Benguerra Island

Navigating the channel south past Bazaruto island to Benguerra island. This was a fast, pleasant  sail with the current and wind, with GPS speed over ground of up to 9 knots.  The entrance to the anchorage at Benguerra island should only be approached on a rising tide during the day. Navigate the channel carefully the bottom is hard sand in most places.

1445 Arrived Benguerra island - near the Benguerra Lodge Resort.

Engine 1090.9.

Winds 12 to 16 knots NE.

There were several catamaran yachts and power boats anchored near the beach. The anchorage was very shallow 2.5 metres at high tide and quite rough.

A motor boat headed in my direction before I had finished anchoring and demanded my paper work. I thought they wanted to see the receipt for the national park. No, they wanted the boat papers. This was something I had not expected as I had not planned on clearing into Mozambique having heard it was complex and expensive. They came along side in the choppy waves. The boats touched with a loud crack and Sadiqi's teak rubbing strake was damaged toward the stern. This pissed me off, being just a little tired after 7 days at sea. I pushed their boat away, collected my thoughts and finished securing Sadiqi with the other boat hovering. This is Africa (TIA). I retrieved my paper work and climbed into my dingy, which was tied to the stern, not wanting them near Sadiqi again. I managed to clamber onto their boat. I attempted to attune my attitude and shook hands and smiled. The officious individual glared at me and demanded the boat papers. Fortunately the driver of the boat. Sebastian, who speaks better English than he appears to know about driving a boat assisted. I tried to say that I was only here for a few days to rest and to take refuge from the weather before heading to South Africa. Another dingy came over to the Customs boat with Barry from South Africa onboard. The upshot was I had to pay US$55.00 for a months visa in Mozambique. I was informed later that this was the first time that Customs had been out to Benguerra island to check boat papers - just my luck. I'll have to find some forehead "SUCKER" sticker remover when I get to South Africa! I always seem to cop all these fees and baksheesh - well I admit to it anyway.

Barry on "Dream Catcher" advised me where I  could find deeper water in which to anchor. Spring tides were approaching with a range of 4 metres. He said that his catamaran would be dry at low tide. One of the many advantages of a catamaran.

I re-anchored in a large hole near some white buoys in 7 metres of water at low tide.

Lat: 21 51.13 S

Lon: 035 25.2 E

Fisherman

 Benguerra Island is dotted with quite a few very expensive and upmarket resorts. The Benguerra Lodge Resort seems to the be the most yachtie friendly.

Friday, September 28. The forecast was for 20 to 25 knots north easterlies. I spoke to Barry and he suggested that it should be ok on the lee shore as long as it did not go much over 25 knots. I confess this has not been one of the better anchorages I have been in. At high tide Sadiqi was exposed to the wind and seas. There were not many alternatives. At low tide there is no problem as Sadiqi was parked in a hole with drying sand nearly all around and quite safe regardless of the wind. The wind eased over night much to my relief. These sort of conditions don't make for a good nights sleep.

The following day, Saturday, the forecast was for strong south east winds up to 35 knots. The early morning was quite pleasant with 10 to 12 knot north easterlies. By midday the wind started to swing to the south east - off shore. Not long after that it was howling 25 to 30 knots. The wind was screaming through the rigging a short time later up to 35 knots. At high tide the fetch was about a kilometre to the shore making for bumpy ride at anchor. At low tide the fetch was less that 50 metres. If this is what I have to look forward to heading south then I'll make every effort to avoid these sort of weather conditions.  

Sunday morning the winds were still southerly at 15 to 20 knots. Fortunately the barometer was rising 1020. The forecast was for the south easterlies to ease over the next few days. Listening to Peri Peri net I was advised that if I wanted to head south then there looked to be a good 5 day window before the next low pressure system zoomed up the east coast of South Africa.

Santa Carolina (Paradise Island)

Wednesday, September 26

1400 Arrive Santa Carolina, Bazaruto, Mozambique.

Wind: 8 Kts E

Lat: 20 36.93 S

Lon: 035 19.92 E

Log:  - Nm

Engine: 1089.0 Hrs

Barometer 1020 Mb steady.

Distance covered since noon 25/09/12 about 113 miles.

Approximately 800 miles travelled in 7.5 days since leaving Baly Bay, Madagascar.

