Jocara Newsletter
Nov 23, 2004

Finally, we are at sea again and heading NW for the tip of Madagascar - 
home of the lemur.  If we have time and weather permits, we may stop to 
take a brief look at a large area of shallows and tiny islands called 
Cargados Carajos, otherwise known as St Brendan's.  This is part of the 
massive Mascerene ridge that also forms the Seychelles and Mauritius.  The 
diving is reputed to be fabulous.  We left Rodrigues yesterday afternoon, 
after finally finishing the bowsprit repairs, getting the freezer back 
online and setting up the autopilots again.  The folk in Rodrigues were 
really so helpful, it was hard to drop our lines and set sail.  Casper and 
Alex were very sad to leave, having found many new friends, including a 
sweet dog by the name of 'Simba'.  Still, it really is time to move on; 
the cyclone season is underway and, even as I write, there is one to the 
NE of us (named 'Bento') that has just been born and is working its way 
westwards, expected to veer to the SW later.  Being at sea for the first 
time in a month we realise how we have all lost our sealegs, the cats 
included!  It will take a few days to adjust and remember not to leave 
things lying around where they fall over... Position today at 04:30 UTC 
was 18 deg. 38'S, 62 deg. 20'E, making 6 knots towards the NW in 12 knots 
of wind from the East in a moderate sea under a bright blue sky.

P.S. Don't forget to check out our website at http://www.jocara.net for 
updates, pics and short movies, also archived newsletters.  Anyone can 
join the list or unsubscribe by sending an email to mandar@arl.nus.edu.sg 
with the subject line 'subscribe jocara newsletter' or 'unsubscribe Jocara 
newsletter' as appropriate.