position 29:57.0N 32:34.0E
Ocean Rival Journey Log
Adam Power Diana Power
Fri 10 Mar 2023 17:55
Friday 10th March
Made it to Suez!
Now in the yacht club rafted up with a motor boat that has a 10ft gap stern to the pontoon and so well secured to a buoy at the bow that the gap can't be closed. We had expected to be moored out in the harbour with bow and stern lines to bouys but were hailed to raft up by our agents man (Said). So when I was taken ashore by Said to be shown the facilities we had to use a gang plank improvised from an old wooden ladder. Said is also fairly old and has plastic vertebrae in his spine so we both struggled.
The yacht club has good showers, and a washing machine but only one small decrepit pontoon to which a few old motor boats are tied. We had thought that Suez could be an option for leaving the boat while we fly home but that idea has been sunk in the last dribble of the Red Sea.
We can see the ships passing in the canal from the cockpit as we enjoy our kebabs (supplied by Said), ice-cream and cake from Captn Heebi, & lunch time bread rolls supplied by the Russians who have the only other yacht in the harbour. Their yacht is a self built steel lump of a ketch with numerous dinghys and surf boards hung around the cockpit, to the degree that it appears the booms no longer swing. They are heading south and have been here a week or so, so they have visas to allow them to enjoy the delights of Suez.
Diana wrenched her back while throwing lines to Said and now groans even more than usually. The back issue prompted Said to show us his support belt and recommend his Cairo surgeon who inserted the plastic vertebrae. He was prone on his back for 2 years recovering if I understood him correctly (his English is confident and loud but not very extensive). He is however very free with his kisses when fishing for his bakshish.
The harbour side is used by a conveyor belt of delightfully dressed brides, grooms and bridesmaids for photo sessions with the backdrop of the massive ships or delapidated boats. The ships arriving from the north are frequently towing a tiny 14ft dinghy alongside that looks totally over powered by the speed, then casting off -perhaps a cunning way of saving time to drop off the pilot.
The blog has been interrupted several times by officials with paperwork to complete, the Navy, the police, the canal measurement guy, the agent and Said who has to shout at us from the pontoon to get our attention. I now recognise the shout but it took a few goes as he sounds like he is shouting 'William!'
We have bought a backup engine battery with help of Captn Heebi in case we have a start up issue which could cost us very dear if we get stuck in the canal. The batteries do appear to be discharging more than they should so the damage may yet prove fatal (to the batteries).