Determination and fortitude be damned, I’ve just a bout had it.

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Mon 28 Oct 2013 08:08

1:21.138N 103:37.624E

Position at 1635 Malaysian time 27/10/13

 

Where to start? OK up at 0430 after a bit of a sleepless night. The leak had settled down again so I don’t think the mild pounding getting afloat has worsened matters. A nice mug of Milo and then mainsail up. Finish Milo, start engine and get the anchor up with no problems so far.

 

I spoke to Calypso and they had had one hell of a night. At some point their rudder started pounding on a bommies so they moved, only to encounter another bommies. They let out virtually all their chain and Paul stood anchor watch. Maureen said to go on and they’d catch me up. Yes, I could not get any damn revs in gear!

 

Approaching the crossing zone I called VTIS but they couldn’t hear me, so I proceeded anyway. Because of the current I couldn’t cross at 90 degrees but made the best ground speed I could. I had to dodge a tug towing a barge which put me even further at an angle. Apparently we should call the ‘Protectors’ on channel 14 before calling the VTIS. I apologised. I got across the westbound lane OK but had to make a major diversion approaching the East-going channel. To add to the fun a VLCC had engine failure and was drifting in my vicinity. He wanted to anchor but VTIS said not in that area. After some language difficulty he explained that if he didn’t anchor he would drift into the west-bound lane. Further discussion. He then said it was an emergency situation and anchored. In the meantime I was approaching and again had to make a major diversion to avoid being splattered. I was pointing west but drifting East, past the stranded VLCC. Interesting.

 

Anyway. Made it across and turned west. Calypso kept me company bvut once the channel turned NW I had to head into the shore to avoid being drifted out to the central reef. I saw Calypso have an interesting experience and understandably they speeded up but promised to keep an eye on my. Neither of our radios are good, we can only talk to each other at around 2nm!!

 

Right. I basically ferry-glided through the western anchorage area. No wind to speak of but used the current. Eventually I turned into the channel between Jahor Bahru and Singapore. Foul tide. I was doing 1kt sog for about an hour an a half. Eventually as happens the tide turned and the wind picked up a bit. After some fun and games with yet another towed barge and wondering if I would clear all the anchored ships in the channel mouth or would have to bear away and do God knows what everything settled down. I heard Calypso calling and bless them they’d anchored in the lee of a small island to wait for me. At this point we had 13nm to Denga Bay and certainly they would easily make it in daylight, I had a sporting chance. Until the bridge. I had the current with me a the wind on the stbd quarter. Right under the bridge the wind backed to dead ahead, which built up the waves a bit and stopped me dead then moved me backwards against the current. I had another go. Nope. I rolled the headsail away and approached at an angle. I thought I might just get through but no. I had to bear away again and anchor in the position indicated.

 

I don’t mind admitting I virtually cried with frustration. I certainly threw ALL my toys out of the pram, big time. A real temper tantrum. So, here I sits with 9.3nm to go. The tide will turn against me in a couple of hours but I think the main problem is the wind. If it does drop at whatever time I’ll up anchor and attempt to go through, even if it is the middle of the night.

 

I can’t tell you how really, really fed up I am. I have no idea what the problem is with the engine. I’ll change both fuel filters but I just can’t see that being the problem and Paul was certain that he got all the net and plastic off the saildrive. Maybe he missed a bit but I doubt it. This won’t get posted for a day or three so perhaps I’ll know by then what the problem is.



--
Current cell no (Indonesia 0813 13 959696
http://www.peterbernfeld.com
http://blog.mailasail.com/troutbridge
My books now available on Amazon
http://amzn.com/B008NTG6JY
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B008NTG6JY

http://amzn.com/B009QA33QIhttp://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QA33QI

 http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B009QA33QI