Inventory list and spare parts list
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Alexandra is up for sale
There are a lot of information on this webpage and the price on the Facebook page as follows. Please contact us if you have further questions.
Alexandre is located in Ishøj Havn close to Copenhagen in Denmark
Sailing in Seychelles to the islands La Digue and Praslin 13/8-22/8
We needed diesel and gasoline so we sailed to Thaylor Smith wharf. We sailed back towards Victoria and Anchored outside the harbour. Next morning we had problems getting the anchor up because the relay to the up deck switch was not working. Lars had to chant the system. When we get out on the ocean we felt a little uncomfortable because it was a long time since we have been sailing. There were 20 knots on the beam and big short swells on 43 meters depth. We started for motor alone and after a while we rolled out the jib. We drop the anchor outside La Digua in the afternoon. It was a very roly anchor place. We had a difficult night for sleeping. Lars would not sail in to the harbour because our draft is to big, and there were a lot of boats. 14/8 The next day Lars replaced some electrical cords to the anchor drive so we could hoist the anchor up and down. We took the dingy in, in the afternoon, because the wind had calmed down. There were a lot of activities and people in the harbour. Ferries came in and out with a lot of tourists. We walked around for a while and found a restaurant by the water to have an early dinner. We could see Alexandra from there. Next day we stayed on board because of strong winds. We had visit from the coast guard next day. Two young recruit came aboard with the usually paper to fill. Al small boats with passengers were checked out for using life-jackets and there were many boats because of the religious holiday celebrating the saint Maria Jesus mother. It started very early in the morning but the wind were then to strong for us to leave Alexandra. Later in the afternoon we sailed in and had a walk along the north east bay and find a nice new seafood restaurant south of the harbour. 17/8 Up early and sailed in and rented electrical bicycles. We had a nice day biking around the small mountainousness island. Lars had a bad cold with fever and used up his power early but he could just get another bike without charge so we could use the stipulated time to ride. At that time we had not seen the wild turtles, but were lucky to see one crossing the road just after. At 16:10 we hoisted the anchor and sailed to the neighbour island Preslin and 17:10 we anchored outside the harbour. It was a good protected anchorage. Unfortunately I woke up by that a cockroach were climbing on me! The roaches probably got on board Alexandra while staying on the wharf. Cleaning and a lot of spray around the edges is the only way to get rid of them when living on board.
We took the dingy in to the harbour and walked downhill to the village but first stop at one of many small shops to get top up data. It was Sunday so everything was closed. We bought cola and beer at the Indies little shop on the way back.
We had a difficult night because a lot of wind and rain. We had nice dingy tour to the village and the supermarket in the afternoon. Bought frozen mutton meat (Sheep) that later on made a nice goulash. We put the food in the dingy and walked further into the village, were we find a restaurant with local food. Fish salad and pork stew with bottle beer for 76 DKK.
Early morning we took a local bus from the dinghy dock to The Natural reserve, Vallée de Mai. In the Information centre we paid 2X350 SCR = 344DKK. We walked the upper trail through the Palm tree jungle, but first we saw exhibit the amazing sized seed, Coco de Mere, from one of the palm trees. It was not the season for seeds now. We had a nice walk while trying to see the differences of the palm trees. Back at the centre we got nice home baked Cake with cappuccino and cola. Luckily the rain came first in the evening.
Dingy in and ask for diving. They said it was not a season for diving because a lot of algae in the water. We got some more internet and shopped a little. We got the dinghy up on davits and we mounted the repaired staysail on its head foil.
Praslin, 9 a clock, cloudy morning when we sail out of the bay with coarse to Victoria. We sailed fast upwind for main and jib and reached Victoria, 26.7 NM, within 4 hours.
In the evening, we had a nice seafood plater for my 69 years birthday dinner, at the Yacht club.
Cascade Slipway Service Mahé Seychelles 26-30/6 2019, 27/7-29/7 2019
After visiting, Eden harbour and Thaylor Smith Harbour and wharf, we ended up choosing Cascade slipway services. We left Alexandra there and went to Denmark for a month. Alexandra was sanded, new antifouling and the freeboard polished for a reasonable price. Big thanks to Tommy for moving Alexandra on high tide to the slipway. When we came back everything we had ordered was done on Alexandra and she looked so good. It was Sunday so there were just a few people working. We launched the dingy and sailed in to the little grocery store. When we left we got a letter to document the time Alexandra had been on the hard for tax reason. No tourist tax when on the hard.
Bonnie af Stockholm
Victoria Mahé Seychelles 14/6-26/6, 22/8-26/9 2019
The capital, Victoria, is situated on the largest island Mahé. Tommy, Helene, Lars and I were guided around Victoria passing immigration, Tourist information centre, post-office, ATM, shop for internet on Market street and were to get cruising permit. The guide was Klaus from the Danish boat Magrethe. Klaus and Gitte had been in Seychelles for a wail and were preparing to go to Tanzania.
Victoria was a nice town and easy to get around by foot. Victoria Yacht-club offered service to us on anchor like shower, washing machine, get rid of garbage, getting drinking water and a nice restaurant with reasonable prices for the temporary membership 300 SCR ca 148 DKK per week. The French cafe around the corner to the left was visited by us almost every day. You could get sour dough baget with seeds, great croissant, Danish wienerbrød and other delicious bakery.
"Big Ben" Clock Tower
One of manny beautiful sunsets
Victoria Market
Victoria Market
Victoria Market
Victoria Market
Café high up.
