Mozambique Channel
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Tue 16 Oct 2007 07:46
Madagascar to South
Africa
20:45S 38:49E
Mozambique Channel
16th October 2007
I am not going to write much about this passage so
far as expletives are not a good idea and in my view rather spoil a read.
I would not know how to describe the last few days without using them
however.
Basically we sailed down the north west coast of
Madagascar using the diurnal winds. These onshore offshore winds do not
obey the laws of nature as I know them but do have a pattern so can be
used. The offshore late night/morning/occasionally most of the day breeze
predominates unlike most examples of this weather where the onshore daytime
breeze set up by the rapidly heating land is the predominant wind.
Rounding Cape St Andre about fifteen miles offshore in order to avoid the
apparently strong onshore setting currents we set off down the rumb line
for Richards Bay. Passing just to the east of Juan de Nova, a low lying,
reef surrounded, French possession that only has research scientists as a
population, we had two hours of strong south going current, all seemed
well. The next three days were mental torture. We tended to get
south east winds at night giving fine sailing and either no or headwinds during
the day. This was not however the problem. We averaged forty miles
of current against us every day. This is not good for morale, especially
as it causes one to split tacks at 130 degrees. Our
Velocity Toward Destination
was often under three knots despite putting 25 hours on the engine time
log.
Three hours short of five days out and with a south
easterly wind causing us to beat with over 20 knots across the deck and just not
laying the course we had 6.9 on the boat speed and 4.8 on the Speed Over the
Ground. We bore away onto west and set sail for Bazaruto in
Mozambique. In two days time the weather files show us having up to 25
knots on the nose if we carried on. The one consolation is that the
morning radio net told us that we will find one couple who we are friends with
in Bazaruto and either at our arrival time or shortly after we will be joined by
two other boats who are very good company and like us changed their plans
against their wishes.
I am trying to use this last information to cheer
up the mate who had her heart set on getting out of the third world.
I am told that as we may have to spend some time on the uninhabited Bazaruto
islands I will be very thin by the end. Her usual good stores management
was knocked sideways by a shortage of lots of things, including flour and fresh
veg, in Hellville just before we left. I am relieved to say that the
supply of alcohol is not lacking.
As I write this said mate is cursing while she
attempts to paint the very complicated Mozambiquan flag with the boat pitching
about. Why is it the basicer the country the more complicated the national
flag is?
Have no fear morale is already on the up, we will
make the best of an irritating situation and as to our progress towards Richards
Bay, watch this space.
David