Bali International marina.
Fleck
Mon 16 Aug 2010 05:41
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Position 08:44.44S
115:12.8E
'Bali International Marina'
Monday, August 16
The good news: we arrived on time, in excellent
weather and spirits, and by all undeserved and good fortune, bang at the top of
the tide. The crossing from Lombok, 60 miles, took less than 8 hours, thanks to
periods in which the tide flowed down channel at around 4.5 kts, kicking up
interesting short and long seas against the southerly breeze. Nothing
frightening however, as the really rough areas were visible from several miles
away, and we easily avoided them. We were able to sail the last 20 miles, and
motorsailed the first part to keep up to our schedule. I suspect that I
will now go to my grave not knowing about the upper transit of the moon, even
though there are some tricky passes around Singapore in a few weeks
time for which such knowledge might conceivably provide useful information.
We expected to find Benoa Harbour crowded with yachts, but two superyachts
aside there were none at anchor, and no obvious room to anchor either: the
harbour mostly dries, and the channels are narrow and full of moorings. We
decided to try our luck at the marina, which we expected to be full, and were
offered a good berth: secure and protected for our stay ashore for the next two
weeks. All a follow on the the Global recession, we are told.
The less good news, the berth is extraordinarily
expensive for Indonesia, and the 'facilities' not at all what we became
accustomed to in Australia. The Marina is situated in the heart of an industrial
dockland, and it does not feel that safe out at night. There are guards on the
pontoon, and at the marina entrance. The pontoons are either concrete with sharp
edges, or rotten wood with broken boards. The poeple are as charming as
ever, and my first visit to the Harbourmaster, outwith the protective mantle of
the Sail indonesia Organisation was quite uneventful, no bribes or 'gifts'
requested.
We hope that Conny will be here tomorrow, no more
blogs for a couple of weeks: everyone gets a rest!!
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