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SEA GEM LOG
March 4, 2000
Arrival in Djibouti
 The
first fingers of the rose colored dawn back light the bright morning
star and the crescent moon suspended in the eastern sky. We
are closing on Djibouti
rapidly. This is the last day at sea.
The French naval ship has been our shadow and provided a comforting presence for about forty-eight hours. Our companions on Prince Karl, Teva and Tiana, a
Tahitian couple, communicate with the naval ship in French, and then translate the messages for us. Since Ern, the captain of Pimalo, and his crew, are from
Luxembourg they also speak French. Traveling illustrates how lacking in language skills most Americans are, and of course we feel the lack. If we had
it to do over--would we have studied harder, taken languages, I wonder? I was in the last of my watch when the message came to "alter course to 270 degrees, you
are too close to Somali waters." All three boats altered course and we motored ahead knowing that much of the so called piracy is committed by the Somali "militia". From what
we read the county is in a state of anarchy and war lords are battling for turf, and survival. By late morning we had our first glimpse of the African coast. Jeannette was excited as we
finished up the last of the boat chores and inflated the dingy in preparation for arrival. We heard the welcome voice of Jamaica Tom guiding us to the anchorage. We entered the
crowded anchorage just offshore of the Djibouti Yacht Club and dropped the hook at twelve forty-five. A long trip with another safe arrival. Much for which to be thankful. From Sea
Gem in Djibouti, until later . . . |
