Enroute to Kupang 0730-13 October
Moonshadow of London
Peter Mantle
Mon 18 Oct 2010 06:22
Position 11:49.0S 128:34.0E
The forecast for the 480 mile passage to Kupang was for calm winds and flat seas. We presently have 20 knots on the nose in bumpy seas after a nite close-hauled in 1 meter seas. The days are quite warm with lots of humidity making life very sweaty!. Paul prepared a delicious meal of chicken legs last night. We had a little Swallow land in the cockpit and rest all night with us. The Australian Customs airplane overflew us this morning and asked about our destination and prior port. We have seen the customs planes three or four times on the journey around Australia. They are very watchful for illegal boats and their contents. Best not to joke with them. We heard of one boat who had endless hassle by answering the question "Have you any drugs on board" with the flippant " Yes how many do you want?"
We should arrive in Kupang around midday on Friday, 15 October where we are joined by Liz and Ruth and Paul leaves. Much anticipation as we enter Indonesia a new country-the 4th largest in the world. We intend to sail along the Spice Islands. A location sought after by all the early explorers. They are a mixture of Christian( both Catholic and Protestant) Muslim and Hindu. Kupang our next destination is where Captain Bligh landed in his small boat after his 4000 mile journey following the mutiny. We walk up the same steps!! We will visit Flores where anthropologists have just found a new species of human (12000 year old bones!) 3 ft tall with flat heads and big jaws! Thank goodness that lot did not win out in the battle for survival or we all would have looked very different!!
The forecast for the 480 mile passage to Kupang was for calm winds and flat seas. We presently have 20 knots on the nose in bumpy seas after a nite close-hauled in 1 meter seas. The days are quite warm with lots of humidity making life very sweaty!. Paul prepared a delicious meal of chicken legs last night. We had a little Swallow land in the cockpit and rest all night with us. The Australian Customs airplane overflew us this morning and asked about our destination and prior port. We have seen the customs planes three or four times on the journey around Australia. They are very watchful for illegal boats and their contents. Best not to joke with them. We heard of one boat who had endless hassle by answering the question "Have you any drugs on board" with the flippant " Yes how many do you want?"
We should arrive in Kupang around midday on Friday, 15 October where we are joined by Liz and Ruth and Paul leaves. Much anticipation as we enter Indonesia a new country-the 4th largest in the world. We intend to sail along the Spice Islands. A location sought after by all the early explorers. They are a mixture of Christian( both Catholic and Protestant) Muslim and Hindu. Kupang our next destination is where Captain Bligh landed in his small boat after his 4000 mile journey following the mutiny. We walk up the same steps!! We will visit Flores where anthropologists have just found a new species of human (12000 year old bones!) 3 ft tall with flat heads and big jaws! Thank goodness that lot did not win out in the battle for survival or we all would have looked very different!!