Category Archive

The Last of Our Cocos Keeling Visit Is Online

www.gratisaustralis.com/erecting-our-sign/ www.gratisaustralis.com/bob-to-the-rescue/ www.gratisaustralis.com/always-time-for-a-laugh/ www.gratisaustralis.com/direction-island/ www.gratisaustralis.com/excursion-to-the-southern-end-of-the-lagoon/

Yet More Cocos and France Online

www.gratisaustralis.com/a-trip-to-west-island/ www.gratisaustralis.com/castelsarrasin-to-montec/

Castelsarrasin, France and Another Day on Cocos

www.gratisaustralis.com/castelsarrasin-4/ www.gratisaustralis.com/from-rain-to-sunshine/

New Pics and Spiels from France and Cocos Online

France www.gratisaustralis.com/valence-dagen-to-moissac/ www.gratisaustralis.com/st-pierre-abbey-moissac/ There are a few more images to be placed on the Abbey page tomorrow. www.gratisaustralis.com/moissac/   Cocos Keeling www.gratisaustralis.com/water-exploration/ www.gratisaustralis.com/repairs-and-exploration/ www.gratisaustralis.com/some-shore-time/ www.gratisaustralis.com/small-fish-a-step-from-shore/

Rodrigues to Mauritius and Mauritius to Reunion On

The last of our Indian Ocean Crossings have now been placed on board. We will now commence adding the excursions we took whilst on the Cocos Keeling, Rodrigues, Mauritius and Reunion www.gratisaustralis.com/rodrigues-to-mauritius/ www.gratisaustralis.com/mauritius-to-reunion-day-1/ www.gratisaustralis.com/mauritius-to-reunion-day-2/

Working on the Midi and Cocos Pictures

Another sneek preview of the pics to come.

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 16

07:39, 39nm remained of our longest sailing leg to date and after two days of busy shipping lane we were on our own once more. The calmer waters provided the opportunity to empty and clean the fridge, dust, vacuum and wash the floors. Top hatches opened at long last, fresh air streamed through our girl. […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 15

Winds so light by now that the twins were raised and set on the port side as a second Gennie. With each passing day, the seas became ever flatter: now they were a gentle rolling ripple. Only a few are privileged to view the Indian Ocean in this state. How fortunate we were! Heavy low […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 14

We were on a mission this particular morning. After the heavier seas that caused water to enter through the open pilot house windows, in conjunction with a boat in which no air filtered through thereafter, mould once more reared its ugly head and commenced sprouting. With a bout of asthma resulting and a nose highly […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 12

At last!!!!!!! The wind abated to such an extent it was finally possible to manage some quality sleep and cook a meal: Fried Rice. YUM!!!!!!!! www.gratisaustralis.com/fried-rice/   Afternoon, winds abated, Gennie poled once more. Easy one may think, but not on this occasion, of course. Just settled down in the pilot house, a loud thwang […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 11

Patches of blue became visible between squalls, whilst Apollo continuously battled Thor for dominance. Midnight, 663.4nm remained.

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 9

Upon rising this particular morning, to the SE the view was of a dark line storm cloud stretching NE across the sky. Already the seas were altering from glassy to rippled, warning of the incoming wind. Sailor’s motto: ‘be prepared!!’ Out Bob and I trundled. Gennie sheet released to reduce sail; furling line winched in; […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 8

Most difficult to believe seven days had passed since our departure from Cocos. What a night!!! Winds gusting to 27 knots. After three days of side on swells and waves, we were tired of its monotony! By the afternoon, the winds had at last abated to such an extent to make it was possible to […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 5

Occasionally Bob sends fear surging through me. In the process of preparing lunch this day I stepped into the pilot house to enquire about his preference for food. No Bob in sight, out to the cockpit I went. No sign of him there, I peered through the windows: he was not to be seen. Setting […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 4

1635nm remaining. When reattaching the staysail wire some nights prior, Bob had inadvertently left one section of the endless furling line for the twins’ on the wrong side of the stay! Conditions calm, this day he took the endless line splice apart, placed the rope to the fore of the stay and respliced – not […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 3

Sighting vessels 20 plus nautical miles from us, the AIS was phenomenal. Identifying the ship, its course and whether collision was imminent, the eye strain caused by attempting to pick up their miniscule red speck on the radar became practically obsolete. Not that we did away with this, for we discovered that not all ships […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 2

Barometer rising, 19 knots of wind and cruising at 6­7 knots: what more could one ask for!!!! Lunch, and the first of our wahoo meals was served with potato: having a slightly oily feel, its feel texture was a little like chicken. One steak could have easily fed both of us. Too long at anchor, […]

Cocos Keeling to Rodrigues, Day 1

Sun a blazing on the glistening sea, puffs of cotton balls lazily wafting across the winter skies and the Zephyr, a gentle 12 knot breeze: perfect for exiting between the coral reefs. Virtually impossible to comprehend, for the first time no dashing to and fro in a last ditch effort prior to departure. Like a […]

Excursion to the Southern End of the Lagoon

This was it! With only days remaining our excursion to the southern end of the lagoon finally took place. With the waters extremely shallow, Little G was required for the day. Working our way through the myriad of channels, we island hopped into the southern most region of the lagoon. At times, the Indian Ocean was visible […]

Direction Island

I had returned from a visit to the dentist on Christmas Island – not recommended for asthmatics. I returned with a full blown asthma attack. In the meantime, Bob had continued working on Gratis. Well at last, the wind having died, there was time for a little more photography upon Direction Island. We just loved these little […]