You have to see it to believe it! It all started this morning as we approached the entrance to the canal. With around 50 cargo ships around us, everyone was talking at once on the VHF radio to request permission to pass: it wasn't easy to understand or be understood.
We had to lower the sails, prepare for towing, position ourselves behind a large cargo ship, and begin entering the canal. With our electric motor, we pushed with the genoa and entered, under sail and motor, into the heart of this majestic landscape. It was like a movie set, somewhere between Mad Max and I Am Legend!
After waiting five minutes in front of the towing area, we're finally being towed by a pilot boat and begin our crossing at full speed at 9 knots.
We can only stare in awe at our surroundings. Fishermen rowing in the middle of the canal, gusts of sandy wind gently whipping our skin... Surprisingly, time flies by and we don't want to miss a single moment of this spectacle, which doesn't happen every day in a sailor's life. On board, we are like children, happy to be there and to share this unforgettable moment. What a thrill! I never imagined it would be so beautiful or moving.
We should arrive quickly at Port Ismailia, where we will stop for the night before setting off again tomorrow morning for the second part of our journey.