I want to make a small disclaimer. This blog is not meant to be a factual report of everything that happens on board. Therefore, some of the details may have been exaggerated, embellished, or even invented for the sake of drama and humor.
This is the current view from my office and the spot for my blog writing.
This disclaimer is especially important for people who may be worried about our safety and well-being. We want to assure you that we are fine and that we are not in any danger or trouble. So please don't panic or call the coast guard if you read something that sounds alarming or outrageous. It's probably just a joke or a hyperbole. Unless I write "help, help we have been kidnapped by pirates".
The only consistent thing of the last 24 hours is the degree the wind is decreasing - now it's about zero. And it looks as though we will keep that until we arrive in Phuket.
We had a bit of drama with the Starlink yesterday. Apparently it doesn't work the same in Indonesia. Yesterday was the billing day and instead of the plan rolling over it cancelled. And the option of ticking the box to have priority data at sea was unavailable. My first thought was 'oh no, how can I keep writing the blog with no internet'. So we had to subscribe to a global data plan which was a bit more expensive but keeps us connected. It's incredible how quickly you adapt to having internet on board and it's now essential as this is the way we communicate with the agents who will be checking us in and out, and of course the anxiety inducing blog.
In addition to the four flying fish in the boat there were 14 on deck who failed to find the hatches before flapping off this mortal coil to the great fishing net in the sky. I wonder if they have any regrets about their life choices. Maybe they should have stayed in the water where they belong.
We have 250 nm to Sabang which is going to be 41 hours so I expect to be in Sabang first thing Saturday morning, we have already asked the agent to check us out on Saturday and he replied that "it's possible". I am a little unsure how to translate that as it's a little ambiguous. I haven't come up with a passage plan for the Malacca Strait yet as either way it seems we will be holding the wrong end of the stick and at least one very tricky part will have to be done in the dark unless we anchor in the middle of the strait.
The Malacca Strait is one of the busiest and most dangerous waterways in the world, with hundreds of ships passing through every day, pirates lurking in the shadows, and strong currents and tides creating hazards for navigation. It's also a hotspot for smuggling, trafficking, and illegal fishing.
But we have no choice but to cross it if we want to reach our destination. So we will have to be extra vigilant and careful, and hope for the best. We will keep you updated on our progress and adventures, as long as our internet connection holds up.