Slow Boat to Indonesia
27 May 2016 | Approaching Anambas
Thursday 26 May 2016
Delayed departure from Kapas anchorage to allow dinghy patch more cure time and have daylight for securing to davits without incurring additional damage, so now behind the curve. Need to average around 6 kts to make Anambas tomorrow with enough light to see numerous reefs. Hypalon glue catalyst for patch had dried out after a year, so used 3M 5200. Confidence running a tad shy of amok.
At noon there's a breeze, albeit only 20 off the port bow, sun shade is up and it's almost cool. Plan to continue coastwise until nearly abeam Chukai, late afternoon, then head away from convective wind to pick up prevailing southerly at which point we can close reach all the way into anchorage. This scenario requires correct wind forecast. Confidence runs a tad shy of amok.
Friday
As zephyr evolved into 19 apparent at a regrettably inconvenient angle, sea rose commensurately and we contemplated unlikelihood of finding Anambas before dark next day (today), decided to make for Chukai and start again this morning - better angle with early wind and more time to get there albeit a day later. Didn't get anchor down just inside the breakwater until almost 2100.
So far so good. Making southing and easting before wind, particularly near the coast from a low passing through the peninsula, backs. After motor-pounding yesterday, close reaching at 6 to 7 knots in one meter sea doesn't suck at all. We're savoring the flow of wind and sea in blissful peace for now because the air is apparently dead as Elvis on the north shore of Borneo during SW monsoon. Bring on the dead dinosaurs.
Saturday
Can't say anybody took delight in the unexpected 30 kt. squall that traveled with us for an hour before we turned back toward Malaysia to wait it out, but it did allow first real sailing for awhile and probably awhile hence. Also didn't expect sea to be littered with ships, fishing boats and oil well detritus. Now gliding serenely 30 NM from island. Should be in early afternoon.
Expect minimal further inconvenience in having no Indonesian internet compared to recent comatose service. At least during 2 weeks solely with HF radio, expectations may roughly equal reality.
Jack