Real African Dangers: Moto Taxis, Burns, Infections & Storms | Sailing Life In West Africa | S8E10
Hello Winded Voyagers.
Do I have medical insurance? No, I don't. So what do I do in case of an incident? Like on a motorcycle taxi where I got burned on the exhaust pipe which turned into a very nasty infection.
I went to see a doctor who checked me out and prescribed a strong treatment. That nasty infection kept me confined to the boat with antibiotics and rest, but soon it was time to get back to business.
I break my vow to never ride a motorbike again because necessity calls. I needed cash from the ATM and a few items at the giant China Mall. I'm ticking the last items off the repair list, making progress. Watch as Diego measures and fits new battens for my main sails, patching up the old beat-up one to serve as a spare while we install a "new used" replacement.
A huge shout-out to Pape, a proper sailor and skilled rigger who just returned from delivering a boat to The Gambia. He’s helping us tackle the rigging, installing a new wind transducer up the mast. Me, I'm ensuring the diesel engine is fed—now that I finally have a working fuel gauge to prevent running dry mid-ocean.
However, being here during rain season comes with challenges. Vicious storm fronts barrel across the bay with little warning, especially at night. I share the reality of securing a mooring against these elements and the damage seen on other beached boats. It’s a mix of mechanical fixes, weather battles, and the resilience needed to keep sailing.
Big hugs from hot and steamy Dakar