:
1610.4 hours
144.5
miles since noon the previous day.
Late
afternoon the wind swung further to the SE. I removed the pole and
had the wind just aft the beam. Sadiqi appeared to be travelling in
favourable current. I had checked the OSCAR current files and the
west setting current seemed to be near 6 degrees latitude.
1700
Beer o clock.
Wind
12 to 14 knots T SE
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Roughly
half way to the destination - 1,800 miles to go.
27-04-15
Monday (day 16)
0115
Winds 25 - 30 knots T SE
Tipped
out of the bunk with Sadiqi heeling and sails flapping.
Took
a slab out of the mainsail making for two reefs.
0600
Wind 16 - 18 knots T SE
COG:
265 deg M, COG: 5.5 knots
Grey
skies.
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
18 - 20 knots T SE
Lat:
06 07.35 S, Lon: 110 51.54 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 6.0 knots
Engine:
1610.4 hours
144
miles since noon the previous day.
A
grey Monday in favourable current.
The
seas became choppy and very uncomfortable over night.
28-04-15
Tuesday (day 17)
0130
Wind 12 - 15 knots SE
Unfurled
the main to leave the equivalent of a single reef.
0600
Wind 12 - 14 Knots SE
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Noon
1200 UTC -7
Wind
14 -16 knots (T) SE
Lat:
06 04.22 S, Lon: 113 12.97 W
COG:
255 deg M, SOG: 6.0 knots
Engine:
1611.0 hours
141
miles since noon the previous day.
A
grey Monday in favourable current.
1700
- Beer o clock UTC -7
Change
time zone to UTC -8 hours
1700
Beer o clock UTC -8 :)
Wind
12 to 15 knots T SE
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
It
helps to have a good Time zone map of the world to figure the time
zone changes.
The
method I use: divide 360 degrees by 24 hours, or better still, divide
180 degrees by 12 hours, as there are 180 degrees west and east
either side of meridian zero (GMT/UTC). From meridian zero add seven
and half degrees, going west and east, then add fifteen degrees to
give each time zone boundary. This is a general rule of thumb as time
zones are bent to suit territorial boundaries. Sailing so close the
the equator I don't worry about daylight saving changes.
29-04-15
Wednesday (day 18)
0600
Wind 12 - 15 knots T ESE
COG:
265 deg M, SOG 5.5 knots
Poled
out jib again as wind starting to swing to the east.
Beautiful
sunny morning.
0930
Was called up on VHF by sailing vessel “Ednabel” with Roger and
Sasha on board from Fremantle. They had a rip in the mail and were
sailing on jib alone. I was told that several yachts had had problems
with shrouds parting and chain plates breaking in the rough seas.
These are the important wires and components that hold up the mast.
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
12 -15 knots (T) East
Lat:
06 02.49 S, Lon: 115 38.57 W
COG:
275 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1611.0 hours
144.8
miles since noon the previous day (25 hours).
I
spotted “Ednabel” 2 miles ahead.
30-04-15
Thursday (day 19)
0600
Wind 12 - 15 knots T E
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 6 knots.
A
very large dolphin played in the bow wave for a time early in the
morning.
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
12 -16 knots T ESE
Lat:
05 42.06 S, Lon: 118 04.58 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 6.5 knots
Engine:
1611.0 hours
147
miles since noon the previous day.
Rolling
along in a groove of ocean going in the same direction.
1600
The fishing reel screamed – finally a fish was hooked. Alas, the
fish escaped.
Way
too much excitement for one day.
01-05-15
Friday (day 20)
0600
Wind 12 - 15 knots T ESE
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 6.5 knots
Cleaned
tenacious Goose neck barnacles off Smithy the WindPilot Rudder.
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
14 -18 knots T SE
Lat:
05 43.95 S, Lon: 120 33.54 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 6.5 knots
Engine:
1611.0 hours
148
miles since noon the previous day.
