Cape Andre

Saint Marie to Cape Andre is about  330nm or just under 3 days sailing for us and the weather forecast was looking good for the Sunday morning so we timed it to be there for sunrise. In Jimmy Cornell's Worlds Cruising Routes he talks it up saying it's like a witches caldron and we have heard other peoples tales that it's not too nice. Forecast was for 16-20knts but we had 25 for the last night and that morning. Our problem the last night was trying to slow Sunflower down. We had 3 knots of current  with us and put the 3rd reef in with just the clew of the headsail poking out and were still doing 7 kts easily! So we just tried to stall a little and at daybreak our Finnish friends on KasteHelmi and Ever After were also around. The plan was to go as close to shore as possible to round the cape as it's out of the current and meant to be nicer but heading in there we saw whales all over the place so jibed back out to sea. Anyhow it was a bit rolly but in all pretty good sailing not near as bad as we thought it was going to be. Once around the cape in flat water with still 20+kts alongside KasteHelmi we got a few good photos which was nice and good to see a pic of us with the 3rd reef in!

We had a great sail 25nm south to an island called Nosey Hara and managed to get a fish on the way which was nice. Didn't expect much of this place so it was a great surprise to see how beautiful it was and a great anchorage for shelter from the east. Us 3 boats there and later Freya from Germany arrived. It's a national park with 2 young guys living in a little hut to look after it. We had the grand tour of the hill and into a cave and realized how unfit we are! Was good though. They have a BBQ there also so the next day Julie and I went and caught a decent size Mackeral and made a BBQ for the 10 of us. Was a great laugh although I did get a little carried away with the local rum which is pretty lethal!

We also went to Cathedral rocks which is a really beautiful place in itself just a couple of miles from the anchorage.. We went by dingy towing a lure but didn't get anything but arrived amongst these islands going ashore to one of them for a swim to what looked like an abandoned beach bar. Was unreal, like a movie set. All these little bungalows built into the mountain that felt haunted! Very creative minds that built this place and it turns out that people come to stay here that are into rock climbing. Unfortunately the camera was out of battery so we didn't get many pics of the place!

The next day I took  the local lads out fishing but unfortunately we didn't have any luck.

It was then time to leave and we headed for Nosey Mitsio 50nm away and had mixed sailing but last few hours were great. We also got a couple of fish on the way enough for the next few days easily.

Mitsio is a great sheltered bay with just a few little villages each with 20-40 people and all very friendly. A young guy called Francis offered to show us around and introduced us to a few people. He is building himself a little hut on the beach and plans to sell beer to passing yachties which is a great idea and surely going to be a winner! They really live of the land here and have just the VERY basics but are happy out and healthy. Guys come out in dugouts with a couple of coconuts or 3 eggs or whatever they have to trade which isn't much. They have been very happy with my old shirts and a few fishing hooks!

Yep, this place is another world:)