08:30.320S 119:52.589E

Labuan Bajo

1440 on 07/09/13

I left Gilibodo at the more civilised hour of 0750. Note to those who may follow: If you go in a direct line there is a shallow patch, most of it seems to be around the 4 metre mark but there qre isolated bommies that look a lot closer the surface than that! The Navionic charts remain inaccurate although occasionally give a good indication of dangers and that in itself is a problem of course. The answer is to play by Caribbean rules. Polaroid sunglasses and have the Sun behind you if possible.

The fishermen are a good source of information. If you are pootling along and heading for danger or if you have seen it and haven’t very obviously altered course they will shout and wave, indicating the way to go. There isn’t always a handy local boat  of course so…Caribbean rules!

I had to motor then motor-sail all the way this morning. About 16nm took a fraction under seven hours. Why so slow? Well apart from saving fuel my ‘old’ engine problem is back. No, the transmission is fine but the engine will not sustain many revs above tickover. It will for about ten of fifteen minutes then the revs die down, only to come back up after a minute or so. It’s driving me mad. I’m going to have a go at changing the fuel filters tomorrow. Why a go? Well, I have a new type of fuel filter fitted to the engine and in-line filtering system. It’s one that doesn’t seem to want to come unscrewed. It went on so it will come off, particularly now that I have a new filter remover….one with a chain instead of a stretchy rubber band. Shortly after arrival I did what I hope will be the final transmission oil change. The old oil was a little discoloured and the transmission does slip a bit when you first increase revs. Tickover is fine but increase the revs and there is a bit of slippage, then a bit of a ‘clunk’ and then we’re away, until the engine revs die off that is.

I took the pretty route into Labuan Bajo, that’s head towards the town then hang a right to pass in front of the harbour and on to the designated anchorage. Plenty of interesting boats, Bugis schooners, fishing boats and ferries, not to mention an Indonesian navy presence. All very colourful, apart from the navy…standard grey. Where I am is just in front of a resort but a hell of a row to town. Favourite will be to land on the beach then hoof it into town. Fortunately for tonight’s gala dinner we’ve been asked to land at the resort beach and transport will take us to the venue. I didn’t know that so my dropping the hook here was serendipity.

Cockroaches. Bugger, I’ve got ‘em. I was watching a movie last night and three of the buggers crossed my line of sight. One was mashed, one was bent but got away and the other was home free. This morning I put out about a dozen ‘roach motels’ so let’s see what happens now. According to the wording on the box I should notice a lack of roaches within a week. I hope so, I hate the buggers even though they carry no known diseases. The only thing that really works seems to be boric acid and I’m not sure if you can get that here.

Final problem. The power/charging cord on my IPad has become worn and does not always charge. Hmm. My best bet and it’s not a good one is to see if there is anywhere in town that has an IPad power cord. Unlikely I know but stranger things have happened. The elusive Calypso  is here so I might ask to borrow Maureen’s cord….no, it’s not a cord to charge Maureen silly, it’s a cord for ‘Sheila’, Maureen’s IPad.

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