March 12, 2002

Djibouti is finally in our wake after three tries to leave. We’ve gone through all our local money and cigarettes, but we're free. Our next obstacle is the S end of the Red Sea to start our 1200 miles up the Red Sea to Suez. First is the famous Bab El Mandab strait - the narrowest point into the Sea, famous for its alumni of pirates. They hold their class reunions here, but we picked the night that even the heartiest of pirates stayed in. Nothing in sight, but even if they came out, these seas would have made it impossible to get on the boat. Besides 3 of the 4 of us would have been throwing up on them.

The next day was not much better with 30-35 knots and 6-8 foot seas, and to top it off Djibouti was not through with our skipper Jim. He came down with (Abdul’s Revenge) of the stomach.

But we're all back now and riding good in 20 knot following seas and 7.5 kts of boat speed. We have about 5 days to go to Suez, and then the Mediterranean and on to Greece. I think we are all ready for a little “American” shore leave in the good old USA.

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