NOVAS MENSAGENS

Nov 23, Day 29 on The Indiam Ocean
Blog from Niklas

Location+ 0825 25 5 S, 68.36EWe have now been out at sea for four weeks now and this leg is taking longer than we thought. But this would have been normal for the Phoenicians I suppose. Unlike many moderns vessels we are totally dependent on the wind to get where we want. For the last couple of weeks we had strong westerly winds with no chance to steer towards Africa.Our plan was to head south quickly to get the southeast trade winds which occur somewhere around latitude 6-8 degrees south. And two days ago that day finally came when we got them. We trimmed the mainsail and are now heading west towards Africa. Though we still are in The Inter Tropical Complication (Convergence) Zone and the winds are quite tricky here which is normal but really tests ones patience. Rainstorms after rainstorms with lightning occur at the horizon here with lots of rain and wind changes as a result. Except the wind changes, I think the rainstorms are exciting and we can collect rainwater to drink. But the best is that after four weeks with sticky saltwater, we can now wash our clothes and ourselves in freshwater. An absolute lovely feeling I must tell you.We haven't got any fish lately, but we have a lot of canned food, pasta and rice left. With the collected rainwater we could last for another month if we have to. But we sure miss good food and solid ground underneath our feet. And of course to communicate with our loved ones back home.

NOVAS MENSAGENS

Mensagens Vera Sanada

23 de novembro - segunda-feira

Hora - 09,37

A Alice escreveu e realmente está tudo bem a bordo. Realmente foi como havia analisado ontem a noite, estão sem vento então estão capiando mesmo. Se analisar hoje o rastreamento do barco, poderá ver que mudaram a rota em busca dos ventos.
Ttemos texto escrito pelo Niklas

22 de novembro - domingo

Hora - 19,25 - Quarta mensagem do dia

Estive analisando como uma navegadora, sem a emoção do marido estar a bordo. O Phoenicia é um barco muito pesado e com uma vela quadrada, o que dificulta a navegação. Se tiverem com vento na proa, será difícil de navegarem, o jeito é retornarem. Devem estar capeando, isso quer dizer, andando em zique-zague.
Daqui a 4 horas teremos outra posição.
Mas com certeza deve ser isso.

Hora - 18,58- Terceira mensagem do dia

Continuo apreensiva!
Estão voltando para trás.

Mandei um email para a Alice perguntando o que está acontecendo.
Se até amanhã não tiver retorno vou ligar para ela e ver se entrou em contato com eles.
Não tenho o número do telefone satélite que eles tem a bordo, pois se tivesse com certeza teria telefonado.

Yuri não acionou novamente o SPOT no siga-me. Se estivesse acontecendo algo ruim, Yuri acionaria a tecla SOS, por isso estou um pouco menos preocupada.

Estão voltando bastante, não consigo entender! Espero que estejam tentando pegar vento, sei lá.
http://live.adventuretracking.com/phoenicia - O Yellowbrick é o rastreamento que eles tem a bordo. Veja o link.

Vera

Hora 14,33
Segunda mensagem do dia

Estou achando muito estranho a posição do Phoenicia, eles estão retornando. Não sei se estão em meio a uma tempestade, ou o que pode estar acontecendo.

Se vocês entrarem no Yellowbrick vão ver. Vou ficar monitorando. Daqui a quatro horas receberei mais uma posição.

Também recebi a posição do SPOT que Yuri acionou, pois diariamente ele deve teclar o "Estou aqui".

Dou notícias, logo que tiver.

Vera


Hora 07,53

Primeira mensagem do dia

Não sei o que está acontecendo a bordo do Phoenicia, eles estão mudando a rota, acredito que para pegar mais vento.Vou aguardar até o final do dia para entender o que estão fazendo, assim que vier mais posições através no rastreamento.

Vera

GALERIA DE FOTOS

A construção do PHOENICIA

Arwad - Siria

O Phoenícia foi construído entre novembro de anos de 2007 e agosto de 2008. Foram 9 meses de trabalho, envolvendo cerca de dez trabalhadores, escolhidos entre centenas de cadidatos, eorientados por Khalid Hammoud, famoso construtor de navios. Foram utilizados materiais idênticos aos que utilizava o povo fenício.


