04/04/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 08 45.53S 124 48.71W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 18
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
Day 18 Distance to go, 843 miles.
Log reading now at noon 14041
Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 111 miles, through the water 124 miles.
Noon to Noon report on the 4th April 12
We had a close encounter with a very large Tuna Fishing vessel around 21.30 last night.
We had been sailing all day with the cruising shoot up, and as the night was look good for a change, we decided to kept it up as night approached, with the intention of keeping it up as long as possible.
At about 21.30 last night I could see the Tuna Fishing vessel off in the distance. Our tracks were starting to approach each other so I tried radioing the vessel, but got no reply at all. I then started shining my very powerful flood light at it, followed by more radio calls, still not reply. It became very obvious that they either where not maintaining any sort of watch for any vessels nearby, or they just did not care. As a result we had to take down the cruising shoot to enable us to manoeuvre out of the way.
So to any sailors in any ocean, beware of fishing vessels they do not keep a watch system going at all. This is now the fourth time one of our group has had a very similar experience. It makes you think and keep your own watch system going regardless of how long it has been since you last saw another vessel.
The sea state is now moderate with a swell running of about 3.00 m.
Wildlife report
Flying fish and some sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
A TUNA FISHING VESSEL .
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, due to the weather, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is 95 miles ahead of us.
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 488 miles behind us. Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now 429 miles behind us.
Next report on the 5th April.
03/04/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 08 33.35S 122 57.54W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 17
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
Day 17 Distance to go, 954 miles Log reading now at noon 13917 Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 111 miles, through the water 121 miles.
Noon to Noon report on the 3rd April 12
Well we had a very interesting 8 hours during the evening / early hours of these last 24 hours. When we sail, sometimes we use the autopilot to steer directly down the rhumb line, this being the shorts route to our destination or waypoint.
This can only be done if the wind angle is constant. As often happens, the wind direction (angle) is changing all the time, especially near these line squalls. So on occasions like this, we use the autopilot function which allows us to sail the boat to a set angle to the wind. This we were doing last night.
Our rhumb line course is 253 degrees magnetic to Hiva Oa. As we could see the line squall approaching, we switched to wind steering mode and set the wind angle at 140 degrees to port, this initially kept us on our 253 course. However, as the squall came through, the direction changed from a course of 253, and ended up at 168 degrees. So we had a wind shift of 85 degrees. As you can see the wind shift can be dramatic and a major problem if you are not ready for it.
We had to change tack on to starboard to start heading in the general direction we needed to go. We changed tack at least a further three times during this storm, oh the joys of sailing. The sea state is now moderate to rough with a swell running of about 3.00 m. Wildlife report
Flying fish and some sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
We had a cargo vessel cross our bows last evening during the line squall as described above. He must have wondered what we were doing changing course so often.
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, due to the weather, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is 78 miles ahead of us.
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 405 miles behind us.
Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now ? miles behind us. ( no position report)
Next report on the 4th April.
02/04/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 08 13.62S 121 06.40W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 16
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
Day 16 Distance to go, 1065 miles. Log reading now at noon 13796
Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 129 miles, through the water 141 miles.
Noon to Noon report on the 2nd April 12
We have managed to sail a full 24 hours, and the wind has been more consistent over the last 24 hours, however we have had lots of line squalls go through over the last 12 hours. We have had lots of rain, preceded by the wind increasing by about 10 to 15 knots to 35 to 35 knots, and with a direction change of about 50 to 60 degrees. We are now travelling at 5 to 6 knots.
The sea state is now moderate to rough with a swell running of about 3.00 m.
Wildlife report
Still only a few flying fish and sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
None today
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, due to the weather, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is 64 miles ahead of us.
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 412 miles behind us.
Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now 440 miles behind us.
Next report on the 2rd April.
01/04/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 07 57.46S 118 58.02W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 15
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
Day 15 Distance to go, 1194 miles. Log reading now at noon 13655
Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 134 miles, through the water 134 miles.
