Passion for Cruising

Left Phi Phi 9.00 am straight into 20 knots, around the corner, main up with one reef and full genoa. Not long after we were hit with the first gust of 27 knots. Reefed genoa once then again at 29 knots.
We dodged between the worst cells by watching their path on radar. A lunch stop at Ko Hong 8 04.47N, 98 40.80E Did not go ashore - rain and wind. After lucn 7 miles up to Ao Muang, more strong 30 knots on the nose so no sails up. Well we have to give our guests some excitement. David took the helm all day and we think Sue is converted to cat cruising!! Anchor down 3.15 very comfortable even though the wind is howling and the rain pouring.
Talking of excitement, there we were sitting with a sundowner, looked up to see a MacGregor 26 slowly drifting out to sea. No one it sight....obviously a rental! We left it awhile as the rain was sheeting down, then a chap from the other rental yacht came over to say had we seen it drifting away? Well, Stuart & David were already launching the dinghy as there was still no sign of a "skipper". So all three went about 11/2 miles to two it back. Luckily the hire firm phone number was painted on the yacht. I gave them a call to say we had retrieved their boat. Naturally they were most gratefull. However the young mid-euro couple came back from the resort they had booked into and showed very little thanks, in fact were hostile when told they at least owed us for the fuel - never mind the hour getting drenched recovering their boat. Meanwhile the hire firm phoned back and offered to pay us. The end of the story being that the couple came back (after having been contacted by the charter company) and rudely thrust 5,000 baht (about $180) at us. The seemed oblivious to the fact that we had saved them a fortune had the boat been left to drift.