Year 3 -3 April 2026 –Uligan – Velassau -Male - Maldives
The night shifts went well and we continued to motor South eating up the miles. The moon was out and very bright and we could see lights on the islands of the atolls. Some were fixed reds and others white. There was the odd boat moving North slowly and you could see their navigation lights through the binoculars.
Dawn brought another warm lovely day with little wind and we had a papaya breakfast with yoghurt and granola. The sea was flat calm.
Keith Watson (crewed a number of times) had put me in touch with Parth Amin -an Indian entrepreneur which he knew who had a catamaran in the Maldives. He suggested I made contact which I did. He in turn put me in touch with Hassan who ran a marine company and who said he would send an engineer to the marina at about 10.30am on the 4th.
I looked Parth up.
Parth Amin, Chairman of Maldivian Mermaid, and Chairman of SLK Group Company, possesses a profound understanding of the Maldives' economic landscape. The heavy financial burden of food imports was a primary catalyst for his vision to establish a robust domestic food production industry here. Reflecting on the inception of this idea two years ago with a Maldivian partner, Parth noted that their efforts to secure an island for investment. One of the main drivers behind this large-scale sustainable project is the alarming outflow of foreign currency due to the importation of produce that could otherwise be grown locally. Furthermore, from an environmental perspective, Parth highlighted the negative impact of carbon emissions associated with the logistical chain of food imports.
Welcome to their Maldivian Mermaid an SLK Group Company, an innovative hub of sustainability in the Maldives. Their farms at Anhenunfushi and Aidhoo redefine agriculture with a commitment to freshness, health, and environmental mindfulness. Their journey is a narrative of reshaping agriculture, where every leaf and fruit contributes to a larger story of sustainability. Hydroponics, their chosen method, eliminates waste and significantly reduces our carbon footprint, aligning every harvest with environmental responsibility. Explore our world, where quality and food traceability are guiding principles. From seed to harvest, every stage is a testament to their relentless pursuit of freshness.
Hydroponics is a soil-free cultivation method that grows plants in a water-based, nutrient-rich solution, often using substrates like coconut coir or perlite for support. This technique allows for higher plant density, faster growth, and up to 90% less water usage compared to traditional gardening, making it ideal for limited spaces or arid climates.
Essentially he has created a farm on two of these islands. He sent me pictures and invited us to visit his island. I explained where we were going and he said to let him know when we can come.
As we approached the bottom of the North Male Atoll he made contact again and said he was nearby on his boat. They therefore came rushing up in a speed catamaran and said hello. Hassan who ran the marine company was on board. Parth reiterated his invitation to come and visit. He normally lives in Bangalore but is over in the Maldives for a while.
We motored on and came passed the end of the North Male Atoll and then passed the reef which we could see from the colour change in the water. We motored on round and could see the islands and some resorts on them and eventually found a break in the reef and motored through.
J, Keith and Jamie had brought about 40 metres of chain on to the deck and prepared the anchor to drop. We found a good spot in 13 m and we dropped the chain. It held well and I did not put out more as we have to bring it up again manually and the conditions were very calm.
Once we were settled everyone had a swim. We had travelled 190nm and were only 2.5nm from the marina. We were in a stunning azure blue lagoon with a reef about 50m away.
I put on the generator and needed to fill both tanks with water. As I did so the battery chargers seemed to fail so I turned them off. They were probably very hot from our long run. I turned them on later and it seems the 12v system is charging but not the 24v. I will have to get the engineers to look at this as it is very important. I will see in the morning if the engine charges the batteries. We filled the tanks and it was good to turn off the generator and have some peace.
We sat on the aft deck with some shade as Jamie and J had put up some tarpaulin. We then had a sun downer and enjoyed the moment for a bit. I just hope over the next few days we can get all the jobs done, especially the anchor.
Miranda used the balance of the bolognaise to make a sort of chilli with aubergine which was very pleasant. It felt good to be here. There was a bit rain for a few minutes in the evening. After a long night it is good to get to bed. We need to leave at a reasonable time for the marina.
The picture of today is our approach to the lagoon.
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 looking for one crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town (mid-June to end of July). 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