L'Eau Commotion Westabout

8:45pm Wednesday 4th October 2017 ( UTC+2 ) Spent a remarkably comfortable night running before a full gale with only the storm sail set and going much in the intended direction. The course was just a little South of that most recommended but the speed was better and as mentioned more stable and comfortable. I slept most of the time but did look out quite often in the bright moonlight but at dawn woke to the unmistakeable smell of African cooking fires. How could this be I thought being so far out to sea but tracing back the source of the gale force winds you could see them passing over Madagascar and Mozambique. These winds continued at gale force to about 11 am but had died away completely by 1pm leaving massive confused swells. Despite my best efforts in fitful winds no progress was begun until 5pm and then many hours spent trying to handle the squalls and seas in a pitch black night, but I think I've got on top of it. With easing winds forecast, tonight should be OK but still a lot of variables before reaching the vicinity of Port Elizabeth.