Sailing the Indian Ocean

I jumped from my chair when I read the email inviting me to sail across the Indian Ocean. I had sailed once before, a day trip off the English coast, after which I swore I’d never sail again. Wyn, who’d emailed me, was a total stranger. I was terrified.

It took five minutes to reply saying I’d love to join.

Catamaran sailing into the sunset with empty horizon.

We sailed across the Indian Ocean for three months and stopped at five islands.

A blue footed booby bird stares at the camera and pulls a funny face.

Sunset at sea with bright orange sky and no clouds and no land.

The Indian Ocean swallows the sun for the final time.. Tomorrow we reach Durban!

Man stands beside South Africa Flag and a catamaran in a marina.

Man with bike and South African Flag stands next to a catamaran in a marina.

4 black tip reef sharks swim through tropical blue water.

Man plays basketball with a coconut on a tropical island filled with palm trees.

Man climbs coconut tree

Windswept Coconut Palm Trees growing at an angle on the exposed beach of Cocos Keeling Island

Man juggles coconuts in front of the sea on a sandy beach on a tropical island

Snorkeller swimming over coral reef in clear water on Christmas Island.

Man walks in flip flops through thick jungle with a backpack and a tent.

Snorkeller swims beside a big coral in clear blue water.

Man blows the flames of a campfire on a sandy beach

A big Coconut Crab on Christmas Island.

Christmas Island is one of the only places Coconut Crabs are found. They are the largest crustacean found on land anywhere in the world.

Hammocks set between palm trees on a sandy beach at sunset.

Sleeping in hammocks on a beach.

A catamaran anchored in tropical blue water with coral, taken from above.

Our catamaran anchored in Flying Fish Cove. The coral is visible even through 20 metres of water.

View from Sailing yacht leaning over during storm in Indian Ocean Crossing. Big waves and no land on horizon.

The boat leans right over with every wave.

Pod of dolphins swim in front of the sailing boat in clear, blue waters in Indian Ocean.

A pod of dolphins joined us in the Indian Ocean and swam at the head of the boat.

Backflip from sailing yacht into clear blue water of Indian Ocean. Ashmore Reef Island in background.

Cooling off after sailing halfway across Indian Ocean, just off Ashmore Reef

Rainbow appears after storm on Indian Ocean crossing.. Big waves, cloudy skies and no land on horizon.

I Survived the Storm!

Huge waves during storm on Indian Ocean. View from sailing yacht of wave bigger than the boat.

Waves that towered above the boat. Photos don’t do it any justice.

Sailing Yacht Leia B moored off Ashmore Reef Island in clear, blue waters of Indian Ocean.

Beautiful Sailing Yacht Leia B in clear waters of Indian Ocean

Dolphins swim in front of sailing yacht in clear blue waters of Indian Ocean.

Sailing Yacht Leia B moored off Ashmore Reef Island in clear, blue waters of Indian Ocean.

Sunrise from a sailing yacht in the Indian Ocean with very calm weather and no waves.

Sailing crewmates cheers their beers on a sailing yacht after successful crossing of Indian Ocean.

Cheers – Here’s to Tailwinds and a Safe Voyage!

Sailing Crew sits on Sailing Yacht roof and watches for land. Flat, calm water of Indian Ocean all around.