Local handicraft market
Got the lacy jack that was broken
Seychelles Yachtclub
Peace Park
Peace Park
Peace Park
Large fishingboats
From top of mast
Seychelles Yachtclub
Crossing the Indian Ocean from Gan Maldives to Victoria Seychelles
Time used 12 days 15h 29 min, Distant 1199.7 NM, avg. distant per day 75 NM, best distance per day 139 NM, SOG 4.23 kts. avg., 8.12 kts max, TWA 265.3 avg., TWS in kt. 12.06 avg., 25.4 max. kts
1/6 After changing oil on Yanmar we had to get into town because Ihthisham (we called him Indi) should have his last money for clearance from us and we should have our and Bonnies crew list with his stamp on. Lars fell badly when passing a road work and he got a bleeding wound on his leg. We were on or way to a net shop. They did not take card so Lars had to go to the ATM and back to the shop. Finally we could meet Indi after being able to communicate with him. Marina Monaco came by her diving shop and so Lars bleeding. She helped him, by washing the wound, while I was in the supermarket shopping for the last local money. When I came out of the supermarket eating an ice cream I was told by a local man that it was forbidden to eat outside. At 13 our we left Faydhoo Gan after 21 days of waiting for a “perfect weather window”. On the way out of the atoll Lars took of the canvas of the mainsail with some difficulty because of the waves. He took the first reef in the main. We sail 0.5 a knot faster than Bonnie but keep contact on the VHF at 19 hour.
2/6 We sail 6 knots. Bonnie is 17 NM behind us so we take another reef in the morning. Now both of us sail 5 knots. We got rain in the afternoon. The wind goes up and down and change direction during the day. We have guacamole on cracker and apple juice. Lars tried to get on with the satellite weather program with no success. Also he send SMS on SSB to the kids that everything is OK also with Bonnie. In the evening we had stars and clouds. We sailed 5.5 knots on wind 13-14 knots.
3/6 Lars woke me up at 03:30 because we had seen a thunder-storm on the radar. At 0:04 we manage to got the jib rolled in , with a lot of difficult. 20 knots of wind. We started motor and mainsail boom in to the mid ship at 04:50. Now wind from 213 and 9.4 knots. 07:30 we have a lot of dolphins around Alexandra. Some of them jumped very high. Tommy on VHF is 33 NM away from us. Suddenly our main B&G autopilot did not work. I found the Simrad autopilot and hand to steer for a couple of hours while Lars installed it. At 15:30 we could use the Simrad but not at all conditions, like with the B&G, so Lars had to hand steer quit some time. We had a lot of wind and high waves so a tough night. I fell down in the cockpit because of a large wave. Lars made up ropes to prevent me falling down when sleeping in the cockpit. We kept the lines up on the rest of the trip to Seychelles.
4/6 Storm with wind up to 60 knots in gusts and rain. We got seawater in the cockpit and that is the second time on our circumnavigation. We had only the stay-sail up and we had to take it down, with difficulty, because the sun-protecting sailcloth went lose. It filled the salon for the rest of the sailing to Seychelles.
5/6 During night we had rain, current against and wind in the nose. It could not be worst. In the morning 10 knots in the nose sail 1.8 knots for motor and reef in mainsail. Lots of rain. At 12 a clock we had no more current against. Nice chicken salad sandwich. In the afternoon the cockpit dried up and we could sit down. We sailed with wind on the quarter 4.9 knots with 8.4 knots wind. Nice chicken soup for dinner. More wind at 22 hour and we sail 6.2 knots with wind 13.7 knots and 0.3 knots of current with us.
6/6 We jibe to BB. I had the watch from 02-05. In the end of the watch we met a fishing-boat, Prasanna7-Net6. Before we got close I woke up Lars. They wanted cigarettes and alcohol and showed us a big fish. The boat smelled very much of fish when they came close by. There were a lot of boats from that firm around and you could see them on the AIS. They sailed with Sri Lanka flag. We got the storm sail rolled on to the stay-sail furler just in case we will need it. I wrote on winlink message to our sons and Lars send it on SSB. Lars talked to Tommy on SSB at 12 hour. I rinse Lars wound and I treated it with eosin read. We rolled in the jib, on butterfly, half way in. A seagull flew around Alexandra. It had one naughty habit using our dingy as a toilet. After cola sundowner we took the pole down and rolled in the jib for the night. Now we sail with main and storm sail over night. Beautiful evening with stars and new moon. On the radar there was squalls and one of them passed Alex with 25 knots of wind and some rain for a short time. Now we sailed for storm-sail alone and Lars got a nap. Also he send my mail on wind-link because there wore the right propagation. We could not set the main because of the halyard twisted around the top spreader. Also we can not set the jib because the rope for haling in and out is broken. So we sail with the storm-sail during night very slowly.
7/6 Nice sky with a lot of stars 03:30-06:30 Maria watch. There were cargo ships and fishing boats to watch out for. When Lars came up we began to remove part of the outer lining on the rope for furling and unfurling the jib. Lars sat main and jib and things were good. After dinner we took a reef and rolled in the jib a little. Now we sail good around 6 knots with wind 11-15 knots. At 21:40 the belt on the steering wheel for the Simrad autopilot was broken. We had to hand steer the whole night, 2 hours each and shift. Also Lars managed to send a mail to our sons.
8/6 Lars took the wheel of and mounted a new belt. Now we could use the Simrat autopilot again. Not much wind. We sailed slowly with reef in main and motor. Now we have time to get stay-sail down and move to the salon. Bonnie have sailed south and now close to Chagos to get some more wind. We relaxed, slept in turns and study the clouds in hope for wind. For dinner we had chicken legs with carrot and red onion cocked in my mothers old pressure cooker and spiced with curry from market at Trincomale Sri Lanka. It tasted so good. Lars tried to get grib file on SSB 3 times. They said it was to big. Clouded night so no moon or stars.
