After over three days of non stop gales, today was the clearest sky I saw since a long time. The sun was up and warm and it was great working on deck bare feet and without any woolens. Can't remember when I did that last, probably not since leaving Australia in November! The wind has stayed a steady 10 to 15 kts from WNW and with a comfortable Westerly swell Mhadei has been doing a NE course almost on her own. Its strange how the mind forgets the misery of the bad weather days and starts enjoying the good ones. There is a star studded night outside, as I write, with a gentle 12 kts breeze and a following current making us move at over 7 kts with hardly any bouncing around. I think we used to bounce around more while tied alongside at Port Stanley! A cold front is expected to pass us later tonight so the winds will pick up and it will be time to shorten sail. Till then enjoying the moment!
47 comments:
Commander Donde,
Now that’s a great report. The bad weather days just make you appreciate days like this so much more. Beautiful weather, gentle seas and a brisk wind is hard to beat. You certainly deserve more days like that, Dilip. I hope there’s much more to come. Take care.
From Seattle, WA, USA
SaltyDog
Thanks for the update!! Sounds almost perfect so relax and enjoy the 'smooth sailing' whilst it is happening. Stay safe and enjoy the tranquility!! MJ from Brisbane
Hi Dilip,
Enjoy the good weather, it must be great after the bad. Hope everything goes to plan and the weather stays good.
Keep safe
Joy
Ballarat
Australia
Hello Dilip,
Great to hear that you are getting a break in the weather. Best wishes to you and Mhadei.
Stay safe,
john
Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario, Canada
I'm glad to hear you're getting good weather. Your comment about needing to shorten sail late at night reminded me of how much work it must be sailing alone. I hope you're able to get a lot of sleep and enjoy the warmer temperatures while you're farther north.
Scott, Denver, Colorado, USA
02-11-10 @ 00:49
Hi Dilip,
It’s good to see that you’re finally getting some good weather and sailing along like you should be, yeah, go get ’em Dilip.
The trick now is to keep it going that way, we’ll have to pray a little harder for you. But I like that you look back so you can better enjoy what’s ahead of you. Yes…..
I really enjoyed this post since you’re finally getting a break from, as you said, the misery and the bad weather. So enjoy it while you have it.
I can almost hear the laughter in your voice. Haahaha!!!!
Good luck to you, smooth sailing and take care of yourself.
Your in my prayers.
Michael(75)from Kingwood, WV (USA)
Hi,
Good to hear from you. Enjoy the good weather while it lasts. I concur that the bad weather days are what makes you appreciate good weather ones.
Take Care,
Subir.
Hi Admiral Didl,
great job!
Looks like only circumnavigators roam that area of the globe.
Keep up the Dodgers!
Jony the Pony
“The Tale of Mhadei”
A speck upon a velvet lace
Braving the tempest of life
You are but a combination of
Tenacity and verve
Embarked upon a journey so brave
(Solo Circumnavigation)
Never ever had you imagined it, to be so?
Return you will to a glory so great
That it will be told & retold,
A thousand times and for years to come
To ears yet unborn
By Ravi Sohonee
Sir,
glad to know that presently you are into good times now. enjoy them may be with chilled can beer. Here is little news/gossip incase u are finding calm weather too monotonous.... Dhankar sir is new PD, Dhoot sir proceeding to wnc (he will be there to welcome u),kadian sir received VSM on 26 Jan we had PLD in kota House in his honour (every one was all praise for u r efforts),Sharma sir is contemplating publishing new copy of Buddyline (Diver mag) your adventure will have a place of pride in it, Mhadei photograph is on naval desk calendar(June)...
right then all the best.Happy Sailing
Thanks for the update.
Enjoy the warmer weather
Richard (QLD) Aus
Dear Commander Donde,
thank you very much for providing the latest news. Good to hear that conditions have eased and give you the opportunity to recover. Best wishes for the miles ahead of you from the northern hemisphere.
