WEEK 6 –Oyster Inlet, Ulugan Bay to Limancong Town, Malampaya Sound

Saturday 11 Feb – Oyster Inlet, Ulugan Bay
Decided to stay another day hoping the swell settles as our next anchorage doesn’t offer a lot of protection. Braveheart went on ahead and said the swell wasn’t too bad but it was 15kn on the nose and getting stronger. Quiet boat day.

Sunday 12 Feb - Oyster Inlet – St Paul’s Bay
10°15.200N / 118°56.737E
Left at 6.30 in total stillness and had no trouble pulling our anchor up. Motor sailed winds 15-20kn on the nose – moderate to rough seas. Went into the anchorage off Sabang where the subterranean river is but it was too rough and swelly to put our dinghy in so went across the bay to where Braveheart was anchored and anchored at 11.20 in sand in 8.5m
Miles: 21 TTT: 600

Monday 13 Feb – St Paul’s Bay
We all went onto Braveheart and we motored back to Sabang Bay. It is the first time we have been on a moving cataraman and it was a strange feeling – huge amount of space though. We anchored off Sabang again in a huge swell and the boys put the dinghy in hoping to find somewhere to go ashore but they couldn’t get close – reef in places and surf breaking on the beach so we motored back again and reanchored Braveheart next to Cilantro and Pacific Express. Quiet afternoon reading. We have joined the 8am morning sked on the HF radio of other boats up here.

Tuesday 14 Feb – St Paul’s Bay – Secret Paradise, Mayday Bay
10°26.976N / 119°05.386E
Were going to leave but it is raining and overcast which means we wouldn’t be able to see the reef at the other end. Tim off Rubicon Star told us on the sked this morning that other yachts had anchored at Sabang then taken their dinghies closer to shore and anchored them and then swam ashore! We decided that was way too dedicated for us. We will try to get a jeepney back when we get to Puerta Princessa. We left at 10am and motored in reasonably calm seas and came to Secret Paradise recommended by Rubicon Star. And paradise it is. A horseshoe shaped bay with reef around the edges with mountains rising all around with thick jungle and little huts dotted along the beach. Little boys on their rafts fishing. We anchored in 16m as we could see reef up ahead and it was difficult to make out where it started in the light we had. It poured rain – we could hear it coming across the trees and then across the water. Caught quite a bit of water for our water tank. At night there were so many stars and we could hear people singing.
Miles: 19 TTT: 619

Wednesday 15 Feb – Secret Paradise, Mayda Bay
We could see little boys fishing off their little rafts. Chris off Braveheart went up the mast and the little boys were very interested in that. A boat takes all the school children across the point to a bigger village in the next bay and collects them again in the afternoon. We had a look at the reef which was very shallow and then went through the channel to the beach. We were greeted by a lady washing their catch of fish – fish about 6 inches long. They had the smallest hut on the beach but were very proud of it. They had five children – three at school. John the husband took us to see his farm where he grew casava and then he presented us with a big bag of casava between us. casava looks like a yam and tastes like a potoato and takes 13 months to grow. John’s wife gave us a lesson in how to cook it then they went next door to get us a cooked one so we could taste it. She apologised for having no chairs for us to sit on. They really didn’t have a lot of anything but they were very proud of what they did have. There were 15 families living in the village and they each have two boats each though one of John’s was in need of a new motor. They only get paid 60 pesos ($1.50) for 1kilo of dried fish so it would be a long time to replace it. There is a boat comes down from Port Barton once a week to buy the fish off them. If they have an emergency they walk over the mountain to Port Barton – a hard walk. In the afternoon we took them in some gifts including a machete and John really thought that God was great! After that we all went to Braveheart and played Texas Holdem and Sandra turned out to be a real card sharp!!!

Thursday 16 Feb –The Real Secret Paradise
10°27.710N 119°05.248E
We left at 9.15 having realised that this was not the bay Rubicon Star recommended but we were very happy for the mistake as we really enjoyed the visit with the villagers. We motored around to the next bay to the real Secret Paradise Resort. The resort which had six cabins and a restaurant was owned by an Englishman named Mark. It has taken him six years to get it up and running and three of the cabins have only been completed this year. The only way in is by boat and the internet and phone are intermittent so he is doing well to have a full house. We went in to see bout getting some dinner but they thought we had come for lunch so we had lunch then went back for dinner!
Miles: 3 TTT: 622

Friday 17 Feb – Secret Paradise Resort – Limancong Town
11°00.724N / 119°18.443E
We had intended to go to Port Barton but we knew bad weather (thanks for your help Debbie) was coming so we decided to go to Malampaya Sound where we could tuck in and have lots of places to explore out of the weather. We left at 7.30and it rained all the way. We got hit by one 30 knot squall which called for a quick reefing of the headsail – an exhilarating moment! It was actually pretty chilly as well calling for the crew to don her jacket! The skipper is a little more hardy! (or silly!!). We were going to go into the typhoon refuge but it was a bit small for three boats and as there wasn’t a typhoon coming we tried a few other handy bays but they were all a bit deep so we ended up anchored off Limancong Town which is a rather busy little port. Lots of little houses/huts, pigpens, roosters crowing etc. Anchored off the town at 4.45
Miles: 47 TTT: 669

All going well. Are now getting up to where more travellers venture so hopefully our phone and internet coverage will improve. We can see the karsts from where we are anchored and it all looks beautiful. A wonderful surprise has been the Filippino people – forever smiling and so friendly and helpful.

Photos have now been added back to week 3

Take care all – special prayers for special people – you know who you are.

Dell and Peter