Indian Ocean: Bound for South Africa

Sunday October 28, 2007 - 12 noon

17* 23' S
73* 25' E

Exactly 1 week ago I left Cocos Keeling Atoll bound for South Africa. My only stop would be a planned 2 day lay-over on Mauritius Island 2350 miles from Cocos.

I now have 950 miles to go with 1380 behind me in one week. That is almost 200 miles a day for a week!

Left: Cocos-Keeling Atoll.

The winds and ocean have been good for sailing. 12 - 18 knots of wind usually out of the SE, off my stern quarter. I have been flying the new Parasailor spinnaker for 3 days and nights in a row, she pulls the boat along wonderfully. Right: Para-Sailor.

However, only when downwind. The last 2 days the wind has been 16 - 18 on the port beam, two much from the side for the spinnaker.

I am now sailing with a double reefed main a full stay sail and half the genoa rolled out. With 15 knots of true wind I can maintain 7.5 knots average.

I should pass just north of Rodriguez Island in about 4 days and reach Mauritius within the week. There I can rest and send some photos over the internet.

Look on my web sites for the new photos (http://www.h-tv.com/ or http://www.thesailingchannel.tv/)

Mike

s/v Wanderlust 3

Right: Mike on Cocos Keeling Atoll.