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Voyageur - Log day 192 - Supreme sacrifice



7 November 2010

Last night the 6pm SSB informal radio net was dominated by talk of the weather. Now there is a new threat. A local yachtsman in Richards Bay has warned of strong southerly winds on Tuesday and advised that it would be dangerous for us to attempt our passage across the Agulhas current and into Richards Bay. The Agulhas current is an infamous stretch of water. It sets south and if against a southerly blow large and dangerous seas result. As our latest grib file did not show anything too much to concern us, we decided to continue motoring on throughout the night in a light westerly wind of force two to three, and see what the new morning WARC forecast had to say. It confirmed that a north, north easterly gale was forecast for Monday until midnight when the wind would back over the next three to four hours to a strong south, south westerly, lasting until Tuesday afternoon. After that it would back to the south east, all last allowing us to make for Richards Bay. But we are still going to continue to go as fast as we can to the waypoint 150nm away and see the updated forecast. Things seem to change on a daily basis so we have to be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itself. Last night was my first glimpse of an African sunset, the sun a fireball. As it sank to the horizon it looked as if it was actually sitting in the ocean, a phenomenon that I have not seen before. Throughout the night we motored hard, bombing along at over 8knots, the elusive two knot current finally in our favour. We continued on throughout today, the wind backing from west to southwest to south. The seas were confused and we all, (poor Voyageur, angry waves pounding against her hull), took a bit of a beating as we ploughed on towards the west. It seems the Indian Ocean is not yet ready to release us from its grip. But I made a pact with Neptune last night and tossed him a mini Toblerone. It is David's favourite night time treat and with supplies running low it was a supreme sacrifice. I have yet to own up to it.......

Susan Mackay


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