As cliché as it sounds, Sri Lanka captured my heart from the first time I set eyes on her. There was something about this majestic island that drew me in, and I have never looked back since.

My very first trip was to Chilaw, a small town on the North Western side of the island. The experience was a wonderful one to say the least, despite the seas being a little rough towards the afternoons and the boat having to move slower. We were a little concerned about taking the entrance from the seas, and then sailing down the river. We knew the waters were deep enough, and we headed up an old Dutch canal. We did hit ground on several occasions, and realised that this area was still unchartered. After careful navigation, we were able to make it under a bridge, and found a suitable wire to tie the boat up at the Anantaya Resort dock.

We were told that we were the first adventurers to arrive at the resort via boat which is quite significant since the resort is supposedly built on an approximate spot to where Prince Wijeya first landed and discovered the island of Sri Lanka in 543 BC. It is quite surreal when you realise that you could be making history by simply following your passion.

The feat definitely called for a celebration and drinks from the resort while we waited for our rooms was a great way to start off our stay. The property itself is beautiful with a large beach strip that allows you to watch the glorious sunsets while soaking up the salty air from the Indian Ocean.

They say one never forgets your first love, and similarly for a sailor that first bout on the waters stays with you forever. It’s not different for me. The trip to Chilaw with all its adventures paved way for a deep desire to explore and discover all that Sri Lanka has to offer. Being an island means, I get to charter both salt and fresh water, and I can’t wait to share my journeys with you on this blog, as well as on the many tours I hope to take.

Please check out the tours and our itinerary pages to book your own curated Sri Lankan adventure.

Until we meet on board my vessel, fair winds my friends!