Skip to main content

Another Night

It's been another challenging night on board as we make our way to Phuket. The wind has been playing tricks on us, changing direction and speed without warning. Sometimes it dies off completely, leaving us with a sluggish sail and a quiet engine. Other times it picks up suddenly, filling the sails with a gust and pushing us along at a brisk pace.

We are currently sailing at 7 knots with a little over 15 knots of wind over the quarter. That's not bad for this time of the year, when the monsoon season is starting to kick in. But for now, we have to head a little further west than I would like, to keep the apparent wind up and avoid banging sails.

The sea state is moderate, with some swell and chop. Nothing too uncomfortable, but enough to keep us alert and on our toes. The boat is handling well, with a balanced helm and a steady course. The autopilot is doing most of the work, but we check it regularly and make minor adjustments as needed.

The night sky is clear, with a bright moon and countless stars. It's a beautiful sight, but also a bit deceiving. The moonlight makes it easier to see the horizon and any potential hazards, but I suspect fishing boats don't use their lights at full moon when they are moving around. I have to rely on the radar and the AIS to spot any traffic or obstacles. So far, I've only seen one fishing boat, which passed us at a safe distance but had no AIS and didn't show up on the radar until 2nm. 

I hope it stays this way for the rest of the day. I'm on the watch, 6am to 10am . I enjoy this shift, as it gives me some time to myself and a chance to reflect on the day. 

I'm looking forward to reaching Phuket, where we will deliver Harmony. It's been a great trip so far, with some memorable moments and experiences. But it's also been hard work, with long hours and little rest. 

But for now, I have to focus on the task at hand: sailing to Sabang!

Labels:
Location: JQJ3+XPJ, Margamulya, Cikajang, Garut Regency, West Java 44171, Indonesia

Popular posts from this blog

Arrival in Sydney: Delivery Complete!

 This morning, the Excess 14 slid gracefully into her new berth at Middle Harbour Marina, marking the successful completion of her delivery from the Gold Coast. The final approach into Sydney Harbour is always a great sight, a fitting end to a coastal voyage. This passage was a comprehensive real-world test of the boat's capabilities. She proved to be a joy in light airs, demonstrated strength and stability in heavy weather, and showed impressive maneuverability during a tricky docking. It’s clear that the Excess 14 is a versatile and robust catamaran, perfectly suited for everything the Australian coast can throw at it. The final tasks onboard are ones of quiet satisfaction: coiling the lines perfectly, writing up the final log entry, and giving the boat a last clean and polish. For Yacht Delivery Solutions, it's a pleasure and a privilege to deliver a vessel of this quality. Handing her over to the brokers at Flagstaff Marine clean, secure, and ready for her new owners is t...
Read more

Done and Dusted in Brisbane!

We are done! The boat's tied up safe and sound in the marina, the crew has packed their bags and headed off, and I'm here doing the final clean-up before I leave at 6 am tomorrow morning. I have to admit, I was pretty anxious for the last 24 hours. I was on the edge of my seat, hoping those saildrives would hold out for the final stretch. I even changed the oil in both of them around 3 am, because we were going to make landfall around 5 am and its quite a way up the river, and the tide was going to be dropping as we went up, meaning they'd have a bit more work to do. And the final approach was definitely… engaging. There was a fair bit of tide coming out of the river, which dropped our boat speed down to around 4 knots. We also had the added obstacle of river traffic to contend with, and the channel margins were tight – about half a meter on either side. It was one of those situations where you're constantly running through scenarios in your head. I was thinking things ...
Read more

Off We Go

The dream of a seamless yacht delivery aboard the Fontaine Pajot 47 seemed like a solid plan. However, life, with its unpredictable currents, threw us a curveball. My trusted crewmate was struck by the ever-present Covid! Even though he's as tough as old sea boots, it definitely slowed him down. The pre-departure days were a delicate balancing act. While the initial concerns about a sick crewmate were undeniable, a strong sense of purpose took hold. Provisioning, finalizing paperwork, and familiarizing myself with Namarie became a mission with Craig putting in 110% effort despite his 20% health. Constant communication with my recuperating crewmate ensured a smooth handover of duties, keeping the team spirit alive despite maintaining physical separation and wearing masks. Stepping aboard Namarie, the initial awe at her sleek lines and luxurious interior was palpable. However, the euphoria was tempered by a healthy dose of respect for the vessel's complexity. The sophisticated na...
Read more