Places

These are some of the countries that the Catamaran Gurus visited on their voyages:

Stephen and Estelle have visited more than 50 countries, territories and dependancies during their voyages, crossed 2 oceans at various times, criss crossed the Mediteranean Sea, Red Sea, and Caribbean and have visited more than 30 states in the USA. They watched history being made, atrocities being committed and encountered the people caught in these events, good and bad, in several countries while sailing around Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere in the world.

The South African general election of 27 April 1994 where Nelson Mandela became the president, was one such momentous occasion as was Ethiopia's recognizing Eritrea's sovereignty on May 3, 1993. Another was when they were waylaid for a time when the Yemenis started their civil war in 1994, resulting in bombings and piracy around the Red Sea while they were making their way up to Egypt. In 100 days, beginning in April 1994, Hutu rampaged through Rwanda and slaughtered an estimated 800,000 Tutsi and their moderate Hutu sympathizers. Everyone in central east Africa was on tenter hooks during this period and the sense of fear and helplessness was palpable. This was perhaps one moment in history that most people would rather not remember but should, so it never happens again!

The Red Sea with it's notoriously bad weather, sand storms, oil rigs, pirates and the Suez Canal was a milestone achievement. Royal Salute was only the second cruising yacht to visit Junieh, Lebanon after the end of the 16 year civil war. The country looked like a set in a Steven Spielberg movie...the jewel of the Middle East was a complete wreck! Their incredible reception by the people in this country was like nothing they had ever experienced and it was hard to leave.

They had interesting encounters like the spectacular diving on the reefs off of the isolated island of Pemba, once the spice capital of the world, in the Indian Ocean. It is only reachable by boat. White faces were an oddity and visitors of any kind are almost non existent. Diving on Jaques Causteau's underwater house in the Red Sea on Shaab Brumi together with a marine research ship was a once in a lifetime experience. Famous shark researcher, Eugenie Clarck was on board and showed them some spectacular underwater sights.

One incident very close to their hearts was of course when Albert Einstein, a blue vervet monkey became a part of Royal Salute's crew in Turkey and there are many stories related to Albert's antics. Being invited to visit Cuba by Charles Romero, the former secretary of Che Guevara, where they were given a unique view of life on Cuba and the Cuban Revolution was a very special occasion that few people will ever get to experience. Meeting the Sultan of Malaysia's son Idris Shah, who now happens to be the sultan, on his royal yacht "Jugra", serves as another highlight and of course the legendary Bob and Jodi from Latts & Atts fame on their yacht "Lost Soul".

These and other stories will be featured weekly. Please sign up to our newsletter to receive the latest stories.