Finished with good End-Sprint

A Good End Sprint brought me the 24th place in this Arabian Tour Sailing Event organised by LiveSkipper

The day started with a good pace and winds that were reasonable stable, and the forecast showed some strengthening and a small shift to the SW for winds at the Finish. My position more south from most other boast was the result of the Southerly course the day before. This lowered my ranking, but I counted on a better speed and the possibility to overhaul a lot of boats. Luckily this did materialize, as I passed 12 boats in the End Sprint.


For the detailed end results you may click on one of the TAB's above, to see either the complete ranking list of LiveSkipper, or only the ranking for the skippers in the English Forum. 
For Flagships, a boat from a club that may be sailed by different sailors in a 24/7, there is a separate competition chart. 


This was an interesting, challenging at times, and exciting Sailing event and I enjoyed it very much. 

Approaching the Finish

Passed Masirah island, a main centre for Sea Turtles. 

Yesterday I had sailed already a little more South then some other boats. Studying the wind forecast and route, I could find the fastest route to go as far South as needed to make one final tack for the Finish. I had to invest deep for this, as the below 20 ranking of the last days, increased to 54 yesterday morning to the 117 in the late afternoon. 
After the tack, luckily, the investment is paying off as this morning I find the boat on place 36 and I believe is better wind conditions as many other boats. So with a little bit of luck I can maybe in the End-Sprint make it to below 25 , or maybe below 20 ???


The wind is towards the Finish backing more to South and becoming stronger, so both factors helping me to sail faster as many other boats more northerly from me. 


Carry on ............


Rank: 36 in a fleet of 754 boats.

Sailing the Gulf of Oman

After the big discussions yesterday on whether yes or no you could sail the channels of Musadam , it has generally be accepted that yes when it is possible to sail, it is allowed. 
So all excitement for the navigation through the narrow channels paid off, some places and about 2 hrs time. 


The sailing in the Gulf of Oman, is going well. Yesterday the wind was mostly NW and rather strong. Most boats made a very good progress and the leaders have passed the Turtle Gate at Rass al Hadd already. 


Those who are still in the Gulf of Oman are now confronted with a variable and very weak wind system for about 9 hrs. After this the  winds at the Oman tip, become SW with the monsoon driving them. 

The tip of Oman has a lot of beaches (mostly quiet) with soft white sand. Many turtles know this and frequent the white beaches like Rass al Hadd and Rass al Jinez for putting their eggs. Some of those beaches are protected and can be visited under guidance. 

Do you know that the gender of turtles is influenced by the temperature of the sand during the breeding period? The warmer it is, the more female turtles are born. 

Many Turtle species are endangered and many nesting beaches are protected. Some countries also have a tracking system to follow the journey that a turtle makes. Most Turtles come back to the beaches they are born for laying eggs. 

This site, SeaTurtle tracking,  gives a view on the turtles with a tracking device and show their travels. 

On the left you can select a Turtle , grouped by area, and a picture will show the track. 

My rank this morning 15

Passed the Straits of Hormuz

this post is 1 day delayed (30June 2011 issue) because of problems with Blogger site, 


The winds were holding fine yesterday in the Arabian Gulf allowing to make a good progress towards the Straits of Hormuz. For a view at the traffic in these narrow waters please see the TAB above this post called MarineTraffic. 


In LiveSkipper a few skippers found a route through the islands and narrows of Musadam, Oman. It is all very tricky as the waters are very small at places, but with a good knowledge of what your boat can do and some experience, it is possible to sail this. 
The corner could be cut off, which saved some 2-3 hrs of sailing time, as I guess.

And as often, some skippers are not aware of these narrow channels and felt the dis-advantage in the ranking and their disappointment made them asking for change of the rules. 


Anyway, now I am sailing the Gulf of Oman, not able to benefit from this narrow sailing during my sleep.


Rank: 16 this morning .

Passed Kuwait and Khargh Gates

Last day, well upto early this morning, was again a day with a good progress for me with the validation of two Gates.

I thought to pass Kuwait by dailight for making a daylight picture, but it was sunset already, as I got somewhat delayed by a hick-up of the game computer. Luckily there was just enough light still to make a photo of the silhouette of the city from the water side. 


I could pass Kuwait still in good winds, as many boats behind me had to make a detour to the North and back SW to catch the shifting favourable winds. 
After Kuwait it was for Suratna on autopilot straight to Kharg island gate, passed on WayPoints autopilot in a very early morning hours. 


Now it is sailing nicely, spinnaker up and full with wind to have a good speed and hopefully tonight approach Strait of Hormuz again on the way to Oman.These winds are not quiet a Shamal, no sands carried with it yet, as the real Shamal may have more strength but mostly can bring a dusty environment with its sand-storms.

Rank this morning 15.

Passed Bahrain AND Saudi Arabia Gate'S

Now sailing towards Kuwait in the Northern Part of the Arabian Gulf. 

Yesterday sailing around this Island of Bahrain. This has one gate on its South side and one in between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, under this famous Highway and Bridge that is especially buzy during the Weekends.

King Fahd Causeway

 

{it is that famous that it is honored with a stamp}

It showed as a very fruiteful day in the progress of sailing the Arabian Tour.

During the night I mainly sailed North on the autopilor and luckily the winds were rather stable. The Winds were strong on the east side of the Gulf and I though overall to make better progress there, also as now the winds turned more to the north giving the turn to the west still reasonable winds. 

This strong winds on the Arabian peninsula are called the Shamal, which could also create large Sandstorms, which impares the sight and sandblasting the hood of the cars. 


So today the target is reach Kuwait.


Rank is 15 this morning

Passed the Qatar Gate

This morning early Suratna passed the Gate in Qatar. I would love to visit this wonderful city, but the race is on-going. So I have to do with a view on the city skyline with boulevard.

Yesterday morning , it is clear now, I sailed after Abu Dhabi too far West before going more North to enjoy the stronger winds. The wind update of 1800 gmt, brought a big windshift and lucky I could adjust the boat heading to profit from it. 

Now sailing towards the  South side of Bahrain to pass the Bahrain gate and encircle the island. After that the bow will be turned to the North as Kuwait is waiting to be visited as most Northerly location for this Arabian Sailing Tour. 

I have some problems finding wind indications in weather gadgets as the ones I know (see at the right) do not have wind indications for bahrain, al Jubayl nor Kuwait.

Rank 18 in a fleet of 757 sailing boats.