Flying Fish sailing westward, downwind, wing-on-wing. © Jeffrey Cardenas
I remember with vivid clarity the moment 20 months ago when Panama’s Miraflores Locks opened and Flying Fish was floating for the first time in the Pacific Ocean.
Tomorrow I begin my departure from this beautiful ocean–with so many memories–and sail onward toward the new and strange world of the Indian Ocean.
There is no mechanical demarkation between these two oceans as there was at the Panama Canal. Still, I sense the mingling of these ocean waters. I am leaving the Coral Sea to the east, transiting the Torres Strait, and crossing west into the Arafura and Timor Sea–from Oceania to Asia. I will linger for some time in Malaysia and Indonesia before deciding how, when, or if Flying Fish will make the nearly 5,000-mile passage across the Indian Ocean to South Africa.
It was suggested that better routing might be across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and into the eastern Mediterranean via the Suez Canal. If that happens, Flying Fish would be hitching a ride on the deck of a freighter in an armed convoy past Yemen, Somalia, and the Gulf of Aden. I’m no Rambo.
But those are thoughts for another day… Now, the focus is on tomorrow.
There are 18,307 islands in the Indonesian archipelago and I don’t want to touch any of them with the keel of Flying Fish. I am prepared and well-rested. My various body parts have healed completely from previous onboard dramas. The sailboat is tuned and ready for new water. Onward!
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Today’s log entry and position of Flying Fish.
As I mentioned in the last post I have activated a satellite tracking link that shows the daily position, current weather, and includes a few personal thoughts from my daily log. I will not be able to respond to messages via satellite but I love the idea that you are sailing along with me. If you would like to follow the daily progress of Flying Fish into Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean you can click this link: https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/Flyingfish
Please subscribe at the bottom of this page so that you don’t miss a new post, and consider sharing this post with others who might enjoy following the voyage of Flying Fish.
To see where Flying Fish has sailed in the past year click here: https://cruisersat.net/track/Flying%20Fish
Text and Photography © Jeffrey Cardenas 2019
Flying Fish 
Soooo Awesome! The foreshadowing of the adventures to come, i love it!
Fair winds and following seas”
Jeff Mack
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Thank you Jeff! I especially like the idea of “Fair winds and following seas.” I appreciate you reading the post.
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Love following your adventures Jeff! Enjoy all the sweet moments of your life! 🥰
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Thank you Leanne, I appreciate your enthusiasm and encouragement.
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I was wondering which route you might choose. Exactly how hard is it to hitch a ride on an armed convoy? It’s not like you can offer to split the gas. Should you choose Cape Agulhas/Good Hope, we’ll be in South Africa in April. If our paths could cross that would be splendid …
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It is not difficult for the sailboat to hitch a ride to the Red Sea on the deck of a freighter. All it takes is money. Big money. Convincing the shipping company (and their insurance companies) to allow me to book passage with the boat is problematic. I like the simplicity of just sailing…
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WOW 5000 miles.Thats quite a trip..If U do decide to do so Grabbing a ridevon a freighter sounds like a great idea.Less risk.Keep your shotgun loaded.How difficult is it to arrange that type. passage?Safe travels.
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There are no guns to load aboard Flying Fish, Phil. Arranging passage on a freighter will be challenging. Anyway, that’s a decision for another day. Today, I am going sailing. Thanks for your thoughts.
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My vote is South Africa…..and I know my vote is important in your decision :-). Safe and enjoyable voyaging!
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Thanks for your vote Herb. We’ll see which way the boat travels when the time comes—and how much fuel is left in the tank of her aging captain.
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Rambo it Card. Go in guns a blazing….or not. Nothing wrong with a sail around the Cape. Either way, continued best wishes.
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Thank you for your enthusiasm Paul. I don’t even know which finger works the trigger of a gun so I’m going to sail the path of least resistance. Thanks for following the voyage of Flying Fish.
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Sail the safest path Jeff, no need for weapons. Each time I see an IP down at the docks, i’m reminded of your journey. I trust you’ve thrown a few tight loops at some exotic species along the way. Be well my friend.
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Wishing you smooth sailing, Jeffrey!!!
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Thank you for your thoughts, Lucy. Even though there have been a few rough patches I am grateful for every day on the ocean.
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Hey, Jeffrey….love following you and your pics are amazing 😉….showing them to my little one visiting Bob and me here at the beach and she is very impressed especially with the clown fish and the wonderfully colorful houses….Also, the pics of the huge plants and your wonderful boat 🚣♂️ . I’m trying to show her the continents on your path and the waters u are traveling so she can follow on her globe we gave her last Xmas when she gets home.
Thinking of u so often wishing you to be safe, sound and happy 😊
Miss and love U, Maxie
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Dear Maxie, Sorry about the tardy reply to your sweet comments. I love it that you have shared the posts with the children. We are leaving this world to them. We have a responsibilty to the generations that will follow us. It begins with the simple awareness of showing a child something in nature they never knew existed
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