9/6 07:05 jib sat give 0.4 knots. Tommy call on VHF at 8 a clock. They have wind 14-18 knots when we have 6-8 knots so we continue to go south. We got no wind so sail haled in and start motor on overdrive. We sailed 5.5 knots. Later on we get 9 knots of wind and can sail for sail alone 5.2 knots. Very nice sky with a lot of stars. The moon is almost half and light white clouds. We got two mails from Kristoffer and telling us that he bought car and Lars got a grib-file finally! Unfortunately lesser wind later on so down to 3 knots.
10/6 Today our grandson Oskar turn 4 years old. We had hoped to be in Denmark but the delay of 20 days waiting for a weather window in Maldives made it impossible. We call him on the satellite phone and so nice to here his lovely voice. We set sail and stop the motor and sail 6 knots on 12 knots of wind. Bonnie is behind sailing with the asymmetric spinnaker. The wind drop during evening and we sail 3 knots. In with the sail and start motor. We sailed 6 knots on overdrive. Nice moon and stars.
11/6 For motor and main during beautiful night with moon and stars. We transfer the last diesel in BB tank to the day-tank. Lars talk with Tommy on the new grib file on VHF. We take main down when a squalls came closer. It passed without any effect. Later on we had several squalls seen on radar with no effect. Boring motor sailing. Filling the rest of diesel from SB tank to day-tank. Left is 20 liter in a jerrycan. We save it for entering Seychelles. Very nice buffalo meat goulash for dinner. The wind is unstable, 5 to 10 knots, from varies direction.
12/6 For motor during night because still very unstable. I woke up Lars in the morning at 05 because we got wind up to 20 knots. We sat storm-sail and after one our when it was light we sat main sail, jib and turn of the motor. Bonnie is south west of us. Sunny morning with wind 12 knots and speed 4.7. The swells, on the bow, are still very large. We jibe and now we sail better. Lars make very nice rotti. At 14 hour we steer directly towards Victoria. I and then Lars got a rest. Lots of wind so I have to wake up Lars. We roll in the jib. Collect a lot of water. No wind so sail slowly, Wind again, 15 knots, sail 5.4 knots. Fiery Squall up to 25 knots passes quickly19 hour but the wind and rain stays. For a short time we sail 6.5 and then the wind dies to 8.7 knots. We sail slowly, 3-4 knots, during night with wind 8-9 knots Socks and shall on for the night.
13/6 Lars woke me up at 01:00 because a squall came close to us with winds 36.5 to 39.7 knots. We drop the main and sail for the rig alone. 2-3 knots. At 02:30 Lars turned of the Simrat and toke the steering wheel because very high waves and swells. We talked, on the VHF, with Tommy on Bonnie and Michael on Ostrika and exchanged position. They were close by. We started motor 03:20. We had only diesel for 2 hours, except for the 20 liter, in a jerrycan, we saved for sailing into Victoria. At 07:00 we unfurl jib and kept main with two reefs, after just having a squall, and sail 1 knots on the quarter. We reefed out. After curing a headache I am fresh and making pancakes using the last eggs. At last we got 17 knots of wind. We took to reef and sail good on the quarter. Reef out 13.50. We sailed 7.1 knots with 13 knots of wind. Tommy on VHF have 29 NM and sail with full speed for motor towards Victoria. We have to go on sail. In the evening we sail good on the beam 6.1 knots with 14 knots of wind.
14/6 00:25 Arrived in Victoria Seychelles at four o’clock in the morning and dropped anchor at the way-point we had bean told to use from the port officials. We were fast asleep, at 8 hour, when the custom, immigration, bio-security and harbour officials came on board Alexandra to clear us in. They left after an hour and everything was in place. We sailed in to the bay of Victoria and dropped the anchor.
Roti
Sailing in Maldives 8/4-1/6 2019
Uligamu 8/4- 11/4
8/4 We had a nice swim in the, turquoise clean, water before breakfast. Lars lower the dingy and we took Helene and Tommy with us to the harbor. Our agent Asadhula met us with his motorbike. There is no cars on this small island. We went home to him and was treated with very nice star-apple red and green. Afterwords we were invited for lunch at a little cafe were we got local food, like deep fried triangle pirogi and spring-rolls, served with slosh-ice.
9/4 All of us were picked up, in the afternoon, to go to an other island for ATM and shopping at a supermarket. Here the eggs comes from India and are white and very small. Not as good as the once in Thailand that are big and bright colored egg yolk. Tommy bought diesel in jerrycans. Afterwords we were treated to coffee and sweets at a nice cafe.
10/4 We snorkel with Helene and Tommy on the reef close by. In the afternoon Lars and Tommy sailed in to the beach, and met Hammadh, to test our drone. Unfortunately there were dew on the lens so no good picture. At sundown we had a visit of the to agents. I made coffee and water to them. We said farewell and thanks for all help when they got picked up by friends in a speed boat taking them to land.
11/4 Running generator and water-maker and having a last swim before leaving Uligamu. We sailed 21.5 NM to Dhapparuhuraa and dropped anchor at 13:30, after a boring sail for motor. A dip in the water to cool down did not help because the water temperature was almost the same as the air 32.7°C.
12/4 Easy morning with dip in the water and sailing, at 8:30 the 22.8 NM, to Kulhudhuffushi were we could get diesel from the cay the next day.
13/4 We went in to the village, in the morning, to shop at the vegetable and fruit marked. Lars payed the harbor fee about 70 dkk. We left Kulhudhuffushi with help from local fishermen to take the lines.
We sailed outside the atoll 28.6 NM to Farukulhu. Lars got a nap. It is very hot in the salon 33.3°C. We got lunch and coffee and it was 35.9°C at 14 hour. When we sail in, to reach the way-point for anchoring according to the guide, we hit the reef. Lars backed out and we waited for Bonnie to arrive. Bonnie tried to anchor but it was to shallow for her too. We had to go further out on deeper ground and anchor. A dip in the water made the day.14/4 We left Farukulhu after having a nice swim on the reef with many fish. When we should have the anchor up the winch couldn’t run. It was a cable that had corroded. There were also a cable that were lose.
