2nd-15th January 2006

Similans and Nicobars (Andaman Sea crossing)

We motored most of the way to the Similan islands after the wind died out.

Occasionally, groups of dolphins came and played at the bow. One even stood and slapped it's tail on the water surface.

The water out here is very clean, and on arrival in the Similans we all jumped in for a quick snorkel in the late afternoon. The visibility was fantastic.

The next morning we had a yoga session on the beach and the girls had a walk to the other side of the island.

I took a track to the top of a large hill, enjoying the exercise and views from the top, after doing some maintenance on the engine.

After filling up with some water the girls carted over in jerry cans, we sailed for another island with spectacular boulders and a pure white sand beach. We climbed the boulders and took photos looking down on the beautiful beach and anchorage below.

After a day or so, we sailed on for the Nicobar island group, en-route to Sri Lanka. We stopped overnight at Katchall Island, which was uninhabited, but had a reasonably good protected anchorage. It was relaxing to break up the trip, and we enjoyed some sundowners and a peaceful nights sleep on anchor.

The wind was up the next morning and we started making some good distances. I was able to pick up a weatherfax of the Indian ocean, which showed an intensifying Low cell near us. At one stage I was called up from a very deep slumber to help furl the genoa which had jammed and backwinded. Only in sleeping boxer shorts, I got thoroughly saturated with waves breaking over the foredeck and wind howling over 30 knots. Finally it was furled, the course readjusted and I got back to sleep.

Later on we had some very pleasant night sails along the southern Sri Lankan coast under full moon and a nice 15 knot land breeze