Gulf of Aden - Southern Red Sea
Mukalla in Yemen is a good stop for provisioning and getting a rest and in more peaceful times maybe also for doing some sightseeing further inland. We happened to be there at a period of civil unrest, so we left after three days. Since we were still in piracy endangered waters, the nine of us kept together sailing still in convoi formation. As in the approach to Mukalla, we stayed close to the "corridor", a stretch through the Gulf of Aden, monitored and more or less protected by international warships.
Winds were mostly favorable, so we reached the entrance to the Red Sea after three days and there, funnelled by the narrow straits between Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, the wind picked up, reaching 35knots. So, as planned, the convoi split up. Another night keeping in formation in these conditions was bearly managable, and besides we were for the most out of piracy area.
Some of the yachts sailed to Assab, the closest port in Eritreia. Anima and others kept on northbound, using the fresh breeze, which unfortunately died down the next day. So, we took rest at an lonely anchorage off the Eritreian coast and, after five days and alonst 700 miles we had a good night sleep. I was still singlehanded, but the Danish yacht Margarita and Anima kept sailing together for mutual benefit: They watched out for me at night during my short, but most necessary sleeping periods and I provided them with weather forecasts and e-mail access.
Next day we proceeded towards Sudan, leaving Massawa behind due to negative reports. Besides winds were favorable to make some northing, so after acouple of days and two anchorages we made it safely to Suakin in Sudan, were we are now together with 5 other yachts (3 of our convoi) stuck for almost a week due to strong northerlies.
