Are we nearly there yet?: 22 March Himmufushi, N Male atoll

04 18.22N 073 38.59E 8m sand and bommies

We entered Himmufushi lagoon through a well marked west-east channel which is wide enough for two boats to pass and about 4 to 4.5m deep. We were 10 boats anchored inside including the large Mother Ship.

another beautiful sunset

Before we went in to Himmufushi we learned of a new charge for anchoring in Hulhumale, the anchorage for Male 8 miles south from where we are now, had come in to force at the beginning of the month; U$50 per metre for stays of one day or one month. Our fee would have been $800 for the three nights we proposed to visit. There were two solutions available to us; the first to take the local inter island ferry to the capital and the second for all cruisers to pile on to the Mother Ship and for that to take us to do our shopping. However, the rally organisers talked to the government officials and rally boats were offered fee free anchoring. When we did reach Hulhumale a guide from a live aboard dive boat told us the law had come in, but was not being enforced and the target was the big dive boats. Local fishing boats were exempt and no one had thought about the handful of yachts who might visit once a year.

I digress. Back in Himmufushi David and I went ashore on the first evening and had dinner at a local cafe in company with Richie and Jonas from Axiom and the chief of the island council. Next morning there was a village tour and a barbecue lunch at the beach. Each of the local guests houses had contributed and we enjoy a slap up feast of grilled yellow fin tuna, smoked tuna and vegetable dishes.