Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where this is no path and leave a trail - Ralph Waldo Emerson
On 1st November, we left Oneº 15 Marina and cleared out at Western
Immigration (yep in reverse order) at 0815. Motoring past huge ships at anchor
we turned into the Malacca Straits at lunchtime into 23 knots on the nose and
an adverse current.
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| Dodgem in the Straits |
The fuel injector pump decided to leak again with Keith
collecting fuel in a can. We decided to anchor at Palua Kukup in 7m of good
mud, to enjoy a thunderstorm and an early omelette dinner.At this point, we decided we would 'cruise' the Malacca Straits, rather than rushing through.
Leaving the following morning, tide and wind still persisted
against us but by lunchtime, all sail was up giving us 7.1. We decided to
meander along the coast, rather than hit the main
shipping channel; this also gave us the opportunity to get firsthand views of
the fishing nets.
Anchoring in a bay between Kuala Batu and Tanjung Tohar, we
enjoyed another storm with winds over 20knts, with the gin and tonics.
Our firsthand view of fishing nets became more intimate the
following morning as we woke to a net wrapped around the snubber and two locals
in a fishing boat attempting to cut it free. They were rather fatalistic about
it. The net was made of exceptionally fine filament so no chance at all for the
breeding stock to escape.
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| Fisherman removing the net from the snubber |
That night was an anchorage in 8m at Palau Hanyat and a
large black RIB approaching us turned out to be the Malaysian Coastguard
checking if we were okay. Our only
nerves at this point were because we had not officially cleared into Malaysia,
although we had their flag flying. But they only wanted to know we were
definitely not being held hostage and that they would be available on VHF16 if
we had any problems.
The following day another sail reaching 8.2 (with the
current) and after three nights anchoring along the coast for good sleeps, we
tied alongside our berth in Admiral Marina, just south of Port Dickson.
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| Tientos in her pen |
The Marina was like a set from Somerset Maugham, very Colonial
British and a very imposing structure. The efficient Veronica cleared us
in, and it was off to the ‘Sailor’s Bar’.
The Marina is part of a resort complete with swimming pools and
restaurants, but few tourists.
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| Just the place to while away the day |
The night view was spectacular with a great
feeling of security as guards patrol the marina gates. Have you ever noticed
you always run into old friends in a bar? Another Australian yacht Chinook I
was here, so more of the tall tales ensued over beers.
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| Sailors Bar |
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| Admiral Marina entrance |
May all your bars be wooden and well-stocked!
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