Year 3 -9 June 2026 -Grand Baie- Mauritius- Full Crew
We woke at a reasonable time and I cut up a pineapple for breakfast. I started the generator to charge the batteries. It has begun to take longer to start recently and I had a sense that something was not right and we needed to sort this. If the generator fails then we cannot make water and this could result in a life-threatening situation. I therefore rang Jerome and he said he would come about 10.00am.
The fridge was working on the second plate but I had contacted the man who brought Keith from the airport who was actually a refrigeration engineer, who said he would come and look at the other plate. I therefore decided I would not go on the trip planned today so I could sort things out and to be ready to meet John Oliver who was flying in from South Africa today. This will make us 6 for the passage to Reunion.
After breakfast I went shore with Hisham to fill the jerry cans one final time and to pay for the fuel. I then returned to Stormbird and collected everyone and brought them to the fuel dock. Hisham was doing some washing and showering and I left them to it.
I found Jerome and brought him to Stormbird and he checked the glow plugs which were ok -so was the relay and everything he checked was fine. It started quickly but it was warm. He said when he first checked the first glow plug he only got 10v but after he had taken everything off and put it back he was getting 12v now. He suggested I start it cold tomorrow morning and see how that was. If it is still a problem then he will take the jets out etc. I dopped him off and came back to Stormbird and put away the jerry cans and tidied up.
I then set about looking at the weather and the route down the South African coast setting out the stopping points etc. This took me some hours and gave me confidence with weather help to make what can be a tricky passage.
The fridge man contacted me and I agreed to collect him so I emptied lockers to get stuff out again so he could gain access to the compressors. I then collected him and brought him over. He looked at the compressor and saw a leak on the valve and said he would get a new one. The valve is like a valve on a bicycle tyre. I ran him ashore and then I had a bite to eat and waited.
He eventually came about 3.30pm with his tools this time. He replaced the valve and filled both compressors with the gas I had got in Port Louis. This was good so both plates were working. I had prepared my stuff and had heard that John Oliver had landed and was on his way to the club. I took the fridge man ashore and then just had time for a shower and a shave before John messaged me that he had arrived. I walked out and greeted him still drying off.
Hisham, Keith, Carolyn and Joyce had gone off in the car and had seen an old colonial plantation house where they had lunch and then they went to the East coast to Vieux Port where they said there was a lovely beach. I had messaged them to get some fruit on the way back. They arrived at the same time as John did and so we all retreated to the bar for a welcome sundowner. We were now a crew of 6. We were joined by Francis, an Englishman who now lived in Los Angeles, and who had a trade wind 35 called Prosong. He had a blue ensign as he is a member of the Royal Cruising Club. He is proposing to do the same trip as us to Reunion and then to Durban where he will take his boat out of the water.
We had a drink and started to get to know each other and then I took John back to introduce him to his cabin in the forepeak. He dumped his bags and off we went back to the club and then we all walked to a restaurant recommended called the Vieux Rouge. We had a great fish meal. It is good we are now 6 and have a few days before we head back to Port Louis to check out for Reunion.
We had a final chat in the cockpit when we returned and then headed for bed. It had been a good day on the whole, some jobs done, more sightseeing and now a full crew for Reunion.
The picture of the day (as I did not take one) is of another lovely view of Mauritius.
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