25 April


South China Sea

INDONESIAN WATERS

position: 3.35.941 N 109.17.493

en route singapore



We are making sure we have a few hours sleep today incase there's a repeat of last night. (Hopefully not but so far we've had a storm every night). Bill will get the stay sail ready and put all the reefs in the main - supposed to be good for 30 knots.

Now of course there's no wind and we have been motoring since 11am. We don't have enough fuel to motor all the way so will have to sail at least 20% of the time.

Just had tuna, tomatoes and cucumber and crackers for lunch with icy cold apple juice.

Just to let you know that we are ok even if it is hot and there's no wind. Bill saw a couple of Indonesian fishing boats while I was having a nap.

I'm going to wash my hair as it now has dreadlocks - hopefully I wont have to cut it off when we get there.

We have the line out - you never know...







position ; 3.47.5 N 109.35.8 E

25 April 2008

en route singapore





We endured a storm from 11pm until 5am with very strong winds (25-40 knots), rain and building seas. Heath the autopilot ceased working at 3am. Bill handsteered for an hour or so. By this stage we had our heavy duty raincoats and harnesses on and were getting cold. Linda took the helm and Bill repaired the autopilot - a broken string. Out there on the stern like a crazy see saw he fixed it with a screw driver.(cruising is boat repairs in exotic locations!) We haven't been able to keep course due to the wind and seas being extremely uncomfortable with just the motor running. Sleep has been an impossibility but at least the boat is self steering. Good on ya Heath! Not feeling to good this morning Linda the chef has pulled out 3 packets/tins - brekky lunch dinner.

The prop is out of the water a lot of the time as the boat goes crazily from one side to the other. We will be putting some sail up soon to stabilise her and get back on course. The storm has abated - now 10 knots of wind but nasty big grey seas. We are currently heading for Vietnam so we better change course when we can to get to Singapore!





Later : We're getting closer to Mainland Malaysia. We have now clocked up 5240 nm since Mooloolaba. 390 to go on this leg. I've started another book (apart from writing this one!!)