Location: 7° 00.5 S, 55° 49.1 E
Friday 12:00, 01.19.2007

The Schooner Maggie B was at 7° 00.5S 55° 49.1E at noon on January 19th. We are headed just about due south for Port Louis, Mauritius at eight knots, motor-sailing. We are scampering across the historical tracks of South Indian Typhoons during the season. The season is now, but winds are light and there is nothing happening at least in the five day forecasts. (I checked three different ones). We will be in Port Louis in four days at this speed, where we will refuel, buy a few fresh veggies and be off for Perth. Once we are about 200 miles (a day) south of Port Louis, we will be out of the zone.

We left Port Victoria, the Seychelles, more or less on time, at 1400 yesterday. We went 150 NM in the first 22 hours and have 795 to Port Louis.

We celebrate his life.

We heard today that my Father-in-law, the Honorable John Hooper passed away in California just about at the same time as we set sail. He was a lawyer and a diplomat. Husband, father and grandfather. Father-in-law to two lucky men and one lucky woman who are married to his two daughters and one of his sons.

He was indulgent enough to allow his eldest daughter, Margo, marry a 27 year old Navy Lieutenant, who found the “may I ask for your daughter’s hand” interview more scary than a mission over North Vietnam.

When a ship leaves the harbor, people ashore watching it go over the horizon will say “She is gone” when they can’t see her any more. But ahead, at the distant shore, there will be the happy cry of “Here she comes!”