Passion for Cruising

A week of almost daily visits to the hospital. Stuart still has stitches in both knee and back. Pathology report says NO cancer so all is OK. We hope for stitches out on Friday when we both have to go again - Stuart of course can't swim with the stitches still in! Our visitors arrive Friday at 9.35am at the airport, so we will stop for half an hour at the hospital which is on our way back to Au Chalong. They will get to see the beautiful facility, not forgetting the pretty Thai receptionists etc.
Today, Sunday we got back to the boat at 10.15am and as we were short of water on board and it was a gorgeous day with 15 knot breeze, we set off for Racha Yai. A lovely island just 12 miles away with clear water so our watermaker worked flat out all day to replenish the tank which was near empty as we have had no rain for well over a week and the water at Au Chalong is too murky to make water. There is no potable tap water available (except in bottles) apart from Au Po marina, which reportedly is now contaminated with algae and mud. I am writing this at 5.30pm, still sunny enough with 15 knots to run the watermaker. We have picked up a dive boat mooring and there is a rent-a-boat mono anchored 500 metres away. The water is crystal clear and we are surrounded by myriads of fish - being hunted by what looks like Tuna - where are they when we are trolling? This is an excellent snorkelling spot out on the east side of the island as the lovely anchorage in the west side is being invaded by 3 metre swells in this season.
Back to Au Chalong tomorrow, via Ko Hae (Hi) aka Coral Island to check out the anchorage there in these conditions. Then last shopping before visitors - after the obligatory hospital visit for the dentist on Tuesday.