25:32.282N 034:38.283E
We learn every day (or you can say that we never learn....). What we've
learned today about cruising in the Red Sea is following: 1) Don't make
plans (and if you absolutely have to, make sure you have a plan B, plan C,
............plan H -at least). Weather does not work according to our
plans..... Second rule: never celebrate your arrival before you've actually
made it there. We were so happy during the night as we though we would make
it all the way to Hurghada -in our minds we were already celebreating,
dreaming of sivilization, restaurants, hot showers, laundry etc. Although we
were going pretty well during the night, all hell broke loose this morning
as the wind and the seas picked up. We were slamming down the waves and it
sounded like the boat was going to break. One big wave crushed the dodger
and a few hundred liters came in -everywhere. Suddenly the engine
stopped....... When trying to find the cause, Jorn found that the engine
mounting has broken again (sadly enough the mounting on the engine
itself -not fixable). So Jorn took a seasickness tablett, found his tools,
and spend the morning head down in the engine trying to get it started
again. I sailed towards Port Ghalib in case we needed to go into harbour
(could not anchor anywhere either because the windlass was still in pieces).
Jorn finally got the engine going. Actually, when sailing, the weather
wasn't too bad and we were still considering to keep going. After a few more
hours we realized that although it was doable, getting to Hurghada would
take us several days in the weather we were having (actually quite stupid
even thinking of it with a loose engine -and tired skipper and exhausted
crew). So we turned around -and are now safely tied up to the immigration
dock monitoring VHF as the norwegian yacht Xanadu is trying to make it in
here without an engine (it is about to get dark and there is a tricky reef
entrance). Guess we were lucky after all. We'll have to stay here a few days
now as paperwork (check-in) cannot be done in weekends. There is a pizza
restaurant nearby and we can take hot showers -and get laundry done -so very
happy!
Nowegians: you'll have to do with the english today -too tired :)
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