Sailing the African Coast – Dodging Storms…Zanzibar and Southward

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Sailing the African Coast – Dodging Storms…Zanzibar and Southward

Sailboat Brick House Prepares for a long, stormy passage down the coast of Africa, starting in Zanzibar. This is just the very beginning of the trip, and perhaps a harbinger for things to come? We arrive in Dar Es Salaam planning to spend several weeks, maybe even a month, enjoying ourselves in Tanzania, and getting the boat ready; provisioning, and fueling up for the long 1700 mile trip ahead of us to South Africa. Then we get some weather information and everything changes quickly!

Weather Program on SV Brick House

Hello Africa! Sailing through a Southern Buster from Mayotte to Tanzania

Mozambique In April, May and June

 

 

Zanzibar Marina, Tanzania, East Africa – A month at the new marina!

Mozambique Cyclone Sailing Tanzania to South Africa

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Mozambique Cyclone Update – a short post to let you know we are alive and well on Sailboat Brick House! The Mozambique cyclone definitely did have some effect on us on our 1200 mile passage down the East African Coast, from Tanzania to South Africa this month (March), hence why this 1200 mile passage is taking so long and why there haven’t been any posts or videos!

We had made a carefully calculated plan to follow the cyclone down, according to weather at sea from preeictwind and our Iridium GO,  riding the north winds on the tail of the cyclone and have had an interesting passage down…something we NEVER would have done without exceptional weather capabilities of Predictwind. Our Bluewater sailboat who is ready for storms at sea, as well as with the help of Des Cason, a cruiser who made this trip many times and kindly works with many cruisers traveling down this coast for local knowledge tips about the weather.

We left a little earlier than planned to come down the Mozambique coast, while it was still cyclone season, and it was certainly a little anxiety producing for us both. Weather at sea had to be watched closely and we had to be willing to turn in or even turn back if anything new popped up. I didn’t miss getting a single report this entire trip, that is for sure!

We have a video which we will try to post next weekend when we reach Richards Bay South Africa about the trip down, during what is being touted as the “worst cyclone to ever hit the east coast of Africa”. We feel horrible for the many Mozambique people who have lost everything including their lives in many cases. No photos or replies to comments until we get there since I’m using an expensive “World SIM card” to make this post, but we will reply to the many comments on YouTube and on this blog once we reach South Africa and get some real internet.

Again, we are safe, a bit tired of the passage, and hope to arrive South Africa this weekend or early next week! Please don’t worry about us…the video is ready to post about the whole adventure within a few days of arriving!

Thanks everyone for their concern over the last few days!!!

Here is our weather source: Predictwind Free

Rebecca Childress

 

Predictwind and the Iridium GO!

Bluewater Sailing Tips and Tricks Videos on Patrick Childress Sailing Youtube Channel

 

Sailboat vs Tugboat: We prepare for a passage to Zanzibar, East Africa

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Preparation for Passage On our sailboat to Zanzibar. Dangers for Sailboat in Africa – Patrick Childress Sailing videos #34. Preparing for a passage, on our cruising sailboat, a Valiant 40, one sailing preparation we do on a coastal passage as well as an offshore passage, is a complete sailboat engine room tour. We stow everything as though there will be a surprise storm at sea for our sailboat, check the weather and tides, plot our course, and leave at first light, one of our coastal sailing tips for all sailboats. Preparation for Passage is something we take seriously, whether for a coastal passage or an offshore passage. 

What are the dangers for sailboat in Africa? For one cruising sailboat, cruising at night without radar, sailing in East Africa is dangerous. Were the navigation lights too dim? Maybe he did not see navigation lights at all.

How dangerous sailing in Africa some people would say! But what are the dangers for sailboat in Africa? What are the dangers for sailboats at sea anywhere? Are sailboat crashes common in East Africa? Are Yacht accidents common everywhere in the world?

What happens when you hit a tow line? This cruising sailboat, while coastal sailing at night, when a boat hits a tow line, it is almost dragged under by the tow line during this yacht accident with a tugboat and barge. This is one of Tanzania’s most recent sailboat crashes, but the captain is hoping to win the battle with the tug boat’s insurance company. But who’s fault was it? 

Get an education before you leave the dock…Here are a couple of FREE online courses…Sailing Courses

Zanzibar Marina, Tanzania, East Africa – A month at the new marina!

 

Larry Pardey on SERAFFYN has become Ill. Wife and community honors him in a unique way.

 

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