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.  

Passed AbuDhabi gate

Abu Dhabi forms lately as the Sailing nation on the Arabian Gulf. It has also its own entry in the Volvo Ocean Race and will be one of the Destinations in the same race early next year.

This morning very early on the WP scheduler I managed to pass the Gate#2 at Abu Dhabi properly. Yesterday was a day of nice sailing in the Arabian Gulf, with a moderate wind from WNW slowly veering to the NW direction. This allowed me to sail close under the coast and follow the shifting winds nicely on my Genoa. 

After the passage of the Gate#2, I followed a still Westerly course as the course with the best progress to the Qatar Gate. However the winds in the North are a little stronger, so after waking up, I thought it be better to sail more to the North and later to the West. 

Rank this morning 12, so all in all not too bad. :)

Passed the Straits of Hormuz

Last night (well it was night for me) Suratna boat passed the Gate#1 Straits of Hormuz.

It is a narrow that has a lot of shipping traffic as most of the worlds crude oil will pass this strait. 
Luckily I could steer clear of these large vessels as it would be a lost fight for me. 

Sailing now in the Arabian Gulf towards AbuDhabi, for the next gate. 

Yesterday saw an interesting wind shift towards the gate but I think I have managed not too bad. 
Rank this morning 12

Today is expected to be a day of hard work as many tacks will be required in the head winds. 

The LiveSkipper Arabian Sailing Tour started

The LiveSkipper Arabian Sailing Tour has started in Muscat yesterday 23 June 2011 at 12:00 GMT.

At this moment the fleet is sailing North and some boats a little NNE in the Gulf of Oman towards the first gate at Straits of Hormuz. 


For the route to following and gates you may have a look at the map which you can find under the TAB "Route" on top of this post. I am sailing the boat Suratna and each day I will indicate the positions and the route sailed. 


The winds are weak and mostly variable!. With each wind-update (every 3 hrs) the wind direction is dramatically shifting. 
It is difficult to find the optimal route, so I have chosen the more directly route, which is less mileage while some other boats are looking for better winds later somewhat more easterly. 
The passage time of Gate#1 at Strait of Hormuz will tell what the best route was. 


Rank 57 in a fleet of 637 participating boats.

Announcement LiveSkipper Arabian Tour

This is the announcement that Liveskipper is organizing a Sailing Race around the Arabian Gulf. 


For a route description visit the LiveSkipper site or click the above TAB : "Route". 


The start of this Sailing Race is in Muscat, Oman.
Date: Thursday 23rd June 2011
Time: 12:00 GMT