Letter Of Protest Over New Chagos Regulations

Created by doina. Last modified on 2006-12-06 11:53:52
Topic: Cruising Information
Countries: Chagos

We just noticed your comment in Noonsite about the new regulations for Chagos. Below you will find a copy of our letter to BIOT explaining the situation of sailboats crossing the Indian Ocean. It would be a pity if Chagos and with it a logical and safe route across the Indian Ocean were closed to later generations of cruisers.

Heinz and Patricia, SY Papagena

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The Commissioner
British Indian Ocean Administration
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London SW1A 2AH
United Kingdom

November 21st 2006

RE : Britain, one of the biggest seafaring nations, closes a logical and safe route for sailors.....

Dear Sir/Madam:

According to a letter received from the British Representative of British Indian Ocean Territory (comprising the Chagos Archipelago which includes Diego Garcia and, 150 miles to the North, the atolls of Salomon and Peros Banhos) the regulations for yachts stopping in the Northern atolls have been changed dramatically and without warning so that as of January 1st 2007 it will become prohibitive, if not impossible, for circumnavigators to stop there on their passage across the Indian Ocean.

Britain will thus have effectively closed a classic and safe sailing route: As well as the logistic difficulties of getting prior permission when on passage, the permit price of GRP Pounds 500 per month (a hike of nearly 30 times the most recent charge of $100 per 3 months!) is simply too high for most to even consider. Chagos only for the wealthy?

The passage from SE-Asia (Thailand/Malaysia/Philippines/Singapore etc) via Chagos to Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar and South Africa is the most logical for sailboats considering the prevailing wind and weather patterns and has been used by modern sailors for the last 30 to 40 years. The best time to leave from SE-Asia is January/February/(March) when the NE/NW-monsoon winds will carry a sailing yacht through to Chagos' northern atolls where its position just below the equator is safe from cyclones. By May/June the SE-tradewinds are established and yachts can then continue safely across the Indian Ocean to their destinations. BIOT authorities in Diego Garcia who have always monitored yacht movement through customs and immigration formalities on a monthly basis can confirm that the majority of boats arrive in Chagos in February/March and are gone by May/June. This same timeframe applies to boats travelling from East Africa toward SE-Asia.

We appeal to the Foreign Office of the British Government representing an historical seafaring nation to reconsider and to keep this route open for sailors of all nations at a reasonable price.

We would like to ask for reversal or at the very least postponement of these very short-notice and to date, ill-publicized changes. Many yachts are already committed to this route. All those who specifically sailed via SE-Asia as described above could complete their journey without having to suffer major delays and difficult detours. Equally boats coming from the Pacific via Cocos Keeling and Indonesia later in the year. These passages under sail need to be planned many months ahead of time taking into consideration the changes of the monsoon and trade winds, the cyclone seasons (Dec. - May in the southern Indian Ocean) and general weather patterns.

Thanking you for your consideration and awaiting your favourable response,

Sincerely,

Heinz Kluge and Patricia Byland
Yacht Papagena
Currently in Langkawi, Malaysia