Sailing North to the 16th century Pirate Haven the fabled Mitsio Islands.

Early the following morning we sailed with the high tide, things were nice and comfortable as we threaded our way through the passages between the many small Islands, we had the sails up and were making good speed. This would not be the way things stayed as once we rounded the last headland we were immediately buffeted by the full force of the wind and waves generated by the cyclone still churning away in the Mozambique Channel. However we were in luck and the cyclone maintained it's predicted course and was not increasing in strength.

Before we reached open sea Richard explained how to operate the topside camera

Our skipper Woody showing the strain of having to act as interpreter as well, yes the language barrier was an issue at times but it all worked out ok in the end.

The wind was not too bad as it was from the right quarter to ensure we made good speed up the coast, however the waves were another story, they were just the right height and distance apart to make things very uncomfortable for us. As I suffer from seasickness I took the opportunity quickly down a sizable dose of my favorite drug of choice and spent the next couple of hours in a drug induced haze of semi-consciousness in my bunk. Some considerable time passed before my bladder inconveniently chased me out of my bunk. Having dealt with that minor inconvenience, I decided a cup of tea and something to eat may be the way to go, and we ate a light lunch as we sailed North toward the 16th Century pirate haven of the Mitsio Islands.

The Mitsio's are located on the far Northwestern coast of Madagascar and we planned to use them as a sheltered anchorage for the night. Just as centuries before us Pirates preying on returning Dutch East India men used those very same islands. The rugged shapes of the islands and their tall volcanic peaks hid the masts of the ships from patrolling naval vessels sent to rid the Indian ocean of the pirate scourge. The stretch of water between the Horn of Africa and the Northern tip of Madagascar were once a favorite haunt of pirates in the days of sail. Days of wooden ships and iron men, months spent at sea living on bully beef and hard tack biscuits, washed down with a daily tot of Rum. Years spent away from home in the hope of making some money, but usually ending in death from any number of mishaps, a fall from the rigging, scurvy, fever or falling overboard and drowning as the ship sailed on, or worst of all at the end of the hangman's rope after torture and trial then for ones body to hang in the gibbet.

Dull leaden skies but at least the wind has dropped and we are in the lee of the islands now.

After a full days sailing we dropper anchor shortly after dark in the shelter of the Mitsio islands, it was a welcome relief to be able to eat and move without being thrown around. I for one was not feeling the best and it takes me a good day or two to get my sea legs at the best of times. I was definitely hoping for calmer weather over the coming days. Once we had anchored up and eaten we all set to bed for a welcome rest.