Location: 21° 28.2 S, 39° 44.4 E
Sunday 12:00, 10.29.2006

The Schooner Maggie B is safely anchored at Bassas d’India at 21° 28.2 S, 39° 44.4 E. Do not be alarmed if this appears to put us aground on the Google Map. The charts here are about two miles off (details, details). No wonder there are so many wrecks along the reef.

This is an atoll totally out in the middle of nowhere. At high tide it is all underwater (except for the wrecks). The water is incredibly clear. We anchored in 50 feet of water and could clearly see the bottom.

As we came around we were hailed by another boat. It turns out they are shark researchers and film crew. Gulp, wonder why they are here? As we were feeling our way around to perhaps try the entrance, Hannah (high up in the rigging with Polaroid glasses) saw two big sea turtles and then a nice little Hammerhead shark, who came over to check us out. We found the entrance, or at least an entrance, but the water was so clear that it looked about 10 inches deep. We passed it by. Perhaps we will explore tomorrow in the Reep, carrying portable GPS so that we can send in better positions.

Last night was marvelous for all watches. The moon as a guide for the early watches, then Orion for me and Sirius, the Dog Star, to guide Hannah. Lots of shooting stars.

We saw some very strange Humpback whale behavior. Two whales were motionless vertically with their tails sticking out of the water, but the tails were bent back 90 degrees so that the white underside was facing straight up. They stayed in that position for five minutes or so, and only stopped because they were perhaps disturbed by us. A singing position?

We will probably stay here for all of tomorrow and then be off for Madagascar on Monday the 30th.

All is well.