The Indian Ocean Weight Loss Programme
Casamara
John & Susan Simpson
Thu 23 Oct 2025 16:45
After the many months of land travel that John and I enjoyed between January and August, we were feeling a bit on the chubby side. All those buffet breakfasts and dinners sampling the local foods had taken their toll. We needn’t have worried. Anyone looking for a new approach that guarantees weight loss need look no further - just try the Indian Ocean Weight Loss Programme Two weeks at sea living on a rocky platform where getting fork to mouth to eat is an art form, and going down below to cook is even more difficult, will definitely do the trick! We did a weigh-in after we arrived in Mauritius and all of us, Ian and Chris included, could be heard exclaiming “I haven’t been that weight since … … .!” Our first outing, after the entry formalities had been completed, was to the nearest cafe for pizza, chips and a nice, cold beer! Four hungry sailors, shortly after arrival in Mauritius We sailed 2,397 nautical miles from Cocos Keeling Islands to Mauritius and, according to the YB Races tracking app, it took us 13 days, 22 hours, 8 minutes and 24 seconds! John and I both agree that it was our toughest ocean crossing yet. It wasn’t that we encountered storms or anything we couldn’t handle, it was the unpredictability of the winds and the sea state. The swell in the Indian Ocean is heavily influenced by the weather in the Southern Ocean, thousands of miles to the south. High winds around the bottom of the globe send pulses of waves up through the Indian Ocean. We had swells with wave heights up to 4 metres, which was fine when they were in line with the wind coming from behind us. When the swell was coming at us on the beam (the side of the boat) but the wind was from behind us it meant we were rolling from side to side like a pendulum. For Chris and Ian, who were on their first ocean passage, it was a baptism of fire because the worst conditions started as soon as we cleared the shelter of Cocos Keeling and continued for 2-3 days. It took a few days for us all to find our sea legs. Nevertheless, morale was good on board. Chris and Ian were gracious in accepting that they couldn’t get off, no matter how much they might want to, and there was lots of chat and banter. It was great to have them on board to share in the watch system, as well as the cooking and washing up. Mealtimes become the day’s top events and Chris won the prize for best chef - particularly for his tuna, cucumber and avocado wraps. They were delicious! When conditions allowed the guitars came out for Ian and John to have a jam session, whilst Chris and I were kept entertained listening to them meander through their Blues and Country repertoires. We did have plans to have a set list worked out by the time we got to Mauritius but the conditions were such that guitar time was a bit too limited for that. Jam session mid-Indian Ocean As is the way with all long sailing passages, the first few days felt like a lifetime. Then comes the half-way point - celebrated with bacon butties in our case - and time speeds up rapidly. 1,000 miles to go quickly reduces through 900, 800, 700 and, in what seems like no time at all, you’ve arrived. John cooking half-way bacon butties As we rounded Flat Island, to the north of Mauritius, dawn broke and we sped quickly towards Port Louis, the capital city and main port. The World ARC rally fleet is gathering in the Le Caudan waterfront area and, as more and more boats come in, the party atmosphere is building. The boats are rafted together and flying their colourful bunting and rally flags. It’s a great sight and a bit of a tourist attraction as well. We’re looking forward to exploring the island and to sampling the French baguettes and pastries in the cafes and bakeries. That weight loss may only be temporary! Daybreak as we approached Mauritius World ARC fleet in Le Caudan basin |