Year 3 -24 June 2026 -Route to South Africa
John and I were on watch at 2.00am -5.00am and we were still motoring as the wind was not strong enough to push us on to the waypoint and a little in the wrong direction as well. However, at 2.30am the wind strengthened and the sails went up and we were then not far off course. We then had 2 fast hours at 8 nm each and the sails levelled the boat and prevented the rolling we experience when under engine. We had some stars but it was quite chilly and we are now having to wear jumpers and light waterproofs, especially at night.
As we came off watch the wind died and so the motor went on again. The weather window looks good to get to Richards Bay or Durban by 1st July but not thereafter so the priority is to get to the waypoint South of Madagascar as soon as possible and then to head for RB and then down to Durban which is possible if we keep speed up to 6.4kts all the way.
I got some sleep and then made scrambled eggs on toast for everyone. It was a pleasant day. We managed to sail again for a period but again the wind dropped too low so we again had to motor and I thought it looks like we are going to have to motor all the way to the waypoint.
Whilst sitting and chatting Jenny noticed that the port sheet for the genoa was chaffed around the bowline which attaches it to the sail. It looked like just the outside covering. This was not good and we may need to use that sheet when we turn the corner so we needed to resolve this issue.
I thought that we could use the bosons chair to lift someone to that point and undo the bowline and pull the line through beyond the chafe and then tie a new bowline. Peter volunteered to go in the bosuns chair so we prepared everything and we attached an extra line to stop Peter swaying and John was in charge of that. I was on the winch pulling Peter up and letting him down.
We hoisted him and although he got the bowline undone he only partially tied a new one as he needed a break. The issue was holding still whilst doing the work as were sailing at the time. He managed it the second time and cut the small piece off. It was good to have that done.
We managed 169nm for the 12-noon run and so were exceeding the 150nm a day needed. As we approached Madagascar the time zone changed and so we put the ships clocks back one hour and Jenny and Peter did an extra hour on their shift.
The afternoon wore on and we continued to motor and make reasonable progress. We rested, slept, chatted and time passed. It gets dark quite early here.
I cooked for supper steaks with mashed potato with leeks and broccoli which seemed to be well received. We then had a piece of banana cake that Keith had made for desert and he had also made a loaf of bread during the day.
We were now into our third night and getting into the swing of the watch system. There is not a lot sometimes to do when motoring other than keep a good lookout and watch the ships come and go as we are clearly on a well-worn shipping route.
We should be round Madagascar tomorrow and can then start to head for the East African coast some 750 nm from the waypoint we are heading to.
The picture of the day is of the crew who seem to be enjoying themselves.
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