To Indo 4+5

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Tue 19 Jul 2016 22:57
To Indonesia – Days Four and Five
 
 
 
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18th of July 2016. Day Four. At 08:30 we had completed 453 miles with 148 to go. Sunny and mild we were tootling along at 6.17 knots. I had a pleasing five two win at backgammon bringing the years totals to 109/91 to me. Huh, but the year is still young (thank goodness), must do something about this. Revenge was meted out all afternoon on the tri-ominoes....... Now we are in happy harmony with the sea and Beez this is the point at which you could sail forever with decent sleep, eating and a general feeling of ‘being in rythm’. Incognita nearby.
 
 
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A lovely set of crepuscular rays.
 
 
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Just after five I was really enjoying listening to Pillars of Fire with Grain May as my new chum on the AIS. I began our final straight toward Tual. All I could see of my new friend – her length 229 metres, width 36 metres and draught of 8.7 metres, she is on her way to Gove with her Class A cargo happily spuddling along 11.9 knots.
 
 
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At a quarter to six the moon suddenly put his lights on so I had a blaze to my left, away on the horizon to the right were a string of lights, nothing showing up on the AIS.
 
 
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19th of July 2016. Day 5. By 08:30 we had done 583 miles with 130 to go – time to slow down to around four knots to ensure we go up the channel between the two islands in daylight. I got up at ten to see all around us were local fishing boats. The lights you left me with at six, eight were working and some were resting.
 
 
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We are now sure that we are in Asian waters with this classically cut working girl.
 
 
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The day before we arrive anywhere is always a busy morning, hair, toe and finger nail cut, laundry, followed by something that feels like a age since we last performed...............
 
 
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....................a quick check in the flag book to see which side is up and......................
 
 
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The Indonesian flag raising ceremony.
 
 
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I fought back from four nil down to reach four all until a sneaky wave helped Bear to a five four win. Growling. Oh come on it seems like an age since I won. I was quite happy about that. The rest of the afternoon was spent on tri-ominoes – I actually managed a few wins..... The working girls were still around us and Incognita was up ahead, sunset to our left was somewhat overshadowed by a rather handsome moonrise on our right.
 
 
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By the time Bear settled to sleep in the cockpit, Beez had a new figurehead. After a good preen our visitor tucked his head under his wing and followed the same snore pattern as the skipper. After I had gone to bed at 22:00 he had a few little flights disturbed by a friend buzzing him. By the time I came on at two he was once again in his preferred position – soundo.
 
 
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I thought I would open my tin of tuna over the side of the girl and squeeze the brine overboard, great plan. I waggled on a wave, managed to save the tin opener gripping said tin but managed to get the juice all over the plastic and down the side – pictured in daylight this is not a good look for Beez.
 
 
 
 
ALL IN ALL PEACEFUL AND BUSY
                     CONTINUED FINE SAILING