This book is dedicated to my wife Mita Shah without whose support I could not have sailed To Lakshadweep Islands.

 

 

Acknowledgment

 

I would like to thank Dr. Bipin Desai without whose support, I could not have built the boat and sailed so extensively.

 

Dr. Anand Vaidya remained as my first mate and stood by in difficult sailing condition and was there like pillar during all 40 days. Ashutosh Mohile correspondence with Lakshadweep authority to obtain entry permit, his local knowledge and Coast Guard support was unparallel. Bhisma Desai, Nidhi Desai and Ajit Pathak were of great help as crew members during our return journey from New Manglore to Surat.

 

I am indebted to Dr. Sunil Sheth, Madhukar Sonavane, Engineer Girish Mirani, wiremen Mahesh Chauhan and Mahesh Mistry, fitter Sunder Patil and Bapu Mali and finally boat builder Hitesh Wadia and his assistants Bhagu Patel and Natu Lakdawala for getting the Golden Cat ready for the Lakshadweep Voyage.

 

-Rajen P. Shah

Surat, India

 

 

 

“There is nothing – absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats” – Kenneth Grahame.