High Seas Sailing

They passed the Bombay High oil rigs, on way to Dwarka. Variable weather, at times a mite more than the small boat was designed for, and adverse currents in the Indus delta, marred her passage to Karachi. Fishing nets were  particular hazard, and the boat had to be cut loose from one particularly nasty one. Past the Makran coast, in snake infested waters, sailing in becalmed conditions, past a rugged and virtually uninhabited coastline, after a brief halt at Jask, for replenishing water, and then encountering very heavy shipping at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, they reached Bandar Abbas around midnight on the 22nd Nov.  After change of crew, and carrying out of the much needed repairs, and stocking up with food and water, Albatross set off for its return trip on 26th Nov. Plenty of sharks and dolphins, as well as sea snakes abounded. Winds were very light on way to Karachi, past the Makran coast. Soon winds picked up, and they began covering about 150 km in 24 hours. Four days’ good sailing saw them enter Karachi harbour on 9th Dec 1977, having sailed continuously for 14 days. After some rest, repairs etc, they set sail on 12th, after availing the resounding hospitality of the yachting fraternity of Karachi. Winds at times picked up to force 4 to 5, and a gaff as well as the main sail uphaul wire broke at night, which had to be mended, and reaved through the mast by a crew member climbing up the mast unassisted. Heavy seas also swamped the boat with seawater, which had to be constantly bailed out by buckets.   With good winds, and good speed, Albatross entered Bombay harbour on 21st Dec 1977.  It was a unique Indian achievement worthy of recognition, more so since it was an altogether indigenous effort. Albatross proudly displayed the Tricolour, and carried the message of goodwill to our neighbouring countries, and was well covered by press of both Iran as well as Pakistan, in addition to catching the imagination of press and youngsters back home.