Marshall Islands - Life in the Marshalls

The  Marshalls enjoys acooler more temperate climate than Indonesia during the winter season. Temperatues are brought down by the constant North East trade winds. These winds blow pretty well constantly from  November  till March at between 10 and 25knots sometimes hitting 30 knots on the odd day. Most of the surfbreaks  handle the wind well , particularly at low tide with the wind being side offshore at the takeoff , becoming more offshore as the waves bend around the reef. The water temperature though remains in the 80s. Mosquitos are not a problem and there is no malaria.Generally speaking a fairly healthy environment.

The ocean crossing between the atolls can get pretty bumpy and is best avoided by anyone that suffers from seasickness. We generally position the boats where we want to be and fly the guests in and out. All the atolls have airfields. The national airlinre Air Marshall Islands whilslt it has a great safety record, and is run conforming FAA rules, is completely unreliable and is sometimes down for weeks at a time waiting on the most basic of spare parts. In this case we bite the bullit and bring the boat back into Majuro or Kwajalein to meet the Continental – soon to be United Airlines flights.

The Marshallese people are by nature,  polite, hospitable and friendly if not a little shy. Almost all Christian and Church going. Women dress modestly and it is important for the girls, particularly in the remote outer islands, to cover up when there are Marshalesse people around. They have a strong traditional culture based on a hereditary heirarchy. There is very little public land, and almost none in the outer atolls. Every small island is owned by someone, including  the reefs, anchorages and adjacent waters, permission must be obtained from the landowners to go ashore, dive, fish or surf. This is generally given happily but you will not be received well if you don’t go through the basic act of recognition and good manners. Permits must be obtained by tourist yachts  from Internal affairs to vist every atoll apart from Majuro.The fees vary from atoll to atoll and an itinery must be approved before departure.

Indies Trader has a domestic foreign Investment business licence, and conforms to all local taxes, rules and regulations and operates as Liveaboard Charter operator within the durastiction of the Marshall islands Government. Cruising yachts that do paid charters in competition with our operation will be identified to the appropriate authourities who will probably encourage them to  legalise their situation before attempting to engage in that activity

Indies Trader has made a significant investment and executed a long term lease on some strategically located property and is proceeding to construct some environmentally appropriate facilities. We are extremely grateful to the government and the people of th Marshall islands for the opportunity.