When Ranbir Singh’s daughter Indrani sailed with us last year, we didn’t take her father too seriously about sailing with us. But he kept track of Antara and followed up on his promise. Him, wife and daughter sailed with us last week from Mumbai to Goa with two stops enroute at Jaigad and Devgad.
Curious about a marine commando turned farmer, we quizzed them about life on a farm, while they found their sea legs. He runs the farm and treks and takes student groups to climb Mt Everest, while she helps the women rekindle their weaving skills (www.balwaar.com). Look out for their weaves aboard Antara, when you sail with us next.
It was a glorious sail, with as the sailor folk say ‘fair winds and following seas’.
We coasted along, past Murud, over some deep slung fishing nets, within touching distance of those dreaded red and green blinking fish lights; without missing a beat!
Having sighted Jaigad at day break, we polished off a good breakfast before putting down our brand new anchor around 0900h. Our local boat safari turned up to help locate a good place to anchor. They then put up a festive striped cover over their steed transforming her into a coyly covered river nymph! Our crew was on its way for a river cruise, leaving us to do a quick clean up.
Then the harbour restaurant was called and some delicious fish and chicken curry was ordered for delivery, by boat. Lunch and a siesta later, we visited the neighbouring bar…it was Friday after all!
An early dinner and the knackered crew were all in bed by 2100h. The Skipper, determined to depart at 0500h, had to start up the engine to rev us awake at 0700h next morning. Another easy sail later we were in Devgad by nightfall.
An old friend from our earlier visit greeted us with a bunch of red roses, and more important, dinner: home made chicken and bhakri. A warm welcome indeed. A good night’s sleep, under the watchful eye of the lighthouse, and the crew was ready for a trip ashore: a swim at the pristine local beach, a fresh water bath in a clean public washroom, a walk up to the lighthouse; all washed down with a fish thali at the local restaurant.
We started up for Goa on the crew’s return, leaving around 1400h, sailing through the night to reach Dona Paula at 0915h the next morning. Even the dolphins were happy to see us, putting up quite a song and dance at our return. You’ll have to take my word for it, I was too busy watching them!
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