Although the islands are technically uninhabited, in fact Salomon atoll has been inhabited by several unintentional castaways for some years. Pete and Tina (and Jess the cat) arrived here in their forty foot Harley designed ferrocement yacht Vespera a number of years ago. While here the ancor dragged in a squall, the engine wouldn't start, and the yacht went onto the coral and was sunk in the lagoon. The other yachts here rallied around and decided the yacht could be repaired. It was eventually raised but then needed to be refitted and the engine rebuilt. This all takes time and the couple become accepted as the involuntary castaways of Chagos. Yacts traveling to the island have brought spares and supplies out to the couple who seem to have dropped into the castaway mode without too much of a problem. However it appears that with the yacht pretty much ready to go that the castaways may be going to leave what has been their home for number of years.