WEEK 15: 15 May - 21 May -Yacht Haven Marina to Phi Phi Don

DAYS 99 - 101 Saturday 15 May - Monday 17 May - Yacht Haven
We spent these three days mostly on the yacht and dining out in the evening with the gang. We did a water run and filled four jerries. Mr. Oh and Mr. Samaran came out to look at the boat to give a quote for painting her. Lovely evenings, good company.
DAY 102 - Tuesday 18 May - Yacht Haven to Ko Rang Yai
It poured rain as soon as we got up and it looked as though it had set in. Caught two jerries of water for washing. It cleared about 10am so we took our keys back to the marina and called in to say farewell to Whistle. We went aboard and Jean showed us how their work was coming along - seems a way to go yet but it will be good when it is finished - sad to leave them again. We left around 11 and headed to Ko Rang Yai which is not too far from the entrance to Boat Lagoon. It has a lovely white beach with lots of palm trees and is very picturesque. Ate on board.
Miles: 18 Total: 6,688
DAY 103 - Wednesday 19 May - Ko Rang Yai
Did the washing and read and did logics puzzles. It was lovely waking up in paradise. There are so many huge jelly fish around ranging from white through to dark pink. Dell counted 137 in one batch on one side of the boat and Peter had heaps on the other side. Put in all the diesel from the jerries and went to shore about 3.30 and had a swim. Walked along the beach - there is a resort of sorts with a restaurant but we noticed the beer was expensive so we thought the food may be too. Had a quick shower in their open shower and headed back. Dell was up to 12.30am finishing her book. We have discovered the Diana Galbadon Outlander series. It began with the book Cross Stitch - Peter is now reading the fifth in the series and Dell is reading the fourth. Peter wasn't keen to read them at first as it is written in the first tense which he doesn't particularly like but now he can't put them down!! Highly recommend them.
DAY 104 - Thursday 20 May - Ko Rang Yai - Ao Chalong
We left at 8.30 and motored to Ao Chalong arriving at 11.45. We went to shore to go to Tesco's but Peter's back was playing up so Dell left him at the Come On Bar (dangerous I know!!) Dell walked to Tescos in the heat and did the shopping carting back two backpacks full of goodies. Got back 1 ¼ hours later and Peter said I was just in time to save him - the ladies are good fun and really lovely - not too young! And they have really good music. Went to the Tamarind bar for dinner then back to the boat. Slept on the deck under the shade cover.
Miles: 14 Total: 6,702
DAY 105 - Friday 21 May - Ao Chalong to Phi Phi Don
Some days you shouldn't get out of bed but we had to!!!! It started to rain about 4am and we were enjoying the drops on the sunshade and then it got really heavy so we got tarps and put over ourselves but then it got really windy with thunder and lightning and the bedding was getting soaked so moved it downstairs and as Dell was doing this Peter suddenly started the motor. An exhilirating moment coming up!! Looked behind us and we were about 8m off a big yacht called Smoke. Our sunshade had acted like a sail and we dragged anchor through the mud at a great rate of knots! We managed to hold off using the motor and nudged our way forward but dragged back again so nudged our way forward to bring the anchor up. It was very dark, pouring rain, thunder and lightning and we knew there were two small unlit boats to our port side. We could see really clearly when the lightning flashed. We pulled up and reanchored thoroughly soaked. A great start to the day. We went ashore at 10am to check out. Peter checked us out while Dell grabbed a few more things from the shop. We upanchored at 11.15 and headed for Phi Phi Le. It was an uneventful trip but we could see clouds building all around and it was a race to get there before the storm hit. The swell was heading straight for Phi Phi Le so we headed for Phi Phi Don and just rounded the point as the storm hit. We had gusts of 50+ knots which heeled us over, the boom came out of its cradle and a couple of the cable ties on the side canvas broke. You could see the water being whipped up into spray as the gusts came. We anchored in the storm and ended up a bit close to a big boat on a buoy so pulled up and anchored again. Getting heeled at 50+ knots or more - another exhilarating few moments!! When we anchored a big boat who was much further back apparently had put out a heap of rope when he saw the storm coming and when he pulled it in he was right beside us so.............. we upanchored and anchored again (storm finished). The swell coming in to the bay was very bad so we couldn't cook dinner so went to bed hungry!!! Ah well some days are like that!!!!
Miles: 29 total: 6,731
Carol, I think you are having a birthday soon - a special one - if so happy birthday. Also a certain accountant has a special birthday this year. Patrick if we have missed it, hope it was great, if not we hope its a beauty!!! Missing little Rose - hope she is good and anxiously awaiting the birth of our grandchild.

Hope you are all well.
Love and Cheers
Fair winds and calm seas
Dell and Peter
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