Remote Islands

[Soft Air]

Here is a blog from Bernadette Bernon about San Blas Islands

BoatUS Blogs - The Ithaka - Onward, To Kuna Yala! - July 5, 2002

Enjoy it

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by Catamount

How do we define "remote?" Defining the term is especially important if we want to make comparisons and talk about the most remote....

Farthest from any other land? (including other islands)

Wikipedia comes up with the following:

Not looking to make this a legal battle by defining remote. I am using the definition for remote as not commonly known and/or visited. Anybody's definition is fine. I like MarkJ's picture.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Kanani

One quick story about one of the most fascinating populated remote islands that I visited.

We were in Mauritius Island for about 2 months in 1995. We were leaving for Madagascar then off to So Africa. When we left Mauritius, I noticed a small (very mountainous) island on the chart that I simply hadn't taken time to notice before or even heard of. (Any French people reading this thread can sign-off now). It was Reunion Island, located just SW of Mauritius and is actually the same size as Mauritius.

We were sailing close to the island anyway so I decided to go right up next to the island, to see what I could see. I didn't have a chart of the island and fully expected it to be uninhabited. As we came close to the island, I slowly started noticing cars (way off in the distance from us). The cars seemed to be on some sort of road but I fully expected it to be a small dirt road and old cars.

I saw more and more cars as we approached closer. Now, my curiosity is peaked. I figured, with all these cars (and trucks....big trucks), there must be a port. Without approaching too closely, I sailed along the coast, which was obviously very steep-to with a high mountain that fell sharply into the sea. This indicated that it was an old volcanic island that probaby had little to no off-shore obstructions.

Suddenly, I saw a fishing boat (what looked like) coming out of the side of the mountain (about 3 miles ahead).....AH-HA!!!!. Knowing that boats can drive out of mountains, I figured that must be the port. I traced the fishing boats track on my radar and used that track to navigate into the port.

As I drew closer, the entry was extremely well marked. There was a sharp turn to SB going into the harbor but the view of the harbor was obstructed by a sea wall until I got to a certain point. Once we reached that point, it became obvious that this was a fairly largish harbor.

I pulled along side a dock where there were several private yachts hauled out. I quickly found out that this was a French speaking island but I was able to find someone that was willing to lower himself to speaking English (tongue in cheek). He told me where to find the Harbor master and accompanied me to his office. I found out that there is no customs or immigration at that port and I had to go to the airport about 20 miles away.

The gentleman that escorted me to the office handed me the keys to his brand new BMW and told me how to get to the airport. He said, "I'll be here working on my boat for a few days, use the car all you want". I thought, "What....are you nuts???? You don't know me from Adam". He said...."What.......am I supposed to be worried about you stealing my car???. Where would you go on this small island?".

I took the car and followed his carefully mapped instructions. Remember the road that I saw from out at sea?. I thought it must be an old dirt road.........It was a freaking 6-lane super highway that looked like the most modern highway in the US or Europe. I was shocked but the best was yet to come.

Remember, this island is very steep mountain terrain. I could not see the town from the port but as I drove down the highway, I began to see these big beautiful homes, nestled in the trees and side of the mountains. Then....I rounded a bend in the road and there was this huge, modern city with high rise buildings and crowded streets. It was like I entered the Twilight Zone and was instantly transported to Paris, France. That had to be the biggest culture shock that I have ever had.

It ends up that Reunion Island is actually a suburb (of sorts) of Paris. I don't know any other way of explaining it. All I can tell you is that these are the most friendly, outgoing French people that I have ever met. People were dragging us into their homes and struggling to understand our language to hear stories of how we got there.

I'll never forget that small island in the middle of the Indian Ocean. What an incredible experience. I only wish that we could have stayed longer.

Kanani...Im still waiting for the punch line...

Great story

[imagine2frolic]

I use to be in a hurry to get to the South Pacific. Then I sailed through the Bahamas. You can find the beach with no footprints, or a beach overwhelmed with them. The Bahamas are conveniently close to the USA. You can feel as remote as you wish, and run naked like children under the stars & sun......i2f

[TAREUA]

I was longing to be back at sea for much of this discussion until I read up on Bouvet Island. I'm feeling pretty happy at my nice warm desk now. Any place too nasty for Norwegians or even an automated weather station, is the wrong kind of remote for me.

[Soft Air]

I am glad to see i2fro just posted, whenever he does that the thread tends to be a complete success or a complete failure...lets hope for the first

Thanks i2fro you should be a moderator

[shadow]

That is a great story Kanani, I hope to check it out for myself someday..

