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Strategic Sailing.

Today's passage continued the unusual theme of our journey down the south coast of Borneo. With a menacing weather forecast, heavy traffic, and a malfunctioning radar, we've been forced to employ strategic "hops" to navigate this peculiar stretch.

The flatness of the coastline here is quite bizarre. Unlike most coastlines, there isn't a single hill in sight. The sea bed is the same as the land and completely flat which has led to some rather unorthodox anchoring situations. At times, we've found ourselves over 3 nautical miles offshore, dropping anchor in just 4 meters of water. Needless to say, this wasn't the most comfortable scenario, especially considering the shallow depth.

Nighttime brought its own set of challenges while we are anchored. With so much traffic and being so far off the coast, we've resorted to keeping all exterior lights blazing, including deck and cockpit lights. During periods of heavy rain, implementing an anchor watch became essential.

Thankfully, the detailed charts have proven to be invaluable. Relying solely on these while navigating in 6-7 meters of water, just 5 nautical miles offshore, can be a nerve-wracking experience. 

This morning, as the first light of dawn pierced the horizon, we set sail from our  anchorage. Today's leg will take us approximately 65 nautical miles to our next waypoint. After a similar journey on Thursday, we'll reach our final stop before tackling the Java Sea to Lombok.

The current window seems to be our best chance. Weather reports indicate the low pressure system west of Broome is weakening, potentially offering a window of reprieve from the rain and thunderstorms. This bad weather has been our biggest obstacle, particularly when encountering unlit vessels at night.

Our hope is that this strategic approach, coupled with a degree of caution, will see us through to calmer waters and a successful journey across the Java Sea.

Our hasty departure from Singapore after all the delays had me throwing caution – and common sense – overboard. We set sail on a Friday, the bane of any sailor's existence. Now, I'm not typically one for superstition, but staring down the barrel of potentially rough seas with a dodgy radar isn't exactly calming the nerves.

So, this morning, with the sun barely a sliver on the horizon, we did what any self-respecting (slightly panicky) crew would do – appeased the mighty Neptune. My favorite snack went overboard with a hearty "Oh Neptune, wash away this Friday curse, bring us fair winds, following seas and no traffic!".
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