East African sailing trip – Log 14
SAILING LOG14
August 10, 2004
Wolf flies to Vilanculos on the 6 seater plane belonging to the Hotel.
He goes to customs and Immigration to check in to Mozambique – we only have a 3 month visa and do not want to have to renew it so have held out to the last possible moment to activate it.
We go ashore and hear the shocking news that 4 staff bungalows burnt to the ground while we were away.
Fortunately no one was hurt as the occupants were at the restaurant attending a farewell dinner.
One can only imagine how difficult it is for those who lost absolutely everything they had on this island including their passports and identity documents.
I find some clothing I have never worn and offer it to one of the divers. She is so grateful for the toiletries and hairbrush which I include.
August 12, 2004
While we wait for the impellor Fred on the SSB radio relays the forecast for a strong SE blow of 20-30kn.. It starts on the high-tide in the early hours of the morning and blows consistently at 24kn peaking at 30kn.
We sleep well regardless as the Bay is sheltered and I think of Moonshadow bouncing around atPansy Island.
We hand another copy of our resumes to Liesel who will pass it on to Gustav Fouche the Activities & Human Resource Manager for the Rani Group. He mentioned that they will be looking for a Marina Manager at Pemba Bay Hotel in September next year.
August 13, 2004
Early ashore to organize the collection of the impellors; we are told that the parcel is being held by customs and will be released once we pay an import tax (which probably went straight into the pocket of the recipient)
I make 2 huge pizzas and invite the off-duty staff to join us on Karibu. This is truly welcomed as they have not tasted pizza since leaving home and also the hotel is without electricity because a labourer digging a trench managed to put a pik through the main line … so dinner is a cold buffet for everyone not on KARIBU.
August 14, 2004
We joined Jen & Bill for another great hotel breakfast and sat around with the staff until noon chatting. Liesel has a baby squirrel which she is feeding and hoping to rear as it was obviously abandoned by its mother. It is too cute.
Wolf fills the water and diesel tanks and fetches more water from the hotel in the jerry-cans. In the afternoon we sit around at the boat-house shouting for Springboks who are playing in the Tri-Nations game against the All Blacks.
August 15, 2004
The wind has changed coming from the NE and gusting to 20kn it is almost springtide on the New moon so we move Karibu out into the deeper channel where she will not touch the bottom at low-tide, We do not mind this if the weather is calm.
We send a newsletter to Jo for distribution to all our loved ones via the internet at the hotel. The rest of the day is spent on Karibu rocking and rolling in the swells and strong current while the wind howls through the rigging and the generators spin at full speed pumping 10amps into our batteries.
The baby squirrel which Liesel was nursing escapes after 3 days of recovery we all pray it is strong enough to survive on its own.
August 16, 2004
Jo phones almost in tears to tell us that the van was stolen from the parking garage at her apartment building. We console her and believe that it will be recovered.
We make contact with Rhett on Manatee after hearing him on the SSB radio. He plans to go toTanzaniaand we ask if we can tag along. He agrees as long as we can keep up. He does not want to wait for us or be slowed down by us. We are excited and go ashore to say farewell to all the wonderful new friends we have made there.
We sail toBenguerra Island where we plan to meet Rhett and Denise on their yacht Manatee. We receive a call from Rob in Australia who announces the long awaited wedding date… The big DAY February 26, 2005 yippee!! .
As we talk Wolf and I see a dugong in the channel; it pops its head out of the water and looks at us before diving down. Shortly thereafter a pod of dolphins come to play at the bow.