Tuesday 23 October 2018

Shooting for departure Thursday morning all the way around top of Madagascar to Nosy-be without stopping in Ile St. Marie. Should take six days with no stop, but will have options after four. Spent too much time in Mascarenes and this will save some time. Weather shows so benign that we may have little wind after a huge blow last few days. Predicted sea is also low, but skepticism abounds as none of the Indian, no matter reports, has been pleasant.

Wednesday

Boat is ready to go. Entire crew suffers from colds or sore throats. Most gregarious member has had laryngitis, which is immeasurably frustrating for someone whose raison d'etre is socializing.

Thursday

Currently waiting for clearance agents, trying to use last of mobile data. Still unable HF connection to Pretoria Sailmail station, but unjustified confidence soars to new heights for this blessed event as we proceed marginally closer. After getting official permission to depart will putt around to diesel dock where many euros will be expended. Did not refuel in Mauritius due reports of much less expensive duty-free fuel here. Reunion ended that practice last month.

Thirteen Oyster Rally boats left yesterday direct to Richard's Bay. Would that they will have uncluttered the Zululand Yacht Club docks by continuing their hurried around-the-world odyssey before we arrive in 3 1/2 weeks. World Arc boats, not yet in Reunion, will likely be our nemesis as they skitter around in an even shorter fifteen months.

Just received a call from our customs friend Fabrice, who is on vacation, but checked for us, to discover that the marina had not told anyone we were leaving. If we had known and mates on Liberte hadn't awakened us at 0600 to help them off we could have slept in. Would have been nice. Fabrice and family took us to a terrific restaurant in St. Giles last night, Piccolo, and we didn't get to bed until past midnight. As always the friends we make are the best of this exercise, but it sometimes tests stamina.

- Later

After waiting for customs, who were very nice, very efficient, and another boat on fuel dock, got away at 1100 with diesel out the wazoo (refer to previous short monographs concerning the wazoo). Wind better than expected, sea about the same (lumpy), a beautiful day with good current speeding us toward Cap D'Ambre at the far northern extent of Madagascar.

Will try to connect for email this afternoon, which should be possible as the SA station is closer than 1600 NM. However, distance will only decrease by 30 NM until starting south along west coast of Madagacar in four days or so. If you don't receive this today you won't know for up to a week that you won't get anything for up to a week. If you do get this today you will then know that you may not receive anything for up to a week except for this, but likelihood is somewhat less and you can be on your guard.

Jack