Indian Ocean

[ELRIKA]

I am trying to find out the best time of the year to make a passage from Australia across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea and which is the best passage making book for a yacht. Any suggestions from anyone who has done this journey would be very much appreciated.

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[johnsomerhausen]

I think Jimmy Cornell's "World Cruising Routes" (or a title more or less like that) would be a good choice
john

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[BrianJ]

I have not done the trip , but I have planned it ( via Jimmy Cornells book ) e-mail me direct and I will forward my " plan " , There is also tons of info on www. cruiser.co .za
I am in Melbourne..where are you ?
Brian J

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[ELRIKA]

Thanks Brian, for your advice. The boat is in Fremantle but I'm in Uk planning the voyage to start around FEB 2004 and taking 60 days to get to the Med. Is this realistic? I would be v interested to see your plan.

Regards

Peter



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[Cornishman]

In late August 1962 I was aboard a 45 foot gaff schooner which passed through the Sunda Straits after leaving Singapore and crossed the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles (35 days) where we stayed for 10 days before sailing on to Aden and then tackling the Red Sea in November. The Red Sea passage is mostly into NW winds nearly all year, but we were lucky and had virtually no wind at all for most of that leg of our trip. Motored like hell to Port Tewfik at the bottom end of the Canal.
We found the appointment of an agent to smooth the way through Suez and Egypt probably the best bit of passage planning we did. But all this was 40 years ago (Ugh!) and things might be different now. The Seychelles certainly are.
Bon Voyage.

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[BrianJ]

Peter
Have sent you the details .. fear it may not come out neatly... let me know.. if it is a mess then give me your e-mail address and I will send again..I can be contacted at...rumrunner@bigpond.com
Brian

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[Tim_Bennett]

Agreed - Cornell's is as good as any. As you're doing it in one hop Cyclone season for either North or South Indian Ocean is unavoidable so have good met forecast kit on board. Leaving in Feb will put you in the Cyclone season for the S Indian Ocean Nov to April). Entering Northern Indian Ocean, the Cyclone season is from April to July. On to the Red Sea: so long as you enter as early in the year as possible, you should miss the horrendous North-Westerly short steep seas which give it a bad reputation. If it does blow hard from the North, my advice is to take shelter in the lee of an atoll rather than smash into it. It usually doesn't last long unless you're into the summer months. Finally piracy: grossly exagerated in my opinion. If someone does come alongside, no matter how fiercesome they look, they're probably after no more than food, water and ciggies. Acting agressively to the indigenous of the Red Sea and Arabian Sea will get you into deep trouble. Smile sweetly, offer a few 'goodies', and you won't have a problem.
Good Luck.
Tim (Saudi Resident and frequent Red Sea 'user')

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[Tim_Bennett]

Agreed - Cornell's is as good as any. As you're doing it in one hop Cyclone season for either North or South Indian Ocean is unavoidable so have good met forecast kit on board. Leaving in Feb will put you in the Cyclone season for the S Indian Ocean Nov to April). Entering Northern Indian Ocean, the Cyclone season is from April to July. On to the Red Sea: so long as you enter as early in the year as possible, you should miss the horrendous North-Westerly short steep seas which give it a bad reputation. If it does blow hard from the North, my advice is to take shelter in the lee of an atoll rather than smash into it. It usually doesn't last long unless you're into the summer months. Finally piracy: grossly exagerated in my opinion. If someone does come alongside, no matter how fiercesome they look, they're probably after no more than food, water and ciggies. Acting aggressively to the indigenous of the Red Sea and Arabian Sea will get you into deep trouble. Smile sweetly, offer a few 'goodies', and you won't have a problem.
Good Luck.
Tim (Saudi Resident and frequent Red Sea 'user')

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[paulsellars]

Hello,

might be worth looking at:

http://pollux.nss.nima.mil/pubs/pubs_j_apc_sections.html?rid=8797

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[BrendanS]

What are 'goodies'?

Dollar bills, goodwill gestures, tins of spam?

Brendan

<hr width=100% size=1>Err, let me know if Depsol enters the forum, I'll go and hide

 

[Bob]

Website for Indian Ocean

A full website has been developed (with discussion forum as well) for the Indian Ocean as well as everyone planning the Cape of Good Hope route. http://www.cruiser.co.za/africa.asp

Good luck
Bob


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[pyrojames]

I did Sydney to UK in 98-99, via the Southern Indian and the Red Sea, but took 10 months to go from Darwin through to the Med. You are going to have to have a very soundly built boat and an enourmous amount of stamina to do it in 60 days. You won't be able to miss bad weather, you'll either catch it in the Southern Indian, Or the North, or the Red Sea, and in the worst case, all three.

The best time to cross the Indian is in June-Oct, the best time to go up the Red Sea, Dec-March. We spent the in between time relaxing in Chagos, The Maldives and India. Why rush it?

PyroJames

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