We are around 12 hrs from arriving in Salalah now with group 4 yachts a few hours ahead of us, group x yachts a day behind us and finally Larooba and Journey due in on Saturday/Sunday.

I spoke to Tony in Salalah today and it is very good to know he is waiting to assist us with checking in, refuelling and berthing and he has also arranged a 24/7 dentist clinic for Jaques on Jacobel.

There will be a memorial service in Salalah on Sunday for the crew of S/V Quest.

When Saildance (our group comms boat) spoke to UKMTO this morning, the head guy took the call and informed us that he will be attending the service.

It will be a harrowing time for us all, let’s hope it helps us to realise the events of the past few days so that we can begin to somehow come to terms with this tragedy.

We will certainly need some time in Salalah to recover from this trip both physically and emotionally so that we can feel strong again before tackling the next 700 mile passage through the Gulf of Aden and up to Djibouti.

Since we have motored all the way we also need to give the engine some TLC which will involve another service.

As I write it is just after midnight and it is very dark, the moon is due to make an appearance anytime now to give us another spectacular light show of phosphorescence in the water that glides past the hull.