Cocos Keeling
Casamara
John & Susan Simpson
Mon 6 Oct 2025 02:50
Leaving Jakarta felt like a momentous step, leaving SE Asia behind and starting our voyage across the Indian Ocean to South Africa. We’d made arrangements to join the second half of the World ARC 2025 rally. Their circumnavigation began in St Lucia in the Caribbean in January and they were passing through the area at the right time for us to join up as the 29th boat in the fleet. We enjoy the social side of the ARC rallies and there’s also comfort in crossing oceans in the company of other, similar boats. We may not be able to see each other when we’re sailing but we can be in radio or, increasingly, WhatsApp contact.  Ashore at Direction Island, Cocos Keeling We met up with the World ARC fleet in Cocos Keeling Islands, a tiny Australian territory with only 5 square miles of land area and around 600 inhabitants. The population is predominantly Malay in origin, descended from coconut plantation workers brought to the islands by John Clunies-Ross in the late 1820’s. In 1984 the islanders voted to become part of Australia and there a number of Australian officials and administrators who live here with their families in short-term postings. We asked the Australian Customs Police officer who checked us in how long he planned to stay. He explained that it would be up to his team (all local) and whether they would vote to retain him when his posting comes up for renewal. It seems to be a harmonious and close-knit community.  Wayne arriving on Home Island, Cocos Keeling In Cocos Keeling we said goodbye to Wayne and welcomed Ian Lillington and Chris Brooks back on board. They sailed with us in Indonesia for a couple of weeks last year and we must have done something right as they’ve agreed to come back to sail with us for a couple of months as we make our way to South Africa!  Wingfoiling in the lagoon Cocos Keeling has been a great stopover. John has had fun wing foiling and e-foiling, and we’ve had chance to get to know some of the crew from the fleet we are joining. Ian and John lost no time in joining the World ARC fleet band!  World ARC Jazz We’re now getting ready to sail to Mauritius, leaving today (6 October) which should take about 14 days. If you’re interested to track the fleet and our progress within it you can use the YB Races app and choose World ARC 2025-2026. |