https://forecast.predictwind.com/tracking/display/SV-BlackDuck

We are sick of white beaches, turquoise water and warm weather, we are coming to Europe in search of the European Dream!

I have made this page for you – our family and friends, so you can follow the planning of our long voyage across the Indian Ocean to Europe.

Sailing Itinerary

Here is a pdf file of our sailing itinerary for you to download.

Klara and Riley’s Q & A

In our Q & A, we will answer whatever questions you might have regarding our voyage, just write them in the comments at the bottom of the page, and we will add them to the questions below.

Where are we Going?

We are going to Europe in search of the European Dream!
We are leaving Thailand at the end of January during the NE Monsoon, heading west across the North Indian Ocean. We are hoping to stop in Sri Lanka and Maldives on the way to the Red Sea, the long narrow stretch of water between Africa and the Middle East.
To abide by the rules of the weather, we must arrive in the Red Sea before the end of April.
We will then sail up the Red Sea, stopping along the way on the African side, on our way to Suez Canal, which will take us through to the Mediterranean and Europe.

What is the Northeast Monsoon?

Monsoon is south Asia’s word for season, of which they have two; wet and dry. The NE monsoon season falls approximately concurrently with Europe’s winter. The Indian Ocean still holds its heat causing the cold winds to sweep down from the Himalayas. This is the wind we will be sailing with across the entire North Indian Ocean.

According to Jimmy Cornell, the writer of the sailing Bible, ‘World Cruising Routes’ this stable wind makes this passage west in the Northern Indian Ocean one of the best sailing passages in the world.

How do we communicate at Sea?

We are currently in the process of buying an Iridium Go, satellite module for our smartphone. This is an upgrade from the more conventional satellite we used when leaving Australia. The Iridium Go has 3 main functions:

• First of all, it allows us to get weather forecasts anytime anywhere, a feature which is simply priceless when spending such a long time at sea.
• Secondly, we will use the Iridium Go for security to stay in daily contact with the Navy when sailing through the Gulf of Aden.
• And last but not least, we will be able to send our position along with a report of our well-being and progress to family when we are at sea.

What about Pirates?

I know that this has been one of the main concerns of our parents, and that is fair enough. The Gulf of Aden, between war-torn Yemen and the extremely poor Somalia, is infamous for piracy.
But the situation is very different from what it used to be, and the Gulf of Aden has seen a dramatic drop in pirate incidents, and it has been many years since there have been any attacks reported on private yachts.

The significant drop in piracy is owing to the extensive Navy presence protecting one of the world’s busiest shipping channels. It is in the best interest of the whole world to keep this waterway open and many countries such as America, China, the UK, and Denmark have ships patrolling these waters.

Although we are not blind to the fact that Somalia and Yemen are high-risk areas, it is very important for us that our loved ones understand that, after years of research and numerous conversations with people who HAVE DONE IT, we believe that it is safe to make this passage.

(While we sail through the Gulf of Aden between Somalia and Yemen, we will be registered with the UKMTO (the UK Maritime Trade Operation) and the MSCHOA (Maritime Security Centre- Horn of Africa). We will be in contact daily to report our positions. We will be following the highly trafficked shipping channel, staying well off the coasts, and the navy will always be nearby)

“The Gulf of Aden marks the entrance to the Red Sea. There are approximately 33,000 vessels transits annually through the Gulf of Aden with the vast majority of reported annual incidents amounting to little more than irregular maritime traffic. It is clear that piracy, in its traditional form at least, no longer presents the most significant risk to shipping in the Indian Ocean.”

Maritime Risk Intelligence

Are you sailing alone?

It will most like just be the two of us on the boat unless we suddenly hear of a super crew wanting to come along. But that does not mean we will be alone. This is actually quite a popular route as it is a shortcut to Europe and every year over 60 yachts transit through the Red Sea either North or Southbound.

We are a part of a ‘secret’ Facebook group which has been created for the purpose of sharing information and experiences among sailors who are sailing or planning to sail the Red Sea, and it is on this group that we have for the last 2 years have followed many boats successfully making the trip.

This year we have been put on the list of transiting boats, a list which so far has around 50 boats on it. We have already met a few of these boats, some are currently in Phuket as well, and some are even good friends whom we know from our sailing in Indonesia.

So, although we are planning this long trip on our own, we are a part of a sailing community, with whom we share all information and will be in contact with, meet up with and sometimes sail with along the way.