Today was a relatively uneventful day at sea with glass-like surfaces and winds less than 7 knots all day, almost directly on our bow, leading to us motoring. There’s really not much to say about such a journey other than to bask in the glory of the spectacular views to behold. I’m contemplating a photography class to better capture our experiences in future seasons! In the evening, we celebrated the historic connection between the town and Vasco da Gama’s pioneering voyage to India with a lovely Indian dinner in town. We also discussed the 3 orca attacks that had occured throughout the day on boat rudders along the exact route planned for tomorrow and formulated our plan of approach if such a fate were to befall us.
Point of interest: There are 3 international emergency signals used in maritime communication to indicate different levels of urgency. Throughout the day we heard all 3 over the VHF radio – each involving orca activity between Sines and Lagos. The word is stated three times, the name of the vessel stated, then the cause of distress described.
Mayday: A distress signal indicating immediate danger to life or vessel, requiring urgent assistance.
Pan-Pan: An urgent call signaling a serious situation requiring help, but not immediately life-threatening.
Securité: A safety announcement to convey important navigational or weather information that poses a hazard but does not involve immediate danger. (Message was regarding orca activity in the region.)
to Vasco da Gama
