no-one could make it work! Thank goodness , however for new age
-satphone , computers, GPS chartplotters, and AIS! Based as it is on
vhf, AIS is not strictly new.. rather newly available to cruisers! And
what a blessing ! Having passed all the heavy traffic around Cape
Colombine, we were used to the blank screen shining all day long.
Yesterday at dusk, the alarm went off to reveal a tanker bearing down
on us at 14.5 knots, 7.5 miles off.I up the tanker "BW Utah" and asked
if he was aware of our existance! No problem he says, I see you on
radar, and will pass astern of you. Many thanks! He did pass about 2
miles astern, but it was still great to know that we could make him
aware of our presence. A couple of other observations however. At
least three ships were transmitting false positional info. Two were
indicating positions behind us when we could see them ahead, and one
to port when he was to stb. About half are not declaring their names.
Could this be an anti piracy ploy? All the same , I will never sail
without one!
Have just had to reduce the headsail, (which is the only sail up at
present),as we were regularly going over 9-10knots ! Even with half
out we are still doing between 5.5 and 8.0. The predictions of 15 to
20knots in the trades is nonsense the way we see it!! More like 25 to
35 where we are! We will have done over 600nm from HB by the time you
read this. Our position at noon today was 28.30S,8.54E.More later.
--
Kate Turner-Smith
Healthcare Analyst
Vunani Securities
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