|
Some sailors say the
passage is the purpose whilst many others quote that the
arriving is reason enough. Still undecided we present a very brief
history of High Aspect. Always the main theme has been to
explore remote islands and to offer expeditions away from the
madding crowds. As the author Glynn Burridge wrote about High
Aspect after his trip to the Aldabra Atoll -
"Islands and sailboats give each other
perfect purpose"
This seems a most appropriate
portrayal for High Aspect and an apt sentiment.
|
|
|
Florida 1990
High Aspect was discovered in the waterways of Florida and after a short refit in Ft Lauderdale for the Trans-Atlantic, the
classic route of Bermuda and the Azores was followed. In past
days of the square riggers helmsmen were ordered not to look
behind them as the Atlantic waves in an autumn storm can be very
intimidating indeed, this has not changed in recent times and a
November crossing to the UK still required similar diligence.
|
|
 |
|
|
England 1991 |
|
Southampton saw nearly a year of major refit work to bring
High Aspect up to standard as an exploration style yacht
suitable for remote areas and many backup systems were
added specifically for the Indian Ocean.
Maybe it is the leaving that really
counts so the last view of Southampton is historic. Enroute
the Bay of Biscay
lived up to its reputation forcing a short stop at La Coruna
in Spain for some timely repairs before Gibraltar and Malta
were sampled. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Red Sea |
|
Cyprus to Sudan is a real eye opener with the Suez Canal and
the rapid change in lifestyle plus the diving is
exceptional. Djibouti however as a refueling stop should be
best avoided in times of internal strife. But the Atlantic
is not the only ocean where one must 'keep eyes forward' as
the N Indian Ocean demonstrated.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Mombassa 1991 to 1994 |
|
Nearly 3 years chartering the coast of Africa was the
highlight of the arrival. Zanzibar and Pemba had rarely seen
a yacht and High Aspect became locally known as Kijiji
Kieliacho in Swahili - meaning floating village. Many times
the villagers lined the beach to see the man running on the
water, water-skiing was unknown at that time. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Seychelles !994 to 2004 |
|
As the new Government formed
its strategies, High Aspect became the first foreign charter
yacht in the area. For the first few years only an
occasional glimpse of the only other boat was
the norm. With over a hundred remote islands expeditions to
outer islands became popular and later in the 90's fly
fishing was discovered in remote atolls, hundreds of miles
from civilisation. For a few short months each year
the World Heritage site of Aldabra was accessible - 600
miles from the capital Mahe this was the extreme in
exploration sailing. |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
South East Asia 2004 to present |
|
The well known Phuket Island
and surrounding area is probably the center of cruising here
but the little known Mergui Archipelago and Andaman Islands
are mostly uninhabited and prime for adventurous
expeditions. On the east coast of Malaysia,Tioman represents that timeless and unique quality sought
in offshore islands. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
So is it the leaving, the passage or
the arriving that quantifies sailing: probably none of
them individually but more likely just the
doing. |