40 litres of diesel used.

Went ashore at Santa Carolina. The Bazaruto Archipelago is a nation park. I paid my dues to the rangers: US$10 per person and US$5 for the boat. The rangers were polite, friendly and spoke some English. The predominant language in Mozambique is Portuguese.

Paradise Island - North West beach end of airstrip

 It was interesting seeing a place that I had visited on holiday with my family as a child - some 50 years ago - very scary thought. The hotel opened in 1952 it s now a wreck not having survived cyclones and Africa. It would have been a very grand hotel in its day.

The former owners of the Santa Carolina Hotel

Thursday September 27 at 1000 Sadiqi Sadiqi departed Santa Carolina. Waved good bye to the friendly park rangers who had helped me carry water to the dingy. 

Engine 1089.0

Winds 10 -12 NE

The Church

 

 

While rounding the northern tip of Santa Carolina I saw a line of white and pink dots just above the water. WTFWT! I wiped the salt off the sun glasses. It was way before Beer o clock being around 1000 to imply any hallucination. It was a flock of a hundred or so pink flamingos flying northwards. It was an extraordinary sight with the vivid pink and white birds flying in formation just above the surface of the water. 

Madagascar to Mozambique

Monday September 3 – 1015, I departed Nosy Skatia, Madagascar.
Nosy Sakatia:
Lat: 13 18.06 S
Lon: 048 10.61 E

Wind - not much from the south west - where I was headed.
Engine hours: 1027.8 Hours. I waved good bye to Bruce and Jill on "Daemon" and Des and Nell on Sakatia.

By midday the sea breeze was in - 15 knots from the west south west. Sadiqi was beating to windward at 5 knots, Smithy the windpilot was happily whistling tunes at the helm.
We arrived at Russian Bay at 15.30 after a great sail of 18 miles.
Russian Bay:
Lat: 13 32.72 S
Lon: 047 58.73 E

The tranquility of Russian Bay is astonishing. I woke early  in the morning thinking I had gone completely deaf. Then I heard the fridge compressor start up and a bird chirping. The water around Sadiqi was like a millpond.

Sunrise Russian Bay

There is no internet or mobile phone access in Russian Bay. I had difficulty connecting  to sailmail using HF radio. I was not sure if this was the HF station in Maputo, Mozambique or had something to do with the composition of the surrounding terrain - limestone absorb radio waves. I did, however, manage to listen in on Peri Peri Net HF - 8101Mhz USB at 0500 and 1500 hours UTC for weather info.

Millpond Russian Bay

I had anchored away from the villages near a small power boat called "Long Tom". The owner of the boat rowed out and surprised me in the afternoon. I had been attempting to organise a pile of ebooks on my computer that I had been given. Chris, originally from Canada called out. I gave him some books and he pointed me in the direction of a stream where I could get water to do laundry.

After nearly a week enjoying the serenity of Russian Bay Roy on "Sealoon" turned up and shortly after that Bruce and Jill on "Daemon" found me.

Monday September 10 at 1100, I sadly departed Russian Bay heading south west to Baramahamay Bay (Honey River) only 20 miles away. The sea breeze came in at around 1300 at 10 to 15 knots from the west south west. I saw a large lone whale swimming north. After a very pleasant sail the anchor was dropped at 1630 hours.
Baramahamay Bay:
Lat: 13 42.73 S
Lon: 047 54.00 E

Wednesday September 12 at 0500, I departed Baramahamay Bay for the 40 mile trip to Nosy Saba. I motored sailed against the current and in light head winds to Radama group of islands. Around Midday the wind was due west at 5 to 6 knots, I raised the asymmetrical spinnaker and Sadiqi ploughed southward at 4 knots. Around this time I also noticed several large whales in the distance heading northwards.

As far as the fishing goes the fish appear to be winning. I have lost twice as many fishing lures as I have caught and landed fish. Two more lures were lost to presumable large fish on this trip.

