The island of Phi Phi Don was a tourist mecca pre pandemic.  Two thirds of its businesses are now closed down.  I get anchored and proceed with a major varnish job on all the bits of teak which before blended in with the teak deck but were difficult to clean.  Thence to Krabi River and its rickety marina and nice walks into town.  I have to haul out to do the bottom so over to Boat Lagoon’s other marina where young Ning has now established herself since I was there in March 2021. After a week all is done and back to the river.

The plan was to join an excellent rally in Malaysia who announced they would let boats back in on 1^st April.  I have been in touch with a Malaysian crew for nearly two years – she was about to join me when the first lockdown was announced.  Now we are both raring to go.  Except her 82 year old mother falls over and breaks lots of bones.  My crew is now a full time carer and this rally is not one to be tackled single handed.  Too many fishing boats and fish traps.  Down west coast Malaysia, around the back of Singapore, up east coast Malaysia the over to Borneo and its magnificent wildlife. Especially the orangutans.

Doubtful I will find a suitable crew at such short notice but I am trying…