Yesterday started with the usual analysis of the various weather forecasts after the morning updates. The good news was that a weather window appeared to be opening up, but then, with each update throughout the day, stronger winds were being forecast to occur mid-morning today. It was a moving target, since these stronger winds had originally been forecast to occur during the night and were to abate in the early hours of this morning, following which we were all going to weigh anchor just before daybreak.

By yesterday evening, however, none of the forecasts were reflecting the actual lighter winds we were experiencing, after the wind had started to abate during the course of yesterday afternoon, putting our departure plans up in the air again, as we’d all lost faith in the forecasts.

So, regardless of the lighter winds, but not wanting to head out into the unknown as night approached, we took the decision to reconvene our discussion at 2130; our third “weather discussion” on the VHF radio with Kandiba and Sans Peur for the day. Sadly the 2100 updates didn’t instil any confidence either. Remaining hopeful of a possible early morning departure, we decided to revisit the forecasts again as a group at 0430 this morning, just prior to our intended departure, by which time the forecasts would have been updated yet again.

This last perusal of the forecasts, indicated that the strong winds predicted for mid-morning were now showing on both the GFS and European models. Concerned that we couldn’t see the sea state in the dark, the decision was then taken to reconvene the discussion at 0630, at which point, white caps and very lumpy seas were visible outside the anchorage. With that, the departure was postponed until we could actually experience an improvement in the conditions.

It was encouraging, however, to see that many of the local pleasure crafts and fishing boats left the anchorage this morning and all the latest forecasts were showing the weather moderating significantly to the north of us. The trick was to get about 20NM north of El Tur; no easy feat in this part of the world!

Putting weather aside, after a midday nap and lunch yesterday, Elaine continued her efforts on our videos, before assisting Roy with the final activities for our departure; Still hopeful that this would actually materialise.

By 0830 this morning, the winds had significantly moderated, so the decision was taken to weigh anchor. We were eventually continuing north again!

However, two hours into the passage, Kandiba experienced steering issues, so, while Sans Peur decided to continue on, we turned back and planned to return to El Tur with Kandiba. Fortunately, before that happened, Hasan managed to find a shallower patch to anchor and was able to troubleshoot the issue and resolve it, while we circled around. Having lost only an hour and word from Sans Peur, who were now about 5NM ahead of us, indicating that conditions had moderated significantly, both yachts decided to continue north again.

Of course, although, the winds had subsided to between 15 and 18 Kts as we progressed northwards at our snails pace, the lighter winds and calmer seas that Sans Peur had reported remained a holy grail, as we continued to pound to weather.

Thankfully, however, our luck was about to change. At around 1600 we passed the towering Jabal ‘Arabah, following which the mountain range running parallel to the coastline veered inland and the Gulf widened, removing the effect of the wind funnelling between the mountain ranges bordering the Gulf of Suez. Had we realised this topography sooner, it certainly would have explained the strength of the winds we experienced in both Soma Bay and El Tur.

Regardless, this meant the winds dropped, the sea flattened and, with a slight change of course, we were able to motor-sail, increasing our speed and, more importantly, our VMG (Velocity Made Good).

Then on Elaine’s watch, after instructions by VTS (Vessel Traffic Services) to after course in order to give the October Oil Fields are wider berth, not only did the current become favourable, but the winds had backed to westerly which increased our VMG further.

While the day had started off badly, it had certainly improved! While remaining close to Kandiba, altering our speed to ensure they stayed slightly ahead of us, both yards soldiered on.