Cocos to Chagos
NORDLYS
David and Annette Ridout
Fri 8 Jun 2007 03:37
Cocos Keeling to Salomon Atoll,
Chagos.
1st position report
11:55.7S 94:13.5E
0700hrs local time 8th
June
Yesterday at 0830hrs the anchor came up, the growth
on the chain was washed off, the dinghy stowed and Nordlys left the anchorage
she had sheltered in for the last eighteen days. Clearing the atoll we
boomed out the genoa to port and ran before fifteen knots of wind. An easy
start.
As I write this the following morning we have put
our anchorage 162 miles behind us and with rolls in the genoa and a reefed main
we are counting off the miles with 20 knots plus of wind behind us.
Yesterday was devoid of wild life, including fish on our line, however this
morning has provided half an hour of a school of 30 plus striped dolphins
leaping around us. These dolphins are very distinctive, not least by the
way they leap clear of the water regularly. While this was going on five
young boobies were getting annoyed because they could not find anywhere to land
on us. Thank goodness. We have learnt the hard way. They are
very efficient guano making machines.
So 1361 miles to go to Salomon Atoll in the
BIOT, or British Indian Ocean Territory. More famous for the atoll we are
very much not allowed to go to Diego Garcia. The airport and base we gave
to the Americans some years ago. The displaced inhabitants keep winning in
the High Court, including a final appeal recently but the power of Uncle Sam
keeps them out.
Annette is shouting about flying fish so I had
better get the line out.
Happy times from us both
David and
Annette