Nosy Saba

The wind steadily picked up to 10 knots (apparent). Just before arriving at Nosy Saba the true wind was 15 knots aft the beam, which made taking the down the Spinnaker more difficult. I did a bit of a reconnaissance of the leeward side of the small island. At 1500 the anchor was dropped in, as it turned out, not an ideal spot - there was not much option given the size of the island. I went for a snorkel to check the anchor - crystal clear water with an abundance of fish - Tuna and Trevally. I would have like to have stayed and explored the uninhabited Nosy Saba further. Toward evening the wind swung more to the north and the waves made for a rollie anchorage. I anticipated the wind swinging toward the south east over night making for an onshore anchorage. After dinner of not fish I set the anchor, wind and depth alarms and tried to get some sleep. After midnight the wind swung to the south east at 10 knots. By 0500 Sadiqi was pitching  in the wind chop - it was time to leave.
Nosy Saba:
Lat: 14 21.79 S
Lon: 047 38.96 E

Thursday September 13 at 0545 I pulled the anchor and headed 44 miles toward Moramba Bay. The winds were 10 to 12 knots south south east what a great sail. At times the seas were a little boisterous, both boat and skipper were liberally sprayed with salt water. Smithy the windpilot did and outstanding job of helming the boat on a beam reach, as the winds picked up to 15 to 20 knots with some gusts to 25 knots. In the lee of Nosy Lava Sadiqi was driving through the flat water at 7 knots (SOG). The last 5 miles were a beat to windward into Moramba Bay. The anchor was dropped at 1330. The average speed for the 44 mile trip was around 5.5 knots. Moramba Bay proving to be an interesting and windy place. I had anchored in amongst some strange tree covered limestone islands that appeared to be precariously floating on the water.
Moramba Bay:
Lat: 14 53.47 S
Lon: 047 19.97 E

Moramba Bay - Baobab

Moramba Bay-  floating islands

Moramba Bay Sunrise - heading south west

The guy balancing on the outrigger must have been on steerage class.

  The surrounding area seemed very dry with several Baobab trees in evidence. At midday a plague of bees buzzed around the cockpit settling on an open jerry can of water - not my favourite insect me being allergic to them.

Saturday September 15 at 0545 I pulled the anchor and headed southwest. The wind was 10 to 15 knots south east - beam reach. Still in the bay I was quickly overhauled by a lateen rigged pirogue as if I was at anchor. At the time Sadiqi was doing 6 knots in the same direction. The two crew were standing on the windward outrigger trying to keep the floating side of the outrigger from submerging. The helmsman was lying low in the stern of the large canoe steering with a paddle. I was given white toothy grin and a wave as the pirogue flew past. It's amazing how fast they go with just a holey bed sheet for a sail, a few sticks for spars and hemp sheets and halyards.

I had tried to break the  trip up into 40 mile legs, 40 miles can easily be sailed in day light hours - weather permitting. After Moramba Bay this proved difficult as there was not a handy bay to shelter in. The fishing town of Mahajanga is not a good anchorage for cruisers  if one values their possessions and even their life. I had heard the weather on thePeri Peri net  that there were strong (up to 35 knots) south east winds forecast. If there were strong south east winds then there was a good chance the sea breeze would not blow or be very weak. I thought I could drop the anchor near the beach to get protection from the south east trade wind. Not a chance, at 1400 the south east wind suddenly swung to the south west 12 to 18 knots sea breeze and stayed in until around 2000 hours, then dropped to almost nothing.

Sunday September 16 at 1500 Sadiqi arrived at Baly Bay .A long hard sail in light airs and following winds.. I tried to find a sheltered anchorage from the 12 to 18 knot northly wind with no luck. The large shallow bay is exposed to weather from the north. I eventually dropped anchor in the north eastern part of the bay and rocked and rolled in the wind chop. I was mindful of the large tides as it was coming up for the second larges tides in the year - the equinox spring tides - 4.5 metres.

Baly Bay:
Lat: 16 00.33 S
Lon: 045 20.35 E

The wind pattern in Baly Bay was quite predicable. At sunrise the winds tended to be light 5 knots from the south to south east. By midmorning the wind swung to the east increasing in strength to around 10 knots. The wind would continue to strengthen swinging north east to north. The bay is very exposed to the northerly winds with short, sharp, choppy wind waves. By evening the wind would swing to the west decreasing. The tidal currents are strong the bay mostly being pretty shallow.

