Travelogues

Day 16 – Surfing Waves
16 Mar, 07 – 21.34    
20.4213N,25.2711W

Note: I take the GPS readings to calculate the 24 hr progress daily at 21.00 GMT. Hence, the 24 hr progress reported by the Argos satellite tracking beacon on the ORS website may vary slightly as it is measured from 12.00 noon. I prefer updating the ships log book at the end of the day so as not to interfere with rowing during the day.
A bit of rain last night at about 02.00 GMT. The days progress has been good, 43.1 nautical miles despite cross waves going SW. The waves are a bit higher today than yesterday, 4-5 meters (12-15 feet). Getting used to surfing down waves. Recorded my highest speed yet, of 6.8 knots.

The rudder lines are starting to chaff due to the hammering of the waves on the rudder. Got 2 massive waves break over the rear hatch and into the cabin while I was leaning out trying to examine the rudder. Impeccable timing as usual ! It soaked everything inside including the mattress and sleeping bag. The Toughbook laptop has survived despite receiving more than its fair share of sea water. The external satellite antenna is no longer working, so I am on the backup system.

If the bad weather takes the weekend off, it will give me a chance to dry out the cabin and some clothes. Till then, it looks like a very soggy Friday night ahead.

B

__________________________________________________________

Day 17 – Night rowing
17 Mar, 07 – 21.22    
20.2129N,26.0926W

24 hr progress: 44.51 Nautical Miles

Had a few good hours of rowing last night in solid darkness. Starting to prefer rowing at night as the temperature is a bit cooler than in the day and the starts are more interesting to navigate by than the sun in the day. I find that the body is much more alert to the sound of the wave and the direction in which its approaching. As the boat is just 1 foot above the water, it does not take much for a wave to break over the side, catching me off guard on more than one occasion. Makes rowing more interesting anyway.

Not too shabby on the mileage front today. 44.51 Miles. Highlight of the day was crossing into 26W.

To send a message on the satellite phone visit http://www.bhavik.com/crossatlantic/messages.asp
More rowing into the night...
B

___________________________________________________________

Day 18 – 4000 ft of Blue
18 Mar, 07 – 21.35    
20.0243N,26.4336W

24 hr progress: 37.6 Nautical Miles

So, my 18th day of isolation. Gradually starting to loose a sense of place and time as days merge into a big blue background. Maintaining the ships log daily helps maintain a degree of sanity and differentiate each day. I try to set a goal or point of focus each day. Either mileage, speed, crossing a parallel (N), crossing a meridian (W), fixing something on the boat,

Its been getting hotter with the progress to the South, so I took the Sunday afternoon off (not that it matters in the Atlantic!) and had my first swim around the boat. The view, was well just as how I imagined 4000 ft of water would look like over the Cape Verde Abyssal Plain.

Spotted some pilot swimming around the stern, as I swam back to check the rudder. It has been making a noise since last week and looks like one of the holding pins at the bottom has come undone due to the force of the waves on the stern. Fixing it is on my to do list for this week.

Had a very welcome rain shower in the evening, giving me a chance to wash of the salt from the afternoons swim. Sea has decided to turn nasty again and as I type this the radar alarm has gone off its head again. I am about 240 miles North of the Cape Verde Island, so I assume it is a ship on its way to the islands. No response on the VHF once again, so will be on the deck for the next few hours keeping watch.

B

To send a message on the satellite phone visit