Well nothing wrong with our convoy selection process... even if it is the Frogs that have come up trumps rather than Uncle Sam or the Brits. Erik and Sebastien ftom the French yacht Genesis did the hardyards talking to the French Navy back in Salalah and it is those discussions that shaped our in-shore passage down the Yemeni coastline at an average of just 15 miles off the coast.
As a result Genesis has been reporting the position of our three boat convoy to the French Control Center 3 times a day. Whilst we have also been reporting to the British even though they wanted us to sail down the center of the corridor at 50 miles off and not at all happy we were doing the inshore route. They even sent us a curt e.mail saying they could not guarantee speedy deployment of assets if we called in an emergency.
We looked at the options and we agreed the French approach was better as most of the attacks have been near or even in the corridor and anyway thats halfway to Somalia where the pirates would take you.
So in short we were very happy with the French solution...particularly when 2 days into the passage a French frigate comes over the horizon and announces through communication with Genesis that they will track our progress all the way to Aden. Then to top that off they did a flyby in their ships chopper at dusk last night to wish us well and take pictures of us for their records.
We proudly held out our big silver fern flag (from The Warehouse) for the pics. This gave us a pleasant sense of security and no doubt Erik and Sebastien a shiver of pride. Maybe justification for us forgiving the French for their past misdemeanors against us....of which there are a few...turfing us out a successive rugby world cups is hard to stomach!!. We will think up some ze appropriate gesture when we get to Aden. Maybe roasting that leg of Kiwi lamb we bought in Oman!.
We proudly held out our big silver fern flag (from The Warehouse) for the pics. This gave us a pleasant sense of security and no doubt Erik and Sebastien a shiver of pride. Maybe justification for us forgiving the French for their past misdemeanors against us....of which there are a few...turfing us out a successive rugby world cups is hard to stomach!!. We will think up some ze appropriate gesture when we get to Aden. Maybe roasting that leg of Kiwi lamb we bought in Oman!.
We penned this piece of verse to record our thoughts of this passage.....
SALALAH to ADEN GOA by SEA
In convoy of yachts THREE
Under proud flags of the FREE
Stars'n'Stripes, Tricolor, and KIWI
Endless motoring at revs LOWIn convoy of yachts THREE
Under proud flags of the FREE
Stars'n'Stripes, Tricolor, and KIWI
Bows to the gulfs ebb and FLOW
Dawn noon dusk and dark we GO
Willing Pee-rats to NO-SHOW
Bonjour French Navy frigate we SEE
Compliments of SY Genesis we AGREE
Chopper fly-by fills us with GLEE
Great to have such friends at SEA
SY Musketelle (NZ)
19 March 2009
19 March 2009
Relieved just one more night at sea before reaching Aden dawn 20 March.
B&P All@Sea
