Year 3 -2nd May 2026 –Gan -Addu Atoll – Maldives
We had a good night’s sleep on the whole as at one point the rain came down and the wind rose and we were being blown around. However, we held and I went back to be. I did not wake up until 9.15am!. I must have been very tired as I have not slept in like that for a long time.
The others got up after that and we had a leisurely breakfast. I made smoothies and then Keith made eggs on toast. We tidied up and went through all the fruit and vegetables and a number needed eating. This all went into the ratatouille and we made a large vegetable curry which is a meal or 2 sorted.
I had been on contact with the local agent and we could not refuel today but could tomorrow morning. I said ok but early as we wanted to leave for Chagos tomorrow. We decided to go ashore to the nearest harbour and at least fill the fuel cans for the outboards. We agreed to meet the agent there to give our passport and Maldives documentation. We therefore went ashore and met him. We filled the jerry cans and then Keith & I took them back to Stormbird – good job done. The ladies went off to find a restaurant called Elley’s. This was a good place and we had a long lazy lunch but without alcohol. It was nice to relax and not do much.
We returned to Stormbird about 4.00pm and we all had a swim. Keith and I went off in the dinghy to 2 nearby harbours to see if we could see a fuel berth. We could not but then the agent explained that they would bring a fuel bowser to the port. We did find the right port.
We then had a sundowner and I went through the rules on BIOT to ensure everyone was aware of them. We then saw Peter Broughton, the Skipper in charge of No Excuse, in a tender and he came to say hello. We invited him over for a drink and this ran into a cheese and biscuit supper. We talked more about the Chagosians etc. Peter had been in the Met Police like Erika and I. His brother Mike Broughton had Skippered the yacht initially was a professional sailor and ex-navy.
Mike Broughton is a pro race navigator who has won many titles including World and European championships. He is a qualified MCA Master to captain superyachts and previously had a successful career in the Fleet Air Arm flying Sea King and Lynx helicopters. First published in the January 2019 issue of Yachting World. You may have seen a number of his articles in sailing magazines.
We were now prepared and ready to go. We hope to refuel tomorrow at 9.00am and hope that the passports and paperwork will be ready at the same time and once we have refuelled we can head straight to Chagos which is some 300nm South in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
The picture of the day is some of us on the aft deck having a sundowner with Peter Broughton.
Need/Opportunity Year Three
I will be going shortly from India to the Maldives and then on to Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK.
I am currently in need of potentially 2 crew from Mauritius to Cape Town from about 10 June 2026 and we should arrive in Cape Town on about 25-30 July 2026. If at all interested contact me on my email below or WhatsApp +44 7931360372.
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