Cocos Keeling....rather a breezy spot
Bamboozle
Jamie and Lucy Telfer
Mon 26 Sep 2016 02:20
We arrived in Cocos after a swift and comfortable trip from Bali covering the 1155nm in 6 days. Increasing the size of the crew by 50% (Stupot!) makes an enormous difference to the watch system and particularly how much sleep you can get between watches. Three hours on and then six off is a great deal more relaxed than our usual three and three and I enjoyed my new found down time by sleeping most of the trip!
Cocos Keeling is a collection of 27 low lying islands scattered around a turquoise lagoon 1200nm NW of Western Australia......allegedly it is the group that inspired Darwin's theory of coral atoll development. About 650 people live on the two inhabited islands Home Island and West Island but visiting yachts are quarantined to the gorgeous and deserted Direction Island several miles away across the lagoon. We were welcomed in to the anchorage by a large pod of frisky playful dolphins seemingly doing their best to distract us as we eyeballed our way in around the coral bommies and we looked forward to a week of swimming, kayaking, fishing, snorkelling, diving and sundowners on the powdery white sandy beach in the shade of the palm trees.
Sadly it hasn't really worked out that way, as the day after our arrival the wind really filled in and has been blowing pretty consistently in the 30-35 knots range for the last 5 days. We are perfectly safe and snug but the wind and the rain squalls that have accompanied
it means we haven't been able to make the most of this remote corner of paradise. Stupot and I did manage to get ashore for a rather unsuccessful but totally hilarious trip to West Island (See the posting "Jamie and Stupot's Big Day Out) leaving Lucy behind on anchor watch but most of the time we have been stuck on board. Things look set to improve in the next few days but as soon as the sea and swell settle down a bit we will be heading on westwards on the next long leg of over 2000nm to Rodriguez or Mauritius (depending on how we get on!).
A welcoming committee of little blacktip reef sharks....they seem friendly and haven't bitten us yet.
Not a bad spot to sit out a blow......
....we aren't going anywhere for a while!
The Skipper making up a sign to leave behind to mark our visit.
Sadly it hasn't been calm enough to enjoy the hammock on the beach.
Being stuck on board has given us a chance to put together lots of passage meals for the next leg......here is Stupot preparing his famous fish pie.
Sent from my iPad