Excellent weather conditions have allowed the Blue Planet Odyssey yachts to leave La Reunion on time on 5th September for the route to Durban in South Africa.
Maggie, No Regrets and Tahawus are the three remaining Odyssey participants, after the crew of Joyful were sadly forced to withdraw due to health issues. Their plan is now to ship the boat back to Europe or the United States from Phuket, Thailand.
We will be sorry to see Jeff and Anne Posner leave the event, as they have fully embraced the Blue Planet Odyssey ethos, making links with local schools throughout their trip and taking part in the citizen science projects throughout.
The yachts had an enjoyable time in La Reunion, meeting local sailors, catching up on essential repairs and making a big food shop in the local supermarket. Accompanied by local guide Ivan, they visited the dramatic volcanic interior – yet one more memorable experience to add to so many on the Odyssey route so far.
The sailors enjoy the beautiful La Reunion scenery (photo: Zeke Holland)
Weather information for this section of the Blue Planet Odyssey is being provided to the yachts by William Crockett from Cape Town, a service provided by the rally organisers for this crucial leg of the event.
“The successful completion of the passage to South Africa, and the subsequent leg around the Cape of Good Hope, does depend on weather conditions, but sailing in that part of the world is not more difficult or challenging than sailing from the US east coast to the Caribbean, or British Columbia to French Polynesia,” wrote Jimmy Cornell to the Odyssey sailors in preparation for their departure. “But I agree that the timing of such passages is important, and if any of you prefers to wait before sailing south from La Reunion, you should follow your own judgement and decide yourself when you consider it to be the safest time to leave.”
No Regrets and Maggie moored in Reunion (photo: Zeke Holland)
In the event, no delay was needed.
“Monday first thing is definitely your best opportunity to leave and make for Durban,” wrote William Crockett to the yachts. “Conditions are perfect for getting to Madagascar. The long range forecast shows potentially good conditions for the Madagascar to Durban leg. It is my strong suggestion that you leave tomorrow. Overall I think you’ll have a nice passage between Reunion and Durban. There’s no extreme weather at this point that would be cause for concern. Conditions are ideal at this moment for the passage. I’m actually quite jealous that I’ll be sitting in Cape Town! Enjoy the day, as they say, ‘It looks like a peach!’ “
The yachts will spend some time in South Africa before continuing on into the South Atlantic, to Brazil and the Caribbean, completing their circumnavigations in 2017.
Read Zeke Holland’s personal blog for an insight into the BPO experience.
