Jewel of Muscat

The Voyage - 1st Leg

• Departure day …
• All is set for a big send-off.
• The Jewel logo is everywhere.
• The band takes a break from rehearsals.
• Dry dates will be loaded on Jewel.
• Along with dried lemons.
• Last minute interviews for National Geographic
• The newest crew member – part of the food stores.
• The crew are raring to go.
• Artists capture the Jewel’s departure.
• Young Omani women in traditional dress.
• The departure will be live on Oman TV.
• Capt Saleh briefs his crew.
• The band plays the National Anthem.
• Then there is a reading from the Koran.
• The story of the Jewel is told.
• HH Sayyid Shibab Bin Tariq Al Said delivers the main speech.
• A distinguished audience is present.
• Traditional folk dancers celebrate the departure
• Traditional dry goods are carried on board.
• Traditional drums salute the Jewel.
• Capt Saleh Said Al Jabri reads from the Koran.
• Capt Saleh takes his formal farewells.
• The crew head for the ship.
• It’s time to board ship.
• Capt Saleh rings the ship bell to signal it’s time to leave.
• Balloons signal Jewel is about to leave.
• The crew pushes Jewel off from the quay.
• Jewel is towed out of harbour.
• Tugs salute her with water jets.
• All the ships in port sound their horns.
• Jewel is on her way …
• Next stop – Cochin in India.
• The first sunset aboard Jewel
• Mateo Willis sets up a solar panel on the chicken cage.
• Capt. Saleh and Dr. Tom Vosmer
• 1st Mate Khamis Al Hamdani and the ship's goat.
• Master Rigger Said Al Tarshi demonstrates his knot-tying skills.
• Limited space in the communications centre.
• 1st Mate Khamis Al Hamdani at work on the ship's charts.
• Sajid Valappil hard at work.
• A man-overboard drill underway.
• Fahad Al Shaibi and Ayaz Al Zadjali re-size a block.
• Eric Staples examines the top of the main mast for wear.
• Pushpadas Elamassery fashions a seat for the anchor.
• Alessandro Ghidoni using a traditional clay water jug.
• Ahmed Al Baluchi reads while off watch.
• Adam Al Baluchi writes a letter.
• Yahya Al Faraji.
• View of the Jewel from the bow.
• Pushpadas Elamassery caulks the deck.
• Fahad Al Shaibi repairs the chicken coop.
• Ayaz Al Zadjali at the helm.
• Traditional gahela for cooling drinking water.
• Dolphin off the port side.
• There are always dishes to be washed.
• Captain Saleh using a traditional Kamal.
• Said Al Tarshi snags a bundle of coconut cordage which went overboard.
• Captain Saleh and Eric Staples tighten a loose rudder.
• All hands at work on deck while the sea is still calm.
• Captain Saleh explains the wind situation to the crew.
• A rough morning.
• Preparing breakfast on an angle.
• A sail under pressure.
• Steering takes a lot of concentration in heavy seas.
• All hands on deck to change a sail in pitching seas.
• Changing sails in choppy seas is a risky business.
• Success, the new sail goes up!
• A Masked Booby flying by.
• 'Round her, the abysses of sky and sea'.
• Sunrise over calmer seas.
• Gentler winds give the crew time for friendly conversation at breakfast.
• Sailors need lots of knots.
• Alessandro Ghidoni collecting wash water in a canvas bucket.
• Said Al Tarshi and Sajid Valappil fixing the support strut to the mast.
• Sajid Valappil begins climbing the mast.
• The work continued into evening.
• Evening at the helm.
• Ayaz Al Zadjali works on a Baggy Wrinkle.
• First Mate Khamis Al Hamdani shows the crew how to use emergency flares.
• Cleaning Day.
• The crew enjoying Omani music and songs.
• Yahya Al Faraji serves the Friday meal of goat and rice.
• First Mate Khamis Al Hamdani.
• Sajid Valappil studies navigating by the stars.
• Said Al Tarshi and Eric Staples work to free a tangled line from the rudder.
• Adam Al Baluchi makes the morning bread.
• Said Al Tarshi wraps the baggy wrinkle on the mizzen forestay.
• Hussein Al Ra’isi at the helm.
• Adam Al Baluchi and Alessandro Ghidoni moving jerrycans.
• Risso's Dolphins.
• Ancient and modern meet in mid-ocean.
• Man-overboard drill.
• Captain Saleh demonstrating a rescue sling.
• A well-travelled moth takes a rest on board.
