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Voyageur - Log day 187 - Off to Africa



31 October 2010

It is with great excitement and anticipation that we make our final preparations to leave. For one thing it is the final leg of the voyage across the Indian Ocean. It is my first ever visit to the African continent and our good friends Sue and Donald Fraser are to join us there, Donald to sail the Richards Bay to Cape Town leg and then we go touring with them both after that. It is one year to the day that we last saw them when we visited their estate in Glen Affric in the Scottish highlands. It seems quite incredible to us that we have crossed nearly three oceans in that short space of time.

Last night was the prize giving for leg 18 with a party to follow. Held in the Dodo Cafe, just metres from the boats, it was, as always another good evening with a three course sit-down dinner and Creole musical entertainment. Even the moths took the night off or perhaps it was simply that we were enjoying ourselves so much we did not notice them. Again David won the prize for guessing the nearest ETA for leg 18. Being his birthday made it extra special and everyone sang 'Happy Birthday'.

First over the line we craned our necks to find the yellow buoy which we had to leave to starboard. It was so hard to spot that most of fleet were also unable to identify it. Then I spotted it very close inshore and we watched with mild amusement as everyone suddenly dived towards the shore. Not for us. It did not look very safe from our position. We were nicely on a direct course for Richards Bay and had no desire to get caught up in the scramble, so immediately disqualified ourselves from the race!

This is not the Indian Ocean as we know it. Our progress was painfully slow in the light north easterly winds. But it allowed us to be very lazy, we were quite partied out. We relaxed in the cockpit, taking turns to keep a good lookout but not having to worry too much about anyone coming too close. The cloud that seems to wrap itself permanently around the mountains of La Reunion was still there and the island was soon lost to us in the hot afternoon haze of the sun. For our evening meal we had the leftovers of the Spanish chicken of two nights ago. The sun went down at 6.30 precisely and as if on cue the wind piped up. Several times throughout the day we had been on the point of running the engine but had managed just, to resist the temptation. Still we have covered only a measly 33nm and with over 1300nm to go we will have to do better.

The wind died to 6knots at 2am and swung round to the northwest. We started to motor. With very light winds forecast for the next three days it looks like we could be doing a lot of this. I am not complaining. The sun is shining, the night is soft and warm and we are passing the time pleasantly enough, reading, listening to music, stargazing. Now that we are out of the race there is no pressure on us not to use the engine. So until we have a usable sailing wind we will continue to go along like this. We are out of sight of all the other boats, so the ocean belongs to us once more. A glorious sunset was the finale to a glorious day and I hope a good omen for the days ahead......

Susan Mackay


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