Be The Jam

Position: Praslan Island . Seychelles .

S 04°38.99'

E 055°29.60'

Well we are finally out of here. We have checked out, passports are back, port authorities have cleared us. We are of to spend a day or two in Praslan Island , 28 miles away from Mahé, for a short break before heading North to Socotra ( Somalia ) then onto the Gulf of Aden . We had wanted to leave yesterday, but when the sail turned up it still needed repairs, most of the eyes on it needed replacing, a simple repair but much needed. The sail maker (Sail maker in these parts means someone armed with a sowing machine willing to take on any job, however impossible it might be, with the added bonus of not having any materials because of such high import duties) had sent one of his helpers to deliver the sail. So on receiving it, promised in the morning arrived in the afternoon, with the boat ready to sail, three people eager to get out of this rain ridden grease pit, it was all stop again. I borrowed a friends car and dashed of with sail makers' (Joke) mate to try and find sail maker (abuse of the word sail maker) himself. After a treacherous drive up an impossible road, we arrived at Mr Estonis' house (said sail maker). (Could really string this story out was a nightmare of a day, but will keep it short) Sail maker had no eyes (sail eyes, he wasn't blind!), in fact he had no materials at all, no workshop either! Off to town it was, 3 shops with different closing times for lunch, in different parts of a town I new like the back of my hand (not!), still no eyes! NO EYES NO SAIL! Finally stopped at sailing club, begged, cried, shouted, jumped up and down, cried some more, took out a 100 Rupee note…….

Arrived in Seychellois paradise, leaving the rain in Mahé!