Noon to Noon report on the 1st April 12
We have managed to sail a full 24 hours, and the wind has been more consistent over the last 24 hours. We are now travelling at 5 to 6 knots.
The sea state is now moderate.
Wildlife report
Only a few flying fish and sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
None today
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is South of us but now about 24 miles ahead of us.
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 413 miles behind us.
Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now ? miles (no position report today) miles behind us. Cordelia an American boat we met on Saturday night before we left, has now left the net as their reception and transition is so poor that they cannot hear anybody any more. Next report on the 2nd April.
31/03/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 07 37.82S 116 44.93W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 14
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
PLEASE NOTE WE HAVE PUT THE SHIPS CLOCKS BACK BY 2 HOURS TODAY THE 31ST MARCH 2012
This is to take some account of the distance we have travelled West. So now we are using UTC -8 hours as our local ships time until we reach the Marquesas Islands. Therefore the noon to noon reports for today only, includes an extra 2 hours in the time taken to cover the distance shown below.
Day 14 Distance to go, 1327 miles.
Log reading now at noon 13361
Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 153 miles, through the water 153 miles.
Noon to Noon report on the 31st March 12
We have managed to sail a full 24 hours, and the wind has been more consistent over the last 24 hours. We are now travelling at 6 to 7.5 knots. The sea state is now moderate.
Birthday report!!!
It is Rhu's birthday today she and she is ? years old. Presents and cards arrived. It just shows the dedication the postal service has and what a wet trip that postman must have had to deliver these presents and cards in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Everybody on the SSB radio net wished Rhu a happy birthday, and she even had a birthday song from the crew of Karacool.
Wildlife report
Only a few flying fish and sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
None today
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is South of us but now about 10 miles ahead of us.
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 421 miles behind us.
Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now 446 miles behind us.
Cordelia an American boat we met on Saturday night before we left, has just joined the radio net. They also left on Sunday. There position is now ? miles ahead of us. (no position report today)
Next report on the 1st April.
30/03/2012, Passage To The Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands
Position 07 17.736S 114 12.766W
Passage To Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands Day 13
We left Puerto Ayora Galapagos Island heading for Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands at 08.00 am local time UTC (GMT) - 6 hours on Sunday the 18 Mach 2012.
Day 13 Distance to go, 1480 miles Log reading now at noon 13361
Distance travelled noon to noon over the ground was 107 miles, through the water 98 miles.
WE HAVE NOW DONE HALF THE DISTANCE
Noon to Noon report on the 30th March 12
We have managed to sail a full 24 hours again, but with very variable winds and weather. The day started off OK with the cruising shoot up until early evening. The wind was still only between 6 and 10 knots, but this gave us 2 to 5 knots of boat speed.
Just before sunset, some very dark clouds started to appear over the horizon, and heading in our direction. This was the first indication of a set of rain line squalls. As a precaution, we took down the cruising shoot not wanting to be caught in a wind shift with it up. As it turned out his was a very wise decision, because as the first squall arrived, the wind increased to 20 to 25 knots and changed direction by about 90 to 120 degrees. However once all the squalls had passed by, the wind again dropped and our boat speed reduce yet again.
As dawn passed, and no further signs of any squalls, we raised it yet again, and are now travelling at 6 to 7.5 knots.
The sea state is now moderate. Wildlife report
Still only a few flying fish and sea birds, but not much else. Shipping report
None today
Fishing report
I have had another day off fishing, so STILL No fish yet!!!
Fleet Positions
Karacool set off with us, and her position is South of us by about ? miles (no position report today)
Camelot set off on Tuesday and is now 422 miles behind us.
Marita 3 set off on Tuesday and is now 430 miles behind us.
Cordelia an American boat we met on Saturday night before we left, has just joined the radio net. They also left on Sunday. There position is now ? miles ahead of us. (no position report today)
Next report on the 31st.
