kupang to maumere
18 August 2012 | kaburia
30C+ variable wind directions and speed. 0-15knts clear
Kupang was a bit different from what I was expecting, a bit grubbier, a whole big bit more run down, a bit more expensive than expected but the people were more friendly than expected. Got our Indo phone & Internet sorted after 2 visits & 7hrs in the phone shop. Stayed there for 6 days then north-west-ish to Kawula where we anchored in what is the now normal depth of 20+ meters. Just an overnight stop then another around solar island at a little village. We then planned to stop at a reef north of Larantuka but after shooting the Mirani Strait & seeing a 25m+ whale in the strait, the wind changed to onshore & the lee-shore was 40m deep. We continued around the top of Flores to a tiny little cove with a village up above. Anchored in 27m and stayed for 2 days; then on to an island lagoon waypoints provided by a yacht "miss behaving" one night a bit rolly then 6 nights at Seaworld Club Maumere. Nice stop but Maumere is even grimmer than Kupang. Did find a grocery store called "Roxy" it’s about the same prices as Brisbane, so expensive for here. But little shops everywhere and everyone very helpful. Starting trip to Komodo 2 day, Saturday, should take 6 days as Nicole doesn't want to do any overnight trips. Our, used most, hanked on headsail is dying. It’s starting to get little tears all over it. I repair them but they keep appearing somewhere else. And the dinghy is also dying. It is getting tiny pinprick holes & the seams are starting to leak. Damn you'd think they'd last longer than 15years.