Refuge Cove, Direction Island, Cocos Islands
05 August 2013 | 12 05'S:96 52'E, Cocos (K) Islands
Scuppers
Refuge Cove, Cocos Islands
July 29, 2013
Lat 12 degrees 05.438 min S Lon 96 degrees 52.962 min E
We can hear the SE Trades soaring over the palms of Direction Island protecting the lagoon "Refuge Cove" where we are now lying in 12 ft of turquoise water with good holding in the white sands on a 90 ft. rode - secure.
Thank you all for reading and following our voyage. I especially would like to thank all who have commented. TY for contacting us, it is wonderful to read your messages and know you are there with us. In respect to your privacy (in contrast to myself) I shan't mention you all specifically but TY so much!
It was frankly a wild ride all the way in here. I am always comparing the challenge of mountaineering to ocean passages. In the mountains, the work and risk can be huge, but the greatest of each is generally in the middle, the start and especially the finish are generally being, just trudging down a path or through the forest downhill exhausted and sage. In this business, the toughest is often at the end. On each of this leg's open ocean crossing passages of over 1,000 nm the landfall and safe havens to be found were THE ultimate "adventure". Each time we were exhausted, thrown about for days, facing rocks, coral heads, surf and unrecoverable danger. Chatting (gabbing) with fellow sailers in each anchorage - similar scare stories are told.
Once safely on the hook; relief, joy, celebration and chores galore. Good work, wonderful work maybe the best work. Scupper's never been happier. Tidying sails, and lines, launching the dinghy, emptying lockers, cleaning the topsides and inspecting and making repairs (caressing) our beloved vessel. So much to do and celebrate. Deep satisfaction.
Well past half our way to Africa now and the blush is still on the rose. Love this life. Buy your boats boys and girls, I only wish we'd started this life sooner.
Scuttle butt has it the Indian Ocean's mid-winter season has the most consistent strongest SE Trade Winds 25-40 knots and the increasing Southern Ocean SW swells. Considering our rhumb line route of WSW at 258T will be a fast, boisterous and wet ride. We hope this is what we just experienced and not too much more.
The last few days have been wonderful. Calm, tropical paradise lagoon with porpoises, sharks (nice ones) and turtles coming by to visit as we putter about our chores. Meeting our fellow cruisers (one English-solo, one German-solo, and two French boats- one solo and one soon to be solo); exploring the inhabited (traditional garb Muslim) neighbouring island and best of all "relaxing" on our own Direction Island just 100 metres to the SW. A tropical �"Rebecca Spit'.
I've dreamed of being here more than 30 years, and now we're here...
( This photo is one we took on our 'tour' of Home Island looking back at Direction Island).
Scuppers Out