Hi Everyone,

Well we are now well into the Indian Ocean on the passage from Cocus to
Mauritius, some 2400 miles.

We had a good start, right end of the line, but 28 seconds late (!).It was a
starboard gybe for 3 miles then we gybed to Port when we could clear the
island, and we are still on port gybe some 30 hours later.

Since then we have been sailing in 20-25 knot SE trade winds with occasional
gusts to 30 knots. The sea has been at about 2 meters. So it has been fast
sailing, first 24 hours we did 241 miles, i.e. for none mathematicians just
over 10 knots per hour, and that speed has continued ever since.

The weather pattern should hold at this for the next 4 days at least, so we
will continue sailing straight down the rhumbline, i.e. a great circle route
worked out by GPS which will get us there in the shortest distance.

A small blob on the horizon, when a low goes through the Southern Ocean, it
sends some largest waves up through the Indian Ocean, so we are forecast to
have 3-4 meter waves on the beam during the evening of the 2nd October,
which could make it even more rolly than it is now.

We expected to take water over the fore deck, which we are. So sealing the
hatches has proven to be a good move as the boat is completely dry inside
which is heaven. The aircon and generator are working well so we are going
along in perfect comfort. With some 1600 litres of fuel on board we should
have plenty for the trip.

Otherwise we are all settling down to the 10/11 day sail to Mauritius, which
could be accomplished without making a tack or gybe and without a sail
change, here’s hoping.

So here we are in the middle of the Indian Ocean anchored in the atoll of
Cocos Keeling – an Australian territory – and how pleasant – nearly as
nice as the legendry Tuamatos ( which we were at in April) – but also so
very different . 27 islands only 2 inhabited – we are anchored off Direction
Island – a paradise , and the best swimming in the atolls

Home Island – the small one lives 600 devout Muslims ( no booze) – who lead
a sheltered life and are something of throwback to another era – having been
governed between 1831 and 1978,by 4 generations of feudal landlord in the
form of the Clunies-Ross family – who created their own currency , and sat
as judge and jury for even the smallest crimes (eating fallen fruits)- Note
:A brilliant piece of planning had us visit them in the month of Ramadan

Then the West Island – 4 times the size of Home island – and occupied by
120 friendly Australians – and a huge runway as in Australian strategic
military airport !

For lots of photos see local photographer Karen Willshaw -
www.UnderSeaReflections.com

Life of both groups of islanders seems idyllic – beautiful beaches, , and
nothing to do – other then look after visiting yachities – at which they are
great . although “cultural tours” don’t take to long , they are masters at
organising beach parties on remote islands , and knowing our needs – a
food and wine festival!

Don’t mention the WARC – who advised that is was not possible for the crews
to attend the food & wine festival – as there were no ferries on a Sunday ,
and we HAD to start the next race leg ..a matter resolved in sub 10 min by
an enterprising Robert from Into the Blue . So we have a delayed start, a
chartered ferry and a great festival, with a brilliant Cuban style band
complete with dancers – and we even won the wine tasting competition.!!!

Who knows if such a beautiful place will still existing in 100 years, global
warming and rising sea levels must surly take its toll – this is the only
Atoll Darwin visited back in 1836, and remains the basis of his views on
coral reefs and their link to evolution.

Now just 2350 miles between us and the French island of Mauritius – a
favourable forecast will hopefully have us arriving 11th /12th Oct

K8 arrived at 1430 local time in these wonderful islands.

We left Bali 4 days 21 hours 30 minutes ago, sailed the whole way a distance
of 1118 miles at an average speed of 9.5 knots–which is incredible.
Best 24 hour run, 250 miles, a new Kealoha record for the Indian Ocean, in
fact a world record.

We know look forward to some relaxation before the next race leg starts on
Sunday.

All well on board awaiting custom clearance and then swimming.

David, Daniel, Nick, Adrian, Rosie & Jen

K8 crew.

Yes we are travelling so fast we are going to miss Christmas…..

After the minor delays in leaving Bali(it had all been too good – so
inevitably a paperwork hitch delayed our departure by 8 hours ) not a bad
place to get stuck while customs sort themselves out – we headed out in a
slow procession , with boats leaving in the order in which they received
their clearance papers – so thankful that K is the 11th letter of the
alphabet ( and not call xandu!) we pushed off at 16.00 local time, dodging
the local ferries and tourist boats (“romantic sunset cruises” – for 200
people !!) to reach the Indian Ocean.

