Year 3 -18 June 2026 -Port de Plaissance --La Reunion

We woke at our usual time and had a pineapple, granola yoghurt breakfast. The key issues to sort out today was the rear heads and the fridge. Hisham and I went off at 8.30ish was to the local workmen to help with the issues we had and we found one who said they would come and help with the heads and would come within an hour. We then went to the chandlery who gave us some numbers and so we called them regarding the fridge and he said he could come at 8.00am tomorrow. We said yes as what alternative did we have.

After breakfast Keith went to ensure Puffin was tied properly and anything else on the deck. John and I got the hoses connected together so we could wash the boat, decks and fill the water tanks as it was drinking water.   

We had lost of washing to do so Hisham and John went off to the Captanaire to do this. They also spoke to them about refrigeration engineers and they gave me some numbers. They went off to wash a large number of bags of washing at the machines in the marina.

Keith and I got on with filling the diesel tanks from the jerry cans. We estimated that 60 lts would be required and we were almost spot on. Hisham and John filled the jerry cans when they were going back and forward with the washing.

The fridge man agreed to come at 2.00pm so I had to expose both compressors which meant unscrewing the base of the big galley table and then unscrewing some of the seating so we could bring the table and floor out of the way so that both compressors could be accessed.

When he came he had a look at both compressors and thought that the one with the small plate was now failed. He said that the compressor for the big plate was good but lacked gas. He checked things and said that it will be very difficult to find the leak. It was agreed that he would put gas in so that we could have a cold fridge and he would discuss with a friend how to find a solution and he would ring us by the end of the day.

In the meantime the guys (Hisham and John) did the washing and the drying machines were not so good so they brought some of the washing back and we dried it on the rails of the yacht.   

Keith cleaned the galley and the fridge and I got on with looking at the weather. We have a minimum of 1400nm to Durban as the crow flies to go. The issue is we have to get round the bottom of Madagascar hopefully without a southerly coming up. This is about 560nm from Reunion. We then have about 800nm to the East African coast and as we approach the coast we will feel the effect of the Aguilas current. If you get a Southerly wind against the North South bound current this can generate seas up to 20 metres so we do not want that. We are therefore looking as to how we avoid this and the options we have. This is an ongoing consideration as to the nearer our planned departure. I emailed Des with my thoughts with concerns over a front on the 30th June which has Southerly winds going up to the Mozambique coast.

Hisham and John filled the jerry cans on the way back so refuelling was done.  We then put things away and I was still waiting for the heads man to come. They did not come until about 3.30pm having said they would come within an hour of 8.30am – which they did not do.

Hisham, John and Keith went off to Carrefour and I helped show the heads guys the problem. They checked the deck fitting and that side of things and conclude like I had assessed that there was a blockage between the tank and the outside fitting. They said they would come back at 8.30am in the morning. This is also the same time as the fridge man.

The guys returned from the supermarket with beer and wine and steak etc. We had a sundowner on the aft deck and then I prepared supper which was steak, cauliflower and mashed potato. It was a good supper.

We will see how things go in the morning and then go and explore the mountains.           

The picture of the day is the 4 of us at a restaurant when we could relax (as I took no pictures today).

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

I am now in Mauritius and will be going to Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I have now found additional crew for Mauritius to Durban. There may be space from Durban to Cape Town from about the beginning of July 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