We are in calm winds and relatively flat seas at just before 0400. The weather forecast got it right as it had said the wind would be at 2knots. We are just gliding along in the current still doing just under 2 knots heading southwest back toward the shipping lanes. We hope to cross them today so we can round the south tip of Sri Lanka and be on our way for the final section of our trip to the Maldives. The forecast is for more wind as the day progresses roping out at almost 7 knots but at least it is supposed to be from the northeast. I'll get back with you on that.
At 0730, we started up the engine and made plans for crossing the shipping lanes. The Sun wasn't even up yet but we could easily see the ships in the early morning glow. We headed south toward the closest ship planning to pass astern of him. We slowed our progress and eventually put Zephyr in neutral and coasted along. Once he was safely past us, we put it in gear and headed back south. There is a traffic lane out here for ships. Each about 5 miles wide and depending on which way you are going depends on what lane you go in. The first lane we entered was going the same way we were so it was easy. QwThen there is a 5 mile divider section and then the lane going the opposite direction. We entered it later in the morning. Now just because there are shipping lanes, well that doesn't mean the ships actually stay in them. We've seen boats 5 miles outside the lanes. By early afternoon, we were past the worst part only having to go side to side of one ship as he didn't seem interested in changing course to avoid us. We ended up about a mile apart passing peort side to port side.
We finally stopped the engine about mid afternoon as we felt we were far enough past the lanes for safety. Since we hadn't seen a ship in about an hour, off went the engines and with the main sail still up, we hoisted the spinnaker to take advantage of what winds there were. Just about all last night, we had no winds and they were so light through the morning, they didn't register on our wind gauge. Right now, it's at about 9 knots with us going about 5.5 slightly south of where we need to go but taking us farther away from any left over ships that might have wandered out of the lanes. This way, tonight, we will have less of a problem. The swell are about 5 to 6 feet as we approach the continental shelf off Sri Lanka. We have the night ahead of us.
At just after 1830, we doused the spinnaker and ran downwind with just the main out and the preventer(keeps the boom from moving) attached. The Sun is due to set soon and the winds are behind us pushing us along just fine on a course of 260 degrees. At this time, we expect to be on this course for probably the next several days. Still about 600 miles to go and we've already beenn out here over 11 days. It's a long slow passage.