Majan A100

A heroes welcome from Oman

Thu, 13 May 2010 14:54:40 +0400

As Majan slowly motored into The Wave marina in Muscat, the 200+ strong crowd rose their flags into the air to welcome the crew finally home.

A 'Whale Come' home to Oman!

Wed, 12 May 2010 20:00:27 +0400

As if nature has grouped together to welcome us home, we have been met by a pod of spinner dolphins, three large whales, one bat (that is currently hung upside down in the engine compartment) and a school of flying fish big enough to walk on.

[Enjoy the video below]

“How Many? This Many!”

Wed, 12 May 2010 13:06:39 +0400

Today is the 12th of May; we have just crossed the final finish line off Cape Ras Al Hadd at 23:29:30 GMT. As is the same with so many ocean voyages, we’re happy to have finished safely, but sad that it’s all over. By the time we get to the dock 140 nm from here we will have logged 20,419 nm sailed. The sun is rising over us and more poignantly it’s rising over Oman. We are home! [See video below of Mohsin, Mohammed and Ali crossing the Finish Line]

'In on One'

Tue, 11 May 2010 14:38:10 +0400

We have tacked out last tack, gybed out last gybe and seen our last racing sunrise. After a long starboard tack out from the coast of India we are now in the Arabian Gulf and 300 miles from Cape Ras Al Hadd. ‘In on one’, was the last call from the navigator. That means no more manoeuvres and into the mark on one tack. At present the wind is blowing a cooling 11 knots true from 305º. That puts us a good 30º under the lay line for the finish. The forecast is for it to lift us and get stronger. If it does it will put us back on target and send Majan galloping across the finish like a home sick horse (if a horse did actually get home sick?)

The Black Night

Mon, 10 May 2010 14:14:18 +0400

When you look back over all our blogs from Majan we each talk about things we have seen, things that we have felt, things that we have experienced. So many times the subject has been during the hours of daylight. It would be easy to think we stop sailing in the dark, drop our sails and all get a good night sleep. The reality is we race just as hard during the night as we do during the day.

So near - yet so far

Sun, 09 May 2010 22:35:33 +0400

Estimated time of arrival (ETA) – some we keep talking about on board, but what does that mean? So with all the information at out disposal right now, we estimate a time we will be there.

“Just Add Water”

Sat, 08 May 2010 22:49:16 +0400

Welcome on board Majan and to the Indian Ocean 5 Capes menu. This week we are serving, chicken with rice, chicken with couscous, chicken with pasta. Fish with rice, fish with couscous, fish with pasta. Beef with rice, beef with etc, etc, are you getting the picture?

Passing Paradise

Fri, 07 May 2010 14:30:29 +0400

The whole crew sat on deck staring at the magical sight of palm trees, golden sand beaches, beautiful clean surf breaking and the temptation of a cool drink with real ice. Mohsin used the island phone signal and took the chance to ring his wife and find out how their newborn baby was getting on. His face shone almost as bright as the setting sun behind us. [See video below - Mohsin talks about Leg 5 and going home to Oman].

Coastal cruising - seeing the sights of India!

Thu, 06 May 2010 13:44:51 +0400

A bit like a steam train crossing the Indian continent, we powered up the coast of Kerala, eventually coming close to land just off the town of Kolachel. We had originally planned to tack out again further off shore but the wind was holding, and the draw of slowly converging with the interesting coastline kept us going for a bit longer.

Experience the black hole below Majan's decks

Wed, 05 May 2010 16:52:58 +0400

On the last leg Mohammed and Mohsin gave you the on deck tour of Majan.
Today we go below into the heart of this majestic giant of a yacht to reveal all about our working and living quarters.

Night lights and wind!

Tue, 04 May 2010 17:35:20 +0400

Even though there hasn’t been that much wind we have had quite a lot to do. You always know the wind will start to blow again sometime, and you have to keep looking for it and monitoring the weather forecasts.

“Oh The Pain !......etc”

Mon, 03 May 2010 14:02:20 +0400

There is so little wind and the sea lies so still and lifeless. The combination of the beating sun and the stagnant air forms a smooth glossy coat on the water. It looks like we are surrounded by thick heavy deep blue oil. Like a fly in a sticky web, we can feel trapped by its inactive clutches. The feeling of helplessness could creep in. The constant heat just serves to slow you down to the same lethargic pace as the boat.

“Open Ocean”

Sun, 02 May 2010 15:06:38 +0400

When you stand on the deck of Majan and look out to the horizon you can see for 7 nautical miles in good visibility. So spinning round 360º you view about 514 square km of open sea. That’s about 102,800 soccer pitches. Top that with the wide blue sky that seems to make you feel even more like a cork floating in the ocean.

“Getting Hooked”

Sat, 01 May 2010 20:58:42 +0400

Imagine trying to run up an escalator - sailing up wind against the tide is a little like that. If you run hard you will make it to the top, but if you stop you will be at the bottom before you know it. This was the problem we had when trying to cross the Malacca Straights in next to no wind. In a nut shell there is wind on each side of the channel but not in the middle. We were running the gauntlet from one side to the other, when slowly the inevitable happened. The tide was flushing us back as we were no longer moving forward. A Malacca magic carpet was now flying us back to Singapore at almost 2 knots.

Crossing the Straits

Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:08:46 +0400

Ships Ahoy! Left, right and centre. Freighter to port. Barge on the bow, incoming with pace. It’s sensory overload! [See video below].

A very special day onboard Majan - welcome Thura

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 14:42:27 +0400

Today is a very special day, as our very own Mohsin Al Busaidi has become a father. Mohsin rang home and spoke to his wife Sarah back in Oman who broke the news to him that he was a father to a beautiful baby girl, called Thura. “Mother and baby are doing well”, says Mohsin. [See video below]

Happy nights

Wed, 28 Apr 2010 14:24:37 +0400

As the searing sun sets over the dusty clouds, it turns everything a shade of deep orange. Everything looks like it’s been super heated, like metal in a furnace that’s glowing hot. The setting sun also brings welcome relief from the days high temperatures and lack of wind.

Report from Sidney Gavignet

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:15:22 +0400

Here we go again! On the road again, all the way to Muscat. Back home for
Majan, she must be smelling her stable...

The last start

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 14:02:39 +0400

The fifth and final leg of the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race has started. On a beautiful day with 6 knots from 280º we crossed the line to the south of Cape Piai at 04:00 UCT, midday local time. [See video below].

Ali Ambusaidi to join Majan for Leg 5

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 16:57:30 +0400

Oman Sail’s academy instructor, Ali Ambusaidi, will be joining the crew of Majan when she sets sail tomorrow for the final leg of the Indian Oceans 5 Capes Race, leaving from Singapore and returning back to Muscat.