9th January 2010 7 deg 28 N 92 deg 38 E When I was at primary school I imagined that in 2010 we would be living some space age science fiction type of life. Zapping around in flying space craft just like the Jetsons. I certainly didnt think that I would be sailing across the Indian Ocean just as thousands of craft over the years have done before us. To be truthful we are not actually sailing at the moment there is no wind so we are motoring. Thank goodness we don't have to solely rely on sail power as the trading dhows from Africa and India did as they traded spices around the rim of the Indian Ocean. We may not be jet propelled like the Jetson Family but we do have a lot of technology to help us along the way that had not been invented when we thought black and white TV was the best thing since sliced bread, that is if our parents let us watch it! The other thing is it's great to be here at the start of 2010 as way back when we all thought the world would probably have ended before we got here. This morning I leaned over our bow and watched dolphin water ballet. A dolphin welcome to the Bay of Bengal, such a welcome is always a good omen. They need no fancy computer technology to find us and to swim under, in front of and beside our bow without crashing into each other or Tuatara. As they swam past they turned slightly and to look up at the boat maybe even at me with my camera. Perhaps they wanted their best side photographed. Whenever dolphins come to surf along our bow wave they don't just go straight to the bow, one or two make sure they swim along side and get our attention first, a splash, a loud breath grabs our attention then off to the bow. I swear I can see the smiles on their faces. Today there was quite a group but after about 10 minutes or so most had gone on their way leaving two lagging behind to enjoy the bow wave by themselves until they too disappeared into the deep blue.

We came through the Sombrero Channel in the early hours of this morning hoping for wind when got past the Nicobar Islands but no such luck, we are still motoring and the forecast is for light winds. Yachts that left a few days before us have been enjoying reasonable sailing but those near us are suffering with the lack of wind as we are. Luckily Tuatara has ample diesel tanks. Later today we are going to try and rendezvous with a small Catamaran with outboard motors and give him our petrol, only 25 litres but he is grateful for that, still another few days of this before we get to Galle. At the moment I think Wolfgang would like some of that Space age rocket fuel for his Cat.