After sailing some 620NM from Lombok the World ARC fleet are currently moored in Flying Fish Cove at Christmas Island for a brief 48 stopover before they continue westwards towards Coco (Keeling) Islands. Christmas Island is a small dot in the Indian Ocean but it is actually very conveniently located for sailors on an Indian Ocean crossing. Christmas Island sits right on the rum line and almost equidistant between Lombok and Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Christmas Island is an Australian Territory though its closest neighbour is actually Indonesia to the north. The island's 80 kilometre coastline is an almost continuous sea cliff, of up to 20 metres in height. In a few places, the cliff gives way to shallow bays with small sand and coral shingle beaches. The largest of these bays forms the island's only port; Flying Fish Cove.
Christmas Island is famous for a huge population of red land crabs. Red crabs are dotted around the forest floor all over Christmas Island, ponderously raising leaves in their claws to eat and retreating down burrows as you come too close. The annual red crab mass migration to the sea to spawn has been described by ecologists as one of the wonders of the natural world and is Christmas Island's claim to fame amongst naturalists.
For the next 2 days World ARC crew will get to explore this fascinating island through local tour operator Indian Ocean Experiences. Their tour guide, Lisa, will also host a beach BBQ ashore on Friday before the fleet continuing on their way to Cocos Keeling Islands.
The World ARC stop in Christmas Island would not be possible without the support of Karenn Singer and her staff from the Christmas Island Tourism Association and harbourmaster, Dave Robertson.