He
who hesitates looses the fish! While cooking bacon for my lunch of
bacon, mayonnaise and cheese sandwich the fishing reel, bolted to the
stern rail, screamed. I leapt into the cockpit and increased the
drag, on the Alvey winch, to slow the line spooling off the reel. I
could feel the heat from the reel. Once the screaming slowed and the
fish appeared to be being dragged behind the boat I began to reel it
in. The wind had increased by about 5 knots to compound things and
Sadiqi was rolling around at up to 9 knots. I furled the Jib to try
and slow the boat so I could reel in the fish. This took some doing.
I eventually caught a glimpse of a flash of silver. When I could see
fish fairly close to the stern I had to be careful that it did not
tangle with Smithy the Windpilot steering Sadiqi. I managed to gaff
the fish. My hesitation came when I was trying to figure how to bring
the 5 to 7 kilogram Tuna/Bonito into the cockpit without the cockpit
ending up looking like a slaughterhouse. Unfortunately, the fish
slipped off the gaff. That is my story anyway – the one that got
away. At least I know there are fish around. The rest of the
afternoon I sailed on mainsail alone as the winds had picked up to 22
knots SE.
02-05-15
Saturday (day 21)
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
12 -15 knots (T) SE
Lat:
05 58.54 S, Lon: 122 46.43 W
COG:
270 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1611.5 hours
133
miles since noon the previous day.
Scattered
showers about. Winds to 18 knots in squalls. I managed to capture
some rain off the mainsail. Less favourable current was becoming more
apparent.
03-05-15
Sunday (day 22)
0600
Wind 15 knots ESE
Full
moon with clear skies overnight.
Poled
out Jib and single reef in the mainsail - running downwind.
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Did
the laundry and gave myself a haircut - what little of it there is.
Used
the Jacaranda method of wiping the hull while under way.
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
16 -18 knots (T) E
Lat:
05 41.95 S, Lon: 125 01.01 W
COG:
265 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1611.5 hours
135
miles since noon the previous day.
Dropped
the pole on the jib and set course 245 deg M
COG:
245 deg M, SOG: 5,5 knots
04-05-15
Monday (day 23)
0025
Wind 26 knots ENE
Put
a second reef in the mainsail.
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Noon
1200 UTC -8
Wind
15 -18 knots T E
Lat:
06 20.48 S, Lon: 127 07.44 W
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1611.5 hours
131
miles since noon the previous day.
Made
and baked bread.
1700
- Beer o clock UTC -8
Change
time zone to UTC -9 hours
1700
Beer o clock UTC -9 :)
And
there's still another time zone to go.
05-05-15
Tuesday (day 24)
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
20 knots (T) E
Lat:
06 56.93 S, Lon: 129 16.60 W
COG:
243 deg M, SOG: 6 knots
Engine:
1611.5 hours
133
miles since noon the previous day (25 hours).
The
sea state on this passage has generally been uncomfortable with seas
and swell coming from all directions. Quite often a nasty set of
waves will conspire to tip me into the fridge as I reach in for
items, or attempt to throw me across the cabin as I move about.
06-05-15
Wednesday (day 25)
0035
The witching hour - half past midnight. The winds increased to around
28 knots from the east south east. I partially furled the head sail
and continued sailing with two good sized reefs in the main. Smithy
the Windpilot was happier steering on a broad reach in seas up to 3
metres.
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 6 knots.
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
18 - 22 knots (T) ESE
Lat:
07 30.30 S, Lon: 131 25.45 W
COG:
245 deg M, SOG: 5.5 knots
Engine:
1611.5 hours
132
miles since noon the previous day.
I
was surprised at how consistent the average speed over the ground
(SOG) had been – 5.5 to 6 knots.
07-05-15
Thursday (day 26)
0500
The wind swung to the east north east at 20 knots in the early
morning.
I
poled out the jib to make for a better more comfortable angle.
