Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Over 5000 Miles Sailed 225 to go!

Looks like we are close to Fremantle finally! While 225 miles is almost the distance between Mumabi & Goa, after 5000 miles it does seem close! The wind continues to play its games so still not sure about the time it will take but two more days should be a fair guess. If the wind holds tonight this will be the last quite night before reaching as by tomorrow we should start encountering some traffic and would mean keeping a watch to avoid collision. Didn't write anything for the last two days. While the main reason was pure laziness, there was also little happening with light and shifty winds, an overcast sky and a feeling of heading nowhere! Kept myself entertained watching old Holywood moves so thoughtfully stocked by my crew Lt Cdr Abhilash Tomy. While I am enjoying my vacation on the boat the poor chap is running around from pillar to post in Delhi getting his deputation arranged for joining me in Fremantle as the support crew. The plan was for him to be present before we arrived so that things could be tied up better, but looks like we will beat him to it! The boat builder, Ratnakar is leaving aside his business and planning to drop by to get the boat ready for the next leg, which is when me and Mhadei will have our first brush with the Roaring Forties. So far it has been smooth sailing but things will get serious once we enter the Southern Ocean.         


     As I write, the Sun would be crossing the Equator and entering the Southern Hemisphere. It is the Autumnal Equinox today, the beginning of summer in this part of the world. One of the considerations for starting in Aug from Mumbai was to get maximum summer time in the Southern Hemisphere and we seem to have achieved it, just a day or two late!

     Tried clicking snaps of my feathred companions, without much luck! Difficult to capture their grace on a camera. Looks like there is no substitute but being at sea to really admire them! When I started writing and uploading the photos, I was keeping an eye open at the shifty and light wind which was barely able to hold the boom from thrashing and making us sail almost 40 degrees away from Fremantle. By the time I finished writing the wind had crossed 25 kts, making me run and put a reef in the main and I am still wondering if I should have put another reef! Looks like it will not be as quite a night as I thought, not complaining though as the wind is making us head straight for our destination at a healthy 8 kts!





12 comments:

Abhilash Tomy said...

First of all congrats on making this far. Dont worry, we will get there soon.

Just wondering if you have catered for replacement of shoes rendered worn out due to pre deputation formalities. Let me know!

All the best


----Abhilash

Nishant Philip said...

Wow! That is some feat you're attempting. Congratulations on making it so far. The fact that you intend to circumnavigate the globe is pretty amazing! I see that you spend a lot of your time in photography, blogging and watching movies...this might sound like a silly question...but what else do you do out at sea?

pracs said...

No words for you, our first destinations is gonna be conquered soon, am so happy. just relax and chill for sometime. in spite of all the hurdles you will be reaching almost b4 the estimated time, wow that's really remarkable.

Unknown said...

Great going! Hats off to you and your entire team especially Ratnakar.

Sugandha said...

Did your feathered friend leave or is it laying eggs and hatching them while you are doing whatever you have to do to keep the boat floating?
Hopefully you'll get good homecooked food in Freemantle!
Sugandha

just mee2 said...

WOW..great going ya... looking forward to your "LAND AHOY" blog...

just mee2 said...

by the way..cloudburst is me... meetu... lol... :P

Unknown said...

Yeah congrats.!!

Good at least you will have someone for company other than feathered visitors.

What say ??

Mugdhaa said...

Congrats on your "LAND-ING" ! but that also means that we dont get to read your blogs for sometime...does it ?

Its been quite a ritual to login to find out how and where and what you have been up to :)

Hope you have a great time in Fremantle.

zenobia said...

So, happy for you Dilip,the sailor.
Pics are good. Ive put one on my desktop.

Cheers :)

Unknown said...

Hey dilip,
you must be in freemantle by now. Great going!hope you are enjoying shore leave. All of us are busy following your exploits which are pretty amazing to say the least. have a good re-cup and all the best for leg two!
vikram

claytonia vices said...

Beautiful bird pics. I love the first one with the bird and the sea. Is it an albatross?