On Passage - Fortaleza to Recife
05/03/08 22:02 Filed in: Brazil | On Passage
Earlier in Passage
1st March 2008
Around 04:00 we were hit by a series of angry line squalls with very heavy rain. At least the sails got a good wash.
As the squalls passed the wind veered SE F5-6 with short choppy seas and clear skies. This was going to be hard work as our course was bang into the wind. Fortaleza was only 1.5 days away in these conditions and for a moment I toyed with the idea of turning around.
We pressed on assuming that once round Cabo Calcanhar the wind would be more manageable. We had to get round first though. Between 04:00 and 16:00 we made only 14 miles to windward. with another 20 miles to go until our course change. To make life easier I chose to go back inshore of some fish farms and a buoyed rock. Fortunately there were no fishing boats. We had to tack frequently throughout the night.
2nd March 2008
We rounded Cabo Calcanhar in the early hours. Finally. At 08:00 we had covered only 80 miles in 2 days.
Tacking continued throughout the day and by evening it was going well with much better net gains on our course just east of south.
Around sunset a motorised fishing boat approached quite rapidly. Having read several reports of piracy by fisherman on this coast I became very nervous and ducked down below to hide my passport and credit cards. The boat closed to within about 60m with the 4 crew gesticulating and pointing ahead. I think they were indicating that I should alter course to clear an area where they wanted to work. Phew, thank goodness.
I altered 90º to port and went a further 8 miles out to sea.
Later we had more line squalls follwed by a drop in wind speed. During the night progress towards Recife slowed considerably.
3rd March 2008
At 07:15 we were off Natal and the wind dropped to light and variable with the sails flapping uselessly. After bobbing about for an hour and a half I put the engine on and we continued south.
At 11:00 some wind returned. SE3, and we resumed sailing under full rig. We were able to make good ground to the south on each tack but at a cost of going to within 2 miles of land. Noon run 59.3 miles.
By motor sailing we could gain another 10º to windward and avoid tacking. I put the engine on and we motorsailed throughout the night going well out to sea.
4th March 2008
We continued motorsailing throughout the night and morning until rounding Cabo Branco at 12:00 when we could resume sailing. Noon Run 78.38.
It was downhill now with lighter winds SE 3-4. We had a very relaxing sail and at midnight Recife was only 17.5 miles away.
5th March 2008
There was no question of going into Recife at night so we sailed slowly down the coast. Inshore there was a huge array of lights from small fishing boats strung out along the 20 m depth contour. A cruise ship slowly made it's way past this display before resuming full speed north.
The wind gradually eased and at 03:30 we were 8 miles off Recife. Course was altered for the south end of Banco Ingles. An hour later there was no wind and we motored slowly in passing Banco Ingles at 06:15 having had a good view of Olinda light on the way.
1st March 2008
Around 04:00 we were hit by a series of angry line squalls with very heavy rain. At least the sails got a good wash.
As the squalls passed the wind veered SE F5-6 with short choppy seas and clear skies. This was going to be hard work as our course was bang into the wind. Fortaleza was only 1.5 days away in these conditions and for a moment I toyed with the idea of turning around.
We pressed on assuming that once round Cabo Calcanhar the wind would be more manageable. We had to get round first though. Between 04:00 and 16:00 we made only 14 miles to windward. with another 20 miles to go until our course change. To make life easier I chose to go back inshore of some fish farms and a buoyed rock. Fortunately there were no fishing boats. We had to tack frequently throughout the night.
2nd March 2008
We rounded Cabo Calcanhar in the early hours. Finally. At 08:00 we had covered only 80 miles in 2 days.
Tacking continued throughout the day and by evening it was going well with much better net gains on our course just east of south.
Around sunset a motorised fishing boat approached quite rapidly. Having read several reports of piracy by fisherman on this coast I became very nervous and ducked down below to hide my passport and credit cards. The boat closed to within about 60m with the 4 crew gesticulating and pointing ahead. I think they were indicating that I should alter course to clear an area where they wanted to work. Phew, thank goodness.
I altered 90º to port and went a further 8 miles out to sea.
Later we had more line squalls follwed by a drop in wind speed. During the night progress towards Recife slowed considerably.
3rd March 2008
At 07:15 we were off Natal and the wind dropped to light and variable with the sails flapping uselessly. After bobbing about for an hour and a half I put the engine on and we continued south.
At 11:00 some wind returned. SE3, and we resumed sailing under full rig. We were able to make good ground to the south on each tack but at a cost of going to within 2 miles of land. Noon run 59.3 miles.
By motor sailing we could gain another 10º to windward and avoid tacking. I put the engine on and we motorsailed throughout the night going well out to sea.
4th March 2008
We continued motorsailing throughout the night and morning until rounding Cabo Branco at 12:00 when we could resume sailing. Noon Run 78.38.
It was downhill now with lighter winds SE 3-4. We had a very relaxing sail and at midnight Recife was only 17.5 miles away.
5th March 2008
There was no question of going into Recife at night so we sailed slowly down the coast. Inshore there was a huge array of lights from small fishing boats strung out along the 20 m depth contour. A cruise ship slowly made it's way past this display before resuming full speed north.
The wind gradually eased and at 03:30 we were 8 miles off Recife. Course was altered for the south end of Banco Ingles. An hour later there was no wind and we motored slowly in passing Banco Ingles at 06:15 having had a good view of Olinda light on the way.