14/4 We sail out after Bonnie and after 22 NM we anchor at Maafaru close to the reef. We swam to the reef and it was beautifully colorful and many fish. We saw a little stingray on the way back.15/4 Before we left Maafaru we snorkel on the reef. We took pictures but I had problem with the camera. Lars gave the camera service afterwords.
15/4 Sailing 44,18 NM to Huravalhi and anchor outside the resort, but not to close, at 13:30. We took a swim over to Bonnie. Later on, after being pushed away from a little sand island, we took the dingy to Bonnie for a sun-downer. Helene had made nice tun-mus on rytva hard-bread.16/4 All four of us snorkeled on nice, but small, reef a bit away from Alexandra. We took some nice picture with a clean camera. Some rain in the afternoon so collected water. 17/4 Huravalhi. Nice dip in the water and washing clothes, while generator and water-maker is running an hour.
17/4 We sail 8,05 NM for motor, inside the atoll, one hour to Hinnaaruva and anchored outside the village. We visited the village, and in the evening, got dinner at a restaurant overlooking our boats. Lars downloaded a program to make maps out of satellite pictures. 18/4 Quick shopping in the morning.
18/4 Sailing to Kanafushi 8,1 NM. Anchor up at 11 and we continue sailing south in the atoll. We reach the southeast anchorage in 2 hour. We were getting a lot of rain so good for collecting rain water. We checked out google earth pictures between here and Male and also tourist guides. Dinner in a quite and wet cockpit.
19/4 Long-Friday. Anchor up at 7:45 and sail to Kagi Kanduolhi. Cloudy and sunny and no wind so motoring. We sail 48 NM in 10 hour. We met only a “cobra-ship”. We anchor on 27 meter but Bonnie wanted less depth so up with the anchor and sail into the next bay between reefs and fortunately more shallow water.
20/4 Easter evening. Sailing to Thulusdhoo 19.92 NM but first run the water-maker. Much wind up to 27 knots and sometimes rein. I wash mattress covers to cockpit using rain-water and was lucky that they dried ind the wind. We followed Bonnie into the harbor and anchored. We had nice Easter lunch at Alexandra. Helene had several kinds of herrings, eggs, relish and hard bred to offer and both of us had snaps. We had Janssons frestelse (temptation) and cocktail sausages from pork. The best thing was a very good protected anchorage in a little charming island that also is called Coca Cola island. We expected bad sailing weather for a week!
21/4 Lars roved us in to the cay and we had nice lunch at a cafe in the village. Also checked out the small shops for food. On the way back we stopped at the Coca Cola factory and got a guided tour. Tommy helped Lars with getting the 24 volt Victron inverter to work.
22/4 In the afternoon we all took a tour around the village to see if there were any beach to swim and snorkel. No success but we found a coffee bar, at a resort, were Helene and I could bathe after coffee! We came there several times. We also so the backside, a big garbage mountain.
23/4 Lunch on land and shopping. Lars tried to get top up but no success. He also went in, in the evening, but no help.
24/4 Lunch at a resort in the village and coffee at the beach. Lars bought 10 GB 700MVR but he had to by a new sim-card 35 MVR
25/4 All four of us sailed to Male The capital of Maldives with the blue ferry. It took 1.5 hours each way so not much time in town. The town was very crowded with a lot of cars and motor-bikes. First we had lunch. So Dhiraagu for more data. We found a shop that had some international food and on our way out we met Kimi and Trevor from SV Slowfligh. They were off to Gan in the evening. We split and Lars and I went in the direction of the ferry terminal because I had heel spurs (hæle spore) in my left foot and could not walk fast.
26/4 Thulusdhoo. Sailing to Velassaru Falhu. Anchor up 8:50 and sailed out of the harbor after Bonnie av Stockholm. Sat jib 09:20 and main 10:10. sunny morning with wind from north-east. At 12 a clock shallow water like 7 meter so dropped the main and rolled the jib and start motor. Drop anchor between reefs at 13:20. In the afternoon we put the dingy in the water and motor on. We picked up Helene and Tommy and went to the reef. A lot of colorful fish but the reef looked dead. Lars took pictures and GoPro film. Helene saw a big turtle. We clean filters to gen-set and salt water filter. There were a lot of algae and mussels. At Bonnie for sun-downer we had nice home made tun-mus on rye hard bread and beans that Helene had spiced. Tasted a little like almond.
27/4 Velassaru Falhu: Lars was running the gen-set and water-maker in one hour. Also ad cooling-water to Yanmaar. Lars download google earth maps and off we go. We sailed between the reefs following Navionics automatic route but also google earth maps. For motor 5.3 knots with one knots of current with us, wind 5.1 knots in the nose, blue sky.
We sailed into the little harbor Guraidhoo, after Bonnie. We got picked up by Tommy and sailed in for dinner at a restaurant overlooking the harbor and our boats. Nice dinner like chicken steak for me and burger for Lars. Freshly made juice from papaya and apple. 300MVR 130DKK.
28/4 Lars made new cable to freezer box and fridge box. Now the freezer works. I got a haircut by the captain. Washed clothes. Tommy and Lars bought a big tuna each from a fisherman in the harbor. Nice tuna with rice and corn.
29/4 Good message from Donna in Trincomale. Her daughter and husband left Sri Lanca the day before terror bombs in Colombo. A lot of wind in between. We move Alexandra further ind so giving more space to the boats coming in and out. Lars ad a fuse box to the fuse in the anchor well.