• Singaporean Jeff Khoo works on the baggy wrinkles.
• Sajid Valappil climbs the mast to repair the earlier reinforcements.
• Jewel of Muscat Sewing Club.
• Captain Saleh, Eric Staples and Adam Al Baluchi study 15th century Arab navigational texts.
• Jeff Khoo, Foreign Service Officer, Singapore
• Adam Al Baluchi washes fruit.
• Always work to be done.
• Alessandro Ghidoni and Ahmed Al Baluchi.
• Captain Saleh and Said Al Tarshi
• Sailing at sunset
• Dried shark - our favourite snack.
• Eric Staples cleans the mast camera, high above deck.
• Our much-used fishing line.
• 9th century air-conditioning: Sheets catch wind to cool below decks.
• Ahmed Al Adawi answers a quiz question.
• Adam Al Baluchi leads his team in charades.
• Hussein Al Ra’isi was the champion egg racer
• Arm wrestling between Yahya Al Faraji and Ahmed Al Baluchi
• The victors!
• Yahya Al Faraji keeps Jewel on course.
• Adam Al Baluchi at the helm.
• Yahya Al Faraji and First Mate Khamis Al Hamdani work the sheet.
• Navigating with the sextant.
• A beautiful sunset - always a memorable gift.
• Jewel‘s toilets – basic, but a stunning view.
• Bringing the inflatable on board.
• Debriefing on the Abandon Ship drill.
• Sunset with Said Al Tarshi up the main mast setting a flag.
• Skies are beginning to look tropical.
• The crew prays together daily.
• Lowering the mizzen sail in high wind is a tough job.
• Said Al Tarshi does the risky work of fixing the storm sail to the yard.
• Preparing to hoist the storm sail.
• Indian Coast Guard greets the Jewel of Muscat
• Preparing the evening meal of dahl.
• Said Al Tarshi and Eric Staples tighten the rudder lashings.
• Mateo Willis climbs the main mast to inspect for wear.
• Kamals of different sizes.
• Dried fish, a staple food aboard Jewel.
• Ahmed Al Adawi is lifted from the rescue boat during a man overboard drill.
• Hussein Al Ra’isi finds relief from the heat.
• Fahad Al Shaibi climbs onto the inflatable after a refreshing swim.
• Underwater view of Jewel’s hull in 2,000 meters of water.
• Beans and dates for breakfast.
• Ale helps prepare our first real Italian dinner.
• Another hot, still evening.
• Sajid Valappil enjoys his morning coffee at the helm.
• Jewel’s crew watches the arrival of the Indian Navy.
• Captain Saleh exchanges gifts with an Indian naval officer.
• The first cold drink in weeks!
• Friday is a welcome rest day on the Jewel of Muscat
• Pushpadas Elamassery is looking forward to getting home to Kerala.
• A scorching day with little wind.
• Sajid Valappil hard at work even in the heat.
• Captain Saleh interviewed for National Geographic.
• The crew sharing work space in the shade.
• Proud members of the Port Watch.
• Proud members of the Starboard Watch.
• Singaporean Jeff Khoo receives a certificate from Captain Saleh.
• Jeff Khoo is given a sailor's cheer.
• Captain Saleh at the helm on the last evening before Cochin.
• Jewel approaches the Chinese fishing nets of Cochin.
• A flotilla welcomes Jewel into port.
• Jewel passes old Cochin.
• Jewel hoists a sail for the final stretch.
• Omani and Indian dignitaries ready to greet Jewel.
• Jewel approaches her berth.
• Jewel ties up.
• Hauling on the lines to bring her in.
• The crew’s smiles speak volumes.
• Passport formalities…..
• Then it’s time to celebrate.
• 1,300 miles in 28 days…..
• The crew deserve to feel proud.
• The joy of stepping ashore.
• A warm greeting awaits them.
• The joy of a cold drink.
• A hero’s welcome for Capt Saleh.
• The dancing begins…
• Omani women in traditional dress salute the crew.
• The crew perform a boat dance.
• 17 men, one team, one Jewel
• Jewel will be checked in dry dock before she leaves for Sri Lanka.
• Jewel approaches Cochin under tow by the Indian Coast Guard.
• The Jewel from above.
• An Indian Navy helicopter watches over Jewel.
• Entering Cochin.
• Jewel is the centre of attention.
• Jewel nears her berth.
• Jewel about to tie up.
• Jewel of Muscat lit up at anchor in Cochin