Year 3 -6 April 2026 –Relaxing at Crossroads- Maldives
It was another warm day when we woke but this time there was some breeze and from the West so the wind came into the cockpit more. J and Keith were up early to give Stormbird a good scrub and to do this when it was cool. We got off some grime and she came up quite well. Miranda cleaned the windows with a shammy leather. I tidied up and got on with the blog.
Once we were done we had breakfast and I had heard from the engineers that the windlass motor would be finished today and they would come to fit tomorrow about 10.30am (probably means 11.30am at the earliest!). This meant that we had the day to relax a little.
Once I had done the blog and paid the engineers at about 10.00am I went round to see the Hungarians who have two boats here. They were with another couple from Denmark and The Netherlands. They wanted to know about Kochi and India so I explained and gave them my agents details. They also wanted to know about Sri Lanka and the agent I used there.
Once this was done I picked their brains about the Maldives and good places to go which was helpful. I then looked them up and found them online under sailingteatime.com
It says:
We’re a Hungarian family of four—Anna, Domi, Boróka, and Katalin—embracing an extraordinary adventure: sailing around the world. Our Values
· Family and Love First: Our family bonds have never been stronger. We share life-altering experiences and face challenges together.
· Aligning With Our Planet: Exploring different cultures and natural wonders deepens our appreciation for the Earth.
· Freedom on the Wind: The sea is not just a physical space but also a state of mind, offering us freedom and discovery.
· Sharing What We Love: Through this adventure, we share the gift of travel and exploration with our daughters and those who follow our journey.
Our Journey to Sailing
Domi has always been captivated by the sea, a place where he’s felt most at home since childhood. Anna grew up with family holidays at Lake Balaton and cherished the sailing experiences with her parents. Together, we’ve been sailing since 2009, primarily in the Mediterranean Sea. The decision to live on a boat was years in the making. It came from a desire for a closer family, and a deeper understanding of different cultures and nature’s grandeur.
Challenges and Adaptations
The learning curve was steep. We had to get accustomed to the nuances of sailing, weather patterns, and boat maintenance. The administrative tasks, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, proved to be a huge hurdle. Despite these challenges, the close quarters and shared responsibilities have fortified our family dynamic.
Today and Beyond
We left the Mediterranean in 2020, crossed the Atlantic, explored the Caribbean, and then sailed through the Panama Canal into the Pacific. Life aboard our boat has enhanced our family ties. We are all actively involved in the journey, and we cherish the quality time spent together.
From time to time, we are joined by adventurous souls who sail with us for a portion of our journey. They become an extended part of our crew, sharing in the challenges and joys of life at sea.
Follow our story to see how we navigate the highs and lows, and the adventures yet to come.
It is interesting to meet different people when circumnavigating.
In addition we have a luxury yacht next to us called BACA.
The 43.4m/142'5" motor yacht 'Baca' by the Danish shipyard Royal Denship offers flexible accommodation for up to 11 guests in 5 cabins and features interior styling by Claudette Bonville.
Motor yacht Baca boasts a wealth of convivial spaces, perfect for luxury yacht charters with families of friends, offering ample opportunities to kick back and relax, or enjoy the water on the yacht's array of water toys, the choice is yours. She is equipped with underwater lights, beach club and gym.
GUEST ACCOMMODATION
Families will particularly love Baca thanks to her child-friendly setup. Built in 2009, She offers guest accommodation for up to 11 guests with a layout comprising a master suite located on the main deck, three double cabins and one twin cabin. The supremely spacious full beam master suite benefits from a his and her bathroom. There are 7 beds in total, including 1 king, 3 queen, 2 singles, 1 pullman and 1 convertible. She is also capable of carrying up to 9 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.
ONBOARD COMFORT & ENTERTAINMENT
A charter on Baca is comfortable and convenient thanks to the provided amenities including a beach club for you to relax on the edge of the water. A gym with all the latest equipment is available for a good work out or sit back with a glass of champagne in the deck jacuzzi.
Baca benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter including the underwater lights, adding spectacle and style after dark. With Wi-Fi connectivity you don't have to lose contact with the outside world, unless you want to or you can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.
PERFORMANCE & RANGE
Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she benefits from a semi-displacement hull to provide exceptional seakeeping and impressive speeds. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, she comfortably cruises at 10 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 12 knots with a range of up to 3,915 nautical miles from her 75,830 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed.
TOYS
Onboard Baca has a large selection of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Principle among these are waterslides bringing a sense of fun that all the family can enjoy. Guests can experience the thrill and adventure of riding one of the two Yamaha EXR WaveRunners. Additionally, there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. If that isn't enough Baca also features waterskis, a Kite Surfer, a seabob, wakeboards, kayaks and much more. When it comes to Tenders, Baca has you covered - with two tenders, including a 7.62m/25' Sea Hunter Tender.
Based in the magical waters of the South Pacific all year round Baca is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let Baca Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the South Pacific.
Motor yacht Baca is an outstanding pedigree yacht that delivers on all fronts for superlative luxury yacht vacations. It is only $185,000 a week!!.
It is owned by Kathryn Hall. Kathryn Walt Hall (born 1947) is an American attorney, businesswoman and former diplomat who served as the U.S. Ambassador to Austria from 1997 to 2001.
Hall was born in 1947. She earned an A.B. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and a J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law. She also has a joint MBA from UC California, Berkeley, and Columbia University. Hall began her public career as an Assistant City Attorney in Berkeley, California. She went on to work in the private sector including at Safeway Inc. and was the President of Kathryn Hall Vineyards, Inc., and of Walt Management, Inc., an inner-city housing and development company. Before becoming Ambassador, Hall was Managing Director and Partner of the investment firm Hall Financial Group, Inc. She returned to winemaking in 2001. Kathryn Walt Hall is the owner of HALL, WALT, and BACA Wines, with her husband Craig Hall. Kathryn has been actively involved in the California wine (Napa Valley) industry since her family first purchased a vineyard in 1972. She was not on board but it was interesting to find out who owned her. The boat has been doing a circumnavigation and has done a similar route to Stormbird. They are waiting to find a ship to take her back to the US.
J & Miranda had gone off to the beach club and Keith went to join them. I went to pay for the laundry and to do some further admin. Stig & Cari were flying in and were to spend a night in the hotel. I therefore had to arrange their ticket here for 11.15am the next day.
I eventually joined them and had a swim. We then had some lunch.
After lunch I went to see if my new printer worked and it did which was good and I then did some further planning. Stig & Cari landed which was good. We then relaxed at the beach club and had a shower and a sundowner in the bar. We decided we would go off to the Hard Rock Café and have a look. This was quite trendy and we had a drink there.
We have been wanting to buy some beer and it is illegal here although there are some black-market options. The Hungarians said you can buy some off the party boats but we have not seen any. We had asked some of the bars in the marina and they said they could not. I asked the barman in the Hard Rock Café and he said yes although it was not cheap. We decided to eat there and had a good burger which I have not had for a while. The alcohol we purchased was then delivered to the boat as we went back. This was good.
We had had a good day and we now wait for the engineers and the new crew.
The picture of today is a Stormbird alongside Baca.
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