The prices includes professional crew and all boat costs, food costs are additional and shared between all crew members.
Further additional costs include flights, transfers, meals and accommodation ashore and personal insurance.
This adventure kicks off in the remote paradise of Cocos Keeling and ends up in another paradise – Mauritius – east of Madagascar. An opportunity to explore both a unique atoll and the cultural blend of tropical Mauritius. In between the crossing of the Indian Ocean and you will be 2350 NM richer.
The adventure begins in Cocos Keeling. Crew gather on board on the 4th of October to familiarize themselves with Celeste and to get to know one another. There will be time to explore Cocos Keeling and participate in social activities with the crew of the other boats participating in the World ARC. Cocos Keeling consists of two atolls made up of 27 coral islands, of which only two – West Island and Home Island – are inhabited. The population of around 600 people consists mainly of Cocos Malays. Mostly untouched these islands offering some of the most pristine and secluded beaches in the world. The waters here are teeming with life—perfect for snorkelling or diving among colourful coral reefs that are home to schools of tropical fish, rays, and even the occasional reef shark. The atoll’s lagoons are calm and warm. Celeste will be prepared with provisioning for the passage and after a thorough safety briefing will depart for the start of the rally leg on October 6; leaving the atoll’s lagoons behind and heading into open seas.
Taking part in a World ARC leg is both a challenging and rewarding experience. As a crew member you become part of the team and are involved in everything from navigating to cooking and taking care of the boat and your fellow crew mates. During offshore passages watch shifts will be in place. This means crew are on watch for three hours and off watch for six hours. The responsible ‘on-watch’ team handles steering, trimming, and navigation while off-watch you get a chance to rest, sleep and also prepare meals and help out with other duties around the boat.
The Indian Ocean is known for its steady trade winds, making for smooth and exhilarating sailing. The marine life is rich. Dolphins will most probably often play in the bow waves. We might have sea turtles, and maybe even the majestic sight of a whales. The fishing here is world-class. Since Celeste is a performance yacht we will probably sight land earlier than most other boats participating in the World ARC. After 14-16 days of open ocean, the volcanic peaks of Mauritius will start to rise on the horizon. As we approach, we will be greeted by emerald-green mountains, white sandy beaches, and the inviting turquoise waters of Mauritius famous lagoons. Mauritius is famous for its white beaches, but there is more to explore – snorkelling the coral reefs, hiking up the dramatic Le Morne Brabant or trekking through the lush interior to discover waterfalls and botanical gardens.
Mauritius is a blend of cultures, and its diverse heritage is reflected in everything from the delicious food to the colourful festivals. Native languages are English, French, Mauritian Creole, Hindi, Mandarin, Hakka, and Bhojpuri. English is the official language, but it is spoken by less than one percent of the population. Approximately half of the population is Hindu, one-third is Christian, and one-sixth is Muslim. As other yachts begin to arrive there will be social activities and time to share experiences from the crossing of the Indian Ocean.
Start: Cocos Keeling – Crew Arrive 4th October
Leg 20 starts – 6th October
Approach Mauritius 22nd October
Explore Mauritius
End: Mauritius – 24th October
S/Y Celeste of Solent is always manned by a crew that holds Master of Yacht certification and has a number of skippers available. The crew rotate and for each Leg of the World ARC the skipper has been nominated so you can be confident of whom you will be sailing with. All skippers have many years of experience sailing on board Celeste and other yachts and some are also instructors for Master of Yacht. Leg 1-4 Skipper: Mats Eriksson has sailed all his life with more than 60,000 nautical miles including multiple crossings of the Atlantic.
This adventure kicks off in the remote paradise of Cocos Keeling and ends up in another paradise – Mauritius – east of Madagascar. An opportunity to explore both a unique atoll and the cultural blend of tropical Mauritius. In between the crossing of the Indian Ocean and you will be 2350 NM richer.
On longer passages, over open sea with night sailing, crew alternate between the berths in the aft. Under way, it is most comfortable place to sleep.
The crew of Celeste are very happy to sail with clients who have limited offshore sailing experience. However, we would suggest that at the very least you have experience of an over-night passage on a sailing yacht prior to joining a World ARC leg.
