Ketoro's Web Diary - Fantastic sailing conditions: good winds, favourable current... heaven! Supported by whales, dolphins, a mile-long shoal of tuna and attendant hundred

Fantastic sailing conditions: good winds, favourable current... heaven! Supported by whales, dolphins, a mile-long shoal of tuna and attendant hundred

Ketoro

Mon 22 Feb 2010 08:21

04:35.202S 59:32.397E

Blog Entries

2013

Dec 2013

Tue 10 Dec 19:32
Mon 9 Dec 17:18
- So close! 60 miles from te southernmost point of Africa: Cape Agulhas
- Passing Mossel Bay but way off-shore - no coast views this trip!
Sun 8 Dec 15:19
- Yellow-fin tuna braai tonight: could not be more fresh! Going well
- Calm peaceful sail past the Garden Route (too far to see)
Sat 7 Dec 23:26
- Bait-ball with dolphins: around us for 2h in dark - luminescimg!
- On the way - next stop Simonstown hopefully!
Tue 3 Dec 05:42
- Anchored at 3am in Buffalo River, East London. Happy!
Mon 2 Dec 22:38
- 1 torn sail, 2 tired bodies, 3 hours to East London YAY!
- Woohoo! 9.5knots - found the Agulhas current!
Sun 1 Dec 16:49

Oct 2013

Fri 18 Oct 08:23
- We are HERE!! Happily settled.... back home in SA!
Thu 17 Oct 09:04
- Big night fighting current and SW winds is over, now pushng hard to make late entry to R Bay. PUSHHHH!!!
Wed 16 Oct 11:35
- Absolutely flying in strong NE winds, even double reefed; bumping and surfing down waves; a tad hectic... But heading home fast!
Tue 15 Oct 11:30
- 2 knots over deep blue under light blue; the music and birds soar. Heaven. NE gales due tonight!
Mon 14 Oct 12:58
- At last some blue - sky and sea - and sea just large rollers. Set to stay for a day, then...
Sun 13 Oct 13:20
- Ketoro can smell home! - bounding forwards!
- Driven south by storm winds and big seas; rock and roll seems here to stay!!
Fri 11 Oct 10:11
- Half way... rum measures from the skipper!
- Thurs - Wondrous world! Current less, wind more, dolphins playing, sunset with a green flash. Awed.
Thu 10 Oct 12:02
- SO SLOW! Little sailing wind, hideous adverse current, preserving engines - but sea and sky are BEAUTIFUL!
Wed 9 Oct 11:24
- Someone fixed the massive potholes and ruts on the sea and things are a tad smoother now, after rough night!
Tue 8 Oct 06:36
- All good but fewer smiles in horrible 2kn current against us and as sea builds and gets lumpy again!
Mon 7 Oct 07:33
- Today we are being smiled upon: blue swells, blue skies, gentle winds - what a difference in life on board!
Sun 6 Oct 05:58
- Big seas yesterday, slightly more comfy today; winds fine; reef line chafed through now repaired on bouncing roof.
Tue 1 Oct 12:17
- Tied up in fishing harbour, Le Port des Galettes... Hectic narrow entry with swell, but all good!
- Rounding the top of Reunion: beautiful steep green island!

Sep 2013

Mon 30 Sep 08:30
- Two magnificent Dorado pulled in, then watched whales blowing nearby. Amazed.
- On our way to Reunion!
Fri 27 Sep 14:32
- Mauritius harbour - busy place with huge ships, dozens of Chinese fishing trawlers, tugs... And us! Last visit here.
Thu 26 Sep 15:03
- Last night in Grand Bay ever on Ketoro; mixed feelings but ready to go!
Mon 23 Sep 13:55
Mon 2 Sep 15:16
- Merville Beach: an absolutely perfect setting for the most wonderful family reunion

Aug 2013

Tue 13 Aug 15:50
- Back in Port Louis to welcome Mark, Livi and Blake on board! Family Max times!!!
Fri 9 Aug 16:17
- Grand Baie, a windy base to explore, do boat-work, eat out and have fun!

