Adieu to old friends and some new ones

'Sarf & West mate, Sarf & West'
Pete Bernfeld
Fri 15 Nov 2013 02:01
Most of not all the Sail Malaysia Rally boats are leaving today, including old friends Maureen and Paul on Calypso. We  had a 'farewell' dinner the night before last at a local Indian restaurant which might have been a bit emotional except I pointed out that all being well I'd see them up in Lankawi in about a month, so it was adieu and not farewell. At some point we will permanently part ways when they set sail for South Africa and then it will be emotional, we've been through a lot together one way and another and Paul has been ever-ready with practical help, encouragement and a steady supply of home-brewed hooch! Speaking of which today's project, apart from blogging and writing, will be sterilize the jerry-jug I used for 'air mandi' (washing water) in Indonesia and try and replicate Paul's pineapple rocket-fuel. Looking at the black stains in the plastic I can quite understand why the Indonesians don't drink the water!

Somewhat fortuitously I bumped into a chap yesterday who is having his engine rebuilt here in the marina. We spent some time talking about engine problems as you do, or at least as yotties do and it turns out he had my self-same problem on a small Volvo engine a few years ago. His solution was not one that anybody has mentioned and he volunteered to take a look this weekend. There is a mystery (at the moment) adjustment that can be done to alter the fuel flow. As he said it's a bit hit and miss but then again that pretty much describes life on Trouters in general.

Again in the chatting mode, my next-door neighbour on the pontoon is a German chap, single-handing in a Woods designed cat, the cruising version of chums Hev and Dens' Duende I believe. Anyway be that as it may he's spent several years cruising around Malaysia so gave some good advice for the trip up to Lankawi, to wit don't sail overnight, anchor in 5 metres and display plenty of lights. Next week I'll be buying more lights!

All in all the marina is starting to look a bit empty now which as Maureen said may spur me into action. The Sumatras (strong winds) have pretty much died out now although they never really go away completely and we're well into the transition to the NE Monsoon season. That said sailing up the coast, northerly of course,  is apparently rarely a beat and the winds tend to be more easterly or even south-easterly. Time will tell. Just the afternoon thunderstorms to enjoy then but tempting fate there's rarely much wind in them, just lots of lighting and rain. A good time to be at anchor and watch the show, possibly with a glass of pineapple hooch? Well why not!

--
For a list of my books currently available in both paperback and ebook format and for reviews and news, visit my author page on Amazon
http://www.amazon.co.uk/-/e/B008O89WFO