28:08.66N. 033:35.20E

Vlad arrived Saturday morning and was very helpful to get all the last minute jobs done including helping Clare at the supermarket and putting me up the mast to retrieve a line and check the rig.

We have made friends with the other yacht in Port Ghalib, Lucy from AD and met the skipper, William, for a late lunch and evening snack and drinks.

Sunday morning we refuelled and pushed the system to let us go asap.

We finally slipped our mooring at 10 having waited since 8:30.

Saw lots of dolphins, amazing.  Both the small and the large ones.  Big pods of 20 or more.

Motor sailing northwards towards the gulf of Suez   Keen to make good progress in the first 24 hours as the wind is due to strengthen to 20 knots from the north!

We entered the gulf of suez at 0420hrs on Monday morning.  Chatting to VTS control on channel 61 and dodging the many ships.

Wind was 15kts on the nose overnight but soon rose to 20 and we have seen a gust of 30.  Now with 2 reefs. Making solid progress with about 120 miles to go.

The winds should be easing as we head north, but in any case 24 hours should do it.

Been chatting to the agent and preparing for our transit through the canal.  Because we have already left Egypt, it is difficult to go to Port Said if the weather in the Med is poor.  The option is then to stay in the canal until the weather improves!

Team Diablo