With 149 NM to cross the Molucca Sea to Ternate, we left Petimati along with Seventh Heaven at 7:40 for a night passage. Wind predictions were showing about 15 knots during the morning, easing in the afternoon and night. The predictions proved fairly true and we were able to sail for about four hours once clear of Sulawesi. Just after lunchtime though it was back to the engine and motor sailing!
Thunderstorms building over Sulawesi slowly crept out to sea but stayed behind and to the north of us. During the night though there was lots of thunder and lightning which seemed threatening but which stayed clear of us. We had some stars on and off but no moon. A bit more sailing in the early hours until just after sunup, which was pretty spectacular as the sun rose behind Ternate Island. The island is basically a very large still-smoking volcano. We were swept into the channel doing over nine knots and anchored off the town just on 9:00 a.m. Already anchored here was Infinity V who we hadn't seen since Miri - Pam since May and Jon since June. They hadn't seen another boat for six weeks and had been having a wonderful time cruising through Sulawesi.
No crosses predominating here though as in Manado and being a Friday the mosques were doing the calls to prayer almost nonstop. Definitely a Muslim town and we look forward to going ashore later.
We will be here one night before making a definite move to the south. Tomorrow we will cross the Equator and be in the southern hemisphere aboard Tweed for the first time since October 2006 and heading for the Land Down Under.
Position: 00 47.120 N, 127 23.476 E
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Thunderstorms building over Sulawesi slowly crept out to sea but stayed behind and to the north of us. During the night though there was lots of thunder and lightning which seemed threatening but which stayed clear of us. We had some stars on and off but no moon. A bit more sailing in the early hours until just after sunup, which was pretty spectacular as the sun rose behind Ternate Island. The island is basically a very large still-smoking volcano. We were swept into the channel doing over nine knots and anchored off the town just on 9:00 a.m. Already anchored here was Infinity V who we hadn't seen since Miri - Pam since May and Jon since June. They hadn't seen another boat for six weeks and had been having a wonderful time cruising through Sulawesi.
No crosses predominating here though as in Manado and being a Friday the mosques were doing the calls to prayer almost nonstop. Definitely a Muslim town and we look forward to going ashore later.
We will be here one night before making a definite move to the south. Tomorrow we will cross the Equator and be in the southern hemisphere aboard Tweed for the first time since October 2006 and heading for the Land Down Under.
Position: 00 47.120 N, 127 23.476 E
----------
radio email processed by SailMail
for information see: http://www.sailmail.com
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