3:30.00S 72:36.00E
Bryan writes...
We left Chagos yesterday at mid day, raising the anchor and clearing out of
the Soloman lagoon just as a rain shower passed over. I much prefer to be
able to see the reef and rock obstructions in the water, but we relied on
the electronic charts as at least that end of the lagoon is relatively
clear.
A number of other boats left at the same time, Japanese Yaima to Mauritius,
Kiwi/Brazilian Moon Walker to Madagasgar, and American Matairea to
Seychelles. Kiwi Afar will follow us to Maldives in a few days, so that
will leave just Canadian Tigger and Kiwi Ovation in the whole of Chagos!
We'd
had a beach BBQ the night before, which seemed like a fitting, casual way to
say our farewells as our paths diverge.
I'm normally a little nervous before each passage but I've been looking
forward to this one. After five weeks in Chagos, we're all ready for a
change of scenery. Chagos is beautiful, but we've had our full of
snorkelling, fishing, and sun downers on the beach or on boats, in that
particular location for the moment. It also helps that at about three
hundred miles, it's a relatively short passage, and with a good weather
forecast for the duration.
The sea was pretty bumpy for the first six or so hours out. The wind was
steady at about sixteen knots, but with an occasional gust up into the
twenties and a big following swell, it made for an uncomfortable start.
Helen and Erin were competing for space at the rail to paint colourful
stripes on the side of the boat. I couldn't find the right time or
diplomacy to suggest that they move to the leeward side of the boat...
I've never been good at judging wave / swell height, but even the little
ones can be a bit disconcerting when they're higher than the bimini and less
than a boat length away. I would guess that the big swells were about eight
meters from top to bottom. Aroha is a light weight plastic fantastic
though, so she bobs up like a cork and lets the water pass underneath.
Roughly ten miles north of Chagos the sea rises from over a thousand meters
deep to less than ten (in places), where the Speakers Bank almost makes it
to the surface. It is bizarre to be in the middle of the ocean, but to look
down and instead of seeing the deep blue colour, to see the patchwork of
light turquoise (sand) and green-brown (coral) under us. I was keen to
trail a lure for what is supposed to be a great fishing spot, but it was
just too bumpy to think about dealing with a fishy mess onboard.
The sea has settled this morning. We have lost the short choppy waves and
now just have the high and long swell passing under us. The motion of the
ocean is now more rhythmic and predictable- Aroha still moves around a fair
bit, but there is a pattern to the movement and it's almost relaxing.
The sun is out, with whispy white clouds scattered across a beautiful blue
sky. Touch wood, the rest of this passage will be a comfortable one.
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