02.07.376N 102.16.150E  Tuesday 18^th November   The 140 nm journey to Admiral Marina near the Malaysian clearance Port Dickson is not quite as straight forward as it seemed:  travelling with Glendora and Liahona (with Oscar on board) we decided it would be safer to sleep at anchor each night rather than risk hitting the numerous unlit fish traps and small fishing boats in the Malacca Strait. 

Ships converging in the Malacca Strait all around us

Lowering the home made Singapore flag

….and raising the Malaysian one…..

 If you had told me a year ago we would be anchoring over night in the Malacca Strait I would not have believed it possible but in truth it has been calm and nobody has bothered us at all.  It was slightly unnerving when Oscar rowed over in Ed’s canoe for an evening meal –

 Huge ships ply up and down the main channel and smaller ones drag barges full of earth (presumably for reclamation projects); we have nicknamed the Strait ‘Flip Flop Alley: you have never seen so many abandoned flip flops careering down the fast tidal streams in your life!

Glendora anchored in the Malacca Strait beside us and

Liahona

Our early starts each morning have coincided with favourable tides, often 2.5 knots with us and our speed over the ground has been a constant 7 – 8 knots (helped with a little breeze and some squally winds). …..we are hoping to reach Admiral Marina during daylight today………