It took us several days to get out of the Gulf of Davao. There are so many floats and fishing boats in the gulf that it's just not prudent to go at night(in our opinion). So the first night we spent at the tip of Samal Island. The next night at Don Marceilino, a small cut out along the west side of the gulf. We'd taken refuge there after getting belted by 30+ knot winds right in the face with some good swells to throw us around. We were welcomed by at least 15 kids and adults that came out in boats and swam all to be aboard our boat and to say hello. No girls were allowed to come we guess as none showed up. We did our best to ruin their teeth by handing out candy to everyone that showed up. The one person that spoke passable English asked numerous questions and passed along to the other what we had said. Stayed for about an hour. Last night was spent next to Sarangani at the base of the gulf. Now we had to make plans. Head to Sangihii down south and check in to Indonesia there or head west and check in just north of Derawan. Problem there was that we would get there late on Friday and Customs closes early so we couldn't actually check in till Monday and by that time the rally would be over. Well, the decision was taken out of our hands by a small hole in one of the water hoses attached to the engine. I noticed a bit of coolant in a well beside the engine. Upon investigation, I found a really small hole putting out the antifreeze. I grabbed "Rig Wrap"(a very stretchy rubber tape that when stretched, binds onto itself and forms a seal). Taking numerous wraps around the hose and the leak was stopped. We decided to bag the rally as neither Derawan nor Sangihi would have the hose in stock(we think). So we bagged the rally and all it's free fuel and are heading for Tawau in Malaysia. It's just a bit further north of Derawan so we could at least visit there later after we install the new hose.

On day two, one of the wires that clips to the house alternator broke and shut off the alternator. We've had this happen before and I'd found a replacement clip with the wires already attached in American Samoa and filed it away for when the existing one broke. Since it is so important, I'd actually remembered where it was. A quick clip with the wire cutters and a new crimping butt connector and we were back in business. If I didn't have the clip, we would have drained our batteries as it's the only thing that puts volts back into them. Hey, it's not all roses out here. It's fixing things on the run and trying to continue on.

So now we are heading west with just about no wind and what there is is coming out of the west which does us no good at all. With luck the forecast will be correct for tomorrow as it's supposed to shift to be out of the northeast to east. A pleasant change.

We have to be watching in front of us a we have passed numerous large float and mooring buoys that the fishing boats use as a base for the smaller boats that bring back their catches to. Some of these are the size of three 55 gallon drums welded together end to end. A real hazard to navigation out here.

More to come as we make our way to Malaysia. We will have to slow down as we get closer so we arrive on Monday. They charge a bunch more in fines if you show up late Friday through Sunday night.