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

I use to be in a hurry to get to the South Pacific. Then I sailed through the Bahamas. You can find the beach with no footprints, or a beach overwhelmed with them. The Bahamas are conveniently close to the USA. You can feel as remote as you wish, and run naked like children under the stars & sun......i2f

The Bahamas are great sailing. Anchorages are usually poor with strong currents. Diving sucks IMO. The islands are pretty scruffy in reality.

Don't get me wrong. I prefer the Bahamas to most of the Caribbean but you can't even begin to compare that island group to anything in the SoPac. Half of my cruising pleasure was derived from underwater experiences. You won't find a lot of that in the Bahamas.

Just my personal opinion.

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

Kanani...Im still waiting for the punch line...

Great story

I just thought of another cute story......I'm telling this because Cocos Isl was on that 1st list.

Cocos is a group of islands. Most of the islands are uninhabitied. At the far southern end of the group is a small, uninhabited island (I don't remember the name). That's where most of the cruising yachts hang out. No one bothers you. (BTW.....there is spectacular snorkeling and diving there).

We entered the anchorage and there were no other vessels there yet. There were a few vessels enroute and one was planning on entering at night (THAT'S CRAZY BTW). Brian Caldwell (19 yr-old single-hander) was the one. He was tired and wanted to get in. I went out in my dingy and wrote down way-points from my GPS that would take him through safe water. The next morning, I woke up and he was at anchor. That kid sure had guts......did I mention that he is just a little "crazy" too.

Anyway.....that had nothing to do with my story........When we got there, we got in the dinghy and went ashore to do some exploring. There was a beautiful pure white sandy beach then the island was heavily covered with coconut tress (what I shock ). We noticed that there was an opening in the trees so we headed for it to see what we could find. Right in front of us, on this deserted island, was a phone booth. I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a joke. I picked up the phone and I could hear ringing on the phone. I waited a minute and some answered, "Operator". Now....I'm ROFLMAO..... I asked if I could call the US..she said, "Certainly, what # would you like?" I gave her my father-in-laws # and one minute later we were talking to him on the phone for nearly 30 minutes.....at no cost.......To this day, I ROFLMAO..... every time that I think of that experience.

Oh!!!! wait a minute.....I forgot the punch line again....

[Catamount]

Originally Posted by Charlie

Not looking to make this a legal battle by defining remote. I am using the definition for remote as not commonly known and/or visited. Anybody's definition is fine.

Not looking to make it a legal battle either.

So I submit a couple of other islands for consideration as remote:

Rockall

Sable Island

Attu Island at the end of the Aleutian chain

[porttack]

Kanani,

Now, I don't believe either story. The uncharted city island in the Indian Ocean sounded like Doctor No's creation and well, the phone booth, that's got to be Monty Python... Wright?

Well done sir! You should be an author.

Or is reality that much stranger than fiction?

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by porttack

Kanani,

Now, I don't believe either story. The uncharted city island in the Indian Ocean sounded like Doctor No's creation and well, the phone booth, that's got to be Monty Python... Wright?

Well done sir! You should be an author.

Or is reality that much stranger than fiction?

Both stories are 100% true.

Check out Reunion Isl on Google Earth. Considering where it is, it is truly amazing.

I looked at Cocos on GoogleEarth the anchorage was at 16.49S 59.29E.

It appears that the island has been totally wiped out. It must have been from the tsunami. You'll just have to take my word for it.
BTW....I never said that it was uncharted.

[Stillraining]

Originally Posted by Kanani

Both stories are 100% true.

Check out Reunion Isl on Google Earth. Considering where it is, it is truly amazing.

I looked at Cocos on GoogleEarth the anchorage was at 16.49S 59.29E.

It appears that the island has been totally wiped out. It must have been from the tsunami. You'll just have to take my word for it.
BTW....I never said that it was uncharted.

If we ever meet Kanani.....all the beer you can drink is on me ...Your a hoot.... and yes I believe you..

[Kanani]

Originally Posted by Stillraining

If we ever meet Kanani.....all the beer you can drink is on me ...Your a hoot.... and yes I believe you..

I'm telling you.....you can find anything on the internet. I did a google search for Cocos Keeling phone booth and found this pic (all of my pics were destroyed but I have good videos)


When we were there, the phone booth was the old-traditional phone booth like Superman gets dressed in.

Here is the anchorage:

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by Catamount

Not looking to make it a legal battle either.

So I submit a couple of other islands for consideration as remote:

Rockall

Sable Island

Attu Island at the end of the Aleutian chain

Cool Catamount. I've heard of Attu but where are the other two?

Kanani:

That is a cool photo. I like the part about calling Father in law. If you had to do it collect that would be the person to call LOL