WEEK 11: 17 April – 23 April – Kuah, Malaysia to Ao Chalong, Thailand

To all of you who are reading this for the exciting sailing you will be disappointed. We are now into cruising mode and just motoring around, however, we hope we can at least keep you a little entertained!

DAY 71 – Saturday 17 April – Kuah, Malaysia
Walked to town and did boat jobs. Were going to go in for dinner but it bucketed down rain and we couldn’t get off the boats. In Transit started to drag and when he checked his anchor realised he had a huge net wrapped around the anchor chain. He spent quite some time hauling it in and trying to cut it away from his anchor chain and then he reanchored. Braveheart left.

DAY 72 – Sunday 18 April – Kuah Malaysia
Another preparation day. Kristie arrived and we went to dinner with Kristie, Single Malt and In Transit – a very good Chinese meal.

DAY 73 – Monday 19 April – Kuah to Telaga
06°21.765N 099.40.844E
Checked out of Malaysia and said farewells to Single Malt, In Transit and Kristie. In Transit are heading back to Australia so that is a bit sad. We upanchored at 11.30am and headed to Telaga. Tequila came out of Reback and was right behind us when he stopped. Found out later that he got a rope round his propeller – how did we miss it?!!! Got some petrol (54 cents a litre) and had a quiet night.
Miles: 16 Total: 6,160

DAY 74 – Tuesday 20 April – Telaga to Koh Bulan (Bulan Channel)
06°49.084N 099.41.052E
Were going to get away early but there was a storm around so waited for a while. Finally left at 8.30am and came up around Langkawi and it bucketed down rain on us. At least it was cool! It was a bit rough till we got to the east coast of Turatao and then it was dead calm. Spent the day motoring along avoiding fish traps. A long boring hot day and arrived at the Bulan Channel at 3pm. We checked out the channel but when we got down to 2.9m (1.5m under the keel) we turned back and anchored in 4.9m. We would not have been able to get out of there at low tide. The catamaran Soul was anchored much further in. We launched the dinghy and went around the edges of the two islands and then had sundowners on the deck. A very comfortable night.
Miles: 32 Total: 6,192

DAY 75 – Wednesday 21 April – Koh Bulan to Ko Ngai
07°24.185N 099.13.023E
Left at around 6.45am and motored. Did some sewing and made Peter a new sarong. A beautiful day but motoring and as usual the breeze is on the nose. Passed Koh Phetra – quite an impressive sight. Got to Koh Muk around 4.30pm and it looked really rough in the anchorage. Wind Chimes was in there bouncing up and down and though the wind usually drops in the evening we decided to go another hour along to Ko Ngai. We dropped anchor at 5pm in 12m and went back to 11m then we swung around and went to 6 then to 3.9m which didn’t help Dell’s equilibrium but Peter tended to think that a school of fish passed under the boat! Anyway we were soon back in 11m and making plans to go ashore. There were lots of coconut palms on the beach, a resort, a jetty with huge restaurant and what looked like a cosy little bar. Then there was thunder and lightning and the heavens opened so we opened our own bar and dined on board. It was a very comfortable night. A long day
Miles: 49 Total: 6,241

DAY 76 – Thursday 22 April – Ko Ngai to Phi Phi Don
07°43.777N 098.46.223E
We left at 6.50am just as Wind Chimes went past. The current was against us and as always the wind was on the nose! We motored along. Did the washing with the water we caught last night. We got in at 3.15pm and Cilantro came in around 6pm with their new canvas work which looked pretty impressive! It was wonderful to see them again and we met on shore for dinner at our favourite restaurant but it seemed to have changed hands and the service was hopeless and the food very ordinary. We even had to ask for eating utensils! But it was great to catch up and were talking so much on the way back we went right past where we had left the dinghies! And then went oh my goodness where are they so had to trek back along the beach to find them! We headed back to the boats just as the lightning was flashing. Back on board Peter grabbed what he thought was the dinghy line and dropped the other end to wash the sand off. What he had actually grabbed was the line tied to his fishing rod and yes – there was the dinghy drifting away again!! So it was another enforced swim for Peter in the dark to retrieve it. Dell is starting to think that this is his secret exercise regime!!! Storm came to nought and we had a very comfortable night.
Miles: 35 Total: 6,276

DAY 77 – Friday 23 April – Phi Phi Don to Ao Chalong, Thailand
We left at 6.15am and Cilantro headed to Langkawi. We had the headsail out for a little while but then as always the wind went on the nose and we motored along with Wind Chimes who followed us into the anchorage arriving at 12.30pm. Then it was into Immigration, customs and harbour master to check into the country. Went for a walk and introduced Greg and his friend Chris to Nina’s cars and we all booked a hire car. Then we met Wind Chimes at the Tamarind Bar and joined them for a bite to eat. We came back to the boats as a front came in and it bucketed down rain.
Miles: 27 Total: 6,303

You may have noticed that the weather is changing. It is the transition period between the NE and SW monsoon so it is going to become an art form to figure which side of an island we should be anchoring! Debbie and Phil arrive soon and we are really looking forward to seeing them.

Love and Cheers
Fair winds and calm seas
Dell and Peter