Year 3 -15 May 2026 –Bound for Mauritius- Strong Winds leave unsettled weather
I took over at 5.00am and did the 5.00am-8.00am watch. It was one of the busiest watches I have had for some time and whilst others slept I had to deal with 4 rain clouds during this period and on my own on watch. I could see the rain clouds to the left of us with rain coming down under them and I then checked them on the radar and targeted them so I could see where they were going and how fast. The influence of these clouds stretches a number of miles and you sense the wind begin to pick up and it becomes a bit fresher. You then see the rain clouds coming closer and I may have reefed a little by then but when I know they are coming close and you see the visibility go as they approach I would bring the genoa in completely and then motor sail through it. If I had a staysail I may not have done this. If I timed it right I was motoring as the rain hit and under the doghouse in the dry. Once the rain stopped and when the cloud moved away the genoa went out again and we sailed on. This happened 4 times during this period and it was an easy way of dealing with the situation and we got through it. Whilst doing daily checks I found on deck a metal bracket and realised it came from the ladder that we put on the side of the boat. I went forward and noticed a fishing rod on the rail, and one of Puffins oars broken. I think the flapping of the genoa sheet in the night may have caught the bracket of the ladder and pulled it off breaking the oar on way. This was a shame and I hope repairable in Mauritius -a list that is growing. You have to appreciate that a passage like this one, which is quite a hard passage in certain ways, takes its toll on the boat. The constant stress of the wind in the sails, the rise and fall of the waves and the spray and water on the deck all of which stresses the hull etc. Few boats in the UK will do 1200nm in a season and we are doing this in 8 days.
We talked a lot as a crew about getting to Mauritius which is inevitable in the last days leading up to arrival.
These last 2 days always seem quite long and can drag a bit. We talked about having a cold beer ( we do not drink on passage) and seeing Mauritius which is supposed to be a pretty island. It will be good to get there, to have a rest, to give Stormbird a rest and to fix things that need doing.
As part of getting to a new destination I got down the old courtesy flag (BIOT) and put up the new one (Mauritius) together with the Q flag which we call a yellow duster. You can almost smell the land and we will be there soon.
The picture of the day is one of the rain clouds that hit us – you can see the rain falling under it.
Need/Opportunity Year Three
I will be going shortly from India to the Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.
I am currently in need of potentially 2 crew from Mauritius to Cape Town from about 10 June 2026 and we should arrive in Cape Town on about 25-30 July 2026. If at all interested contact me on my email below or WhatsApp +44 7931360372.
The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com