Tuesday September 18 at 2300 Sadiqi was bouncing and rolling around in the half metre wind chop. The 12 to 18 knot wind had stayed south west. The anchor alarm went off indicating that Sadiqi was either dragging or GPS satellites were playing up. As it turned out the snubber line attached to the anchor chain, to give some stretch, had come unhooked. With Sadiqi's foredeck rising and falling up to a metre in the waves the anchor was being jerked out of the sandy bottom. My other concern was the tide there being less than half a meter under the keel at low tide and with the chop this meant the keel may well bounce on the bottom. I hauled the anchor and headed due west to the other side of the bay and dropped the anchor in 2 metres of water at low tide - plenty of water under the keel.

0200 - Sadiqi was not happy bouncing and rolling around again in the 12 to 18 knots south easterly - onshore! The flooding tide into the bay was causing a large current pushing Sadiqi broadside to the waves again. It was too rough for me to sleep. I hauled anchor again and decided - bugger it - just go.  

Wednesday September 19 - 0230

Departed Baly Bay,  Madagascar

Log:  7045.3 Nm

COG: 273 Deg  M

Winds: 12 to 18  Kts E

Engine: 1050.1 Hrs

We had a very pleasant sail out of the bay against the 2 to 3 knots flooding tidal current. A few cups of coffee later, I found my sense of humour and enjoyed the very early morning vista of crisp air, clear starry skies and choppy seas. Around sunup the 10 to 12 knots easterly was directly aft. I poled out the jib - boat speed 5 to 5.5 knots.

Poled out

Noon 19-09-12 – Wednesday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0 

Lat: 15 58.73 S

Lon: 044 41.14 E

Log:  7089.4 Nm

COG: 260 Deg  M

Winds: 8 to 12  Kts E

Engine: 1050.1 Hrs

Distance covered since departing Baly Bay 82.8  Miles.

1450 passed 10.2 Nm north of Cap Saint Andre. Winds 10 to 12 knots north.

2200 Winds 5 - 6 knots WNW - sails slatting and banging. SOG 2 knots!

2300 started engine. Sloppy confused seas. Sadiqi bouncing and rolling around as if a washing machine on heavy duty cycle. Very strong northerly setting current.

2330 crossed the continental shelf. Depth falling sharply from 20 metres to 2000 metres. Hoping for smoother waters in the deep. It didn't get much smoother.

0330 Stopped engine. Winds 10 - 15 knots SE. Slow going at least we are sailing.

0530 Winds 10 -12 knots SE. Pushing against a 2 to 2.5 knots current. COG 270. SOG 2 knots, Speed 5.5 knots.

0745 Winds 10 -12 knots SE. Hoisted Big Bertha the asymmetrical spinnaker. COG 270, SOG 4 knots, Speed 5 to 6  knots.

1000 Winds 6 to 8 knots ESE. Still flying Big Bertha - just. COG 250, SOG 2.5 knots, Speed 5 knots.

The theory was to sail due west across the north setting current close to Madagascar and hope to find the south setting Mozambique current. My thinking that it would be better to cross the opposing current instead of pushing into it. For most of the day Sadiqi has been pushing against a 2 to 3 knot north east setting current. The one thing I had neglected was the strength of the current. I had picked the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel. In hindsight I should have pushed further south into the wider part of the channel before zigzagging west across the currents.

Noon 20-09-12 – Thursday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0 

Lat: 15 58.73 S

Lon: 044 41.14 E

Log:  7089.4 Nm

COG: 270 Deg  M

Winds: 8 to 12  Kts E

Engine: 1055.6 Hrs

Distance covered in the last 24 hours 84.5  Miles

Peri Peri Net - offers cruisers who log in with them weather reports and good local knowledge. HF 8101 Mhz at 0500 and 1500 hours UTC. There is Roy of "Good News 2" in Durban, Norman on "Regal" in Bazaruto and Paul of "Northern Star"  in Joburg.

I have not had much success with getting through to the Sailmail HF Radio Station in Maputo, Mozambique. The first log was submitted through Brunei, South East Asia. This log will hopefully be sent through Brunei Bay Radio all of 4,900 miles away.

1300 Wind 4 - 5 knots ESE - Current setting 2 knots NE. Engine - on pushing against the current westwards. SOG 1.5 knots.

