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SEA GEM LOG
January 8, 2000
LEAVING THAILAND Leaving Thailand we set our course through the Andaman Sea to cut through Sombrero Passage in the Nicobar Islands and thence on toward Sri Lanka. This part of the
trip has been peppered with warnings. First it was recommended that we not going through the Nicobar Islands, but around them, leaving them to starboard and Sumatra to port. Charlie had set our course that way and
then we started talking with the other boats and decided to go through the Sombrero Channel which was the most direct route. No yacht is allowed to stop in the Nicobars. There were Russian military
installations there which have now apparently been taken over by India. The reason given for not allowing yachts to visit is protection of the natives, some of whom are said to still be cannibals.
Sounds to me like someone is protecting military installations. We went through and never saw any sign of boats of any kind. A new boat which joined our fleet in Thailand, Santana,
was stopped and questioned extensively over the radio but not detained. Now we are well away and in open ocean once again. The weather has been benign and we have flown our
improved Jenniker sail with great success until today when it collapsed from atop the mast, leading to a tangle of work for all three of us to get it safely socked away. (I never really thought of the true meaning
of socked away before.) We may put it back up with another halyard later but right now are just motor sailing with the wind directly behind us which makes for a hot afternoon. Our new crew member, Sandra Cook,
has willingly assumed many of the cooking and washing up chores which makes the trip easier for me. Sandra is a vegetarian and is also quite a good cook. She has introduced us to a lot of new things and each
meal tries to think up something different for us to try. We bought a lot of fresh fruits and vegetables before we left Thailand and are enjoying them daily. We have read we will be able to get good
vegetables in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is enmeshed in a civil war in the northern part of the country and we read and hear conflicting information about our visit. All the people that we have talked to, that
have been there recently, have assured us that there is little danger to tourists. We will assess the situation to the best of our ability when we arrive and then decide what we are going to do and where we are
going. Until later . . . from Sea Gem in the Indian Ocean. |