Horst / Germany
@DS Pathania - sorry if I spelt that wrong!! That was so cool to hear you update Dilip with all the 'goss' going on back at home in India!! Just reinforces for the rest of us how isolated and out there he is and you contact him by the same means as us 'total strangers or totally strange!! bloggers' do!! We wish him all the best and keep him in our thoughts. Hope you haven't made him grumpy with people getting promoted that he didn't think were worthy!! LOL You all sound like wonderful people. Sail on Dilip and Godspeed - Mary-Jane.
who in the hell is Abbey?????????
john starlight, sunshine coast, aus.
Hello Commander Donde,
fantastic, you have a chance to thaw out and dry out!
It must have been delightful to dispense with the woollies!
Ah, yes I have seen the night sky on the ocean and where you are (in the middle of nowhere!!! :-) )
it would be even more spectacular!
Enjoy your smooth sailing and I wish for you, that it will continue for a long time.
Stay safe,
Trudy, Austria/Australia
Hi Commander Dilip,
It must be so pleasant to have a better weather and seeing the sun and the stars after days and weeks of clouds and fog! Enjoy it, as a well deserved reward!
Mhadei is surfing well, this leg might be the shortest and easiest of all.
Your friend Jessica is doing well, ahead of you, and has blue sky too. Her blog, being transferred, is partially disabled and her followers in disarray. We hang on as we can.
Go on your perfect trip!
Best winds and on to Capetown!
I have a really badly behaved Sharpei who does not understand the concept of coming when he is called!! Right at this moment i wish I had sent him with you as company - or shark bait.........!!!!!!!!! He's a pain in the arse and doesn't get it!!I will pay money to helicopter lift him on to your boat at this moment............
Like our sail to Mauritius?
Hello Dilip,
3 days of non-stop gales would have kept you on your toes throughout its duration. I hope you managed to get sufficient rest.
I guess the upside of that is the excellent progress you've made in the process.
Bit of a lull in proceedings means a little time to recharge albeit a small reprieve as that cold front approaches. Enjoy the woolenless times...however short lol
I can only dream with envy at what you are fortunate enough to see at night Dilip...ie, clear, unpolluted skies. I am always interested in what? how? and when? beyond our little world.
Anyway I digress, Mhadei appears to have held it together. Your time in Stanley making the necessary repairs is so far paying off..long may it continue.
Sail on with safety Dilip and a well oiled machine is a productive machine. Take care out there.
Ben (Qld)
Hello Dilip
Glad to hear you are enjoying the sunshine the bare feet sounds tremendous, very relaxed.
Good luck and fair sailing
cheers evie from Bendigo (Australia)
Hi Admiral Didl,
looks like the blogs of our ladies are totally crippled.
So that leaves us only you to frolick with.
Are you into catching sealife for food, or do you stick with rice and curry?
Babsy is catching them flying squiddies. I suggested her to fry them.
Anyways, hope you are not too much under pressure with all those girlies circumnavigating around the globe.
Well... nothing much to add except for:
Keep up them dodgers!
Jony the Pony
नमस्ते Dilip & Mhadei,
Bons vents, enjoy!
अभिवादन!
I love your reports, Dilip, and especially your "globe" with the lats and longs and the ocean bottom topography. Please keep them coming. You're making a much more direct line to Cape of Good Hope than Jessica. Best wishes on favorable winds and weather.
Rex Gibbons
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
नमस्कार!
तुमची मोहीम यशस्वि रित्या पार पडावी यासाठी तुम्हाला हार्दिक शुभेच्छा .
Just do it Commander..
I always appreciate your blogs --informative, descriptive, and with a bit of humor. You seem to be enjoying life at the moment with the good weather...bare feet and no woolies sound mighty good!
Take good care of yourself and Mhadei!
Blessings,
Janell in Oklahoma, USA
Hi Admiral Didl!
Fry them squiddies!
Keep up them dodgers!
go! go! go!
Jony the Pony
I always look forward to your updates!
Love all the comments you receive. Godspeed.
Margie
Queensland
Knowing a little of what you've been through recently makes for happy news hearing about bare feet, sunshine, good winds, clear skies and no woolens.
Sounds like a good time for Bhangra!
Susan in Oregon
Hi Dilip! Good going mate ! See you are taking the direct route, braving some weather and discomfort for speed. Shows you have great confidence in your boat and your own capabilities. Good Show ! From now on, it should be a much more enjoyable sail, so enjoy it and keep up your interesting and descriptive reports.