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
I
thought I would temp fate and leave the fishing lure dragging behind
the boat while making and baking bread. This seemed to work. While
waiting for the bread to rise the second time and reading a book by
Tess Gerritson the reel started to screech. Ms. Gerritson writes a
bloody good yarn - literally. I furled the poled out head-sail to
slow the boat and made ready to reel in the catch. I eventually
managed to bring the, I'd say close to 10 Kg, mackerel in to the
cockpit. It was a real shame there was no one else to share the fish
with. I hacked off a fillet and recycled the rest. It's good to know
there are fish out there. There just seems to be a lot of water
between them.
 |
| Finally a fish |
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
10 - 15 knots (T) ENE
Lat:
08 13.69 S, Lon: 133 20.57 W
COG:
245 deg M, SOG: 5 knots
Engine:
1612.0 hours
122
miles since noon the previous day.
08-05-15
Friday (day 27)
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
12 - 16 knots (T) ENE
Lat:
08 59.85 S, Lon: 135 12.90 W
COG:
240 deg M, SOG: 4.5 knots
Engine:
1612.0 hours
120
miles since noon the previous day.
09-05-15
Saturday (day 28)
1000
Wind 12 to 14 knots NE
Making
too much south. I jybed onto Starboard.
COG:
250 deg M, SOG: 4 knots
After
nearly a month on a port tack it seemed strange being on a different
tack. A lot of things down below protested noisily, with jars,
bottles, cutlery, tools etc. relocating themselves for the wild and
different heeling angle. I only stayed on the starboard tack for few
hours as it seemed more rough than the alternative.
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
10 - 12 knots (T) NE
Lat:
09 49.62 S, Lon: 136 58.30 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 4 knots
Engine:
1612.0 hours
118
miles since noon the previous day.
After
beer o clock each day I check for emails using sailmail on the High
Frequency, Single Side Band Radio with Pactor modem. The early
mornings and evenings usually have the best propagation to connect
with with the shore based stations. My intention had been to head for
Fatu Hiva, Marquesas, French Polynesia. However, Fatu Hiva is not an
official port of entry. I received and email from “Fairwinds”
advising that the authorities were fining boats that had not cleared
in to an official port of entry. I decided to skip the possible
bureaucratic BS and clear in at Hiva Oa a little further north of
Fatu Hiva. The difference was that I would probably arrive after
dark. Not something that I like doing. I chose to stand out to sea
and time my arrival at Hiva Oa early Monday morning. I jybed the
double reefed main and Sadiqi rolled, sometimes violently, slowly
northwards.
COG:
320 deg M, SOG: 2 knots
10-05-15
Sunday (day 29)
1030
It was some reluctance that I jybed Sadiqi back onto port and we
headed to port and civilisation.
Noon
1200 UTC -9
Wind
10 - 15 knots (T) ENE
Lat:
09 14.16 S, Lon: 137 55.64 W
COG:
260 deg M, SOG: 2 knots
Engine:
1612.0 hours
Approximately
70 miles since noon the previous day.
74
miles from Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas, French Polynesia
1700
- Beer o clock UTC -9
Change
time zone to UTC -9.5 hours
1700
Beer o clock UTC -9.5 :)
11-05-15
Monday (day 30)
0830
Sadiqi was called on VHF channel 16 by “Hiva Oa Signal Station”
and welcomed to French Polynesia. The signal station had picked up
Sadiqi's AIS signal.
0940
Arrived Atuona, Hiva Oa, Marquesas, French Polynesia
Engine:
1614.3 hours (Approximately 50 litres of diesel was used since
leaving Ecuador)
The
Tahauku anchorage was small with 16 other yachts anchored fore and
aft (Mediterranean style). I dropped my stern Danforth anchor and
gently motored forward, making sure the anchor line did not go near
the prop. I then dropped the forward Rocna anchor and pulled the
stern line until the lines were tight, then allowing for tidal
changes.
