6000 km solo across the Indian Ocean, from Christmas Island via Cocos Keeling to Réunion. 28 days without land, dealing with only small technical problems, calms and two heavy-weather fronts with waves over five metres. I spend five days sailing in strong winds and rough seas, heave-to for 24 hours and finally reach Réunion happily and proud after 3000 nautical miles alone on the ocean.
Christmas Island
Birds, Crabs & Crisis. Sailing 1500 Miles from Australia to Christmas Island
1,500 nautical miles solo across the Indian Ocean: from Darwin to Ashmore Reef and on to Christmas Island. A loose shackle sends the boom swinging wild, the oil pump fails right at the reef, a squall snaps the spinnaker pole in two — and mid-ocean, the insurer drops single-handed sailors. In between: frigatebirds, boobies, noddies, turtles, and coconut crabs in one of the most remote corners of the planet. A voyage of wildlife, wonder, and on-the-fly repairs.