Hi everyone,
We departed Le Port at 1100 this morning after clearing out at 0800. We actually left the pen at 1000 but the engine's water flow alarm went off. We pulled into another pen and set to work replacing the raw water pump impeller. I hadn't replaced the impeller on this engine previously so it took half an hour. The new impeller certainly improved water flow and after a 15 minute test run we headed off - for Africa!
We have logged 47nm so far and have a nice 15-18 knot SE breeze with a 1-2m sea. We are beam reaching under single-reefed main and 3-furled yankee, making about 6.5 knots. It's a nice way to start a passage. We're also giving the Aires wind vane a run and it's coping with these mild conditions well.
When we initially departed Le Port the wind was from the W. We were close-hauled on port, heading NW for an hour. Then we tacked onto stbd and headed SW. As we came out of the islands large lee the wind went around to the SW, S and finally SE. As the wind changed direction it went light each time. This gave us two opportunities to run the engine to assure ourelves all is well. It does appear to be!
We enjoyed La Reunion very much. Unfortunately we were both suffering with flu for naerly half of our stay. It certainly is a spectacular place.
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