Sail Maldives - what great idea!

by Sarah Harvey on 15 Dec 2016 With one month to go until the launch of the inaugural Sail Maldives yacht rally, the largest event of its kind in the Indian Ocean, we caught up with the brains behind the concept, Adeel Ahmed.

Tell us how you came up with the idea of Sail Maldives?

Adeel: I’ve travelled to many sailing destinations around the world; sailing is one of my favourite leisure activities. The sailing community is like a family, everyone likes to share their experiences with fellow sailors from all around the world. So I thought of creating an event where sailors can gather together in the Maldives, have a great holiday and explore the beauty of the country. There is no better sailing destination anywhere else in the world.

Explain the concept

The rally begins at Uligamu island on January 20, 2017, and the vessels will progress south, stopping at various island checkpoints. Each island the vessels stop at is organising a festival for the participants. Other special activities will include a snorkelling expedition to the world-famous Hanifaru Bay, cultural activities, and scuba diving at world-class diving spots. Participants will also receive a special certificate after crossing the Zero Degree Channel. The rally is expected to take 60- 70 days and it will conclude in Addu Atoll, with the launch of the Ocean Festival.

What makes it unique?

There is no destination in the world like the Maldives, with 1,190 tiny islands in a territory of 99% water. This makes it perfect for exploring by boat. Unlike with many other sailing rallies, we are also laying on a host of special activities and entertainment which showcase the very best of the Maldives, from cocktails at resorts to swimming with manta rays. And we are giving sailors the opportunity to also see the remote island communities which very few tourists ever meet.

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We are also very well-prepared for this event, in association with government agencies and local communities, to welcome the sailors from around the world. We have a ground support team to provide 24-hour support services to rally participants and we have selected officials to manage the excursions, activities and events at each destination.

Is this the largest mass-participation event the Maldives has seen? How so?

Yes, exactly, this is the largest mass-participation event the Maldives has even seen. Imagine 100-plus yachts cruising the Maldives’ waters, with stopovers at selected locations where participants will receive a warm welcome from each local island community. This will be unforgettable event and the whole country is getting ready to welcome the participants from around the world.

Which countries are you seeing the biggest response from so far?

USA, Australia, Malaysia and Thailand have given the biggest response so far. However, yachts from as far away as Luxemburg and France are getting involved too. We’re really happy to see it capturing the imagination of sailors across the globe.


Why is the Maldives great for sailing and cruising?

First of all, the Maldives is a safe haven for sailors - there are no hurricanes, no pirates, no armed conflicts nor robberies in the Maldives’ waters. The air temperature hovers around 30°c all year and it never gets colder than 24°c, with an average of 10 hours of sunshine in January and February (peak season). And the water is always around 29°c. There are lot of world-class scuba diving points, 1,190 beautiful islands, and many lagoons and reefs to explore. For sailors cruising in the Maldives, there are millions of opportunities for relaxation, and for adventure too.

What kind of facilities are there for sailors in the Maldives?

There are not many marinas yet in the Maldives. However, there are a great many natural harbours and safe anchorage points across the country where the sailors can moor their yachts safely, and as yachting further develops in the Maldives, we anticipate even more facilities being developed. Entering the Maldives is very easy compared with other sailing destinations in terms of paperwork, too.

How safe is the Maldives?

The Maldives is one of the safest places on earth for tourists. There are no threats. For sailors and circumnavigators, the route from India or Sri Lanka to the Maldives is the best way. There is absolutely no doubt that the piracy situation in the Indian Ocean (which was mostly focussed around Africa anyway) has changed dramatically; and undoubtedly for the better. Particularly between Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the sailing route is one of the safest passages in the Indian Ocean. In addition, for peace of mind, we will closely monitor all the yachts with assistance from the Maldivian Coast Guard in the highly unlikely event of any unexpected adverse weather conditions or issues.

Anything else you’d like to add?

By joining the first ever Sail Maldives yacht rally you’ll be playing a part in making history, since it is the first time anything like this has ever taken place in the Maldives. It is also the country’s first event to involve Maldivians all over the country, from the far north to the far south. Most major events are usually based around the capital city-island, where one third of the population lives.