A difficult decision.
It's 300nm to Bali. Assuming (hah!) that my engine work produces a realistic passage speed of 3-3.5kts under nil wind conditions I's have to allow 3 days minimum non-stop for the passage and I'm 'supposed' to be there for the 20th. Quite important because my visa has to be renewed so I don't want to be late.
There is a freebie tour to Komodo Island tomorrow (12th) to see the dragons then another gala dinner. On the 13th everybody has been invited to dine with the President of Indonesia and the harbour will be locked down on the 14th for a mass 'sail past'. The Indonesian Navy, foreign navy boats and us, Sail Indonesia. So realistically that means a departure on the 15th. Doable but it allows no time to tarry anywhere. Plus if my engine work isn't of a lasting nature not only might I embarrass myself but I would embarrass the rest of the rally peeps by sailing past at about 1kt. It doesn't bare thinking about really.
So, my decision is to leave tomorrow, the 12th. I'm initially making for the northern tip of Komodo Isle where there is reportedly a good anchorage. That will knock 30nm off the trip. A day there if it's a pleasant spot and possibly meet up with Lop To and Calypso, who left this morning. Then I can do a couple of 30/40nm day hops, a couple of overnighters perhaps and I'll be in Bali.
Flores has been a great experience and despite a little frustration with the military paranoia over the last day or so in the great scheme of things it hasn't been a real problem. The people of Flores have been welcoming and generous, the rally organisation has been fine considering the bureaucracy involved and all in all it's been a wonderful experience. If it were possible to do a year here then I would do so but it isn't so that's that. I'm planning on being in SE Asia for at least a couple of years and provided I get the boat properly sorted out I would certainly consider doing the Sail Komodo part of the rally again and maybe the Sail Indonesia rally as well but not joining in Kupang.
I'm not sure about Internet connections en-route so I expect I'll post again on reaching Bali. Speaking of the Military, we were entertained today by a parachute drop and a couple of motorised paragliders puttering about the place. They look like fun and are definitely safer to be nearer than young lunatics in a Bolkow 105 helicopter going in between the boats at about 20ft max. I'm sure the President will have quite a shoqw and I'm sorry to be missing it but tempus fugit and all that.
