This amazing sail is at the invitation of Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. He is friend and mentor to Dilip, who was introduced to him by Adm Manohar Awati. They first met when Sagarparikrama was in its nascent stage. The objective was to learn from the world’s first solo circumnavigator as he embarked on his second solo adventure at the age of 67!
Sir Robin’s first boat Suhaili, which he continues to sail, was built in Bombay. He bought Sanjula, the boat we’re sailing in, 6 years ago. It’s a Farr 56 design and rather plush; with mechanised winches, an auto pilot, a generator, 4 types of sails and an assortment of instruments including two multi function displays.
The insides are even better. As you step inside to walk into a lounge with a dining table lined by a comfortable u shaped couch. There’s a TV with a CD player on one side of the U and a book shelf lined with navigation almanacs, assorted books and CDs. We’ve watched Zulu and Titfield Thunderbolt; Whiskey Galore is up next.
With 3 of the crew carrying Kindles, we have a limited, random selection of books. I’ve finished reading Nancollas’ Seashaken Houses and Clive Cussler’s Final Option and Liddell Hart’s The Other Side of the Hill. Waiting in the wings are Snell’s From Utmost East to Utmost West, Bryony Gordon’s No Such Thing as Normal and Jodi Picoult’s Wish You Were Here. There is of course the Navigation Almanac and the Guide to the Windward Islands to snack on.
There is a navigation table forward left and steps that lead into the galley (kitchen) aft left. Beyond the galley is a king sized cabin with a proper bathroom with a shower. That bed came in handy when we had leakage issues in the forward cabins. For a couple of nights we had 3 people in their sleeping bags on that bed with another in the lounge.
Beyond the lounge there are two more cabins and two bunks as well as two more heads (loos) forward.
The well equipped galley has a two burner stove, a toaster, a kettle, an oven and a microwave. There’s also a fridge and a freezer! Since the crew loves Indian food the galley is stocked with masalas.
Sanjula carries about 300 litres of fuel, which is enough for about 10 days of motoring. We tend to motor sail when the winds are poor or not in the right direction. That and the trade winds should help us get to Barbados as close to the 18th as possible as the rest of Sir Robin’s family joins us there for Christmas.
Written at sea, sent out post arrival in Barbados.
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Sanjula