1800 Wind 4 - 5 knots WSW. In six hours since noon travelled 7 miles! SLOW!

2350 Wind 5 knots SW. Boat Speed 4.5 knots SOG 1 knot. COG 280 M. Slow going twelve hours motored 18.3 miles. The wind and the current coming from where I wanted to go!

0600 Wind 8 - 10 knots ESE. Engine off - thankfully. Raised Big Bertha (Asymmetrical Spinnaker)  Boat Speed 5 knots SOG 2.5 knots. COG 235 M. In 18 hours motored 27 miles! This would have to be record for Sadiqi - SLOW!

1000 Wind 5 - 8 knots ENE - heading pretty much due south. Boat Speed 5 knots SOG 3 knots. COG 190 M.

1100 Wind 5 - 8 knots NE - decided to gybe. Boat Speed 5 knots SOG 1.5 knots. COG 330 M. At least Sadiqi is moving, sort of, in the right direction.

Noon 21-09-12 – Friday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0 

Lat: 16 21.03 S

Lon: 042 41.21 E

Log:  7257.1 Nm

COG: 280 Deg  M. Boat Speed 5.5 knots SOG 2.5 knots.

Winds: 6 to 10 Kts NE

Engine: 1072.2 Hrs

Distance covered in the last 24 hours about 34.0 miles with 16.6 engine hours.

1500 Wind 6 - 9 knots NNE - good sailing with Big Bertha up.

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 2.2 knots, COG 250 M.

2030 Winds 4 - 6 knots NNE - Not heading west. I pulled down Big Bertha. It had been fantastic while it lasted. While pulling the spinnaker down with just the main up the boat drifted backwards SE at nearly 3 knots! The engine was started, Sadiqi motored sailed westward. Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 1.2 knots, COG 260 M.

While the currents of the northern Indian Ocean, at times, left me totally perplexed, the currents of the Mozambique Channel left me demoralised. With around 9 hours of night Sadiqi would be lucky to make 9 miles with the engine running. Where the hell is this south setting Mozambique current?

1630 Wind 8 - 12 knots NNE

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 3 knots, COG 300 M.

Pushing against SE setting current 2 knots.

2030 Winds 4 - 6 NNE

Pulled down Big Bertha. Engine on.

2300 Wind very little all over the place.

Boat bouncing around - very rough.

Pulled down all sails.

Heading 270 M, COG 180 M, SOG 2 knots!

Could not motor west!

0400 Wind 3 - 5 knots NE. Finally got  through strong east setting current. Motoring.

Boat Speed 4.5 knots, SOG 2 knots, COG 260 M.

0615 Wind 8 - 10 knots ENE.

Sails up and Jib poled out. Engine off.

Boat Speed 4 knots, SOG 1.5 knots, COG 270 M.

0830 Wind 8 - 12 knots NE.

Big Bertha (MPS) up.

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 2.5 knots, COG 260 M.

Noon 22-09-12 – Saturday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0  

Lat: 16 44.70 S

Lon: 042 03.16 E

Log:  7337.9 Nm

COG: 240 Deg  M. Boat Speed 6 knots SOG 4.5 knots.

Winds: 10 to 15 Kts NE

Engine: 1082.0 Hrs

Distance covered in the last 24 hours about 43.7 miles with 10 engine hours.

1300 Wind 10 - 14 knots NNE

Dropped Big Bertha.

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 4.5 knots, COG 240 M.

Making some progress westward at last.

1500 Wind 12 - 15 knots N

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 4.5 knots, COG 265 M.

2015 Winds 12 - 18 knots NNE

Reefed the mainsail to first postion. Furled Jib to first reef position.

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 5 knots, COG 250 M.

Lat: 16 59.18 S

Lon: 041 26.12 E

2350 Wind 12 - 18 knots NNE.

Bumpy ride in rough and confused seas.

0530 Wind 10 - 12 knots NNE

Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 4.5 knots, COG 255 M.

Shook out reef in main and Jib.

0830 Winds 15 - 20 knots NNE.

Sailing on reefed mainsail only.

Noon 23-09-12 – Sunday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0 

Lat: 17 24.96 S

Lon: 040 14.29 E

Log:  - Nm

COG: 250 Deg  M. Boat Speed 6 knots SOG 5 knots.

Winds: 15 to 22 Kts NNE

Engine: 1082.0 Hrs

Distance covered in the last 24 hours about 111.6 miles.

