Monday 8 August 2016

After settling into the anchorage then, some considerable time subsequently, being relocated into a tighter if less sober clump last afternoon (thank you ESSCOM) the assemblage enjoyed a microburst then 35 knot squall at 0400 that sent boats dancing and sliding around and into each other. Hijinks ensued. Fortunately damage was light and expert medical care at hand. Another yacht dragged onto our chain and towed us around for awhile until we could raft up as wind and associated impenetrable downpour eased. We had a cup of tea and lovely chat with Leanne while Tim went off to administer an appropriate number of stitches to the aforementioned hand. Original thought to depart before daylight was rethunk. This fortuitously allowed the mounting of a multi-boat, scuba, dinghy operation after daylight to free one catamaran's fouled prop.

Having gotten into the mood with an exhilarating morning, amusement continued rounding the cape at far east end of Borneo. Pounding into sea and wind (always a delightful occupation especially in 12 hour increments) led to a split in the fleet of 9 1/2 NM which seems at odds with the demand that we remain within 3. Of course arrival before dark was at issue and it's better to blow off the stragglers than risk a massive collision after dark. We did suggest a trailing escort for the guys in back, but heck, you sometimes just have to accept losses. We really liked them too.

- Later

Good news, no casualties.

Tuesday

After a rolly night in our designated anchorage the cattle drive set off, semi- refreshed, across Darvel Bay between the Sulu and Celebes Seas toward Bohaydulang Island (competent authority denies this was the inspiration for a 60s song). It is part of an atoll kind of deal with dive resorts thereon. We stay for a week. After being prodded along the last few days this is a very good thing, allowing for diving, snorkeling, sleeping in and various slothful activities (oxymoron?). A few days following this sojourn, the rally is done and dusted at Tawau and we're free to beard the bureaucratic bad dream that is Indonesia. New rules have allegedly made clearing in and cruising around as easy as moving bugs through a goose, but we remain skeptical.

Jack

PS On day-sails the practice of recording boat position as en route at the point writing is concluded will be revised. Hereafter the location and time will be previous night's anchorage at departure. This is a bit of housekeeping that is, no doubt, of interest or consequence to the smallest possible integer of humanity, but may provide that one unit a potentially not completely unuseful bit of information... maybe.

***Alert - the preceding is a housekeeping note and should not be the cause, along with this note, of anyone squandering a moment of time that could be used for almost anything more productive. You didn't do that did did you?