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The software upgrade on this blog appears to be stuck and so I cannot fix the errors in a few previous entries or the funny lines showing me crossing South America, Africa and Australia overland.

Starting out from Krabi we get to Langkawi in three days, one sailing and two motoring.  Check in is a breeze.  After a few days Bronte and I head out to circumnavigate the islands and some favourite anchorages. The weather if not the wind treat us well.  Then Bronte heads off to Cambodia to meet friends and her mother who is coming to Asia on an extended visit.

The routine at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is fairly predictable.  I decide to head out for a few days on my own partly to get fuel as the facility here is temporarily disabled and partly to get clean water to clean the bottom of the boat.  I am anchored in very shallow water (three metres) not far from the marina and I decide to come back in for no good reason.  Lucky I did!  At 1930 that night a huge thunderstorm comes in bringing 55 knots of wind. Anchored in three metres of water I would have been in real trouble.  In the marina a few furled foresails blow out; the only boat to break its mooring lines is, ironically, the Civil Defence vessel.  The 150 foot superyacht Skade is broadside to the wind and in an unprotected part of the marina but her professional crew manage easily. The main marina pontoon splits in half and the electricity cable breaks giving a temporary spectacular fireworks display.  Unfortunately it will take a week to repair. 

Outside in the main anchorage things are different. A tug breaks its mooring and hits boats before it is brought under control, two yachts of unknown ownership land on the beach.  Similar stories are heard from Telaga where I went to get fuel.

I am going to have to go on a visa run next month.  I was thinking of the Philippines as I have not been there but they are having an epidemic of Dengue Fever. I may choose a new destination…