Arrival at Nongsa Point - two days ago..

Island Kea II
Steve and Katrin Everett
Wed 17 Nov 2010 01:22

Position 01:11.797 N 104:05.8E

We are now firmly back in the Northern Hemisphere..

 

The last night out at sea was pretty eventful.  Not the weather this time, but a line in the Prop and strong thick seaweed stuck in the rudder making steering very stiff.

Just after dark, motoring for the 4th day, suddenly slowed down and change in noise.  Steve put it into reverse and the line cutter obviously did it’s job as a load of chopped line floated up..  So the engine was usable, but going slower than normal and making a noise..  We could not dive/snorkel on it in the dark so in the morning when it was light and we were in a more sheltered area, we stopped the engine and drifted while I wend down with a snorkel and saw line and lots of seaweed tangled in it round the prop.  I prodded it the best I could with a boathook and steve did the engine reverse bit again and we seemed to be going better..  I also was able to free the rudder.

Once we got into the marina, I went down again and freed the rest of the line off it..  so we were rather lucky, this can be very serious…

We will be pleased to leave Indonesian seas.  Lots of boats have had nets and lines round their props.  There is so much rubbish in the sea, no sign of any environmental care here..

So we are now waiting to be cleared by customs so that we can leave.. 

Funny, one day they don’t want us, then they don’t want us to leave..  make up your minds !!!  J