Team Sandpiper Update Part VII, By Tom and Amy Larson, USCG Retired
Origional article with pics http://www.presidioyachtclub.org/Qtr2PH2008.pdf
Ahoy PYC from the country of Eritrea, Africa!
Eritrea is along the east coast of Africa huggingthe Red Sea. Sandpiper is currently anchored inside the Port of Massawa. Since our last writing in the "Porthole' Sandpiper was anchored in Phuket, Thailand and we have eaten up some nautical miles since. We sailed to the Similan Islands 90 miles off Thailand's coast where we spent the week snorkeling in the crystal clear waters before sailing off across the Indian Ocean. We had hoped for steady NE monsoon winds to blow us across the Indian Ocean, but ended up with light winds so decided to stop in Sri Lanka, as it was just 12 miles off our trackline hoping for stronger winds later. Sri Lanka has been in a long civil war, but it only really affects the northern part of the island and the capital of Colombo. Other then the Navy throwing depth charges into the harbor all night long to detour saboteurs, that was the only really downside to stopping here. The people of Sri Lanka are very friendly and the cost of living is quite low. We traveled inland and were able to visit the elephant orphanage in the middle of the island and many of the Buddhist temples along the way. After clearing Sri Lanka we got the winds back and at times 30+ knots, all the way to our next brief stop at the northern group of the Maldive Islands. We only stayed for three days in Uligan, Maldives, as we were running out of time in the cruising season before the seasonal monsoon winds changed direction on us. We pressed on for another 1000+ mile crossing up to the country of Oman, Port Salalah, where we stayed for one week. Oman was our first Muslim country stop, and was quite a contrast from Thailand with all the tourists laying out topless to a country where the women are covered from head to toe in black, even black gloves. The people of Oman were very friendly and we had a few days with a rental car where we got a chance to explore the countryside dodging camels and donkeys. Once clearing Oman we headed west in the Arabian Sea along the coast of Yemen to the port of Aden. This is pirate country, as Somalia is known for its boats heading far offshore in search of shipping that they take back into Somalian waters where they hold the ships for ransom. This seldom affects yachts and we were sure to stay near to coast of Yemen, along the way we were approached and questioned by a U.S. Navy Warship and by a U.S. Coast Guard Patrol boat far from home patrolling this area looking for any suspicious vessels in the area. We were glad to see them and told them so over the VHF before they sped off looking for other traffic, glad to see my shipmates in Blue out here! We cleared in to the Port of Aden in Yemen and anchored several hundred feet from where the U.S.S. Cole was bombed by terrorists. I was not sure what to expect from people in Yemen and turns out the people of Yemen are very friendly. Most all say "Welcome to Yemen, no problem". We stayed a week exploring this very old seaport before we had to move on again sailing to where we are currently anchored with a few stops along the way to catch some sleep before moving on again. Team Sandpipers future plans are to leave Massawa as soon as we get favorable winds then keep heading north thru the Suez Canal. We are expecting to be motoring most of this trip as winds primarily come from the north in the northern part of the Red Sea and can be quite strong at times. We plan to make a lot of stops along the way since there are many small islands along
the way with excellent snorkeling and spear fishing. We expect to most of the trip north in day hops, leaving early in the mornings and anchoring by noon before the windspick up. This also this gives us time to enjoy these stops before moving on again. When we get to the Suez Canal we are hoping for a smooth passage, then north to Turkey where we are hoping to spend some time. If you are familiar with Turkey and the Med as far as military benefits such as any marinas that might be in the area or good bases to fly space-A from we would love to hear from you. Catch more of us on the PYC's website, or visit us at sandpiper38.blogspot.com where you can track Sandpipers progress and read our postings from stops along the way.
0 comments:
Post a Comment