Up the Mozambique Channel

We were sailing at speed towards Madagascar with the northerly winds giving
us a good angle to sail east. Having covered two thirds of the channel and
less than a day from the coast of Madagascar, we were dearly hoping for the
southerly wind predicted to come through. Turning sharp into the wind we
slowed down our passage east and waited patiently for our fortunes to turn.
Close to Madagascar the currents would be against us so we had to stay a
fair distance away. On Friday we watched a bank of clouds forming in the
south and drawing closer and closer. It was a bank of cumulus clouds, not
ominous, but still impressive. Scary fronts are preceded by cirrus clouds,
thin wispy clouds curved at the end similar to a horses tail. The wind kept
on backing throughout the day, slowly but surely. Backing means when the
wind direction changes in an anti-clockwise direction. And then the
southerlies were hear, coming through at 20 to 30 kts. For the first time
in a few days we could turn our bows north and with the wind pushing us
from behind, we experienced some smooth and fast sailing. The swell also
curved in from behind, and we started surfing getting up to 16 knots.
Heavily loaded Hamba na Moya Huibre sat solidly and beautifully, curving
long white tracks behind us, carrying her precious load with ease. Up front
we had half of our headsail furled out, finding the ideal speed to not run
away and out of control, or going too slow and getting caught from behind.
Poetry in motion with the ocean. Swells of over 5 metres would tower up
behind us, leaving a hollow feeling in the stomach, and miraculously Hamba
na Moya Huibre would lift her stern up to the crest, find her groove, and
slide deliriously down, pause in the trough, get lifted up and here we go
again. Following winds and seas type of sailing :) Flying fish taking off to
get out of the way, whales coming closer to have a look at this crazy surfing
cat. This morning a 4mtr long pilot whale came gliding past, also surfing
down the swells. Seemingly effortlessly and fast. Yesterday was our second day
styling in this manner.

Our newest weather reports turned out to be quite accurate and we could
anticipate the changes and act accordingly. The wind backed behind us from
south west to south and settling on south east over a period of 36 hours. We
first held cause up north, then got pushed northwest when the wind was
blowing strongest and gusting at around 30kts from the south west. Africa was
once again closing in but in good time the wind backed to south which gave us
back north, and at about 2pm today the wind from the south east started
easing and we could go on a broadreach with main and genoa on 2nd reef. On a
broadreach the wind come from about a 120 degree angle. Beam reach is when
the wind comes from a 90 degree angle. The wind has died down to just a breeze
and we are motoring making good miles carried by a good current.

In the galley things are heating up and the cook and chef is cooking with gas
:) On Friday night Edrick prepared a Cottage Pie, and for entrée's we had
freshly caught wahoo that Aubrey applied some alchemy to. You get cooks and
chefs, and then you get alchemists, mmmmmmmmmm.......we have one on board. Our
alchemist prepared some lamb curry, and unequivocally superior quisine. Last
night we had lamb chops and roast potato for supper. Super lamb chops to be
sure. This morning we had omelette and bacon for breakfast, celebrating
Father's Day :):):). Three of us on board are daddy's and there was some
dispute about the exact date. We decided to celebrate it yesterday !!! If not,
why not. We did later learn that Father's Day is next Sunday. And we will
celebrate it again :) And the top cuisine keeps on exceeding our expectations.

This morning John landed a fair size skipjack. Aubrey filleted the fish and
tonight we will have some starter dish ala Aubrey the alchemist. We are a day
and a half from Mayotte where we will run in for a day or so. This morning we
decanted our extra diesel and up to date we have used 300 ltrs and covered about
1200 nautical miles with about 1100 to go. So yes, we are over the halfway mark.
Time is flying with the days and nights just flowing into each other. All of us
are doing exceedingly well. We have now been at sea for over 8 days and enjoying
the calm stretch we are having after some rough stuff we've been through.

From the deep blue sea and blue skies all around, take good care.