Cocos (Keeling) Islands photos

Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Cocos (Keeling) Islands comprise of 27 coral islands forming two atolls in the Indian Ocean, situated 2768km NW of Perth and 3685km due West of Darwin. Direction Island(DI) is the only safe yacht anchorage (Port Refuge) on the Atoll. 

Only two of Cocos (Keeling)Islands are populated:

HOME ISLAND – 1.7nms south of the Direction Island–population approximately 600 Cocos Malays of Muslim religion.

WEST ISLAND – 4.5nms west of the anchorage is the administrative centre for the Islands and has a population of about 120 westerners, with a pub and trappings of the, so called civilised, western world. Cocos is duty free so the alcohol is relatively cheap - about the only thing that is.

I'd have to say that Cocos (Keeling) Islands are bit of an anachronism. Also, it is very expensive - provisions are flown in once a week. Petrol costs AU$2.20 per litre Internet access AU$10/hour.

While anchored at Direction Island:

• Dried out the boat from water leaking through the deck and from water entering the boat from the knockdown.
• Visited HomeIsland to pay Anchoring fees AU$10/day or AU$50.00 per week. These fees had only just been introduced on July 1.
• Did the laundry using freshwater from the rain water tanks on the island.
• Wandered around Direction Island. Spoke to the locals.
• Swam "The Rip" – a narrow channel on the south end of Direction island full of amazing tropical fish. ( Nemo and Dory were there too) It was like swimming in an aquarium. Metre long sharks too.
• Put a board with Sadiqi’s name on it on a palm tree along with hundreds of other names of yachts that have visited Cocos (Keeling) Islands. ( Symbolic thing)
• Removed the none functioning electric windlass that let water into the main cabin.
• Visited Home and West Islands.

Friday a French yacht "Oaristys" (60 foot steel ketch) sailed in with three young blokes on board who had bought the boat in Hong Kong and were sailing it back toFrance via South Africa. I lost count of the number of times they attempted to anchor using a large danforth. The holding ground is good at Direction Island, the yacht is large and the wind was blowing around 20 knots. I was grateful my (Swarbrick) Fisherman’s/Admiralty anchor held fast. Not having an electric anchor windless to pull the 15Kg anchor up plus chain makes the job a little tiresome.

Sunday another two yachts arrived. "Papy Jovial" (Morgan 41) USA registered. "Saladin" - 120 foot super yacht being sailed to the Seychelles for the arrival of the owner. Tough life.