Madagascar Cruising Update 2003

Created by doina. Last modified on 2003-11-13 12:51:22
Countries: Madagascar

An overnight passage to Madagascar - the only problem here was the boat boys who wanted to "help" when you came in and were coming alongside as soon as you were dropping the anchor etc. BUT we had a problem and the anchor chain would not come out of the hawser so they were not made welcome!Eventually we did managed to get it down and then dealt with them. The officials were OK but a bit of a pain i.e. coming at 6:30 in the morning to check you in etc.! But all in all not bad and you pays your money and gets your official stamps etc.

Hellville was an interesting place but we did not spend long there and travelled around the smaller islands for about a week before we headed off down the coast and on our way to South Africa.

There was plenty of chance of trading for crayfish, mud crabs (delicious!), honey, etc. Lovely sailing beaches snorkelling and fishing. Will come back next year.

Called at islands and towns down the way and cleared out at Mahajunga where we fuelled up and provisioned for the 10 day or so run. We then went down to Boina Bay, Bayley Bay and around Cape Andre and then had a couple of overnighters that were very lively runs down to the Barren Isles. These are lovely except the weather was fickle and very windy so we did not get to see as much as we wanted or do any snorkelling. We gave all our trade goods to a family that live on one of the islands - there is just nothing, and I mean nothing there.

Dorothy and Richard Walker, s/v Mariposa