Farquhar Island: population 25 of whom only 4 are women. Part of the Seychelles Archipelago, this is simply a coconut plantation on a sandy island to the north of a huge lagoon, 15 miles across. It was a rough 300 mile passage beating into a force 6 and then yesterday, a force 7, so it’s good to spend twenty four hours drying everything out and resting before heading off to Madagascar tomorrow morning. I can’t say we’re looking forward to another 30 hours bashing to windward, but the worst is everyone thinking we’re simply sitting under coconut trees, admiring the sunsets.