Hi Admiral Didl,
keep up them dodgers,
Jony the Pony
Hi Dilip,
Great to receive an update from you.
Just what the Doctor ordered :-). Some nice settled weather with fair winds.
You deserve every bit of good weather that come your way Dilip. Enjoy!
Take care and thanks for sharing your journey with us.
Warmest wishes from Jan Pace (Auckland, New Zealand)
I like this feedback. Glad you are moving closer to Africa and therefore back to base. All the best. You are enjoying every moment and that feels good to me. Keep on...
I hope you keep on enjoying fair wheather. You made us very envious with your description of gentle breeze etc.
i am reading your blog without fail and check it everyday.
take good care... Viv
Thanks for all the updates.
I may not always comment; but I do read them.
All the best!!!
Greetings Cdr Donde! (Beverly here in Tasmania) Bare Feet! You must be totally secure in your element. And no woolies! You just can't get much more comfy than that I don't think.
Thank you so much for the update. I, for one, was getting antsy but now I understand after you told us you were "under" the weather, LOL.
Wow, Mhadei really travels along doesn't she? She must have really loved her "tweeks and twitches" and WD-40 and duck tape at Port Stanley and she is showing her gratitude by taking you along for a super, dooper, ride. I hope she continues to be happy and carry you along to the Cape of GOOD HOPE!
Remember God is with you always and will see you safely through this journey. Best Wishes and great sailing, Beverly & Andrew Penney, Tasmania
P.S. If I may - @all of Jessica's "family", it has been h__l being out of touch with all of you but I think about all of you all the time, really! LOL Can't wait til we all get back to getting on with what we enjoy best. Blogging to Cdr Donde and Jessica. (and a HAPPY WELCOME BACK to Jony the Pony, missed you muches)
BEGIN AGAIN IN 2010!!
Howdy and Ahoy Dilip! So good to hear of your and Mhadei's wonderful progress, and to know things are running smoothly after a few repairs.
Great photos from Port Stanley, thank you! We are keeping you in our thoughts and prayers for continued safe sailing. Always fun to read what you are up to.
Best Wishes from
Kim & Bill
Wyoming, USA
Hi Dilip
Peter and I from the Gold Coast continue to wish you the best out there in that big ocean. You are doing SO well.
We admire you and LOVE following your progress.
Best wishes!
Hi Dilip
Nice to read your latest update. Almost halfway across southern atlantic with sunshine and following current must be a very pleasent experience.
Look forward to photographer in action. Jessica has put up some nice pics, looking cheerful.
With every passing day, you are getting closer to mumbai. I hope you get to Cape Town with all intact, WD40 doing the trick whenever required.
Wishing Mhadei and crew fair weather.
Lalit/ Chandigarh
Always lovely to hear from you Dilip.
Thinking of you all the way and enjoying your trip!
You are AMAZING!
Thanks for the update sir.
The bad weather days are the ones that make you enjoy these good weather days...
Njoy ur smooth sail!!
Wishing a good sail ahead!!
Hi Admiral Didl,
keep up them dodgers,
Jony the Pony
Hi Admiral Didl,
since Jessica's blog is back online, looks like there are less people posting comments here.
So just to make sure:
keep up them dodgers!
Jony the Pony
Hi Admiral Didl,
keep up them dodgers, will you?
Jony the Pony
Hi Admiral Didl,
you know what I like about your comments section?
It shows immediatly!
I love it because I hate to wait to see the most recent posts...
Keep up them dodgers!
Jony the Pony
Happy Valentine's Day,
Commander Donde,
I wish you great sailing,
Trudy, Austria/Australia
Congrats Dilip and welcome back into the East areas. Your descriptions make light of your travails and show how well you adjust to all that befalls Mhadei and her crew. Happy sailing on and our best wishes continue to be with you.
Hi Indian Navy Solo Circumnavigation and readers!
I just dropped by in order to let you know what I think about your column. Furthermore, I also wanted to tell you that it is so difficult for me to find good sites like this one.
Regards
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