Monday, April 12, 2010

Goodbye to the Southern Ocean


Having crossed the Agulhas Bank and current without getting into the Roaring Forties and seeing a big system moving in from the West we decided against going any further South and avoid getting into the Southern Ocean. No such luck! The Southern Ocean decided to move up a little and give us a last bit of hiding lest we forget it in a hurry! That meant almost three days of gale force winds with big seas that pushed us well to the North East. No complaints of course as things could have been worse had we stuck to the earlier plan of getting in the Forties. The shackle securing the brand new Stay sail to the furler decided to part company despite all the securing just as the gales started picking up and it was pointless trying to put a new one in those conditions so the sail was furled and Mhadei sailed with just the smallest size of main sail possible. I was surprised how well she managed to hold course at a brisk pace on a broad reach. After sailing her for over 25000 Nm I am still learning to sail her! The gales got us right under a High pressure system and vanished leaving us with very light and shifty winds. For a while the calm was good as it allowed things to be put in order both with the boat and the galley but now again we are looking out for some wind!

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Keep your sails up, dude! (It's not often one gets to say it in both a literal and a figurative way). Awesome writing too, thanks.

H.

Amsterdam
Netherlands

SaltyDog said...

Commander Donde,

Well it sounds like Mother Nature gave you a bit of a rude welcoming back at sea. It also sounds like you will continue to learn more about sailing Mhadei right up until you get home. Since you should have her all figured out by then I imagine you’ll be ready to load up some more grub and take a second lap.

Thanks for taking time to give us an update, Dilip. It’s much appreciated. Take care…..

From Seattle, WA, USA
SaltyDog

Anonymous said...

Good sailing, sir.
Richard (QLD) Aus

hp said...

हाय Dilip & Mahdei,

And that is why Dilip & Madhei are a team! :-)

नमस्कार!

Designer said...

Hi Dilip,
Thanks for the very good descriptive post.All your fans will be very pleased. Keep up the good work. Wish you good weather and a much more enjoyable time now on wards as Passageweather indicates following seas all the way to Mumbai !
Cheers.

@ Tell Tale.
Enjoyed your photos of CT on Picasa ! Thanks mate ! I like the wit in your captions. U sure have a very High IQ !
You also seem to be partial to the bird species ! But I saw only the winged type. What happened to the other variety ?

viviane said...

Hope all will be well for you.

Anonymous said...

Dear Dilip,

You certainly got strong winds in your sails. Very interesting to read about your life out there.
Sail on safe.
Regards,
Ingrid, Tyreso, Sweden

Abhilash Tomy said...

@ Designer - Thanks again! your appreciation eggs me on. I was busy remembering the names of the other birds. Forgot to click :D

I had more captions in mind but it is wiser to rein in at times. Whats up with you?

@ DD - It was a new shackle. You are lucky it was the stay and not the main. How is the gene doing?

AARAYAN said...

dear sir

all the best for the final leg...hope to see u sooon in mumbai

Janell in Oklahoma,USA said...

THX for the update. Your posts are always interesting and I look forward to reading each new one. Wishing you only the best of weather and continued safe sailing.

Blessings,
Janell in Oklahoma, USA

Kissyfrott said...

HI Commander Donde,
Of course, they moved the Southern Ocean North just a few days ago. MrOcean himself had expressed that wish, because his children were getting cold after cold.
Too bad that the gal(e)s who were after you in Capetown don't let you go.
Mumbai shouln't be difficult to find for you: sail straight ahead and you should arrive as a hero!
Enjoy this last leg, it is not sure yet that you will be able to sail in peace like that for years!

Anonymous said...

Stad Amsterdam. Clipper Position:026° 28' 30" S 43° 37' 47" E
Tall ship from the Netherlands sailing around the world following in the wake of Charles Darwin.Website: www.beagle.vpro.nl
Perhaps you will see it?

Evie from Bendigo said...

Hello Dilip

Sorry to hear you had such foul weather after just heading back out to sea. I hope you have only fair weather for the rest of your trip home.
@Telltale thankyou for your photos.

Keep safe Dilip and eat well.
Cheers
Evie from Bendigo
New grandma.

Anonymous said...

Hi Dilip,
Sorry to hear the weather hasn't been good. Hope the weather has now settled down and you have a safe trip home.
Joy
Ballarat
Australia

olseadog said...

Hi Commander,
Thanks for the very comprehensive & interesting post. What is nice about your blog is the google chart which at one first glance gives a very clear picture of where you are, unlike the other blogs where we have to do some hunting around. The clear positions also gives us ol'timers the chance to do our own chart work on Google earth, for ol times sakes ! Doing that I find U have made some great speeds in the preceeding five days. Just the gale effect or do you have a flying boat ? Great sailing mate !
Look forward to your reports coming in.
Cheers.

