Up early and depart Koh Lipe through the North East Channel between rocky outcrops and Dianne has apoplexy as the wind is blowing against the tide so it is quite choppy with water breaking over the bows, and bombies visible although deep down in the clear water they look much closer than what they are.

We find 18 metres of water water and down to 8 metres as we go around the surrounding rocks and islets setting a course directly for Telaga into a fine work as the wind is on the nose.

As we get further south the wind strengthens to 20 plus knots and with just the Genoa we can pick up 7 - 8 knots of boatspeed into the strong and gusting breezes so it turns into a great sail right to Telaga.

We go into refuel, and Aidan docks Charmar with great skill and patience, only to find the fuel dock (after asking how much fuel we want and did we have a booking) is all "finished".

We pick up a couple of gerry's of diesel which is adequate to top the tanks, clear customs and immigration back into Malaysia and then anchor in the outer harbour where we have a quiet drink and prepare to head to Cenang beach.

Tapas at Telaga before taking a taxi to Cenang where we were going to eat but somehow never got around to it!

Cenang Beach was full of life with fireworks, floating tissue balloons lit with firepads, entertainment and everyone out having a good time for New Year's eve.

Dianne and Chris head off at about 1:30 am and finding hunger pangs stop for a lamb kebab before catching a cab back to Telaga, getting to bed at about 4:00am

Aidan stops at the parties on Cenang and comes back at about 5:30am and as pre-arranged called to collect him from the dock. He had confessed to "over-serving himself" and was obviously very happy at having a great night out for New Years so we all returned to Charmar with us telling Aidan not to blow on the little paper hooter he had acquired during the night whilst going past other boats! We all crashed back into bed, some for longer than others!