We finally arrived in the Andaman Islands late on Christmas Day after a relatively easy three day crossing from Thailand's Surin islands. Port control at Port Blair kindly allowed us to drop anchor off Ross Island at the mouth of the harbour. We were up at 5am on Boxing Bay and were promptly called to enter the anchorage half a mile past Chatham Island. They courteously informed us when immigration, customs and coastguard officials arrived. The two former groups we had to pick up in our tiny dinghy after dark in a rain squall which was an interesting experience. They weren't concerned and the paperwork was completed. Pretty good for Boxing Day and at no cost.

It was a bit late to go ashore. No problem as Port Blair is a peaceful harbour and well organised so that no one boat group disrupts the other and is also well sheltered from swell and wind.

On Sunday we thought we had better track down the Harbourmaster to get our itinerary approved. We did this by getting his mobile phone number from the Port Control office. His office was closed but he invited us to his house to complete the formality over tea and biscuits. A very pleasant ex Indian Naval Officer.

On Monday we decided to head for Havelock 7, a sweeping beach on Havelock Island's west side. The infamous surge was not present and we went for a walk along the road and the beach. Plenty of Indian tourists were enjoying the beach as well as an elephant.

Next stop was Port Havelock between Havelock and Peel islands. This was well sheltered. Sadly there was a large rubbish dump on the beach. Surprisingly, it was never burnt. The tiny foodstalls / restaurants lining the waterfront served paratha for breakfast, thali for lunch and samosas late afternoon. Padi and cows took up the surrounding coutryside. "Holy" cows get right of way here as they do in mainland India. Plenty of dahlek looking tuktuks and boneshaker buses were ferrying tourists around.

Next stop was Outram Island, uninhabited, with deer on the beach.

The next day we caught up with "The Southern Cross" and two American yachts for New Year at North Button Island. A small, beautiful island with a hill and clear water with eagles in the sky, tiger cowries, large humpbacked parrot fish and clownfish.

Next day we sailed to South Button island. This had the clearest water, but it was a bit turbulent for anchoring in 25m. We anchored at Henry Lawrence island's southernmost bay for two nights which had reasonably clear water and a stunning array of coral fans.

Anchoring off Port Havelock again, we walked to the small market in the tiny township of Havelock 3.

Havelock 7 again for the night. The weather changed from what had been relatively benign trade wind conditions. It started to get wet and stormy so we set off for Port Blair via Neill Island. This would have been OK for the night normally but the wind was not coming from the east. We arrived off Ross Island again about 7 at night and then for real shelter and a night's sleep into Port Blair.

The weather improved the next day so we headed for Chiryatapu, a lovely protected bay off the south eastern tip of South Andaman island. Ashore there were walks to the village through rainforest and the new lighthouse. To the Southeast was a long sweep of reef with a stunning variety of fish including a school of huge bumphead parrot fish.

We finished our Andaman cruising with a circumnavigation of Rutland island sailing past the Twin islands and South and North Cinques. We anchored for a night in the huge bay on the western side of Rutland : dense green jungle ashore, stunning white sand beaches criss crossed with animal prints, plenty of coral and nobody else : this was a snapshot of the Andamans.

We are now back in Port Blair making final preparations for our next leap across the North Indian Ocean. We should be leaving tomorrow, on the 16th January, with a good weather forecast.