30/4 We took the dingy up to the breakwater and climbed the stones so not disturbing the local boats at the cay. I got a bracelet from the old women at the gift shop. Later on I bought a nice bawl made out of coconut and cinnamon-tree. We went to the beach cafe and later on lunch with our friends there. We had to wait a long time for club-sandwiches and fish and chips. We went to find the pharmacy and it was cited at the clinic. I could by ibuprofen pills, very cheap, for my aching heel spore in left foot.
1/5 Lars was taking a dive with, the local dive center, Manta dive. They had good new equipment’s 10:40-12.30. A lot of colorful fish but the corals were not recovered from the tsunami.
2/5 Lars could by a poster of reef-fish after the owner of the shop was called. Coffey at the cafe when we wait for the shops to open after prayer time. Sun-downer on Alexandra with Tommy and Helene and freshly made humus.
3/5 We went too Town for dinner. The dingy could be placed behind the diving boat so we did not have to go back on the stones in darkness. We had very nice fish-soup and fresh juices at the restaurant overlooking the boats.
4/5 Lars try to get data but the nice guy have not opened yet. He have to days more education in Male before he could start working I the nice office. The man in the shop, that should have top up available, told us to leave, after we had waited a long time for him to come to the shop after prayer time.
5/5-6/5 Guraidhoo sailing to Veligaufinolhu. (Ramadan starts 5/5). 142 NM. We sail out of the harbor thirst and showed the way to pass the reefs. Outside the atoll we sail a 5 hours long leg with motor and jib. Not much wind, 8.9 knots. It was very hot, 34.3°C, so difficult to sleep. We toke speed of the motor several time so Bonnie could ketch up on us and they did at 20:00. Very hot night also and I had a headache. Lars could make to safety lines for Go-pro and the diving torch. Finally we are at the anchorage by the reef. I got into the water immediately and swam to the reef. It was beautiful.
7/5 Al four of us snorkeled, on the beautiful reef, before we hoist the anchor and sailed in to Hithadhoo Harbour. Ramadan effects everything here. The shops are only opened short times compared to most of the day normally. Restaurants are not open during day time because they fast at Ramadan. We were “kidnapped” by the locals. They wanted to show us there island. First home to a fisherman. He had an Aquarius with beautiful colored fish. We got coconut drink, star-fruit and jamburoalu (water apple or rose apple) red, very fresh taste. After that a walk threw his beautiful coconut plantation. We reached a beach and was, after a long walk, put behind a scooter and driven to another beach for tasting coconut soda and coconut juice. The fisherman climbed the tree and fetched the nuts. Finally we had to ask the nice people to drive us home to the boats. We needed to secure our mooring-lines because of the tide. We stayed another night because of the weather. People were very nice to us and offered food and fruit and showed us there village.
8/9 We took it easy on board Alexandra the whole day. A lot of people came by to check out the two sailing boats. When the alarm on the phone rang for prayer they left. Also, Tommy and Lars were invited to see the big fishing-boat. In the late afternoon they sailed out and waived to us. They start fishing bait fish and the next day they catch tuna with fishing poles. We heard that, in Maldives, the fishing is regulated with how much and what methods to use.
9/5-10/5 Sailing from Hithadho Harbourto Faydhoo Gan island, the southeast island in Maldives, 162,47 NM. We leave the harbor at 6 in the morning and sail for motor only until 18:35 when we sat main and jib. It gave 0.5 knots. Lars got a big yellow tuna on the hook but it managed to get of just before we got it in. At 19 hour we sail 6.1 knots with wind 4.2 knots.
10/5 Kristoffer 31 years birthday ! We anchor outside little harbor and wait for Bonnie to sail ind. We followed them in, hit a coral and anchored close to police, border control and rescue boats.
10/5-31/5 Faydhoo Gan.
11/5 A lot of mosquitoes here. Both of us were bit all over during night. No internet but can use messenger and right to Kristoffer. Our agent, Ihthisham Najeeb (Indi), came with a car and drove us to two supermarket, one far away up north that had good vegetable and cheese and then the one closet by to the anchorage, but first a stop at the pharmacy to get top up.
Now it was Ramadan fasting in 30 days were the Muslims are not eating between sunset and sundown. Al restaurants and cafes were closed at that time. We recommend sailor to stay away Muslim countries when it is Ramadan especially Maldives because they are 100% Muslim and no other religion are allowed. In Faydhoo only pharmacy and two supermarket were open during day time. Often they were closed for prayer.
12/5 Indi and a friend, both on motorcycle, meat us on land and take us to the diving shop and Marina Monaco. Lars agreed to get three dive the next day.
13/5 Lars got diving with Marina and Pavel. A wreck dive and to overs. I stayed on board and wrote to website about Sri Lanka.
14/5 Lars connected spare bilge pump to electrical cord so we could drain the bilge from water. Now we could run the generator and water-maker. Starry Horizon anchor in the harbour. Indi came with the clean laundry to us and Bonnie. All of us went shopping for food. Lars met Marina at the diving shop and got pictures on a USB stick.
15/5 We tanked 300 liter diesel and water at the Large harbour in town. Indi came with the drinking water three times with a friends car. Lars recalled the call for prayer at 18:08 and 19.08. Lars got the last beer and I gin and tonic.
16/5 Sleep late after a very difficult night. Hot up to 35C, mosquitoes and traffic noise. Lars put new rubber membrane on bilge pump. Also cleaned filter to salt water intake. I wrote to web site. I find two lime beer from NZ and a gin tonic for me. You can by tonic water but off cause no beer or gin. Alcoholic beverage are forbidden in Maldives. Special exercise for my hale spore helps a little. Try to make my training program every evening before sundown because after that we have to close down because of mosquitoes.
17/5 Lars take the filter to the gen set for cleaning. I cleaned up after killing a cockroach. We had one every night it seemed. Friday prayer is longer when normal in Ramadan. / times instead of normally 5 times. We here not only calling for prayer but also prayer with response from the congregation. We find a mosquito net to the bed and hopefully we could sleep bedder tonight.
