Day 590 – 3rd January 1988

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Noon Summary Log

Day: 590
Date: 3rd January 1988
Latitude: 2° 11.6′ S
Longitude: 29° 47′ W
Water Temperature: 27.6°C
Wind @ Noon: 15 SE
Max Wind /24 hours: 15 SE
Min Wind /24 hours: 10 SE
Cloud Cover 4/8
Cabin Temperature: 30°C
Outside Temperature: 29.5°C
Barometer: 1010

Source: CUL00045/16

Log

  • Second bird has landed on the back rail. Two on the rail hitching a free ride – lazy things!
  • The effect of the Guinea Current in this region is strong. I have bene making allowance in my plotting, yet I am still further west than I thought. Gosh the Guinea Current is not only pushing me west, it is zooming me south.

Source: CUL00058/1

Day 589 – 2nd January 1988

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Noon Summary Log

Day: 589
Date: 2nd January 1988
Latitude: 0° 15.9′ N
Longitude: 29° 10.6′ W
Water Temperature: 27.4°C
Wind @ Noon: 12 E
Max Wind /24 hours: 6 S
Min Wind /24 hours: 15 E
Cloud Cover 1/8
Cabin Temperature: 30°C
Outside Temperature: 29.1°C
Barometer: 1010
Whales Seen: 0 D

Source: CUL00045/16

Log

  • Steady SE trade wind, steady progress. Now in the Guinea Current – yacht set to the west.
  • Beginning this morning, I have just completed painting two spare wind vanes white, the raft recess cover white, bits of the stern cabin & forward cabin with white, – finished that time of paint.
  • Not had supper yet, stove broke down & I just got it going again – I hope.
  • Quiet mild, yacht sailing smoothly. Dolphins with the yacht. There is a fish with yellow tail swimming with the yacht, – wish it will hop onto my line – yum.
  • Once more south of the Equator. (I spent 5 days this last time north). Nice setting sun to starboard & big full moon rising to port. Nice brown sea bird perched on the stern rail of the yacht.

Source: CUL00058/1

Day 587 – 31st December 1987

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Noon Summary Log

Day: 587
Date: 31st December 1987
Latitude: 3° 37.3′ N
Longitude: 29° 31.1′ W
Water Temperature: 27.8°C
Wind @ Noon: 10 NE
Max Wind /24 hours: 20 NE
Min Wind /24 hours: CALM
Cloud Cover 8/8
Cabin Temperature: 29.5°C
Barometer: 1009
Whales Seen: 2

Source: CUL00045/16

Log

  • Turned around now heading south. 219 N miles north of the Equator. Meridian Passage (noon) sight was got at noon.
  • Lots of rain. Its raining & raining & raining. All water tanks & containers are full. Enough fresh water to get to Australia!!!

Source: CUL00058/1

Day 585 – 29th December 1987

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Noon Summary Log

Day: 585
Date: 29th December 1987
Latitude: 1° 45.9′ N
Longitude: 28° 15′ W
Water Temperature: 27.7°C
Wind @ Noon: 0-6 VAR
Max Wind /24 hours: 15 SE
Min Wind /24 hours: CALM
Cloud Cover 7/8
Cabin Temperature: 31°C
Outside Temperature: 31.1°C
Barometer: 1008

Source: CUL00045/16

Log

  • Running out of wind bang smack in the midst of the Doldrums & it looks like Doldrum Weather too, very overcast, bits of wind here & there coming from this way & that. Rain here & there but not over the yacht yet.
  • On my previous two roundings North of the Equator I’ve hit the rain in the Equatorial Trough before running out of wind. This time I’ve run out of wind before getting the rain.
  • I’ve got a passenger, a nice sea bird sitting on my tiller.

Source: CUL00058/1

What are the doldrums?

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The doldrums, also called equatorial calms are equatorial regions of light ocean currents and winds within the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ), a belt of converging winds and rising air encircling Earth near the Equator. The northeast and southeast trade winds meet there; this meeting causes air uplift and often produces clusters of convective thunderstorms. They occur along the Equator in the Indian and western Pacific oceans and slightly north of the Equator off the African and Central American west coasts. The crews of sailing ships dreaded the doldrums because their ships were often becalmed there; the designation for the resultant state of depression was apparently thus extended to these geographic regions themselves. (Source Encyclopaedia Britannica)

Day 584 – 28th December 1987

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Noon Summary Log

Day: 584
Date: 28th December 1987
Latitude: 0° 13.2′ S
Longitude: 28° 41′ W
Water Temperature: 27.6°C
Wind @ Noon: 12 SE
Max Wind /24 hours: 18 SE
Min Wind /24 hours: 12 SE
Cloud Cover 5/8
Cabin Temperature: 32°C
Outside Temperature: 30.4°C
Barometer: 1007
Ships Seen: 1

Source: CUL00045/16

Log

  • Huge – huge oil tanker starboard side horizon.
  • The beep beep (beep) stove is still playing up. It is a dangerous thing. Whilst in the cockpit this morning – to get away from its smoke it stopped making gas & poured out liquid kerosene which smoke filled & blackened the cabin. Of late I only light the stove twice a day morning & evening & one burner only. I wish I had the stove I originally prescribed. I wish a lot of things had just been left to me.
  • North of the equator now

Source: CUL00058/1