Year 3 -2 June 2026 -Leaving Port Louis – Grand Baie- Mauritius

We were up about 7.15am and I set about checking that everything was tied down on deck in preparation for moving. Carolyn made a cooked breakfast of bacon, egg and avocado which was delicious.

After breakfast Joyce and I washed down the boat. It is amazing how much dirt lands on the deck etc. sitting in a busy port. We then filled up the water tanks as this will probably be the last opportunity in Mauritius to do so. The hose went away once done and the electrics disconnected and the wires put away too.

Carolyn went off to buy a glass Dodo which was full of Rum in the Duty-Free shop and we then prepared to leave. She loves the shape and wanted to take one home and I agreed I could store it for her.

I checked the engine room and a new logbook was started. We then discussed how to get off the mooring and luckily the wind was blowing us off so it should be straight forward. We made slips at the bow and stern first and then gradually took off all the other lines. The engine and instruments went on and I called Port Control to get permission to leave the port which they gave after asking a few questions.

We eased the slips and then slipped the lines at 10.30am and the wind kindly blew us off and we were off. It was funny to get the life jackets on again and as we came out of the basin the wind picked up as we had been very sheltered in there. It seemed like we had not moved for a long time.

We motored up the channel whilst putting away all the fenders and lines and we prepared to set sail so we had to check that all the fruit in bowls etc was stored so it would not go all over the place.

I had checked the forecast and we were expecting winds from the East 12-16 kts with 20 kt gusts. This would be ideal for a close reach/close hauled up the coast. I decided as we had time (high water is at 2.00pm) that we would have a gentle sail and not overdo it and also thought we should try out the staysail since we put the new shackle on it. We therefore put 3 reefs in the main and staysail and we were soon sailing nicely at about 6-7 kts.

It felt so good to be on the move again and to feel the wind in your hair and face. It is that feeling that makes you glad that you are alive!. We all felt it and were enjoying ourselves and Stormbird seemed to feel the same.

There were some large and black clouds around which gave us a few spits of rain but nothing to worry about. The wind increased to 20 kts under them and even with the conservative sail plan we were doing 8.5 kts at that wind strength. Less is more sometimes and Stormbird wants to go. We had a catamaran ahead with full main and genoa and we began to reel them in until the wind dropped to 12-14 kts.

We sailed on and I had tried to find out whether there were any markers through the entrance at Grand Baie but could not find out any information. I had plotted with waypoints a course through taking the deepest water route I could which meant going in between 2 shallow patches.

We sailed as far as we could and then took down the sails and began to motor toward the bay. The swell had increased as we came North and it was coming round the Northwest corner.

As we got closer I watched other boats going in and then we saw some small red and green channel markers and it seemed to be the same route I had plotted. You could see the changes in colour on the water. We approached the 10m contour and Carolyn went on the bow with Joyce relaying messages. We motored on slowly going between the first set of markers which were some way apart. They seemed to be on the edges of the reef. The depth dropped to 5m then 4.5-4.00m for a while and then we approached the area of the shallow patches and the markers were at the extremes so not helpful in terms of these patches.

The depth dropped to 3 and we inched forward and then it was 2.9, 2.5 and then went to 2.2 which means really we must be touching the bottom which should be sand. It stayed around the 2.2 -2.5m for a little distance through the shallow part and then began to edge up again. We came through the reef at about 1.00pm so about an hour before high water. We had just made it – so note to myself when leaving. I think I will also speak to the yacht club whether there are options through that section. Stormbird draws 2.5 but I have a little leeway (a safety factor- as the depth is being read from a little under the water) bearing in mind where the depth log is situated – and I suggest my safety factor is about 40-50cm. I remember going through some straits in Australia which had gone down to 2.2m.   

We motored on and came to the large area in the bay which is a large pool of 5-6m. There is quite a large mooring field leading up to the town and a large area where you can anchor. I was mindful of the fact that we would be going ashore to the Grand Bay Yacht Club most of the time so we did not want to be too far from that. We therefore found a good spot out of the main drag and mooring field and dropped the anchor in about 6.4m. The anchor bit immediately as it is a sandy bottom and the wind was blowing 15-20 kts so we settled quickly with the snubber on the anchor and the anchor ball up.  

We sorted ourselves out and felt happy to be here and in a nice spot. There was little swell and we could see all around us in this pretty bay. We had lunch sitting in the cockpit and then tidied up etc.

We enjoyed not being in the basin as we felt we were being watched all the time. If I had a pound for every photograph taken when we were in the basin I would be able to go and buy the new Hallberg Rassy 69 easily!

The fenders had taken a bashing in the basin so I pumped up those I could with the electric pump. The others I had to use a bicycle pump. We also changed a fender line as it was fraying and Carolyn whipped the end of some of the mooring lines.

We got out the sun chairs and sat on the aft deck having a sundowner and enjoying the view. It was so good to have a change of scene and to be able to do this.

We had a nice fish supper -Mahi Mahi with pak choy and broccoli. We then watched a film and went to bed being gently rocked to sleep with the water in the bay.  

We will get the dinghy down and explore tomorrow.  

 The picture of the day is of us at anchor in a sunny moment in Grand Baie.

 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