Matilda departed last Thursday only 24 hours after the  scheduled start and we are south of Madagascar already. We are 465 miles from Reunion Island, where we started, with 909 miles to go to Richards Bay, South Africa.  The dreaded Mozambique Channel is looming in front of us with the Agulhas Current.

Approaching southern Madagascar waypoint

The passage has been a challenge with some very rough conditions, so far we have avoided the dreaded “mal de mer” (sea sickness) which has afflicted many of the boats. Mal de mer is a terrible condition which renders the crew unable to do shifts or contribute to the boat work. Tempting as it sounds to not do boat work or night shifts this is not an affliction that we on Matilda want to indulge. One of the newer boats to join our rally is a Norwegian boat with 4 guys on board all 25 years and under. What they lack in experience they make up for with their enthusiasm. They are all suffering terribly from sea sickness. They have a newly adopted kitten which jumped on board their boat in Reunion Island, the kitten is the only “one” not suffering.

ARC rally boats close together

The skipper on Matilda has dubbed his injury a digitus minimus pedi hematoma (stubbed little toe). He thinks that this precludes him from taking night watches or washing dishes but expects to fully recover by arrival in Richards Bay.

The injury

The Matilda skipper and crew are enjoying the ride, listening to podcasts and music and grateful for all the updates from friends and family and the cute grandchildren pictures from home.

Colorado Halloween – Zombie, Enderman and Spiderman

Two of the seven dwarfs – Dopey and Grumpy hard at work

We will reach the entrance to the Mozambique channel waypoint tomorrow morning. Then the fun begins……..