Year 3 -16 January 2026 – Our first full day in Sri Lanka

I woke early and wrote the blog listening to the large amount of birdsong welcoming us to the day. Others began to surface and we prepared our usual fruit and yoghurt breakfast. It was quite damp initially and there was quite a lot of dew on the deck. It was lovely and quiet.

We had a nice breakfast and it began to get warm and the dew soon disappeared. Keith could not prevent himself so Rhys went off and got some bread so he then cooked some scrambled eggs on toast. It seems that we have to have 2 breakfasts each day!!

Paul volunteered to go up the mast but wanted to do it early and when it was cooler. We therefore once we had some tea wound him up to the top of the mast so that he could look at the top swivel and halyard swivel to see if we could identify which had the problem. He went up and took some pictures. It seemed the that the top swivel was fine. We therefore concluded that it was the halyard swivel. On the way down he noticed that the staysail halyard swivel had a loose fitting to the top of the fitting. Another issue to resolve but if it is only the halyard swivel then the mast may not have to be removed. It is amazing that a 72 year old man is still going up masts and all credit to him.

I was not really happy with the position we had in the port as we were swaying around quite a bit with the swell. I was also concerned that our anchor chain was about 50 m across the basin and if other boats come in that they may foul our chain. We had discussed with our agent having our laundry taken and to connecting to the electricity. We therefore prepared our laundry and contacted the agent. I explained to him about the laundry and moving and he said he would send his father. When he arrived we explained the situation and we decided to move against port wall rather than being the Mediterranean mooring. We therefore slipped the lines and pulled in the anchor and then reversed back alongside the wall. We moored up and sorted out a number of different lines and managed to pull us slightly off the quay. He took our laundry and it practically walked off the boat!!

We pulled up the Blue Baron right up the mast to dry it out. This took a few hours and we were then able to put it away in the forepeak. We then dropped the staysail and looked at the halyard swivel and we noticed the side bolts were loose so we tightened them up and it seemed to improve things. This is a part I will need to watch.

We then had some lunch and I waited to talk to Transworld Yachts regarding the parts needed for the main. The rest of the crew went off to the beach to enjoy themselves.  

I stayed behind and the electricity man came and we connected up which was good so I do not have to worry about the batteries when we go away.

Apparently the guys went surfing on the beach and had a good time. I sent various messages to Transworld Yachts and eventually we spoke. The mast and parts we needed had been identified and the next question was how much and how quickly we can get hold of them.

I then went for a shower and a shave. I then sat and the read and the guys came back with some potatoes.

We had decided to have steak au poivre (pepper sauce) with mashed potatoes and broccoli which I cooked. This went down well and it was a good supper.

 We hope to go to Galle fort tomorrow. A few steps back and some forward.

  The picture of the day is some of the motley crew on the beach.

 Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. 

I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town and from Cape Town to the UK. If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com