Jocara Newsletter
Mar 28, 2005

This newsletter comes from the middle of nowhere.  Well, about 500 n.m. 
from anywhere, about halfway between the East African coast and the 
Seychelles.  We finally got to pick up several hundred emails sent to our 
'xxx@jocara.net' addresses in Zanzibar.  Only now do we appreciate the 
many dear friends and loved ones who were concerned about us when the 
tsunami struck.  All your messages, even so late received, brought a 
warmth to our hearts of how many folk all over the world have us in their 
thoughts.  We have taken the liberty of adding some to this newsletter 
distribution list.  You can always unsubscribe by writing to 
mandar@arl.nus.edu.sg.  Our website will shortly be updated with lots of 
new material, so stay tuned!

So, we finally tore ourselves free of Tanzania, of the picturesque 
Stonetown in Zanzibar, and set sail for the Seychelles.  It felt very 
strange, to be setting out to sea again after so long, almost three 
months.  We have covered about 425 n.m. so far, heading east and trying to 
stay far enough north to catch the equatorial counter current to help us 
on our way.  This is not a typical route for cruisers, and we have no 
companion boats or radio net to keep us company.  So far the winds have 
been mild and not too much on our nose so that we have been able to enjoy 
a gentle ride in approximately the right direction.  We caught two 
beautiful Dorados (Mahi Mahi, otherwise known as 'Dolphin Fish') the other 
day.  We also had an attempt at making coffee ice cream from some of our 
Spinelli coffee beans.  So, life is not too bad out here so far!  Dolphins 
have come to visit a few times, once playing in our bow wave by the light 
of the full moon.  As I write this, the sun has just set and the moon not 
yet risen, the friendly lights from the saloon spill out into the darkened 
cockpit, added to enticing smells of Caroline cooking dinner while the 
stars sparkle overhead.  Our position is 6 deg. 05.11'S, 46 deg. 19.08'E.

From the crew of Jocara.

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.