10:9.479S 123:34.588E

Anchored at 1700 Darwin Time, 1530 Kupang time.

Kupang is UTC+8 hours (I thinkJ)

Right then, yesterday afternoon the wind came up at 1300 and I was at last able to sail. After a couple of hours it came up some more, so I enjoyed myself. Then I did some nav-type maths that Sub-Lt Phillips would have been impressed by and severely reefed. Despite that I arrived at the bottom end of Timor about 6 hours before I wanted to. It was dark and windy so I…hove to for 4 hours…who says I don’t learn from past mistakes?

Anyway, it wasn’t terribly comfortable but at an appropriate time I ‘un-hove to’ and proceeded to the channel between the mainland and an offshore island. I entered the channel in pre-dawn light at exactly the right time for the North-going ebb but it was late or still in bed. No discernible current! I had to motor up the channel and then I picked up a bit…..of polypropylene line. A quick check for fins in the water, into the water and another 360 then I tackled the line. Fortunately it came off fairly easily but boy am I unfit!

So, onwards then. The last six miles or so were directly into wind and the motor chose to play up. To make a short story of a long and tedious one in about 20kts of wind I beat along the coast well past the anchorage.  Gybing, I made the quarantine anchorage (just) and dropped the hook. Somebody advised that last night a boat had dragged in that exact spot.

OK, it’s blowing about 20 kts but alright I’ll move. Uh oh, no I won’t, can’t engage forward gear. Oh bum….went for my second dive of the day but the prop turns freely in neutral. The gear control cable is connected and moves the gear selector. Double bum. At least the wind has now died down as apparently it does every night. I was then told that the boat which dragged arrived at night and probably didn’t let out enough scope. I have about X7 scope so I have my fingers crossed.

Tomorrow the delights of Customs and Immigration. I was told I could go ashore for a beer but I’m going to stay on board and worry.

PS

After Maureen and Paul came alongside to say hello I had a thought (about time some might say). I started the engine and tried the forward motion bit again. Zilch. I tried reverse. We strained against the anchor bridle. Hmmm. Forward. YESSSSS and so to a deep sleep only interrupted by the rolly anchorage. As I type this with coffee brewing the wind hasn’t started yet. The call to prayer is echoing across the anchorage, the Muezzin (spelling?) doesn’t have a bad voice but I expect the novelty and sense of being in a different country will soon wear thin.

I await the visitation with interest. Apparently having filled out myriad forms we have to go ashore and do it all over again. Deep joy.

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