Blog 87. 9 December. Langkawi and Lay Up. 06.17.70N 99.41.84E
Alcedo
David Batten
Mon 9 Dec 2019 14:26
Kendi provided reasonable shelter for the night and we celebrated Ship’s Boy’s birthday with John and Ziggy from Windancer. Unfortunately, there was an absolute deluge before they arrived and when they wanted to leave, so they must have looked like drowned rats by the time they got back to Windancer. Very good of them to come over!
Kendi to Langkawi turned out to be one of the best day’s sailing all trip. Wind approx 60 degrees off the bow, 15 to 20 knots, full main and Genoa after the first couple of hours and less and less fishing boats as we approached Langkawi. We dropped anchor in a lovely Bay with 2 other yachts at about 16.15pm 9 hours after setting off for the 68 nm. Everyone on board pretty happy, particularly the Ship’s Boy.
Anchorage off Pulau Intan Besar and Pulau Intan Kecil, looking towards Pulau Rebak Besar in the distance.
The following morning, when we were reminded that fishing here is an apparently flourishing form of occupation and employment and that our days of looking out for nets were not over.
It was less than 5 miles to Rebak Marina, so we arrived in good time to sort out a berth and get the feel of the facilities. It is a very sheltered marina as described, but the management of the berths and the hard standing mean frustrating negotiations as to whether the boat can be lifted and stored on the hard or not, even for April of next year. Also, the showering facilities are not great and the “laundry” was a single domestic size washing machine and small tumble dryer at the back of the small local shop. They are in the process of installing a second washing machine and the shop manager is delightful and will put washing in and out of the washing machine and tumble dryer, but we ended up doing most of it on the boat. There is a very good laundry service on Langkawi Island, but that requires a ferry trip and vehicle.
Rebak Marina from our berth, looking out towards the entrance
One of the lovely Hornbills that live near the marina
“Walk” through the gardens of the hotel that forms part of the Rebak resort with the marina. We stayed in the hotel for the last 2 nights so we could do all the bed linen, deep freeze etc.
All good until yesterday when the mains water supply from Langkawi was disrupted, so there was no water at the marina from late morning and no water at the hotel from last night. The hotel only thought to mention this at 10.00pm after we had gone to bed when they rang the room to tell us they had booked us in somewhere else for the night. You can imagine our enthusiasm for this offer. Breakfast was, in the Ship’s Boy’s words “a disgrace” the next morning, as we had to wait half an hour for some stale croissant and cakes, or the “bread basket” according to the menu, with no butter or jam until requested. The dining room was virtually empty as most of the guests had been sent elsewhere and the staff appeared to be in acopia or shock mode, while we were desperate to get on with the final clean. They did eventually manage to provide some water to flush the loo, but only after some strong verbal encouragement.
The boat is now very clean on the inside, if not on the deck and cabin top. We do seem to be on the flight path of a large and productive bird, but “Won” is in charge of checking up and clearing up so we are hoping for the best.
So home for Christmas and an end to what has been the most amazing and memorable experience for so many reasons.
Alcedo
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