Chagos to Madagascar - Journey Pictures
Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Mon 22 Jul 2019 23:47
Chagos to Madagascar - Journey
Pictures
Friday the 12th of
July. Our last look at our special beach on South
Fouquet (Pepe’s Island to the right).
Our final look at Pepe’s (left) and Bear’s
Island.
After saying farewell to Little Man
Pooper and Bye Bye to Bobby, the anchor came up at 11:30, we were out through
the Pass at 12, looking back at three of the Salomon
Islands – our home for the past four weeks. Main up, genoa out and engine
off at 12:30. Mixed wind and swell, steady by 18:00, 11 knots, speed 4.4
knots.
A pretty
sunset, lightning in the cloud for several hours.
Saturday the 13th of
July. Settling into life at sea. SSE wind average 16 to 18 knots and
ESS swell. Side waves a bit of a pain every so often. No rain – YAY. 142
nautical miles until 10:00 this morning. Bear put a reef in the main at 11:00. A
little sunshine. Bear didn’t fancy supper so I left him to his tuck box. Sleep not a problem.
Sunday the 14th of
July. One mahoosive wave went over the roof of the conservatory, landed
on Bear’s side and poured in, everything very wet. Very
rude. Rain and leaning to
the right. 164 nmiles in the last 24 hours.
Just before dusk
I saw a dolphin, thought it may be a figment or the way the swell cut, until I
saw him again. Sunset. From 22:00 really lovely conditions.
Monday the 15th of
July. 156.4 nmiles in the last 24 hours. A heavy day. Rough sea big
gusts. At 18:00 Bear crawled out to put a second reef
in the main. Still smiling though.
Tuesday the 16th of
July. 160.1 nmiles in the last 24 hours. A very, very heavy day. Gusts
to 32 knots. 10:00 - I had just got up and fell between the door and settee
taking out the dining room table. This same mahoosive wave took off the pole and
solar panel from the starboard side, the top half of the dodger but Bear managed
to lash everything down. Later, Bear snipped the wires and sealed them, and we
settled the solar panel in the lounge against the leaning table.......enough for
one day – no, more to come. Bear had just enjoyed a corned beef wrap (last of
the cucumber) when he set to altering the genoa sheet and fell on a wave. Top of
forehead, cut, weight across forehead (hurt most) and glasses smashed into
bridge of nose. Thankfully, his glasses didn’t break which was my fear. One can
say the skipper did a bit of a number on himself.
Gusts to 38 knots. The skipper
managed to sleep but too uncomfortable to lie on his left side. Overnight
not too bad.
Wednesday the 17th of
July. At 05:40 Bear went out to get the main down. He crawled past the
missing top bar, sitting to undue the lazyjack straps as he went. He went to
settle before the granny bar and slipped. I leapt up to see he was sitting on
the deck – phew – fast prayers. I lost ten years of life in that second. Once
back in the cockpit I breathed huge sighs of relief. 10:00 163.5 nm completed in
the last 24 hours.
12:15 a massive wave rushed through
the back door. 13:30 we made it to the gap in the Mascarene Bank and watched as
a big girl skirted the shallow to the south of us.
Mr. Dickinson (heater) is really not
my friend. His chimney is leaking badly and the lean of the girl has water
seeping toward the settee through the lounge ceiling panel. I found Wayne (big
wombat) has a wet back left hoof, my calendar and pencil case damp. Leaning the
other way, water seeps toward the kitchen cupboards. Note to self, castrate
Mr.Dickinson with duct tape, a bin liner and more duct tape........
So difficult to get decent pictures
of a big sea. We had pits between swell banks 7 metres deep and the same sized
peaks beside us. The water was a gorgeous
blue.
Still smiling
before deep sleep and the
odd snore. Why do I put in so many pictures of Bear asleep – to see him beside
me in the cockpit during the day is a sort of comfort, although the snore that
wakes him often makes me jump.......I do like him to go to bed proper from two
until six but if I have any concerns that conditions are bad and likely to
change, he stays out beside me. Bless him.
Thursday the 18th of July.
150.9 nautical miles in the last twenty four hours. Cheeky rainstorm at
13:00, rain heavy, Beez did 10.4 knots for a second or two as gusts reached 32
knots. All over in five minutes (thank heavens), the wind settled between 17-20
knots. Our average speed settled at six and a bit. Big Bear enjoyed mutton
biryani for supper.
Friday the 19th of July.
157.1 nm in the last 24 hours. This morning we had a steadier sea wind 17-20 knots. Overnight we had
hard, hard rain for many hours which served to have ‘ironed’ out the surface,
although still an ominous dark blue/grey. Bear found that Echo Park on
his Kobo was in Spanish, I promised to replace it once we get settled and
checked in at Hellville. He went on to the next book in his Harry Bosch list –
The Overlook, a much shorter book.....by 14:00 he had begun Last Verdict. Over
the past few days I have rediscovered Free Cell, had to watch the demo to see
how to play it, the four spaces at the top left as manoeuvring docks. 16:00 We
actually saw a chum, Bahri Grain. We would
see her..............
.....then she
would disappear.
Ooo, no chance of seeing her again in
these waves.
Saturday the 20th of July.
I woke to a steady 10-15 knots. 139 nm. Side roll comfortable. Genoa
out from three reefs to full stretch. All well on board.
Sunday the 21st of July.
Wind between 5 and 10 knots. Steady low wind on a gentle sea. 18:00
ninety-nine nmiles to go to the top. Bear ate korma and rice. I ate my last
apple. Situation ‘normal’ as the skipper rests – make
that snore his whatsits off. 20:00 Lots and lots of rain. 22:00 birds
arguing on who sits where on the solar panel.
Monday
the 22nd of July. Bear told me that no sooner than
I had gone to bed at six with twenty-five miles to get ‘to the top’ than the
girl sensed the Cap d’Ambre and went for it. One gust to 17 knots, steady at
10-15 knots and the girl sped up to eight knots. UNBELIEVABLE. I get up early so
we can go around the cape as a team and no sooner than I get settled to take
pictures Bear slipped and head-butted the very same winch that caused his facial
clouts, yet another wound. I threatened him with
having to wear a hard hat in the future.
At 09:30 we could clearly see the
mainland of Madagascar. At 09:40
we dropped from - - - to 130 metres and steadily dropping in
depth.
We had raced – under engine – to get
to this point, the Cape by daybreak. Our window was
six hours after which the wind was predicted to rise between 25 and 30 knots.
This journey has been a very. very mixed bag. The first half swept into to top
five worst but for damage to Beez Neez ranks number one. The second
half has been quite pleasant save for having to monitor the
leaks........
The Cape
lighthouse.
Our first glimpse of Cap
d’Ambre.
At 10:10 we had passed the first promontory and were heading for
the second pointy bit.
ALL IN ALL A VERY LUMPY FIRST
HALF
GREAT SAIL, BUT MULTIDIRECTIONAL WAVES WERE
DAMAGING |