Banda Aceh
Digiboat's "Product Testing"
Simon Blundell
Mon 28 Feb 2011 07:01
03:32.797N
096:03.840E
Left Phuket Friday
with little wind, much provisioning and much excitment about the trip
ahead. Unfortunately we didn't have Naughty Noot on board - previous
engagement to entertain - or was it to cook. Anyway, Tim, Bar and Al are
more than capable in both departments.
Friday evening we
threaded our way through the shipping streaming out of the Malacca Straits, and
through the islands around the tip of Sumatra, near Aceh. (You might recal
that Aceh is famous for being the epicentre of a recent devastating
tsunami.) This was our last point of contact with the mobile
network.
The Thursday passage
to the 'hong'' was notable for a devastating event - as I was heading down to
place my posterior on the seat of the head (toilet), the yacht was heading up to
meet my bum far faster than I anticipated. Thus the meeting was much
earlier than expected and certainly a lot harder. The porcelain was just
not up to the job and disintegrated with a grinding crack. Much
embarrasment explaining to the skipper. No replacements available on
Phuket so the last two days the crew have been fibreglassing up the old
one. This is quite a trial with the works being carried out in full view
on the back deck - it is a constant reminder to all of the event and stimulates
too much comment plus it all has a certain constipating
element.
Saturday we
motor/sailed SE with the Sumatra coast in view - very rugged and very
spectacular with the cloud caps on the mountains and the electrical
storms. Last night the lightning display sometimes extended across the
whole horizon with the sound of the thunder rolling across the water from miles
away.
MC
27/0500z