Time zone UTC + 0.00
Local time (Italy) +2.00
Local time (Tunisia) +1.00
There still is a small weather window of opportunity to cross to Tunisia before the strong winds coming from the Gulf of Leon affect the Channel of Malta and although we arrived last night after midnight we decided its best to take this opportunity.
Even though the winds aren’t strong, as we depart we decided as a precaution to go already with 1 reef on the mainsail in case the forecast is wrong.
16.30 - Departure Siracusa, Sicily - 1 Reef on the Mainsail
Coordinates 37º03’550N 15º16’740E
Wind speed: 13 knots
Wind direction: 60 degrees from starboard
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: calm
SOG: 6 knots
22.00 - 1 Reef on Mainsail
Coordinates 36º38’425N 15º06’763E
Heading: 225 degrees
Wind speed: 2 knots
Wind direction: on the nose
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: calm
SOG: 6.1 knots
During the previous hour, we found ourselves sailing towards the lead pack of the Rolex Middle Sea race fleet. A bit unsettling to see so many boats heading in our direction on radar and then showing up on AIS but not being able to see their navigation lights (for those that like us have navigation lights on the pushpit and pulpit only when they were already 2 nautical miles from us we could see them, only the ones that use the tricolour up the mast were visible in the distance - eye-opening experience).
02.00 - Passing oil rig Corpo Vega
Coordinates 36º31’126N 14º39’051E
Heading: 250 degrees
Wind speed: 4 knots
Wind direction: 30 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: calm
SOG: 6 knots
03.40 - 1 Reef on Mainsail and full Genoa
Coordinates 36º29’734N 14º27’170E
Heading: 250 degrees
Wind speed: 5 knots
Wind direction: 50 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: calm
06.10 - 1 Reef on Mainsail and full Genoa plus engine
Coordinates 36º28’428N 14º13’932E
Heading: 265 degrees
Wind speed: 5.5 knots
Wind direction: 60 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: swell
SOG: 6 knots
Need to keep SOG above 6 knots, swell is slowing us down from previous speeds before the swell appeared.
John caught two huge yellowfin tunas around 30kg each but we couldn’t land them in the boat. They put a hell of a fight and was quite fun to bring them to the back of the boat and then set them free.
14.20 - 1 Reef on Mainsail and 1 Reef on Genoa
Coordinates 36º26’070N 13º13’853E
Heading: 250 degrees
Wind speed: 16 knots
Wind direction: 80 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: big swell
SOG: 6 knots
20.00 - 1 Reef on Mainsail and 3 Reefs on Genoa
Coordinates 36º23’618N 12º30’215E
Heading: 260 degrees
Wind speed: 20 knots
Wind direction: 90 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: big swell
SOG: 6.5 knots
Our Genoa furler is getting really stiff so as a precaution we are reefing the headsail sooner and sooner. Normally we would be on reef 1 or maybe 2 in 20 knots of wind but with limited furling capacities we decided to be cautious and reef in advance in case one of us needed to go to the bow to assist.
04.00 - Battery bank at 68%, turn engine on for power
Coordinates 36º21’318N 11º28’408E
Heading: 260 degrees
Wind speed: 18 knots
Wind direction: 90 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: big swell
SOG: 6.5 knots
07.00 - 1 Reef on Mainsail full Genoa and engine
Coordinates 36º21’944N 11º05’925E
Heading: 260 degrees
Wind speed: 12 knots
Wind direction: 80 degrees from port
Cloud coverage: 30%
Visibility: 90%
Sea state: big swell
SOG: 6.2 knots
11.40 - Arrival to Hammamet, Tunisia
Coordinates 36º22’389N 10º32’740E
1hour later, after doing formalities at the arrival dock, we were finally docked on our winter berth just before the forecasted strong winds picked up.
Total hours of the trip: 43h
Total hours sailing: 15h30
Total hours motoring: 11h
Total hours motor-sailing: 16h30
Maximum Speed Over Ground: 9 knots
Distance: 258.3nm
***In the spirit of sharing our dreams and experiences we have shared this blog post in the NOFOREIGNLAND.COM website sailors community.
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