Boaties

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Ribander-Divar Ferry
That's what Roy, my Skipper in the Clipper Race, called our 70 footer. And it seems an apt title for the various sailing vessels I have been watching on the River Mhadei since we started prepping Antara.

 River Ferry
The first of the boaties we have the pleasure of meeting every morning is our ferry across to Divar. These are the sole public transport option across to the island.  We can either hop on to the one that leaves from Ribander or the one from Old Goa. The former costs an arm and a leg, at 10 rupees a ride! The latter is a princely sum of 7 rupees. And that's for 4-wheelers. 2-wheelers and walk on passengers ride free. So far Divar residents have resisted building a bridge across and even the trains that run across, do not have a stop on the island. 

 Fishing Trawler
Trawler

As we drive to Divar, from Panaji, we see a lot of fishing villages dotting the riverbanks. And whole droves of fishing boats that lol about all day after a long night's work. An occasional boat crosses Antara as it visits another village. While every boat has a similar structure, each has her own identity and colour scheme. The men on board invariably send out a cheery wave as they pass by. 

 Coracle
Antara is alongside at the boat yard, in one of the riverine bylanes of Divar. The sea tides have a direct effect on the water levels and through the day we see the waters rise and fall, making it easier or more difficult to get on to Antara. The local folks use these tides to go river fishing in their coracles. One person rows, the other balances what is essentially an upturned, large brimmed, straw basket. Interestingly, Indians have been using coracles since prehistoric times!

 Barge
Mining has been banned in Goa for over a year now. So the barges have had to go into semi-retirement. We do spot the odd one lumbering along with a load of mud or sand, covered with sheets to prevent the winds whisking it off. On one occasion, when I was up on Antara's mast, have a look at this one that cruised by.
L to R: motor boat, barge, dredger, kayak


 Boatyard buddies
It being a boatyard there's a range of boats to be seen here at any point in time. There's the motor boat, Serenity, built by Aquarius, for Volvo Penta to showcase their engines; there's the dredger, originally bought for the yard, but now looking for a buyer; there are a couple of GTDC transport boats awaiting summons; and, assorted boats in varying stages of completion
Mhadei & Tarini


Circumnavigators
We keep a sharp eye out for these guys at all times and recently managed a closer look, up close and personal, when motoring past on another boat. Our original water babies, Mhadei and Tarini, it's hard to watch them from a distance. Both are of the same van de Stadt design, the same design house as for Antara.  I have my fingers crossed that someday all three of us will sail together. Inshallah!
Dinghy

Dinghy
Topping our wish list for Antara is a dinghy. Planning ahead, we have made a roll bar aft of Antara and tested it out with the help of a dinghy borrowed from Aquarius. Since we have no marinas in India, we will perforce have to anchor off shore. A dinghy will come in handy to go ashore and explore.

Meanwhile, with Antara, you now have the opportunity to sail, safe in Covid times - on a large sailboat, along the coast, in the deep blue yonder! You decide and we'll design a sail just for you. 

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