[password] beavis
[position] 17 00.03S 49 50.78E
[weather] overcast and rainy
[status] Anchored off the town of Ambodifototra, Ile Sainte Marie, Madagascar. We had really nice sailing conditions last night, so arrived this morning. We rounded the southern end of the island shortly after sunrise and were greeted by humpback whales. Jan had laid down on the settee for a short nap after her midnight to 6 a.m. watch, and she thought she heard whale songs. Rich popped his head down below for something, and she asked Rich if he heard anything, and he heard it too. How cool is that?! It sounded like Dory in "Finding Nemo". We couldn't hear it in the cockpit, only down below. After hearing the songs, Jan couldn't sleep, so we both hung out in the cockpit as we sailed north toward the anchorage, and we saw several whales - one breach, a few tails, a few fin waves and lots of spouts. They were not especially close encounters, but we were thrilled to see them! Humpback whales migrate to this area from Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere winter to give birth and mate. We're hoping to see more of them in the coming days, but for now, a nap is in order. All is well!

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