Year 3 -14 May 2026 –Bound for Mauritius- Strong Winds Arrive.

I had the 8.00am to 12.00noon watch and we had some melon and cereal for breakfast. We were sailing well and at about 9.45am the wind increased to 25/26 kts and then gusted to 32 kts (a force 8) for a few seconds. This was as a result of some rain clouds and a precursor of what was to come.

Toward the end of my watch the winds had increased again and we had 2 reefs in the main and I could furl in and out the genoa but really beyond 26 kts I would take it in. I handed over to Keith and Erika and due to the conditions I spent quite a lot of watch with them.    They had a number of rain clouds come through and the wind increased to 32 kts again and then it would settle down and blow some 25/26 kts and then die again. However, as time went on the underlying wind was 25-27 kts and were steady at that. I therefore could not really fly the genoa as the sheet would press on the rod rigging as I could not get enough out due to the wind strength to miss the rod rigging.

We had a small Island about a day ahead called Cocus Island which had a reef around it and also a bank called the Albatross Bank. As I could not use the genoa we put on the engine and motored slowly with the reefed main. We had a decision to make. We could bear away and go the West side of Cocos but this would mean going across the Albatross Bank which had depths of 25m. The issue with this is that with the current swell it will move from 4,000m to 25m and therefore the water and conditions would be likely to be disturbed.   

The waves had increased during the day and were now 4m at their largest and Stormbird rode them well. However, if we were not going West of Cocos then we had to go East which was our planned course so we would be on a lee shore and so the only way to maintain the right and safe course was to come more up to wind and motor sail until such time as the wind had dropped enough for us to use the genoa again. This was expected to be by about 10.00pm-midnight. The staysail would have dealt with all this but we cannot use it at present. We therefore set our course which meant riding over the waves and keeping a safe course East of Cocos about 60 degrees off the wind. This worked ok but was not ideal due to the swell and wind but there was little alternative and not an ideal situation to be in. However, this should only be for about 5-6 hours and if we are lucky less.

Carolyn and Joyce took over and I stayed to check on everything and Joyce at one point saw a gust of 35 kts. The wind was howling, the sea looked mean and we had a tanker coming down our port side. I called them up on the VHF to check they had seen us and that we were fine to maintain our course. They answered which was good and it was fine and they passed some 3 nm from us when they passed.

Keith and Erika used the last of the chilli mix to make a supper which was not easy to heat up/cook in the conditions but filling and warm.

I took over again at 8.00pm and I had been in the cockpit a lot of the time due to the conditions. The wind was still howling 27-29 and occasionally 30kts and there was no way we could sail in this. We still had the main up and were essentially motor sailing. It was important to sit by the plotter to see what was going on but the risk of that is growlers. I copped a large one and although I had a waterproof coat I was absolutely soaked and had to go to change!!

By about 10.00pm the wind was easing a little and I had been watching it carefully. Every time I thought it was easing to low 20’s then a gust would come and up it went to 27/28 kts. Keith came up to see me and by about 10.30pm the wind was such that I could put out a small genoa that would allow us to sail, It worked and we started sailing again. I went off watch asking Keith to make sure the genoa comes in if the wind increases to 25 kts +.

I went to be quite tired but as woken by strong winds and the reaction of the boat. I went up and Erika and Keith were reefing the genoa and the wind stayed strong so I went back to bed. There was then a stage when they tried to sail again but the wind came back again and so I said lets motor sail again until the wind calms down and to tell Carolyn and Joyce the same. I got up on their watch too and saw we had a good wind to sail in 17-19 kts but they said it kept going up to 27kts. I realised later they were saying this so I could get some sleep!!

It had been a tough day with difficult conditions and a reminder that nature can throw a lot at you and you have to be able to cope with it. Stormbird did brilliantly and had had a hard day with spray and part of waves coming over the deck and of course do not forget the growlers!!    

 The picture of the day is Keith and Erika having to ware their wet weather gear – a rare novelty on this circumnavigation.

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

I will be going shortly from India to the Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I am currently in need of potentially 2 crew from Mauritius to Cape Town from about 10 June 2026 and we should arrive in Cape Town on about 25-30 July 2026. If at all interested contact me on my email below or WhatsApp +44 7931360372.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com