Lati's Atlantic Crossing - Day 24 - nearly there!
15 July 2012 | 38 31.13'N:31 27.82'W, North Atlantic Ocean
From the Caribbean to the Azores, then the Mediterranean
SHIPS IN THE NIGHT
Sunday 15th July - Day 24 6.00 AM Caribbean time 10.00am UTC Position: 38 31.13�'N 31 27.82�'W
Lati's current speed: 6 knots
course: 100 degrees true
Nautical miles to go to the Azores: 133 (YIPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!)
Nautical miles sailed since the Virgin Islands: 2554 (a bloody long way! Almost double in km) Nautical miles sailed in last 24 hours: 118
Oh What a beautiful morning, Oh what a beautiful day! Upon waking this morning I sat upon our cockpit sipping hot Puerto Rican percolated coffee watching the same type of birds (shearwaters) gliding diving and sitting on the sea as they have done for the last couple of thousand miles. The clouds are whispy lengths of stretched cotton wool covering a Lati blue sky. Knowing the island of Flores was only 40 miles away on our portside I peered and squinted but could only imagine her pretty shores. We are bound for the island of Faial �- Ilha do Faial within the Grupo Central of the Arquipelago dos Acores, the Portuguese name for the Azores. With only 134 miles to go dare we hope to be in the pub for lunch tomorrow!
What a long long sea voyage this has turned out to be. At one stage, south of Bermuda, we didn�'t think we would make it. Not wanting to cause panic among our family and friends, I played down our genuine anxiety. When there was very little wind and we were surrounded by crazy unpredictable weather 700 miles from anywhere, we really had doubts whether Lati would make the Azores. With tropical storms threatening Bermuda, our other option we really were wondering what to do. With only enough fuel for 250 miles, we wanted to save this for emergencies or the end of the passage. Calculating how much water we had, we knew we had enough if careful for at least 35 days. So we soldiered on.
Last night we were surrounded by ships in the middle of the night. First BF Ipanema who did not respond to 3 calls from our VHF passed our bow within 1.6 miles. This is close. I could hear and smell the engines as it thundered by. A couple of hours later another one Western Cruiser was about to also cross our bow. I was on watch so had to wake the captain. He noticed another one Pelesi was coming towards us from the other way. Watching their tracks on the AIS, it looked like we would be ok. But then Pelesi came awfully close and Bill concentrating on sailing out of the way did not think talking on the radio at that moment would be helpful. It looked like the 2 ships were avoiding each other and we hoped they knew we were there too. Other ships have acknowledged us on the radar. The rest of the night was uneventful.
I have nothing but admiration for sailing boats, much less sophisticated than Lati who have crossed this ocean. And Lati has certainly proved her pedigree which Bill has admired for many years this style of boat. So tomorrow we will drink to Lati �- a fine little ship, rescued from her terrible neglected state when we arrived in the Virgin Islands, 4 months ago.