Port Blair, Andaman Islands
Sea Topaz
Duncan Briggs
Sun 9 Mar 2014 06:04
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11.41.340 N 92.42.761 E
We arrived in Port Blair in the Andaman Islands
after three days and nights sailing, well, motor-sailing most of the time. At
first the sea was very flat, but the wind gradually picked up and we managed to
sail without the engine for half a day. We had another go at fishing and caught
a few tuna; we also had the biggest fish ever on the line, but it broke the line
and ruined the reel. We arrived in good time though, in the morning of the 5th
March. Good anchorage with firm holding. Soon immigration arrived on board,
three men. Then our agent arrived with four customs officers, then later six
guys from The Coast Guard and Navy. Some of them Duncan had to ferry around in
the dinghy, others were dropped of by the dinghy of other boats.Loads
of paperwork to sign and stamp with our new boat stamp. When this
was all done we were allowed to go ashore. It was not easy to land the dinghy in
the port, but a boat boy took acre of that.First we went by taxi to the harbour
master, who had to approve of our itinerary. We are very restricted as to where
we can go; ours was not approved; we wanted to go through the Homfray Strait,
but the power cable that crosses it has gone slack and is believed to be
too low for us. So we had to think again and go back the next day. In the three
days we spent in Port Blair we kept busy getting fuel, water, some food
shopping, simcard, etc. We also did some sight seeing; visited the jail the
Brits built for the Indians who did not agree with British rule in India. Not
all of it is left, but what we saw was very impressive and worth a
visit.
Our plan for visiting islands in the group was
finally approved so we set off on the morning of the 8th March.
  Flat sea and the fishing lines
out
Port
Blair
Aberdeen market
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