At 28-08 South latitude and 043-08 East longitude, the Picton Castle is sailing along strong in the Mozambique Channel. Reunion is 900 nautical miles astern, Madagascar is 250 nautical miles to our northeast and the coast of southern Africa is 450 nautical miles up ahead to our west. We are sailing along in rolling seas making 7 to 8 knots under main t’gallant and for upper topsail as well as lower sails. Manropes are rigged and the cats do not like it much. The rest of us are pleased with the progress. So far the weather forecasts are promising for a fair rounding of the Cape. That can change of course.
Fair weather skies and somewhat cooling temperatures are welcome. We are certainly on the major ship highway, being the track-line between the lowest point of Africa and the Sunda Strait of Indonesia between Java and Sumatra (and passing right by Krakatoa). From hereabouts, the Sunda Strait is the door to the entire east: China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines and the rest. Not many hours in the day where we do not have one or two BIG ships on parallel courses with us, either going our way or on reciprocal tracks. All passing within two miles or ten.
Plenty sailmaking work going on on the quarterdeck just now: a new lower topsail of duradon sail cloth getting the final touches. And an old t’gallant getting patch on patch to see us to Cape Town. It is quite the ancient artifact. We have a new t’gallant in duradon underway, but needs a lot of finishing before we can bend she on. A week or more of work. We plan to lay out and seam up as many sails as we can in Cape Town, for finishing once back at sea. Planning plenty good rigging as well, the sort of stuff you want calm and still, as the inner harbour of Cape Town so nicely provides. Things like sending up new baggywrinkle and slushing stays are best done when the ship is not moving so much. She moving plenty now. Plan to get a new bottom on our fine wooden sailing dory Sea Never Dry so she can float properly and be ready for keen and active sailing use in among the sweet islands of the eastern Caribbean, soon in the offing after sailing from South Africa.
The super-highway of the Agulhas Current is up ahead close and tight along the coast of South Africa. This current is strong, 2 to 4 knots. This current can add 100 miles to a ship’s SOA (aka speed of advance). This can make a big difference for a ship like ours, which typically sees 100-130 miles a day as happy going. It is not a very broad current, perhaps only 10 to 30 miles wide, less at times. Add a fresh fair wind and it’s a good ride, and very good passage making. Why this current? All that warm water pushed west across the tropical Indian Ocean has to go somewhere. And as the coast of Africa is sloped away from these winds, this coast becomes the natural culvert for all that warm water, and warm it is too.
So, happy sailing for now.