Vessel Name: | Mediterraneo |
Vessel Make/Model: | Island Packet 45 |
Crew: | Stefan & Silva |
Arrived at Langkawi islands yesterday. The 380NM passage from the Johor Strait to Langkawi was a piece of cake after sailing through Indonesian waters. Even most fishing boats had AIS (automatic identification system) and fishing nets were marked by flesh lights at night. We motored/motosailed for 2 days through the Malacca Straits stopping at the Pangkor Island, followed by a night passage from Pangkor to Penang. In Penang, we parked the boat in the Straits Quay marina and spent 5 days with our friends Junie and Tom at their 23rd floor apartment overlooking the marina. Penang has a lot to offer and its capital Georgetown is a UNESCO heritage area with the best food Asia has to offer. The last 60NM leg from Penang to Langkawi was great and Mediterraneo (finally) sailed averaging over 7.5 knots in 15-25 winds. It is great to be out of equatorial doldrums.
Arrived to Puteri Marina, Malaysia, yesterday. This is the final destination of this year 4,600NM and 5-month sailing adventure from Brisbane.
Crossed the equator today with an appropriate equator crossing ceremony for the king Neptun: bucket of water over our heads, offering of nibbles and drinks to the king Neptun and towing behind the boat at 6 knots. Are now only about 100NM south of Singapore.
Spent 3 days in Kumai, including the 2 day orangutan tour. The town is a shithole but the orangutan tour is worth the visit. Will be leaving tomorrow for Belitung Island, about 300NM (2 days) from here. Belitung will be our last stop in Indonesia this year and we will be heading to Singapore and Malaysia next week.
On the way to Borneo (Kalimantan). Left 4am this morning for a day passage (75nm) from Lovina to Raas Island in company of our Norwegian friends from "Oda". From here we have 315nm to go to Kumai and will do it in one go starting tomorrow morning. Several other yachts are already on the way to Kumai so it should be a good company for the planned 2-day jungle trip up the river, including watching orangutans living in the wild.