MERRY XMAD & a HAPPY NEW YEAR
CuriousOyster
Steve & Trish Brown
Thu 15 Dec 2011 11:48
|
We would like to wish everyone a great Xmad and a
happy and peaceful New Year.
For us another incredible year is coming to a
close.
A year that started in the French Alps and brief
trip back to the UK before we returned to Curious in Auckland and then 5
fantastic months touring New Zealand, one of our very favorite
countries.
A change of plans saw us head not to Fiji and
another Pacific cruising season but west to Brisbane and 2 1/2 months in
Oz.
The Rally Indonesia that left Darwin in late July
gave us 3 memorable months in this massive cruising area.
We really enjoyed our time sailing through these
varied islands, with Komodo Dragons, Orang-Utans and Giant Manta Rays just some
of the highlights.
But best of all was the people, warm, helpful and
always friendly, we were sad to leave them behind.
Early November saw us in Singapore before we headed
north through the Straits of Malacca and on to Langkawi. The west coast of
Malaysia was something of a disappointment after Indonesia but historic places
like Malacca, Penang and the islands of Langkawi more than made up for
this.
The last few weeks has been spent racing our home
in the 25th anniversary of the Phuket Kings Cup Regatta based off Kata beach on
the south west coast of Phuket. Inexperience saw us enter the Premier Cruising
Class only to find ourselves pitted against 70ft and 80ft lightweight rocket
ships. Sadly poor 30 tonne Curious was badly outclassed and after two days
seeing the fleet disappear into the distance we dropped down a class and
finished 2nd, 4th and 2nd in the remaining three races, not bad for a rooky
crew.
The regatta was excellent with parties on each of
the 6 days and a final night prize giving ceremony complete with the Kings
representative (he's 85 and in poor health) with lots of pomp and
ceremony.
We are now back in the UK to spend Xmad and
the New Year with family and friends and will take in the London Boat show and
Oyster dinner before returning to Curious in Mid January.
We hope this e mail finds you all fit and well and
planning more adventures in 2012.
Please stay in touch.
Love from
Steve & Trish |