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Voyageur - Log day 189 - Slowly to South Africa



3 November 2010

2am, again, my watch. We have been motor sailing all day on a calm sea. Gradually the wind had backed more to the south so we tentatively unfurled a small section of genoa to test our repair. It looked remarkably good and we were mightily relieved. Without it our ETA in Africa was looking more like Christmas! The wind suddenly filled in from the east south east. We unfurled the rest the sail. Off we went, the engine silenced at last. We reveled in the peace and quiet and Voyageur's easy downwind motion. We still have three knots of current against us so instead of her eight knots through the water we are only going a slow five. We must be patient. I think we will not pick up a favorable current until we are well past Madagascar and on across the bottom of the Mozambique Channel. However we cannot understand why this should be so for quite clearly on our chart it shows the South Equatorial Current going in an easterly direction. Out third problem occurred. The diaphragm on the automatic bilge pump has worn. Although we have a spare on board it is just too rough today for David to attempt to replace it so in the meantime we have to use the manual one. Let's hope it is the last of the niggley little problems.

Susan Mackay


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