Location: 13° 24.4 S, 48° 17.1 E
Monday 12:00, 11.20.2006

The Schooner Maggie B is safely docked in “The Wharf Marina,” Port Victoria, Mahe, The Seychelles, at 4° 38.72 S 55° 28.6 E. Don’t be surprised if Google Maps puts us inland a bit. The Maps are not up to date. Here in the Seychelles, they make new islands all the time. Coming in here, my paper and electronic charts, both only six months old, said we sailed over solid ground. But all is dredged and reclaimed (?) and filled.

We limped our way in here, running only 1200 RPM as opposed to the max of 3700 because we just weren’t sure of the state of our shaft (cutlass) bearings. Certainly at one point they sounded as if a significant part of the Japanese Warrior Class’s girlfriends were killing themselves. But now is better for having a bunch of solidified plastic rope being cut off. Or something. We are going to be hauled out here this week and we’ll find out what is going on before we consider the long leg to Australia.

Port Victoria

Today was a whole new experience in clearing Customs, etc. We checked in with Port Victoria Port Control and were given a place (lat/long) to wait to be boarded. We arrived at about 10:30, as forecast when we checked in at 0800. And we waited and waited. Finally a rainstorm arrived and a pilot boat appeared with 12 Agents on board. Customs, Health, Immigration, Coast Guard, Captainerie, and who know who else. Lots of smiles. Ten copies of the Crew List With Official Stamp. And they were gone. Good? No. Tomorrow I have to make the rounds of all the same organizations with more copies of the crew lists, etc.

But the Seychelles look just beautiful and fun. Less hard core than Madagascar, less poor. They make money by selling fishing rights to all the fish in their area, to Spanish and Japanese fleets, and then requiring them to process their catch here in the Seychelles. 50% of their GNP! Sechellian oil, and probably just as likely to run out.

There are a bunch of new photos to come up on the web site tomorrow.

All is well.