18/5 Full moon had to run generator during night. No mosquitoes in the net. 29°C, cleaned the filter to the shower. We went to the village and pharmacist for 10 GB and supermarket. Gym, elastic, hale spore training. I did it every evening if it did not rain.
19/5 Wind up to 20 knots and a lot of rain. We had a mosquito in the net during night. Not good. I had to fix the net from wholes.
20/5 Lars made a photo collection of Sri Lanka. I worked with the text. We had a nice snorkeling on the reef with Tommy. We talked with Kristoffer. He had gotten a bad cold.
21/5 Lars had an arrangement with Amy and David to dive with Marina. Unfortunately it did not work out. The weather was very bad with a lot of wind, 34 knots, and a lot of rain. We had to move Alexandra further in so that the police boats could come in. 27.9 ºC at 19:30 and now no wind.
22/5 Mosquitoes during night. A lot of wind and heat made it difficult to sleep. I mended the net. Hope it helps.
23/5 Washing up covers etc using rain water.
24/5 We had a lot of mosquitoes in the net during night. A not so nice walk to time because of my left hale spoor.
25/5 A big turtle swam around Alexandra for quite a time. We enjoyed looking at her.
26/5 Lars fix BB navigation light by changing some electrical parts.
27/5 Lars had to go in the water and move a fishing-boat at a mooring that were coming to close to us. He also scrubbed the bottom while he was down.
28/5 Office work.
29/5 Rain the whole day.
30/5 We had a nice snorkel on the reef with Tommy. Specially there were a beautiful brown movable coral with a lot of fish. Helene had made delicious guacamole for sun-downer on Bonnie afterwords.
31/5 Finally last day at Gan after a rainy night. Cleaning filters before running the generator. Breakfast in a dry cockpit. Tommy help Lars with a new mail program for SSB Winlink express. We all four get on land to meet Indi and his boss about clearing out. Shopping and ATM in the village. Heavy load of food with us to the dingy dock 1.5 km walk.
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu, Jamburoalu
Uligamu, Jamburoalu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu
Uligamu - Tunar boat
Uligamu
Uligamu
Reef at Uligamu
Sailing from Trincomale Sri Lanka to the Uligan Island Maldives 2/4-7/4 2019
Time used 4 days 23.3 h, distant 681.1 NM, avg distant per day 56.8 best distance per day 141.6 NM, SOG in kts 5.5 kt. avg, 7.1 kts max, TWA 199.4, TWS in kts 6.0 avg, 12.9 max.
2/4 Up 6:30. Dingy up on davider. Pack the aft room. When the anchor should be hoisted the winch did not run. Lars find a corroded cable and a new fuse. Later on added a new fuse holder. We sail out of the bay and soon hoist the main sail and a while later the jib. We sailed all night between land with small fishing boats, and big fishing boats further out.
3/4 At four a´clock there were not meany fishing-boats. Now we have westerly winds. Lars had to zigzag a little between fishing boats. Maria talked to Kimi on SSB at 8:30 but had difficulty to here what she said. At 10 a´clock we passes a lighthouse and here is very shallow water like 14 meter. Not much wind but the current with us. When Lars got up 12:30, we sat sails and sail 7 kt. Bonnie sail out of Galle harbor 16:15. We still have fishing-boats to look after but not so many.
4/4 We pass a very large cargo. 34.2°C in the main cabin. Wind 3.4 kn and we sail 6.1 knot for motor. After a cargo ship had passed us we sat sails. We sail 6.2 knot with 5.7 kt of wind on the beam. Several cargoes passes during the evening. Temperature 30°C.
5/4 Lars had to change course, 10 degrees, for a cargo ship to pass. Lars made very nice roti.
6/4 We have now emptied one diesel tank that is 350 liter diesel. Two cargo ships passes on BB side. Lars on SSB with Tommy and Kimi. Lars send a mail on Iridium to the agent in Uligamu 24 hours before entering. We cleaned filter to gen-set. Also filter to salt water inlet, after stopping the Yanmar. Now the pump start again. We start the motor and sail 6.6 knot, wind 9.4 kts on starboard bow upwind. We got one knot of current against us so slower.
7/4, Lars birthday! Beautiful morning passing three atolls before we, 8:30, dropped the anchor outside Uligan. After some time five mend from custom, national defends, immigration and bio-security came sailing along side Alexandra. We had some cookies and soda for them. Hammadh helped Lars to fill in several forms. The others filled other forms and used the Alexandra stamp a lot. Also stamped our passports with there stamp. Bonnie came ind at 16 hour. In the evening we got picked up by a speedboat and the 5 mend and Tommy and Helene sailed to the Island Ihavandhoo to get ATM. We got nice dinner at a restaurant like nasi-goreng with beef, chicken sausage and egg served with water. Now we are in a 100% Muslim country so nothing from pigs and no alcoholic beverage. They have though nice fresh fruit juice at almost all restaurants. Call out for prayer from the Mosque, five times a day, you here everywhere on the islands.
Sri Lanka Trincomale 14/3-2/4-2019
14/3. In the morning we sailed in to Trincomale. On the way in we met Peter and Donna, in the USA trimaran Kokomo, coming in from anchor a long the coast. They have had a terrible night there so we felt lucky having arrived in the morning. After getting contact with port control we could sail in to the cay and also Kimi called us and was there at the cay to take the line. We could stay alongside Commander 7. Kokomo moored at the cay. Nice to see Kimi again. They had been out on a 4 days road trip and we got a lot of advise from Kimi. After clearence that took half a day we sailed out in the bay and anchored were they wanted us to be.
In the afternoon we sailed in with the dingy and went to town for ATM, sim card and bred at Anna’s bakery. We had a very nice evening the Dutch Cafe with Trevor and Kimi.
