…Challenge continue

After extensive communication with port authorities, I have obtained permission to pass through the Suez Canal without using a motor or sails. During this section, a skipper will be assigned to the boat as a formality. This is a welcome development as the skipper will pedal the boat for the 80-kilometer stretch, navigate the path, and avoid encounters with large cargo ships, allowing me to rest. If a skipper is not available, I will be allowed to use Vaquita instead, with an additional cost. After covering another 116 kilometers, I will reach the Great Bitter Lake for a brief break before continuing through the remaining part of the Suez Canal and arriving at Port Taofik, marking the entrance into the Red Sea. This port will also be a place to resupply essential provisions and conduct maintenance tasks.

The Red Sea stretches for about 2,250 kilometers and has narrow areas like the Gulf of Suez and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. I will stay close to the coast of Somalia, about 125 kilometers from Djibouti. From the Bab al-Mandab Strait to Socotra, it’s a distance of 1,200 kilometers, and I will need to maintain a considerable distance from the Somalian coastline. I will request protection from the Somalia Defense Forces to counter piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Based on weather conditions and other factors, I will decide on the next course of action. I might choose to head towards the Maldives, increasing the distance between myself and Somalia. However, this route has challenges, including dealing with various currents like the North Equatorial Current, which pushes one closer to Somalia. Alternatively, I may decide to head directly to the Seychelles, saving about 2,500 kilometers and carefully selecting currents to make progress within a reasonable timeframe. The Seychelles will also be a place to resupply and ensure the expedition can continue. Once again, I will cross the Equator, hoping for calm seas and minimal wind, but enduring intense heat in the cabin, which will require the fans to be constantly running. The South Equatorial current will ideally help me make swift progress towards the warm Mozambican coast and into the Agulhas current, pushing me southward.

Crossing the Equator once more, I will continue through potentially calm seas and minimal wind, relying on the 12V fans to combat the heat in the cabin. With the help of the South Equatorial current, I aim to reach Comoros, about 1,500 kilometers away, propelled by the strong Agulhas current. I will carefully consider currents and wind forecasts, along with information from the land-based support team, to navigate down the center of the Madagascar channel, leading to an atoll called Bassas da India. From there, I will plan the final legs of the expedition towards the South African coast, possibly targeting Durban or extending the journey to Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) if the weather remains favorable. Finally, I will wait for a suitable opportunity to reach Mossel Bay in calm weather conditions