1800 Winds 14 - 18 knots NE

Rolling along - following seas to 3 metres.

0400 Winds 18 - 25 NE

Put second reef in mainsail. Rolling along wildly in steep following seas.

Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 5 knots, COG 260 M.

Ran the engine for a short time to clear any water that may have been forced up the exhaust by the following seas.

0830 Winds 14 - 18 knots NNE

Boat Speed 6.0 knots, SOG 6.5 knots, COG 250 M.

Shook out second reef in mainsail. Swell and seas moderating slightly.

Noon 24-09-12 – Monday

Time: 12.00L UTC+3.0 

Lat: 18 17.62 S

Lon: 038 20.87 E

Log:  - Nm

COG: 250 Deg  M. Boat Speed 6 knots SOG 5 knots.

Winds: 12 to 15 Kts NNE

Engine: 1082.5 Hrs

Barometer 1014 Mb falling

Distance covered in the last 24 hours about 120 miles.

1400 Winds dropping. 10 - 12 knots NE.

1500 Winds 12 - 18 knots E - Gybed.

Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 6 knots, COG 240 M.

Barometer 1010 Mb falling

2000 +3 Time zone change +2 to 1900 hours

Wind 18 - 20 knots ENE

2 reefs in the mainsail, 1 reef in the jib.

Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 6.5 knots, COG 240 M.

Barometer 1009 Mb steady

2230 Wind 18 - 20 knots ENE

Fast sailing in the Mozambique Current.

Boat Speed 5.5 knots, SOG 7.5 knots, COG 230 M.

Barometer 1010 Mb rising

0300 Winds 15 - 18 knots ESE - Beam reach.

Boat Speed 6.0 knots, SOG 9 knots, COG 225 M.

Barometer 1012 Mb rising

0600 Winds 10 - 12 knots SE - close reach

Boat Speed 5.0 knots, SOG 6.5 knots, COG 230 M.

Barometer 1014 Mb rising

1000 Wind 20 - 25 knots SE. This was not much fun beating into the south easterly.

1100 Wind 25 - 30 knots SE.

Due east of Beira, Mozambique. I did not see many ships while crossing the channel. Those travelling north tended to be close inshore in the counter current.

Noon 25-09-12 – Tuesday

Time: 12.00L UTC+2.0 

Lat: 19 56.07 S

Lon: 036 15.15 E

Log:  - Nm

COG: 220 Deg  M. Boat Speed 5 knots SOG 5.5 knots.

Winds: 25 to 30 Kts SE

Engine: 1082.5 Hrs

Barometer 1018 Mb rising - thank goodness.

Distance covered in the last 24 hours about 154 miles.

I spotted several large whales - I think they were Humpbacks. Sometimes I would see an almighty splash, then see, what I can only assume to be a very large pectoral fin protrude from the water as the whale rolled over on it's back.

The seas and swell would on average have been about 2 to 3 meters. The seas were confused with waves coming from different directions, compounded with wind against current creating steep short wave length waves. Frequently a set of larger waves would appear 6 to 8 metres in height, by my reckoning anyway. Sadiqi would start to climb the waves and if there was any white on the top indicative of the wave breaking the skipper, who was helming most of the time, would mutter "Oh Shit!" or words to that effect. Sadiqi would fall off the back of the wave with big bang, splash and spray as she hit the trough.

1800 Winds 25 - 30 knots SE.

Pounding into big swells and confused seas.

2 reefs in the mainsail and 2 reefs in the jib.

Boat Speed 4.5 knots, SOG 5.5 knots, COG 220 M.

2330 Winds 20 - 25 knots SE - looks to be easing slightly.

Fore cabin is very wet with leaking fore hatch. The swamp!

0200 Winds 15 - 20 knots SE

unfurled the second reef in the main. Fully unfurled the jib.

Boat Speed 4.5 knots, SOG 5.5 knots, COG 220 M.

0500 Winds 12 - 18 knots ESE

Slow going again - out of the Mozambique current.

0830 Winds 8 - 10 knots ESE

Ironic had to start the engine to make landfall during the day.

Noon 26-09-12 – Wednesday

1200 Entered the Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique.

Motor sailing

Wind 5 - 8 knots ESE.