Life is a stepwise adventure. Sometimes,the more we explore, the more it leaves us bewildered with its mysteries.Yesterday was one such night. The first watch (Swatcat & Gator) sighted a blot of light at a distance right astern of us. It looked like a fishing vessel initially,that being an obvious interpreation considering our experiences with the fishermen in the past few days nor would it display in our automatic identification system. As they constantly kept a watch on the light they realised the bearing of the light with respect to us wouldnt change at all. Considering a speed of 8 kn that we constantly making good, it felt quite a lot for a fishing vessel motoring in a choppy weather. After about an hour of constant following by this light it started closing us at a greater speed and as it drew nearer it strangely never made the slightest of noise a motoring boat would normally do. It closed us
And then it moved back to its previous bearing right astern of us. The next one hour were constantly being chased by this what we named a USO (Unidentified sailing object). As I woke up, Swatcat and Gator made me privy to this strange thing they had sighted. As we kept observing our suspicion
would only increase. This little light woudnt cease to chase us or may be were too lit to become a guiding light for it. We thereafter switched off all internal lights, even our navigation lights and altered course to check if it would still follow us. To our pleasantness the light gradually faded away after that. Mystery prevails and may be we wouldnt ever come to know what this strange little thing was!
Soon the night amazed us yet another time the waters shone with many many dolphins swooping past us visible only as streaks of bioluminiscence criss-crossing their paths in the vicinity of the boat. Its something we could never capture in our cams only the eyes that can absorb the eternal beauty of this entire universe that's perennially active under us.
We crossed the Lanka on the 19th and headed bit south before making a deliberate alteration of course to meet up with the Ravana again, who we hoped would give us slightly better winds required for an easterly push before we entered the unpredictable ITCZ (Inter Tropical Convergence Zone). Lord Ravana did listen to our desire, giving us nothing less than a 30 knots blow instead, launched us east and kept us swinging throughout the night. Regaining a south east by the morning, as we gradually make way towards the equator, I see a message from a friend (I can take the liberty of calling her Godmother;))
She seems very curious about the following things:-
1. 'Aap Khate kya ho?'
Ans. Mostly vegetarians, we sometimes like to eat peoples brains too.
2. Aap sote ho ki nahi?
Ans. Nah. We are Faujis, always awake.
3. Aap equator kab cross karoge?
Ans. Right now! 4. Jab cross karoge tab kya karoge?
Ans. Not sure. But I am sure you would have beaten us by now if you were here.
P.S. These were serious answers but we would like to give more serious answers too if its need of the hour!?:)So we look forward to making the blog more interactive as it would only help us
frame it better when we do.
Signing off until next time.
23 comments:
Lucky lucky you to see the dolphins and that bioluminescence.
That light was probably a hopeful blog reader sending some interesting incidents your way :)
Stay safe, stay happy
Those responses had me in splits :D
Very nice you could see Dolphins.Stay safe and happy sailing!
Great All the best. Remembered few years back I followed Pink Lady circumnavigating the globe. Now I will follow you. All the best!!
If you are crossing equator there would be a change in winds. So be careful and alert to take care of yourself.all the best.
Happy sailing. Stay safe. Love to read your blog posts.
Very nice to read of your journey, and I love the refreshing way in which you girls describe things. Looking forward to more posts and God bless !
My curiosity increased in the blog the moment i read about Unidentified Sailing Object. May the team discover more and more surprises. Good luck.
Flying Dutchman or God Neptune? Looking forward to you next post.
May u all get Fair wind and following sea through out the passage
Thriller.. Great experience. Stay safe!!
Thank you for your concern we are crossing equator for the sixth time now as a team you can read some previous blogs to know how it was earlier
You guys are having an awesome time... eagerly following your progress ...your blogs are the icing on the cake for us .
Best wishes and may you be blessed with fair winds always
Let's have banana split
Let's have banana split
Thank you all.. We are motivated to find such positive comments:)
Hi to your sighting of a light following. Maybe below extract could be one.
Quote
By James Gorman, Mae Ryan and Robin Lindsay
“People think bioluminescence is some kind of exotic characteristic,” said Séverine Martini, a marine biologist and lead author of the study, published this year in Scientific Reports. “Even oceanographers don’t realize that it’s common.”
Her own awakening came one night in a sailboat off Africa. “I was looking at the stars and learning about constellations,” she recalled, and then suddenly began “seeing things that were glowing in the waves.”
Hi to your sighting of a light following. Maybe below extract could be one.
Quote
By James Gorman, Mae Ryan and Robin Lindsay
“People think bioluminescence is some kind of exotic characteristic,” said Séverine Martini, a marine biologist and lead author of the study, published this year in Scientific Reports. “Even oceanographers don’t realize that it’s common.”
Her own awakening came one night in a sailboat off Africa. “I was looking at the stars and learning about constellations,” she recalled, and then suddenly began “seeing things that were glowing in the waves.”
Just wanted to wish you all a Safe and Secure voyage coupled with lots of adventures.. It's only inevitable that it won't be a joy ride simpliciter but a test of your strength both physical and mental where the mental element has an upper edge over the former. Your training will squeeze the best out of you all and I am sure that you will emerge triumphant and this voyage would make even better human beings out of each one of you. I am sure that many would have said this but it's my humble attempt to express my appreciation and contribute my bit to instill a bit more to that indomitable will of the Iron Ladies of our great nation on this exploration. This is Gokul Das, Divya with our small angel Aanvi - Wishing you all a safe and happy voyage. Jai Hind
Great going. God bless you all. Do share crossing the line ceremony pictures. Have a safe voyage.
We, a team of women working in an NGO in Hyderabad, are very very proud of you. We wish you safety and success in this historic expedition. We will look out for your posts and write again to you.
Rohini Mukherjee
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