Now back to our original trans Pacific Crew with Daniel rejoining, we have
been blessed with warm SE trade winds and a little help from the current.
All of us are on a diet of some sort or another feeling very bloated after
10 days indulgence in Bali & Java – so low fat , no carb all round .
This new found health approach seems to be paying off as in the last 24
hours we have made 250 miles – a new record for Kealoha ( is this an Oyster
record ??)

The downside of this fast passage , is that we will miss Christmas ( not in
a time machine / Dr Who way ) but Christmas Island a small Australian
outcrop that we will pass in the middle of the night – suffice to say it
doesn’t appear in the guide books – other then as a phosphate mine and
detention centre for illegal Aus immigrants – so the opportunity of having
an early Christmas dinner has been postponed until December –

The Upside is we will have all the more time in Cocos (Keeling) Islands – a
much much nicer island with lots to commend it – according to the pilot and
guide books – so it will hopefully be back to swimming off the stern , and
enjoying once again local hospitality.

So here we are with ideal sailing conditions , an unintended pursuit leg by
the nature of our disparate departure times – and once again the fastest
mono hull in the fleet – alas no prizes for this leg .

BTW – we never mentioned that we did win the race leg from Darwin to Bali
– ( what sort of a prize is a flower pot to give a boat ??).this adds to the
1st prize for the Thursday Island to Darwin leg – a didgeridoo – another
essential piece boat kit

As for news of global financial meltdown – please don’t send it – we are
enjoying ourselves too much ,to get depressed

As we come to the close of a wonderful time in Bali, it is difficult to put
into words what we have seen.
Bali is a calm island away from the tourist bits. Religion, Hindu is
everything, so there are so many Temples, varying in sizes scattered across
the island. Each has daily gifts outside from the worshipers. The temples
are either private, for a family group, owned by a village, or open to
everyone.

We had a great tour, organised by a wholly owned group of skippers in the
WARC. Two nights away in some great hotels, were we spoilt! 1 So we have
seen the island, the rice fields, and great feats of engineering laying them
out so that they hold the water. We have been in native canoes to look at
the coral, seen waterfalls.

The skills of the islanders in fabrics, woodwork, and stonework are
exceptional. Goods are cheap to buy; the only limiting factor is storage on
the boat.

We leave the islands to start on a 5,000 mile journey which takes us to
Richards Bay in South Africa, then another 800 miles to Cape Town where we
hope to arrive by the end of November.

Distance 990, actually sailed 1016
Time Taken122 hours
Average speed 8.32 knots.

Position 1st

Good start in Darwin, with the naval base being used as the start line,
having stopped all shipping using the port for one hour before and after the
start.

Only 8 knots of wind, but a strong current of 4 knots so soon cleared the
start line.

The challenge was to get clear of the wind shadow of the Australian coast
which stretches several hundred miles off the coast. This stops the trade
winds building and creates huge windless patches.

We had endless discussions with Bruce our weather man, and decided to take a
bit of a flyer. We went almost due west, as against a rhumb line course of
NW, so we separated from the fleet. We motored sailed until we picked up the
strong wind pulses which Bruce had told us about. This gave us about 14
hours of sailing in 25 knot winds before the fleet picked up any breeze.

We had hoped that we would pass to the west of the flat spots but that was
not the case, we just caught the edge which meant motoring for 24 hours.

We then had great fun sailing in sub 10 knot winds with the spinnaker.
The last challenge was crossing the Lombard straits with 3 knots of current
sweeping us south of the finishing line. But we managed ok.

Into Bali Marina with Daniel waiting with cool beers.

Hi,

After strong currents for last 12 hours we finished at 0545 UTC this morning
in Bali.

Nobody else in sight, nearest boat 100 miles away.

Apart from everybody on board, Adrian, Jens, Nick & Rosie giving 110% in
very trying conditions, we also were thankful for Bruce, our weatherman
suggesting a very aggressive weather/course strategy which was first class
and the crew executed brilliantly.

We used most of our motoring miles out of the 330 allowed we used 310!!
tyotal distance covered about 1,100 miles.

Thanks to everyone, detailed blog to follow.

Now to see Bali