From Cocos Keeling to Mauritius — The Crossing I Had Been Waiting For
From Lombok to Cocos Keeling: 1,300 nautical miles in 13 days.
From Cocos Keeling to Mauritius: 2,550 nautical miles in 20 days.
I am incredibly happy and relieved to have completed this crossing.
It was a passage I had been looking forward to for a long time, but at the same time, it was also one that I approached with a lot of respect — and, to be honest, some apprehension.
The Indian Ocean has a reputation for a reason.
A slow start, a fast finish
The passage from Lombok to Cocos Keeling was a slow one, but that was absolutely fine. In fact, I needed to slow down because I didn’t want to arrive in Cocos in the middle of the night.
Sailing is not about getting there as quickly as possible. It is about arriving at the right moment, with the right weather window and the right conditions. That’s the dream. But in reality crossing oceans is always different than what you expect or plan for.
After two weeks in Cocos Keeling a new window opened up and I continued towards Mauritius. This second part of the journey turned out to be a completely different experience.
Choosing the route
Before leaving Cocos Keeling, I received a warning from a local weather router:
“You have chosen the southern route. You are now in Cocos, and you are going to have a tough passage.”
He did not suggest another weather window or recommend changing my route. His expectation was that this was simply going to be a tough passage.
Luckily, I had been working together with my Dutch weather router, Tim. Together we looked carefully at the weather patterns and decided on a slightly more northerly route.
The local router was not convinced that this was the best choice either. His concern was that during the final part of the passage I would end up sailing close hauled in big winds.
But for me, the route worked out beautifully. It was much to my surprise a fantastic and fast passage. Loveworkx was regularly sailing at 6, 7, and 8 knots, and at one point I even saw 12.1 knots on the speed display for a moment. 😄 For a 27-foot boat, that was an amazing feeling.
For most of the crossing I was sailing on a beam or broad reach, with excellent wind angles and very comfortable wave direction. Especially the wave direction is important on this crossing. It’s the difference between getting seasick or not.
The course we chose turned out to be exactly what Loveworkx and I needed.
The famous Indian Ocean waves
One of the biggest challenges on this route is the southerly swell.
These waves are notorious because they often hit the boat from the side, creating uncomfortable rolling conditions.
And yes, I experienced that.
There were a couple of days that waves slammed into Loveworkx beam-on, sending spray over the sprayhood and straight into the cockpit.
During that period, all hatches stayed firmly closed.
A Hallberg-Rassy 38 sailing south of me had an even rougher experience. They were hit by several large waves that completely flooded their cockpit, leaving around a metre of water in it almost instantly.
That really shows the power of the Indian Ocean.
Avoiding the worst conditions
The boats that chose a more southerly and more direct route experienced a very different passage.
They encountered two days with winds of 37–46 knots, followed by several days with almost no wind at all.
My route allowed me to pass through the worst conditions much quicker.
I had around 24 hours of stronger winds, with a maximum of 31 knots — unless it briefly blew harder while I was sleeping. 😄
And the best part: I had wind throughout the entire passage.
No frustrating days drifting around in the big swell, that remains after so many days with a lot of wind, waiting for the next breeze.
“The fastest 27-footer we’ve ever seen”
During the crossing, I even managed to catch up with and sail faster than the Hallberg-Rassy 38.
Their comment made me smile:
“You have the fastest 27-footer we’ve ever seen.”
A wonderful compliment for Loveworkx.
Only right at the end did they become slightly faster again. But that was a deliberate choice on my side.
I slowed down because I wanted to spend less time sailing into the approaching front and arrive with lighter winds.
That strategy worked perfectly.
Arriving in Mauritius
After 20 days at sea, thousands of nautical miles, changing weather systems, big ocean swells, and countless moments of sailing alone with Loveworkx, we arrived safely in Mauritius.
This crossing reminded me once again why I love ocean sailing.
Being out on the ocean without internet for weeks at a time — just me, the wind, and the waves. No land in sight, no boats around. Trusting my boat, trusting my experience, and adapting to what the ocean gives me. Deepening the connection with myself, and feeling a deep sense of peace.
And once again, Loveworkx proved that she is a small boat with a very big heart. And I love her. ❤️
My name is Jacqueline Evers from The Netherlands. Solo sailing around the world in my 27 foot sloop. While my husband and son may have chosen a different path, their unwavering support fuels my solo pursuit of this lifelong dream.
Not confined by age or the constraints of conventional life, in my 50s, I bravely departed from the rat race, trading it for the serenity of the open sea. Through my unscripted videos and blogs, I offer a glimpse into the authentic tapestry of my sailing
🔗 Explore my Adventures: YouTube, Polarsteps & Instagram
📸 Feel connected to my journey: Buy a t-shirt or sweater in the Loveworkx Shop
🌟 Support the Voyage: Join on Patreon or contribute via PayPal
Please Subscribe and Join me as I sail Around the World… 🌍