1:28.378N 103:43.396E

Danga Bay. 0700 28/10/13

‘Lovable Leslie’ the IPad indicated that the tide might start flooding where I was anchored at around 0009. Actually it was a tad later but there was virtually no wind. I wondered if I should wait until the tidal stream was stronger but then the wind might come up so 26-HEAVE. Anchor up and motor at full idle rpm at the arch. During the approach I was making 1.5kts SOG but under the arch less than 1kt. Plenty of time to do my Flannagan and Allen impersonation and sing ‘underneath the arches’. Eventually, after about a chorus and a half and a nervous shoe shuffle, I emerged clear of the bridge and relieved puttered my way up river.

It was a pleasant trip with plenty of light so it was actually possible to admire the scenery. A bit like being on a canal boar really, except slower. I arrived off the town of Jahor Bahru at 0530 and drifted around, not that you’d really notice the difference, until it got light. I spotted the marina eventually, the coordinates weren’t accurate and neither was the chart so that was quite entertaining. I saw Calypso on an outside pontoon and motored past, shouting. Maureen and Paul appeared and ‘caught’ me. The marina fees here are £20 per week so although out of my budget I have enough on the credit card for a couple of weeks at least. No doubt they’ll want me to move and no doubt they’ll be disappointed.

So then, it’s been a long and sometimes dark journey from the reef outside Suva. What now? Obviously I have to get this engine fixed and then maybe up to Lankawi. The plan is to stay in Malaysia for a couple of years and do some serious writing. Right now I suppose I should feel a sense of achievement but in fact I feel mentally exhausted and totally fed up with the situation I find myself in. I guess something will turn up, it usually does but right now I’m not truly so confident. I’m saying it but I’m not sure I believe it anymore. I suppose I’ve been smacked round the head by the Universe too many times now.

In the meantime, a question for you tech types.

The engine will give full revs in neutral. In both forward and reverse I can only get idle rpm. Increasing throttle results in nothing so it isn’t the old transmission problem. Paul had removed debris from the prop and I don’t think he missed anything. The in-line fuel filter is OK, I haven’t checked the engine fuel filter yet but as I can get revs in neutral I don’t think it can be a fuel problem. Anybody got any ideas?

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