The Route, Part 2: the Maldives to Djibouti

The Global Ocean Challenge rages on as the Ocean Gladiator continues its voyage from the Maldives to check in at Djibouti a race leg of approximately 2172 nautical miles. On this second race leg, the crew is about to face one of the most challenging phases in their journey.

Cities in the Maldives like Male recently went through political unrest, making the archipelago a tricky choice of a checkpoint. Fortunately, the crew has to face the waters of Maldives more than its locals.

The waters between Maldives and Djibouti are known all over the world for their pirate population. As the crew travels west across the Arabian Sea, they have to welcome the possibility of encountering pirates from Somalia to the Gulf of Aden.

The Naval presence has increased in the area, this will give the crew more confidence in taking on these treacherous waters. The crew, however, will still keep a close eye of what's coming their way. Speed is the essence and Ocean Gladiator will be at low fuel levels for the final run to Djibouti so her light weight will allow for wide open throttles. Pirates cannot hope to match her impressive top end speed.

Recently, the entire coast border north and south of Djibouti has been labeled as a high-risk area. Not only should the crew be watchful of the threats from Somalia, but they also need to watch out for unpleasant surprises from the risks of being hijacked near the border of Eritrea.
Nevertheless, the crew will come prepared. Armed with a more than adequate defence system, the Ocean Gladiator is not just fast enough to shake off the threats, it is equipped with the right amount of defences to face them.

The threats and challenges are nothing compared to the glory of holding the prestigious Dupree Cup. Be a partner of the Ocean Gladiator and join in the historic glory together with the crew.  You can contact Captain Mark Smith through his phone number  0439 430 171 (+61 439 430 171) or check out the Global Ocean Challenge website to know more about how you could be a partner of the team.