Stars, Selfies, and Social Media

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This morning, a sliver of clear sky broke through the persistent clouds, a welcome sight after days of poor weather. This glimpse of sky, coupled with the first sighting of stars in ages, fueled a bold decision: we're skipping the planned anchorage and heading straight for Lombok!

Currently, we're 17 nautical miles from last night's anchorage heading straight to sea, still cruising in shallow waters of only 13 meters. Interestingly, we've found ourselves leading an unexpected social media dance. 

As we approach fishing boats, the scene unfolds through our binoculars. Half the crew frantically pulls in their nets, while the other half, well, let's just say their phones seem far more captivating. Capturing a video of a gleaming white 50-foot yacht for Facebook clearly takes precedence over the day's catch! 

Honestly, can we blame them? To an average Indonesian fisherman, this must be a sight unlike any other – a UFO (unidentified floating object) slicing through the water. Here's where things get a little tricky. 

The excitement translates into a desire for a closer look, a selfie perhaps. While flattering, maintaining a safe distance is crucial. Our polite evasive maneuvers are met with a game of chase. We increase the revs, and the "social media tango" commences. The more we try to get away from them, the more enthusiasm they have for the catch of the day - half a dozen likes on Facebook. 

Our destination, Lombok, lies approximately 340 nautical miles ahead. With a clear forecast (fingers crossed!), we're aiming for an early Saturday morning arrival. 

Once docked, a few boat projects await us. Thankfully, the situation with the contaminated fuel seems to be improving. The debris accumulating in the strainer with each cleaning is visibly decreasing, giving us hope for a swift resolution.

Stay tuned for further updates as we navigate the remaining miles, tackle our boat projects, and hopefully, enjoy a sunny stay in Lombok! 

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