Pangkor Marina Island hasn’t been around very long as it is a Malaysian venture to create a new island from reclaimed land. The marina is almost brand new and still a bit of a building site. However, the owner James Khoo and his staff are just wonderfully helpful. We had decided that it was time to haul out and antifoul but the decision was finally made for us when we managed to get our fishing line wrapped around our prop shaft. The tough line then became entangled in the rubber of the “cutless” bearing and consequently we needed to replace it. Another of our constant sources of help is David Butt who works for Foxs Marine in Ipswich where we bought Gryphon ll and he promptly sent us a replacement bearing with the instructions on how to fit it. At Pangkor there is a novel system for hauling boats called a Sealift seen here lifting another yacht out.

Note that the man driving it (James) is out there with a radio control unit around his neck . The other unusual thing about the yard is that the labour rate is the equivalent of £20 a day!  Consequently we did very little of the work ourselves  instead employing the skills of Shah, seen here posing.

We spent 4 days out of the water and during this time stayed in a cheap air conditioned hotel, where Lorraine managed to re-sew our aging bimini.

It was not all hard work at Pangkor. A highlight of our stay was an impromptu party for 2 cruisers, Steve from Aussie yacht Patamba and Brian from American motor yacht Furthur, who were having a joint 60^th birthday party. The event turned into a 60s fancy dress do with many aging hippies reviving their more embarrassing fashion statements.

Steve (now 60) and Lorraine, S/V Patamba, Australia                     Peter and Margie, S/V Peregrina, USA                                                 

Sherri and Georgiou, S/V Argonauta, Canada & Italy                       Renate and Helmut, S/V Nuke A’lofa, Germany

Will and Margaret, S/V Atlantia, Scotland                                             Colin and Beverley, Splashdown, Australia

Some other hippies                                                                   Ooooh the memories.