15/3. Trincomale north town.
16/3 Today we visit Hindu temple out on a peninsula in Trincomale. We took a tuk tuk to the park with a lot of deer and waked up towards the temple. We had to leave our shoos and walk bare footed at the temple area. It was very hot! We saw a women worshiper taking a coco nut with her inside the temple and took oil on and lighten it up. After prier she went out and crashed the nut with a lot of power. Others gave away a miniature baby bed to strengthen fertility. Our friend Yoosuf could explain and we were lucky he was there to take us back to the harbor.
17/3 Work on board the whole day. Nice dinner with nice people from Slow Flight, Starry Horizon and Kokomo.
18/3 Work on board. Washing clothes, write to medical and boat insurance, pictures to website and post to website Indonesia.
19/3 Trincomale shopping uptown. We walked to the supermarket and got a tuk tuk back to the cay. Kristoffer help Lars with getting a program were you can, by yourself, put your position of the boat in Marine Traffic. I write to website. Very nice sun-downer on Kokomo.
20/3 Lars and Peter went in and talked with the guide, Baithulla Yoosuf, about making a four days road-trip for four people. Washing clothes and write to website. Trevor and Kimi came by to see about looking after Alexandra when we are away. Thank you so much.
See road trip Sri Lanka 21-24/3.
25/3 Very tired, photo download, photo to FB, website. Lars made hakkebøf with løg and potatoes. (Ground beef, onion and potatoes).
26/3 Sms from Bonnie said they are soon in Galle so change of plans. Lars borrowed 5 jerrycans from Peter and tanked diesel 3 times 100L with the help of tuk tuk driver 3×300 LKR=34DKK. I went to town and Anna’s bake house after bred, lovely buns and sand-cake.
27/3 contact with Bonnie on SSB. They are in Galle. Lars download a new open CPN with a new version of trip adviser. Lars went in with 5 jerrycans for last load of diesel. Made budget Sri Lanka. We met tuk tuk driver with to big IKEA bags with laundry and were driven to a professional laundry on the other side of town. Also stop at the Cargills supermarket in town for provisioning.
28/3 Test the new tea from Damro BOP Black Grainy Tea-Large, pure Ceylon tea. Not bad. 29 ºC in the salon in the morning and no wind. We write and work with pictures for the web side Indonesia. At 16 hour we get in and tuk tuk (400KLR) to laundry (2000KLR). When we got out on the anchorage we so to Mexican sailing-boats arriving.
29/3 Tuk Tuk with Yoosuf to the Vegetable and fruit market. Very good! 870LKR, 33DKK.
30/3 We put a lot on the web side. Nice dinner at the Dutch cafe with Peter and Donna.
31/3 Clean up under the floorboard. Lars make visa application to the agent “Asad” in the Maldives. Web writing and pictures, communications with Kimi in the Maldives. To Trincomale North for ATM, Anna’s Bake house and Liquor store for lion beer 2X24 6000LKR 227DKK.
01/4 Last shopping in supermarket, bakery, liqueur shop mm. Checking out at 16 hour at the harbor and after that we were not allowed to visit land anymore.
02/4 up 06:30. Hoist dingy on davider and sail to the north-est island in the Maldives, Uligan.
14/3. In the morning we sailed in to Trincomale. On the way in we met Peter and Donna, in the USA trimaran Kokomo, coming in from anchor a long the coast. They have had a terrible night there so we felt lucky having arrived in the morning. After getting contact with port control we could sail in to the cay and also Kimi called us and was there at the cay to take the line. We could stay alongside Commander 7. Kokomo moored at the cay. Nice to see Kimi again. They had been out on a 4 days road trip and we got a lot of advise from Kimi. After clearence that took half a day we sailed out in the bay and anchored were they wanted us to be.
In the afternoon we sailed in with the dingy and went to town for ATM, sim card and bred at Anna’s bakery. We had a very nie evening the Dutch Cafe with Trevor and Kimi.
15/3. Trincomale north town.
16/3 Today we visit Hindu temple out on a peninsula in Trincomale. We took a tuk tuk to the park with a lot of deer and waked up towards the temple. We had to leave our shoos and walk bare footed at the temple area. It was very hot! We saw a women worshiper taking a coco nut with her inside the temple and took oil on and lighten it up. After prier she went out and crashed the nut with a lot of power. Others gave away a miniature baby bed to strengthen fertility. Our friend Yoosuf could explain and we were lucky he was there to take us back to the harbor.
17/3 Work on board the whole day. Nice dinner with nice people from Slow Flight, Starry Horizon and Kokomo.
18/3 Work on board. Washing clothes, write to medical and boat insurance, pictures to website and post to website Indonesia.
19/3 Trincomale shopping uptown. We walked to the supermarket and got a tuk tuk back to the cay. Kristoffer help Lars with getting a program were you can, by yourself, put your position of the boat in Marine Traffic. I write to website. Very nice sun-downer on Kokomo.
20/3 Lars and Peter went in and talked with the guide, Baithulla Yoosuf, about making a four days road-trip for four people. Washing clothes and write to website. Trevor and Kimi came by to see about looking after Alexandra when we are away. Thank you so much.
See road trip Sri Lanka 21-24/3.
25/3 Very tired, photo download, photo to FB, website. Lars made hakkebøf with løg and potatoes. (Ground beef, onion and potatoes).
26/3 Sms from Bonnie said they are soon in Galle so change of plans. Lars borrowed 5 jerrycans from Peter and tanked diesel 3 times 100L with the help of tuk tuk driver 3×300 LKR=34DKK. I went to town and Anna’s bake house after bred, lovely buns and sand-cake.
