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SY Tientos at anchor

 

The Log

Stardate: November 2007
 


Anchored at Ao Chalong, Phuket, we once more ponder our Malacca Meanderings. Having completed our third trip along the ‘allegedly’ pirate-infested Strait between Singapore and Thailand we question oft-quoted warnings. Nonsense! To be candid, the only pirates we have discovered are the occasional Chandlery or store selling ‘marine’ named items. Not even during our roadside anchorages, often 8 miles from shore in 8m of water – with anchor light blazing - literally the middle of nowhere – have we been concerned.

With an occasional visit from ‘Malaysia Maritim’ or the local fishermen to break the monotony, we enjoyed the chance to get a good night’s sleep before moving on.

We have however discovered a strange phenomenon in our meanderings – irrespective of the monsoon season and no matter which way we are headed, the wind is ALWAYS from the direction in which we wish to go.
Lunch on the beachAo Chalong is definitely a place for meeting old friends, sailing companions and yachties from afar. Many of those we traveled through Indonesia with last year are now preparing to head for the Red Sea or South Africa whilst others have left their boats for inland travel. We are returning to the wonderful Kimberley region of Northwest Australia for a couple of years before making our way to PNG and the Philippines. Our schedule leaving Langkawi end February 2008 is Singapore, Karamata Island, Kumai, Karimjawa Islands, Bali, Lombok, Makassar, Komodo, Kupang arriving Darwin early May. Crew can apply now.

Our last few days amid the islands of eastern Phang Nga Bay have brought disappointment after our last trip here in March. Much more of the coral is destroyed and if it wasn’t so tragic it would be funny; charter boats dropping their guests at one end of the reef whilst the crew nets their fish dinner at the other! Come on inOur pick of spots in this bay would be Monkey Beach north of Koh Phi Phi Don: 07º44.707N and 98º45.727E, and at the Chicken Islands (a number of anchorages are great). The solitude once the charter boats have gone is astonishing and of course visibility over the coral is significantly improved.

We will be here for another few days before heading back to Langkawi for December and returning to Thailand with crew to visit the Similan Islands during January.

After our sailing (yeah right!!) back to Langkawi early December, we will be doing a quick land trip to Satun to meet with our lovely friends at the great PSS Shipyard and then looking after Bobo’s, the great yachtie hangout at Jeti Pelankongan near Kuah, for three weeks over Xmas. We are planning the ubiquitous ‘Orphan’s Xmas Lunch’ so look forward to seeing any displaced sailors for a beer or two! Urrrmmmmm

Caught up with crew of ‘Australian Maid’, here for the King’s Cup and what fun to see the Edmonds aboard. Good Luck guys! Quite a few Darwin yachts arriving – perhaps an offshoot of Dinah Beach CYA and DSC is needed? Speaking of ex-Darwin stalwarts here in Thailand … our thanks to Andrew for doing the hard yakka on the long overdue website.
 

May all your bars be wooden and well-stocked!

 

 

 

 

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