You may understand why this is Leg 20 and not 19, but I don't
So we will park that one, and get down to business. This leg is
probably going to be dominated by currents. The Big One is the Agulhas
Current. This flows southwards down the East Coast of Africa, and is
particularly strong in the gap between Madagascar and Africa. And just to
the south of this is Richards Bay, where we are headed. Looking into this
further, our guru, Jimmy Cornell, writes: "During the passing of a front, when
the wind shifts suddenly from E to NE to SW, conditions in the Agulhas Current
can become hazardous, especially around the 100 fathom line." Our charts
rather ominously mark areas of Abnormal Waves near the South African Coast and
just across our intended route, and also directly South of Madagascar.
Jimmy goes on to advise a route 150 miles South of Madagascar, which
is where our current way-point is set. So what does Bruce have to say on
this? Well, almost inevitably I suppose, the front is around, and he is
predicting a change in the wind to the South, at about the time when we will
enter the current. But as he says, it's a bit early for accurate
predictions, and we - and he on our behalf - will need to watch the situation
and see how it develops. We will keep you posted.
Meanwhile, it has been a slow and disappointing first day. Such wind
as there has been has been dead against us. And to add to our woes, there
is a steady knot of current driving us back towards Reunion. So we have
been using the engine most of yesterday afternoon, and all night, with no sign
of a decent sailing breeze yet. This is all exactly as Bruce predicted,
and we don't expect much better until some time tomorrow. Only the Yanmar
is enjoying it.
Apart from that all is well with
us, and best wishes to everyone,
James, Norfy (Chris) and Alex
Yacht Cleone
21o59'S 053o39'E