Our crew arrived on Monday 25^th March ready for our departure from Hurghada and passage through the Suez into the Med to Crete.

We were thrilled to welcome Pete, Derry and Paul all friends from BWR, and we were also very pleased that they were appropriately attired.

The T shirts say ‘Blue Magic’s Bitches’ and they even have the Discovery logo !

But first we had three birthdays to celebrate on Wednesday 27^th March, Derry’s, Lica’s, from Sol Maria, and John’s, from Suleika.

The celebrations were also combined with a farewell from Vasco Da Gama rally leader, Lo to say good bye to us and Sol Maria as we were leaving ahead of the rest of the fleet. Lo presented us with a very smart plaque to say we have sailed the Red Sea.

It has been great to be part of the rally and we have made some good friends whilst exploring Egypt and the Red Sea and enjoying a winter of sunshine and blue skies.

For us it has been quite special to complete some of the missing miles from the final part of our circumnavigation, when our yachts were transported from Oman to Turkey due to escalating piracy. Of course it is also special to have Derry and Paul from yacht Jackamy and Pete from yacht Fai Tira all aboard ‘Blue Magic’ so that they can do all the chores, the night watches and the cooking…oh and experience the final leg of their circumnavigation too.

Thursday 28^th March 2013

The weather forecast was perfect for staying a couple of nights in the reefs to do some snorkelling and then departing for an overnight passage on Sunday to Port Suez.

So midday we followed Sol Maria out of the marina with the rally waving us goodbye and lots of hooters signalling our departure.

We will miss all our rally friends and the helpful staff at the marina.

One thing we won’t miss is the wailing from the mosque several times a day !

Looking at the weather in the UK I think we may also miss the beautiful sunshine, it has rained just twice here in the last 6 months, and Sandra and David experienced both those times on their short weeks holiday with us !