A black and blue trip.
14 August 2015 | 10 04.428s:47 43.815e
We arrived in Astove Atoll about 11:30 and spent well over an hour getting Zephyr anchored. The guides said it was easy. On the northwest side of the atoll, ran a beach with a coral shelf that was just off shore in any where from 10 to 30 feet. Once you past that point, the water drops off to well over 500 feet. We came in at just about low tide and all we found was the coral shelf, no 10 to 30 feet. There was water breaking all along the coral shelf, not really allowing for anchoring. We made our way up and down the coast dropping the anchor where we felt we would have a chance of it grabbing something. Up and down and up and down the anchor went, no fewer than five times. Now normally, we wouldn't anchor in these situations where if the wind should shift and come out of the north west or just the west, we would be in lots of trouble since there is no room to swing in this anchorage. With the weather forecasted for the area, we need to take shelter somewhere as M adagascar is still over 100 miles from here. On the sixth attempt, we headed in until the depth gauge said TWO feet under the keel and I dropped the anchor. I could easily see the coral shelf under Zephyrs leading edge. Tracy was having a fit back in the cockpit and rightfully so as we were in trouble if we went forward any more. I could easily see the anchor when it landed just in front of the boat. We dropped back and luckily it held! We dropped back with the depth under the boat going well over 300 feet in just 100 feet of dropping back. Quite a coral shelf for anchoring. I put on my swim trunks, mask and fins and jumped into the water. Man oh man, it was the coldest water I've been in in years!!! This water is fed from the cold water of Antartica and it feels it. The currents in the Indian Ocean brings it right this way. The anchor was fine laying hooked into a nice chunk of coral about ten feet back from the ledge. We're not going anywhere. The forecast fo r the next three days is winds in the mid 30 knot range and 15 to18 feet seas. I think I'll we will stay right here. As for the title of this post, we both have a bunch of black and blue marks all over our bodies after loosing our balance as Zephyr zoomed along. We did over 150 miles a day for the last two days. Unheard of. Every time we would loose a hand hold, we zip across the cockpit or cabin and slam into some door or cabinet raising nice welts and bruises. It's going to take some time to heal these marks. More to come as we aren't done with this voyage yet.