Suresh Deshpande said...

wonderful and exiting sailing. mr. donde . we r proud that an indian is doing this and more proud that u r marathi . best wishes.

suresh deshjpande

Suresh Deshpande said...

wonderful and exiciting mr.donde .
wish u a every sucess
proud that u r indian

Suresh Deshpande said...

wonderhul and exiting .

wish u best luck

Anonymous said...

wondreful and exiting best luck.

Abhilash Tomy said...

Now, you seem to have made a real fan!

Pruthu said...

this is awesome..keep up your sails.. My dad just called me from India about this news..all the best to you and wish you a safe and happy journey back home.

Pradyumna
New York
Mumbai

Suvarna said...

Hello Commander Dilip,

Read in d newspaper about your wonderful journey around the world with "Mhadei".I Felt really proud about you and your mission.

Take care and I wish You A Very Happy and Safe journey all the way to Mumbai.....Come home as The Nation HERO....

Suvarna G
Mumbai,India

koda sri vatsa said...

greetings from T66, to the skipper and his "TEAM at SEA" , Looking fwd to catching up with you at sea and ashore. have a safe trip.

@telltale..... time to prepare for the home coming eh? keep me posted. take care!

Prabir said...

Modesty, indeed. Good show and keep coming. All the best, good cheer and fair winds.

Anonymous said...

C u Soon In Mumbai...!!!!
I m very much excited to c u hre....!!!!
U hv done a great job...!!!!!
Hats off to u sir...!!!!!!

kishor said...

दिलीप आणि टीम

सर्वप्रथम तुम्हाला आणि तुमच्या टीमला शुभेच्छया.
वाचून आनंद झाला की आजपर्यंत कुणी भारतीयान अशा दुरदम्य साहस केले नव्हते, तुम्ही आणि तुमच्या टीमने हा शिवधनुष्य उचलण्याचे साहस केले आहे.
तुमच्या ह्या पराक्रमाणे आम्हा सर्व भारतीयांची छाती आभिमानाने उंचवली आहे
आपली ही परीक्रमा लवकरात लवकर पूर्ण व्हावी ही ईश्वराकडे प्रार्थना.

आपला शुभेच्छुक
किशोर धावले

Anonymous said...

@Kishor, That's very pretty writing but what does it say?

kishor said...

Dear Anonymous
Actually Yesterday I read one article in Loksatta (marathi News paper) about this, I didn't able stop to myself to give wishes to dilip & his team.

If possible can you put your name please

pracs said...

Hey buddy, great going.

Awati Sir, Ratnakar and you deserve some high rank National Awards for making this "Dream Come True" project.

Good luck to you, many congratulations .................

Unknown said...

HELLO SIR,
COMMANDER DILIP DONDE.
VICE ADMIRAL MANOHAR AVTI.

I AM GIVING U BEST WISHES TO U FOR COMPLETE YOUR WORLD SEA JOURNEY.

YOU WILL BECOME A "HALL OF FAME". AND BE FIRST INDIAN FOR COMPLETE THIS JOURNEY.

UR HARDWORK WILL CREATE HISTORY IN INDIA.

Unknown said...

HELLO SIR,
COMMANDER DILIP DONDE.
VICE ADMIRAL MANOHAR AWATI.

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, MY BEST WISHES TO FOR HAPPY AND SUCCESSFUL JOURNEY, I WANT TO SEE U AS A INTERNATIONAL HERO.

I AM PROUD T U THAT U R INDIAN/MARATHI

Anonymous said...

The Marathi Manoos Speaketh

Abhi said...

Hi,
All the best wishes for your journey.You inspire us.You show us the way how India should be.Powerful and couragous.Jai Hind.

Jan Pace said...

Hi Commander Dilip,

Many thanks for posting such an interesting blog. Those seas can change so quickly can't they. Both Abby and Jesse have been experiencing some very changeable weather.

Keep safe Dilip and I hope that the weather throws some nice smooth sailing at you to make things a little less stressful.

Take care, with warmest wishes from Jan Pace (Auckland, New Zealand)

Anonymous said...

Hello "indian" small i ocean

Anonymous said...

eagerly awaiting your next post! wishing you good sailing!

Sachit said...

Just had a laugh with my mates at the yacht club about the commenters that crawl up your arse. Those two young girls out there are better ambassadors to their country than you will ever be.

Anonymous said...

@ sachit

Thanks for your insight. No wonder you have never stepped beyond your yacht club. Which one by the way?

mahesh pendse said...

great sir, tuchya sahasala, nigrahala ani kaushalyala manapasun salam. mahesh pendse.