Sail demonstration – compass and charts (Grand River south-east Mauritius)
Note from Peter:
The recent trip to Mauritius and the Seychelles was most successful. Numerous “Sails” demonstrations were held in both countries using different sails and boats.
I taught for two days in the Maritime Training School in Victoria the Capital of Mahé, the main island of the Seychelles and was given an inspection and tour throughout the Maritime Training School in Mauritius. I taught sailing and “safety at sea” to the
students in the Seychelles and put the lessons into practice by going sailing on two afternoons with them.
In the Mauritius Maritime School there were no students there when I visited but they have a very wide range of courses – for beginners to the more advanced fishermen/students. Many fishermen and students cannot swim nor float and following a request for feedback I have recommended that swimming and floating lessons be initiated for Maritime and school students [through the east African Islands.
Discussions were held with government officials regarding the Sails Program receiving tax exemptions for sails, halyards, pulleys etc. The response has been positive so far, and transporting the sails via shipping or air services is being investigated and we are hopeful of a positive outcome.
Once the sails have reached Mauritius, the distribution – to the Seychelles, Madagascar, the Comoros, the Maldives and the east African coast using Mauritius as a central hub – will be by small fishing/cargo boats.
Fisherman Village Leader (Training/conference room Seafarers Centre, Port Louis, Mauritius)
Some fishermen do have sails on their boats but these are generally of poor quality and all of those I met were very impressed with the quality of Australian sails, and said that they could use them on their boats.
Other fishermen did not have masts but were ready to install one and have a sail attached to it ready for use.
Sails Ocean Sails 