CAPE INDEX - I AM A BELIEVER
Iridium Go puts me in contact with the outside world when I have been at sea for two weeks, and there is no land in sight.
Iridium Go also lets me download the CAPE index for my location at sea.
The CAPE index is a number that expresses the probability that I will be clobbered by thunderstorms in the dark of night.
When the CAPE index is below 2000, the odds for a night of thunderstorm free sleep are good.
When the CAPE index is above 2000, I can already feel a sense of dread for what is going to happen tonight when the thunderstorms come rolling through.
Iridium Go shows the CAPE index for the patch of ocean that surrounds me for hundreds of miles in every direction.
According to our CAPE index for tonight, we may be able to just sneak by without dancing with Thor in the early morning hours. The CAPE index is just below 2000, and we are just on the edge of a region that has a CAPE index over 2000.
As I look up at the patchy blue sky without any cumulonimbus clouds in sight, I can see hope on the horizon. I am not sure if it is false hope or real hope. I will have to wait until after midnight to find out.
I don’t want to make Thor angry or for him to feel bad, but I will be happy if Thor does not come for a visit tonight.
Thor is probably reading the CAPE index as I write, and he is already making his plans for the night.
Addendum: Thor did not show up with his lightning bolts that night. We had a great night of sleep.
When you download the grib files, the purple areas show that there is no wind in the monsoon trough. But that is only half of the story. The other half is that in the area without wind, there is a high CAPE index over 2000, and if you are in the yellow or orange areas, the thunderstorms will eat you alive.
When you pull down your grib files in the doldrums (monsoon trough), you download the wind speed and direction to see if you are going to get any wind to sail toward your destination, and you download the CAPE index to see whether thunderstorms are in your future. If the CAPE index is above 2000, you can be sure that Thor and his lightning bolts will pay a visit in the middle of the night.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
