2008-Mar-06 Noon Position

Indian Ocean
8'48.6N/69'43.5E

• 102 nm last 24 hrs
• 1040 nm to Salalah, Oman
• 215 nm from Uligamu, Maldives
• Winds N 10 knots
• Seas N 1-2 feet

We got wind! Sandpiper has been sailing since sunrise making an average of 5 knots since the winds piped up from the north. Last night was just like the previous 24 hours. Right at sunset all wind died away and we had to motor through the night on a glassy sea so smooth we could see the stars reflecting on the ocean.

We have had a few visits from porpoises since leaving the Maldives. They seem quite happy to see the Piper as they jump clear out of the water to check us out. At night you can see them swimming alongside. They look like torpedoes flying through the water, glowing with all the phosphorescence. If we are not paying attention, suddenly we will hear a loud breath right over our shoulder as they surface only a feet away.

We are getting back into the shipping lanes, passing ships bound for and coming from the Red Sea. We passed one small fishing boat. From where? I have no idea. Their boat was less then 30 feet long and far, far from home.

So far Sailmail has been working if we transmit right at sunset. The station we are transmitting to is in Borneo, 2693 miles away from us. The next station in the Red Sea, 2306 miles away. If you do not hear from us for a few days, this is why.

More in 24hrs,
Tom and Amy