How's it been across the Indian Ocean?

[Sabbatical II]

Like many I'd been planning to transit the Red Sea to the Med when I can finally throw off the docklines next year. Now that we have to go around the bottom of South Africa, I'm just wondering how it's been across the Indian Ocean this year? Is it that hard a trip? I hear lots of reports of very bad weather and boats getting knocked down. Is this par for the course or is it only the exception?

[jglauds]

I count about 30-40 boats here in South Africa that have crossed over this season; with one glaring exception, it went reasonably well for all concerned ... the exception being the tragic loss of Wizard, which appears to have struck a container south of Madagascar and sank.

I posted a combined sailing/reflection series of blog entries starting here, FWIW:

Sailing Vessel ile de Grace: Memory -- Indian Ocean Passage -- Part 1

Long story short, wet wild ride, but make conservative decisions, and you'll be OK. On SA coast, patience becomes a major virtue; pick your windows, race like mad, and then stop and wait for the next window.

Good luck -- the good news is that you get to visit South Africa, a delightful beautiful country that's very welcoming to cruisers!

/jon