1:27'.93n 103:16'.36e

Wednesday 20th October

Anchorage near Malacca

Captain’s Log:

0700hrs left the marina -quite misty and headed for the bridge then skirted around the top of the ship anchorage and headed for the southern tip of the Malaysian peninsular.

Pleased to say alternator working like a treat.  Ran generator to make water - so we now have full batteries, full fuel tank and full water tank - life is good.  Very bad visibility in all the humidity - very little wind. Spent a lot of time dodging fishing nets slung between small fishing boats

This is the oil or gas depot we passed close to Malacca

Endless rows of these fishing stakes(withies) block the inshore path

So we have to mix up with the ships in their lane instead!

 and rows of withie, which seem to run from the shore out for about 4 miles to the inshore low water mark. 

The alternator seems to be working as it should which is a relief so could afford to run the extractor fan for the engine room, it draws 18 amps so have not been able to use it before.  This turned out to be a mixed blessing as it was removing the smell of boiling batteries!!! It transpired that George's idea of by-passing the blocking diode was not a good one - so rewired it as before when we got to the anchorage; we will see if that works.

The smoke haze from woods being burnt in nearby Sumatra!

Position 1:27'.93n 103:16'.36e

Distance run 40.1 miles average speed 6.5 knots.

0700hrs left in heavy mist after a night full of thunder and lightning but little rain.

Spent most of the day keeping in the shallows to dodge the worst of the tide and avoiding fishing nets, tide finally turned in our favour at 1300hrs.  Went down for a siesta came on deck at 1500 to find engine overheating

1 Shut it down and started to beat to windward with a light wind dead on the nose!  Pulled out a spare raw water pump and started to change the pump - not easy with a red hot engine, shut the water off and as I did that the main water elbow into the water inlet manifold cracked and water started pouring into the boat! Shut off main seacock in a bit of a hurry, so now had two jobs pump on the engine and the water inlet.  Changed the pump by 1800hrs and repaired the elbow with epoxy - this lasted for about 5 minutes and opened up again also new water pump leaking - stupid me had not changed the gaskets! At least we could use the engine for the last couple of miles into the anchorage.  Worked until 23.00 hrs getting everything fixed. I hope!  At least the batteries seem fine today.

Position 2:06'.51n 102:20.52e

Distance run 75 miles