27/3 contact with Bonnie on SSB. They are in Galle. Lars download a new open CPN with a new version of trip adviser. Lars went in with 5 jerrycans for last load of diesel. Made budget Sri Lanka. We met tuk tuk driver with to big IKEA bags with laundry and were driven to a professional laundry on the other side of town. Also stop at the Cargills supermarket in town for provisioning.
28/3 Test the new tea from Damro BOP Black Grainy Tea-Large, pure Ceylon tea. Not bad. 29 ºC in the salon in the morning and no wind. We write and work with pictures for the web side Indonesia. At 16 hour we get in and tuk tuk (400KLR) to laundry (2000KLR). When we got out on the anchorage we so to Mexican sailing-boats arriving.
29/3 Tuk Tuk with Yoosuf to the Vegetable and fruit market. Very good! 870LKR, 33DKK.
30/3 We put a lot on the web side. Nice dinner at the Dutch cafe with Peter and Donna.
31/3 Clean up under the floorboard. Lars make visa application to the agent “Asad” in the Maldives. Web writing and pictures, communications with Kimi in the Maldives. To Trincomale North for ATM, Anna’s Bake house and Liquor store for lion beer 2X24 6000LKR 227DKK.
01/4 Last shopping in supermarket, bakery, liqueur shop mm. Checking out at 16 hour at the harbor and after that we were not allowed to visit land anymore.
02/4 up 06:30. Hoist dingy on davider and sail to the north-est island in the Maldives, Uligan.
Road trip Sri Lanka with Baithulla Yoosuf 21-24/3 2019
Day 1 First stop is Polonnaruva the capital of Sri Lanka from the 11th to the 13th century. Hinduism was the prevailing religion then. Before we moved around Lars could take picture of a wedding couple. Walled inner and outer city surrounded by monasteries and temples. Beautiful ruins of the kings castle, the parliament, man made lake called sea of Paramanraa a Pond with Lotus and rock cut temple with Buddha sculpture. It was a huge area so we got picked up by Yoosuf and driven to many sights. Rankoth Vehera a gold pinnacle stupa, was very impressive. Stupa is a mound-like hemispherical structure containing relics that is used as a place for meditation.
Woodcarving was interesting to see. They used teak, rosewood, ebony, cinnamon tree etc. So much too choose of!
After a nice lunch we were driven by a range rover to a national park for elephants, water buffalo, pi-cock and monkeys. We got very close to the elephants and they did not care. They just continued to eat grass. Often we saw them having baby elephants between there legs. We saw them all, finally, go into the water and it looked nice.
When stopped at a store that sold material in silk and cotton I bought a white blouse in light cotton. Also ordered a dress to be made in raw silk and delivered to the BAB the next day.
We had a nice dinner at the BAB situated in a nice surrounding. The mother was the chef and the daughter Asha arranged with the rest. There were air conditioner on our room but there were several national power cut during the evening. Asha came with candle light to us on the room
Day 2 Sigiriya (Lion Rock 200 meter high). Dates back from over 7000 years as a rock shelter mountain monastery with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Sangha Buddhist monastic order. The garden city and the palace was built by Kashyapa 477-495 AD. After his death it was a monastery complex until 14th century. Yoosuf arranged with a guide for us and it was good. A lot of steps up to the garden on the top but first we passed threw the dams with water and gardens. They had a god system of irrigation. Then we had to start climbing for the top. We had a stop to see the beautiful fresco still there. Also pas threw the gate of the lion without the head. Nice to be on the top. I could stand on the highest spot rock. Getting down we met many school children. Cobra cliff was passed were the snake charmer made his show, not for free.
Lunch at a local food place was not super. The good thing was the fresh prepared fruit juices, ice-cream and buffalo yogurt with syrup.
Next stop was historical Dambulla with the ancient monastery. So we had to continue climbing and now very high steps up to the Buddhist cave temple. We had to leave our clip-clappers and learned from before we had socks with us for not getting burned on the hot ground. It was a beautiful temple with a lot of very old Buddha statues, wall painting, a temple for preying, chamber of Sacred Tooth relic and a workshop for repairing Buddhas. Getting down we chose the wrong way so we had to call Yoosuf to fetch us. He took us to the big Buddha so we could take some picture.
Back at the BAB we learned that the chef was not home so we had to get out and get some take away food and beer. We learned how they make kottu with roti bread, egg and vegetable. Also learned that if you choose chicken and they use chicken bone they cut the chicken with the bone and put it in the dish!
Also my dress was delivered by the tailor and his helper and I was happy.
Day 3 Old Ayurveda Village. Spice and Herbal garden; Herbs and Traditional Medicines. Tour in the garden were we saw vanilla plant and a lot of other plants and trees. Afterwords we got nice massage, that we paid for, preformed by male students. We bought some of their products like 4 month detox cure and spice tea.
Stop in Kandi for excellent lunch at an international restaurant with air-condition.
After some hours, in the comfortable air-conditioned van climbing up the mountain, we reached the tea plantation, Damro Tea. Yoosuf was quick to arrange a guided tour for us. Afterwords we bought tea. The van took us a little bit higher up to Maggie’s BAB. Here we had colder climate so Lars and I took a walk around the neighborhood. We had a great dinner and priced the cook. The beds were very bad, especially our friends but we slept well anyway. Lars managed to turn on the heater. It was quit unusual thing to do.
Day 4 Breakfast and off we go down the mountain, with a pit-stop at a little beautiful Hindu temple. We saw worshiper lighten up oil lamps and prayed. Passing threw Kandi again we stopped for a coffee brake and wow what a treat I got at a that café. Lunch buffet in Dambulla were local food was a little too spicy with chili. It was served in beautiful terracotta pots. Peter got rot-is as a special treat even if they did not have a la cart. Yoosuf remembered to stop at a shop for buying buffalo yogurt in terracotta vials. Before we were dropped at the harbor Yoosuf took us home to meet his family and a cup of tea.