Acima, Khalid Hammoud

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Na foto acima, decoração do barco, com cenas das relações comerciais de fenícios e egípcios

GALERIA DE FOTOS

NOVAS MENSAGENS E NOTÍCIAS

O Globo Online - 18 de novembro


Navio dos Estados Unidos sequestrado em abril rechaça a tiros novo ataque de piratas somali

HARADHEERE, Somália - Piratas somalis atacaram na quarta-feira o navio...outros dois episódios, um pirata contou que um capitão ferido no sequestro...patrulhas ao norte da costa somali.A Central de Comando da...dos EUA informou que quatro piratas chegaram a 300 metros do Maersk...comandante da central.Piratas em Harardheere, um de seus refúgios...






Mensagens

De Vera Sanada, de terra. Brasil

Oi, Amigos,
Tudo bem?
Chegou um novo blog do Philip, a preocupação continua ainda quanto aos piratas. Como eles abriram bem acredito que tenham saido da zona de perigo, mas é bom que se mantenham atentos.

Do Capitão Philip

Blog 14: Rain and fishy goings on in the galley

We are well into the inter-tropical conversion zone now at about 7 degrees south and still few signs of the south east trade winds. We remain hopeful that as we head further south we will. And when combined with our detour for piracy, its adding up to be quite a long passage of between 30 and possibly 40 days. We should just about have enough food and water to make it but there are few points of refuge in the middle of the Indian Ocean, at least that we can get to. So no real choice but to plough on.

We spent much of yesterday with our main sail down (as we have been becalmed and took the opportunity to renew all the brailing lines that had broken - which was most of them! We have also resewn many of the brailing hoops that have broken away from the webbing on the sails and also resewn webbing and patched holes in the sail- a whole crew job that was good for bonding together. So when we get further south and we find the wind we will be ready for it.

The previous 24 hours featured two heavy rain downpours. The crew and ship became one torrent of fresh water, with clothes and bunks becoming sopping wet. The only good of the rain was for freshwater showers and the negative was a somewhat downbeat impact on the crew.There have been some fishy goings on in the galley. Our fishing blight has continued with one or two exceptions. The other night word went around that Sulhan was preparing noodles and rice with flying fish.

We all assumed he had found some flying fish on deck and used them for the meal. The meal raised a few eyebrows due to the very strong tasting pieces of fish amongst the rice and noodles and our stomachs ached afterwards as a result. It later transpired that Sulhan had used his bag of sun-dried fish he had caught in Salalah and dried on the roof of the cabin and subsequently stored in plastic crisp bag. How we wish it had been thrown away when we cleared the cabin roof a couple of weeks ago! since then we have caght a large barracuda snake-like fish.

Hopefully our luck is changing for the better.

NOVAS MENSAGENS

18 de novembro

Blog 13 from Captain Philip Beale

We are currently passing through the Inter- Tropical Coversion Zone (ITCZ) where the weather systems of the north and south meet just slightly below the equator. In the Atlantic this area is known as the doldrums but in the Indian Ocean there is usually wind, albeit lighter and much more variable than in the established wind systems. We are currently at 3 degrees south and some where between here and 8 degrees south we will hit the south east trade winds that will propel us towards Dar Es Salaam.Needless to say the slower winds and that we have had to come so far east to avoid the pirates, as dampened spirits on board.

Also we have had a barren time with the fishing recently and caught nothing for several days. Dirman's refrain that the fish are "sleeping" is beginning to wear a bit thin! Still there is just a sense that the wind may be starting to shift. If it is confirmed that will raise our spirits and we will gradually get back to some exciting sailing, no doubt with the odd down pour that the south east trade winds are known for.

