Sailing in the Red Sea

is very interesting. The winds in the Red Sea are HIGHLY variable both in speed and direction. This morning we experienced a a shift of winds from the stern at 15 knots to on the nose at 15 knots in less than a minute. It keeps you on you toes. Because the wind is so variable the process we follow is to pick our next desired port and then to identify safe anchorages on the way should we need to tuck in for the night (or days) and wait for unfavorable winds to change. Our first anchorage was Ras Terma, Eritrea, then we went back south (not the way we want to go) to Assab, Eritrea because the forecast did not look good. We spent 2 nights and one full day there waiting for more favorable conditions. Assab is something of a ghost town and is no longer a port of entry for Eritrea. The concern is if it was a thriving port that Ethiopia would try to take the port. We are now on our way to Massawa, Eritrea and are hoping to be able to reach it without having to stop and anchor. One good thing, we have been able to sail most of the time since we entered the Red Sea.

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