Under power and getting closer
16 August 2015
Bill/cloudy and lumpy seas
We pressed on through the day, motor sailing with just a reefer main up. We tried to tack this morning, but the current was so strong that instead of letting us turn the normal 90 to 100 degrees for tack, it pushed Zephyr into a 180 degree tack and now that the current was behind us, we took off like greased lightening. Bad thing was that it was taking us back from where we had just been. Not a good thing. Down came the forestaysail and on went the motor and off we pushed trying to steer anything under 180 degrees so it would take us closed to Madagascar. In the end, we got her up to about 165 and that is where we have set. It takes us closer where we will A: get out of the current, and B: get us closer to our intended destination. Having headed so far southwest for most of the trip, we are having to fight our way back, adding about 100 miles to the trip. The Sun just went down and the clouds have settled in. I'm in my foul weather gear to stay warm and dry should the sea gods decide to pelt us again with big waves. When we left Mexico, I put in a 2 X 6 board clamped to the stanchions to hold our four gasoline jerry cans. A wave last night shattered that board right in half. I'll send pictures once we get to shore. I'll be replacing it when we get to Hellville if I can find a good stout board. Amazingly, there appears to be no damage to the stanchions. Yeah for that at least. A long night is ahead but at least we are now in the wind shadow of the island so there is no more of the 30 knot winds. We topped out last night at 46 according to Tracy. Add in the 5 meter seas and it was an interesting night. More as the night progresses. It's now 0430 (Monday) and looking out the back, I can see some stars and some black areas where there are no stars. Perhaps a storm? Unknown at this time but Mother Nature will let us know soon enough. We are now well into the lee of Madagascar but still having winds of about ten knots off the port side helping us move along at just 4.5 knots with the engine still running so ther is still some current against us or we would be doing better. Our plan, at this time is to land at Hellville and check in instead of stopping along the way. We heard of a boat that got caught along the coast without checking in and they were fined $500 euros. We will be taking the smart way in. We can always come back up the coast when we have time. Once we do drop the anchor, we have a lot of cleaning to do as most of the inside as well as all of the outside is covered in saltwater. Not sure what the rain situation is but will be finding out. It's the dry season in the Seychelles so maybe the same here. No clue. We won't be in Hellville till tomorrow sometime so we still have a ways to go. The picture today is of "Blue", one of our two companions on this voyage during one of her more relaxed time though not during this particular trip. This time, it was find a place to hold on and only come out for food.