Bye Bye Seychelles

Sunrise Beau Vallon / lift anchor and go

After a long wait for a good weather window and the permit to enter Madagascar (8 weeks), we left the Eden Island Marina on Mahé on July 2nd. We sailed around the island to Beau Vallon to drop anchor there so that we could leave at 8:00 am the next morning.

We have done a thousand things for the crossing and are well prepared. We serviced the engines, changed various filters, checked the rigging, filled the tank and canister with diesel, cleaned the underwater area including the propeller and anodes, bought provisions, baked bread, pre-cooked various meals, etc. etc. We quickly converted the salon into our sleeping quarters so that communication is easier when there is a shortage of men or women, ie a sailing maneuver is pending. We will take turns on the "watch" every 3 hours.

Our plan is to sail the 570 nautical miles from Beau Vallon to Cosmoledo. We want to anchor in Cosmoledo and make a stopover for 1 - 2 days.

At 8.22am we raise the anchor and set course towards Cosmoledo.

We are expecting winds of up to 22 - 30 knots, waves of 2 - 3 metres, and a close-hauled course, meaning it will be a bit rough until we reach Cosmoledo. I take a tablet for seasickness right at the start, but Gottfried is a bit more stable and doesn't need it.

After three days and some sea swell (usually it is rougher than you think) we see the Cosmoledo atoll in front of us and are already looking forward to the sailing break.

There is a strong wind and we are not very protected by the flat atoll and there is also quite a lot of swell. Anchoring turns out to be very difficult and we abandon the attempt and decide to sail straight on to Nossi Be. We calculate that it will take 2 days for the remaining 273 nautical miles.

Goodbye shore excursion, swim stop and sleep in.

The wind is getting weaker and soon we have to take in the sails and start the engine. The Indian Ocean is now showing its best side, the sea is as smooth as glass all the way to Hellville on Nossi Be. Pure relaxation, apart from the noise of the engine.

A little wind wouldn't be bad.

We arrive in Hellville on July 6th at 4 p.m. while it is still daylight. We are very happy about this, because at night there are a lot of fishermen sailing off the coast with their unlit pirogues, which could lead to a collision.

As soon as we are at anchor, I take Gottfried ashore in the dinghy and he takes care of the customs clearance. Christof is waiting for Gottfried at the pier to help him with the formalities. Of course, the first thing to do is to go to the ATM (cash machine), as 120,000.00 Aryari must be paid at each location. The gentlemen also have to be brought to the Najuma by the police, customs, and immigration for the inspection of the Najuma and a photo session.

After two days everything is done and we are allowed to stay and explore Madagascar by boat and also on land.

Bye bye Seychelles, we leave Beau Vallon

we leave Mahé

into the night

We enjoy the days on the high seas

Cosmoledo, unfortunately too much wind and current to anchor

Land in sight :-)

Now the yellow flag and the Madagascar flag have to be raised

Approach Hellville Nossi Be

All papers are in order, they are satisfied!