NEWSLETTER

17 DE NOVEMBRO

Phoenicia crosses the equator

On 14.11.09 Phoenicia crossed the equator during the current leg from Oman to Tanzania. The crew marked this with the time honoured tradition of a reception with King Neptune and a small celebration onboard. Despite having to take wide easterly course due to the threat of piracy (see below) Phoenicia is sailing incredibly well. Phoenicia is averaging speeds of 5 knots on this passage which is expected to take up to one month in total to complete. You can keep up to date with news from the crew on the blog http://www.phoenicia.org.uk/inspiring-blog.htm

Piracy update!

The level of piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden and Somali basin has increased dramatically over the last month. This is not good news for the Phoenicia team as they transit the high risk area. During this "nail biting" passage Phoenicia benefits from the support of Security Advisers Drum Cussac who are in regular contact with the ship as well as advice and information from MSC(HOA). Captain Philip Beale is leading the international team of 11 with caution and as a result Phoenicia is taking a wide easterly route around the Seychelles before they reach the south east trade winds to take them towards Africa. You can view the route of the ship live on the satellite tracker click here.

NOVAS MENSAGENS

O PHOENICIA acaba de atravessar a Linha do Equador

Mensagem de Vera Sanada
15 de novembro

Estou um pouco atrasada em mandar o texto do Philip, pois hoje já passaram pela Linha do Equador e devem ter comemorado a bordo. A tradição é que o Rei Neptuno vem a bordo para batizar os primeiros a cruzarem a linha. Não sei quantos que estão a bordo do Phoenicia que não navegaram nessa região. Normalmente alguém a bordo se veste de Neptuno, também bebem, geralmente rum, bebida tradicional dos barcos, para comemorar, mas como no Phoenicia a maioria é de muçulmanos, eles não tem álcool para beber, mas com certeza farão uma festa, ainda mais que estão saindo da zona de risco dos ataques dos piratas Somálios.

Como escreve o capitão Philip abaixo, "obrigado aos deuses Fenícios!"




Mensagem do Capitão Philip


Blog 12 from Captain Philip Beale
Thanking the Phoenician Gods

We have had a good 24 hours and have covered 142 miles over the period, of which nearly a knot is due to favourable currents of the average speed of nearly 6 knots.

We have spent part of the day reflecting how lucky we have been so far and in fortuitously avoiding the pirate attack area now just some 200 miles to our west. As the report below indicates, the crew of the MV Felitsa were not so lucky.

More information has emerged regarding the vessel hijacking in the Indian Ocean reported in the November 11 Drum Cussac Gulf of Aden Piracy Alerts.

The 23,709-dwt Greek-owned, Marshall Island-flagged bulk carrier MV Filitsa, was hijacked by Somali pirates at position 00:35S - 062:40E, approximately 1050nm east of Mogadishu, Somalia in the Indian Ocean, at 0105 UTC on Wednesday, November 11. The vessel was approached by pirates in skiffs, with the ensuing chase lasting for five hours. Three pirates were reported to have been injured in the attack.

The Filitsa and its 22-man crew, made up of three Greeks and 19 Filipinos, was carrying a shipment of fertilizer (urea) en route to Durban, South Africa when the incident occurred. The vessel, owned by Piraeus-based Order Shipping Co. Ltd, is subsequently reported to have turned around and headed north towards Somalia.

We are now a few miles from the equator and heading south east and plan to pick up the south east trade winds a few hundred miles further south, that will take us towards East Africa.
Tomorrow morning we will celebrate a time honoured tradition of a reception with King Neptune for those of the crew whose first time it is to cross the equator under sail. We will then have a small party to celebrate the achievement. Nothing too grand mind you, there is not a drop of alcohol on board. So soft drinks and a few sweets will be the order of the day.

NOVAS MENSAGENS

Apesar dos aniversários e das pizzas ( feitas para compensar a má qualidade da cozinha do barco, na qual se revezam os tripulantes) o PHOENICIA ainda não saiu da faixa de maior perigo de ataques piratas. Na última comunicação de Yuri para casa disse que às vezes a comida é tão apimentada que nem os árabes, acostumados como se sabe a muita pimenta, conseguem comer.Mas as maiores preocupações são outras no momento.

As últimas comunicações vem de Vera Sanada e do Capitão Philip.




