Indian Ocean season looming

Aventuara III at Egmont Island, Chagos, South Indian Ocean © Jimmy Cornell Noonsite http://www.noonsite.com

Some good news from the Indian Ocean this month. The Maldives parliament has passed an amendment to the Tourism Act and from January 1st, 2021 will no longer take a "Cruising Permit Fee" from vessels smaller than 15m. This will mean free cruising for up to 180 days - a saving of more than $300.

BIOT have re-opened permit applications for 2021, a move that will be welcomed by many cruising boats wanting to visit this pristine protected paradise as they cross the Indian Ocean. And South Africa have announced they will remain open to foreign yachts with just three ports of entry: Richards Bay; Durban; and Cape Town.

Des Cason, ex-cruiser and weather and routing guru, has compiled a guide to crossing the Indian Ocean to assist 2021 passagemakers based on his experience of conditions in the Indian Ocean over the past five years.

For those planning an Indian Ocean crossing, useful groups to share information are:

• Crossing the Indian Ocean (on passage)
• Indian Ocean Crossing - E-mail: for admission.
• Red Sea Passage - E-mail: for admission.

This article has been provided by the courtesy of noonsite.com.