Two Shipwrecks and a Prince All in a Days Adventure

We were woken after sleeping the night on Warren’s kitchen floor to the sound of African coffee being made by our host. It was 5:30am and still dark, but we desperately needed to catch the tide, so after a quick thank you to our host we headed out to once again set sail in the hope of rounding the headland, which had beaten us the previous day. Ryan and Eben had also risen with us and with their broken boon fixed were heading for the open ocean.

Dawn had just risen as we set sail, we had the tide and were making good headway another 30 mins and we would be out, when suddenly we heard a crack, the sail went astray. Our boon had snapped, we quickly lowered the boom and gathered the sail into the boat. We were at the mercy of the tide and being swept onto the coral reef, fortunately with the tide on the turn we managed to beach the boat without any further damage, or so we thought.

Shipwrecked with a snapped boom

Still not 8am and shipwrecked on a coral reef. Not to be out done we watched from the safety of the beach as Ryan and Eben boat suddenly sunk below the waters while still in the channel. A fishing boat came to their aid and towed a submerged boat back to the beach we had just left. We later discovered their bow had just come to pieces leaving a gaping hole in their boat which sunk below the surface immediately.

Repaired Boom

With the help of steel wire, ti-wraps, rope and fishing line, it took a couple of hour to jerry-rig the boom, leaving us high and dry awaiting high tide. Four hours later after consuming numerous coconuts, we recruited the help of a couple of local fishermen and pushed the boat over the reef and into the lagoon beyond. Not so much around the headland but through it, with the wind at our back and the tide in our favour it would be all plain sailing from here.

Then the pins holding the rudder to the boat tore lose, we had to let the sail flap in the wind and allow the tide to take us, while trying to steer using a paddle. We were travel fast and in the right direction just very little control of the exact location we would finish.

Second Shipwreck Beach

After 5kms or so, the tide and wind blew us on to a beach. A gentleman, we later discovered his name to be Gigi came and asked if he could help. We had arrived at a closed hotel but Gigi was the owner’s brother who was staying for a couple of weeks with his wife. He made a phone call and they found us a room for the evening with beds and a hot shower. Another phone call was made and arrangements were made for the rudder to be fixed.

After a shower Gigi had the bar opened and for a cold beer and food was ordered, his sister Gladys arrived and we set about a memorable evening, drinks were drunk, friendship toasted, and we all had “one more round for no reason what so ever”

Gigi, Gladys, Paul, & Mark “One more round, for no reason what’s so ever”

As I place my head on a soft pillow that night, I thought what a great adventure so far. After the second day of the race we had managed to travel 3km from the start line, and were not last, had been shipwrecked twice and met a prince, what would the next 497km of the race bring us?

Did I mention Gigi is the Crown Prince of Burundi, now a republic, and told some fascinating tales. 

The day I was shipwrecked not once but twice in the Indian Ocean and ended the day eating and drinking with a prince, one for the grandchildren, I think?