Mensagem de Vera Sanada, do Brasil, via email
13 de novembro de 2009


Fiquei bastante preocupada depois de ler o blog do Philip do dia 12.
Houve ataque de piratas a 200 milhas de onde eles estavam, e como ele mesmo coloca, é provável que tenha uma "nave mãe pirata" na região.

Bom é que os ventos continuam a soprar a favor deles e estão navegando bem , chegaram a fazer 137.1 milhas em 24 horas, acredito que esse tenha sido o récorde até agora. Estão saindo ao máximo da rota dos piratas e tudo indica que breve estarão fora da zona de risco.
Que bons ventos continuem soprando a esses bravos navegadores históricos!

Abaixo texto do Philip.

Beijocas com carinho e um pouco preocupada.


Vera


Mensagem do Capitão Philip

"It has been another busy and nail biting 24 hours on board Phoenicia.

The main cause for concern was the report below mentioning two very recent pirate attacks.

"On 10/Nov at 0200 UTC a container ship was attacked by pirates in 2 skiffs in position 00 43S 061 57E. The skiffs where white in colour with 7-8 persons on board. Assault rifles were fired .
The vessel deployed anti piracy measures, increased speed and was able to evade the attack.
On 09/Nov at 0830 UTC a VLCC was attacked 35 NM from the position above."

The attacks took place just over 200 miles south east of our position and would indicate a pirate mother ship in the area. What made matters worse was that the location was directly on Phoenicia's intended course. We took immediate action and diverted course as anyone will be able to see who is following our progress on the Yellow Brick tracker. Fortunately we have had strong winds and have averaged over 5 knots during the last 24 hours and managed 137.1 miles, moving as fast as we can away from the area of the attacks.

Otherwise we have been making a few running repairs to the rigging. This afternoon Dirman ventured aloft with the help of the bosun's chair to put an additional parell in place should our recent one fail from chaffing. We have also had 4 of the brailing lines break due we think to some pretty sub-standard hemp rope we have on board. We have repaired one with out having to drop the yard and the main sail remains partly furled due to the strong winds. Nevertheless we are doing around 6 knots as we head into the evening. We are praying we won't see any ships as we head to the Equator, which we should now reach tomorrow or early Saturday.

NOVAS MENSAGENS

Mensagem de Vera Sanada

Tudo indica que está correndo tudo bem a bordo. Os ventos estão favoráveis e a pesca também. Eles tem pego muito peixe, o que é muito bom, assim tem alimento fresco todo dia.

Chegou outra mensagem do Phoenicia, agora escrito pelo capitão Philip.

Bons ventos para esses navegadores que, quem sabe, estarão reescrevendo a história.


e do Captain Philip Beale

10th November 2009
05 08.3N 6007.4 E
Blog 10 from Captain Philip Beale

The weather seems to know just how to frustrate us. Just as we were reaching the edge of the high risk zone to the east of the Somali basin, the wind changes to the north west and pushes us further east! Still we should not complain, the silver lining is we are heading south east at over 5 knots and enjoying some magnificent sailing with a good force 6 wind.

The sail is hoisted high into the sky with brailing lines pulled aft as depicted in one of the 6th century BC Greek vases at the British Museum that we used to inform some aspects of the sail and rigging. Phoenicia makes a tremendous sight as she surfs over the rolling waves that are hitting our starboard quarter. The wind strength has just increased further and the waves are now some 5 meters high with crisp white horses heads forming on their crests.We have just reduced the main sail area by hauling in on the brailing lines, a primitive but effective form of reefing the sails that the Phoenicians invented. So far it seems to be doing the job pretty well and keeping our sppeed to a manageable 5 knots rather than the encroaching 6-7 we were experiencing prior to reefing the sail.

The other piece of very good news here is that overnight Sulhan caught a very large two foot long tuna, following a lull in our fishing fortunes. So you know what we are eating today- fish and rice for the lunch today followed by fish cakes for dinner. The only issue is how many bonus points towards the competition we should award Sulhan for his spectacular catch!