Arrival at Cocos Island

After three windy days in big seas we have arrived at Cocos and Keeling Islands, to find that there are already eight yachts anchored at Direction Island. It's blowing 35 knots (a full gale) so getting around by dinghy may be tricky. There is apparently a Saturday ferry from Direction Island to Home Island to West Island, where we are required to complete formalities. We made our way through coral reefs into pale blue water and dropped anchor in 4 metres of water in clean white sand.

Tin Tin anchored off Direction Island. Inventive and artistically designed boat name plates are nailed to the post.

The only problem is that the anchor windlass failed, so it is now a manual system. I hope we can fix it otherwise getting anchor and chain up again is very difficult by hand! Just when everything is going well another little problem arises. So now I have that and the centre-plate hydraulic system to fix, plus we have a mystery current leak again......aaaaaaarghhhh!

We will spend Saturday and Sunday here before setting off to Rodriguez and Mauritius some 2,350 miles away. The winds look as though they will stay strong, so it will be a rough ride, but should be quite quick. I am really, really looking forward to getting there because Anne is flying out to meet me.... and Alice is coming too!!

Direction island is a lovely spot with beautiful white coral sand and Bombay Gin blue water. Ashore are see hammocks, a picnic table and a shelter plus a BBQ.  Amazingly there is even wifi connectivity provided somehow from Home Island.  Nearby there's a ferry dock. This is clearly a great weekend get-away for people working on other islands. It's very relaxing for yacht crews too!