Richard's Bay to Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Day 1
Harmonie
Don and Anne Myers
Sat 3 Nov 2012 09:53
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30:19.479S 30:57.896E
We are cruising fast down Africa's east coast with 25 to
30 knots of steady northeast wind behind us and the current sometimes as
high as 2 knots pushing us along at average speed over 9 knots. Not
too shabby.
With the help of about 10 people, Don backed Harmonie out of
very tight quarters in Tuzi Gazi Marina with no problem, and after a short wait
on the 'international wall' for the wind to shift a little more in our favor, we
motored out of Richard's Bay late yesterday afternoon. We spent an
uneventful night motoring in light northeasterly wind under a mass of
clouds and a moon trying desperately to show itself (it never did, but the
overall moon glow was helpful anyway). After clearing the Richard's Bay
freighter anchorage area, we had clear sailing (or motoring as the case was)
down to Durban, which we passed at about 7 this morning. After that, the
wind kicked up as predicted and we've been doing our favorite kind of sailing
ever since - downwind.
The northeast wind is supposed to hold up until tomorrow
(Sunday, 11/4) morning, and then go very light as a weak low pressure passes
over. At that point, we will be very close to East London, so if the low
pressure brings more southwest wind than we are expecting (very little), we will
have the option to turn into East London and wait for the next weather window to
arrive before proceeding on to Port Elizabeth.
All in all, an excellent first day.
More tomorrow.
Anne
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