I have a very wet trip up to Georgetown, Pinang arriving at the south of the island in the dark, helped by directions from a catamaran which had passed me earlier in the day. I was doing 4.2 knots, he was doing 9.4 knots!

Next morning in better weather I head up the channel and under the first bridge which is an amazing 23.5 kilometers long. Also amazing that fishermen lay nets across the main channel. Passing under bridges is always fun because the angles make it look like you will not fit.

I get to the crowded anchorage, find a good spot and go ashore. There is a small marina surrounded by expensive appartments and an upscale shopping mall which includes an Irish pub. I am disgusted when I discover that none of the staff speak Irish. Next night we have a free dinner courtesy of the Minister of Tourism. Thankfully he did not turn up.

Georgetown is a mixture of modern, ancient and colonial with influences from India, China and Malaysia. You can easily spend 100 pounds on a meal or, for 3 pounds, you can eat well albeit not in the same style. I will be coming back here by ferry to get my Thai visa as soon as dates are settled. But in the meantime I am off to Rebak on Lankawi where I am going to chill out for at least a month. The marina is part of a resort complex so lots of luxuries.

For the first time in a long time I have made some long term plans. Wild Fox is booked on a ship from Thailand to the Med in March 2017. The situation in the Red Sea and Somalia has not improved. Wild Fox does not like being kidnapped by Arab pirates...