Jul 2013

Jun 2013

May 2013

Apr 2013

Mar 2013

Feb 2013

Wed 27 Feb 12:54
- No wind means SLOOOW going, but GREAT under-boat swim and peaceful sunset dinner!
Mon 25 Feb 15:17
- Ao Chalong, the last night before we leave beautiful Thailand for good. Thanks for everything!

2012

Dec 2012

Sun 2 Dec 14:53
- Ketoros home for a month while we go to SA! Happy Christmas!
Sat 1 Dec 06:37
- Big bay on west of Ko Yao Yai: green, lush, .... Let's go see the mangroves!

Nov 2012

Oct 2012

Jun 2012

Sun 10 Jun 23:21
- Ketoro's home until September: time for the baby run! Yay!
Wed 6 Jun 13:32
- Hiding from the weather in gorgeous spot with 30 fishing boats, tug and barge!
Mon 4 Jun 08:10
- A new island for us, but clearly not for the fishing boats; hoping for baby sharks on our snorkel!
Sat 2 Jun 09:16
- Wonderful sea and white beach and snorkelling again! Ko Rawi, Butangs
Fri 1 Jun 10:19
- Rok Noks, fixing engine; Ketoro is teaching us about being on the move again!
- Phi Phi island, fixing chafed-through reef line

Mar 2012

Feb 2012

Jan 2012

Sun 15 Jan 01:13
- Back at Nai Yang; seems 14 other yachties also hold this as their favourite beach anchoring spot!
- What fun! Dinghy exploration of river, fishing boats, lagoon at high tide: come in and see.

2011

Dec 2011

Fri 30 Dec 05:49
- Nai Harn, how lovely: Jungle Beach, beautiful river into sea, improved weather!
Mon 26 Dec 05:43
- Family day "treat" for B+K: sailing in 45kn gales, anchored in Patong and bouncing on boat!
Sun 25 Dec 14:40
- Christmas Day 2011 with Barry and Kay at Surin Beach; only challenges huge winds and a rolly boat!
Fri 23 Dec 05:34
- Nai Yang again.. Gentle, pretty, plenty Thai treats like food, massage Madame...!
Tue 20 Dec 13:25
- Laem Sing, a new find... a Christmas morning spot it will be! Sea splashing over rocks, beautiful treed headland, pretty beach...
Mon 19 Dec 06:48
- Pretty Nai Harn bay, but HOW do we get dinghy on shore??? Reef, waves....
Sun 18 Dec 13:43
- Panwa Bali in Ao Chalong, SO nice to be on anchor after the marina!
Sun 11 Dec 10:06
- Boat Lagoon Phuket again.... sawasdee ka!! Week here to work on boat.
Sat 10 Dec 05:51
- Ko Rang feels like home! Convenient for Boat Lagoon entry at high tide in morning...
- Dire warnings and cautions do not deter Rolf from using this channel short-cut! (successfull!)
Fri 9 Dec 05:34
- More beautiful beaches and sea and hongs!!! Such hardship... Ko Hong, Krabi
Thu 8 Dec 04:31
- Heaven last night, just moved to a new heavenly snorkel area: come in close and see our garden!
Wed 7 Dec 05:25
- Chicken Island: good snorkelling, watching the climbers, beautiful longtails with prayer-flags.!
- Ao Phra-Ae beach on Ko Lanta: storm prevented us from getting to beach.
Tue 6 Dec 07:19
- Stunning Emerald (Morakot) Cave: a wonderful hong!
Mon 5 Dec 08:36
- Ko Muk; east side for the night, explore the hong tomorrow
Sun 4 Dec 10:19
- Beautiful bay hosting 5 yachts and 12 fishing boats, all escaping wind-storms.
- Site of a failed attempt to salvage another yacht's anchor, for reward: not a career for us!
Fri 2 Dec 16:05
- Telaga harbour again. Fuel, food and duty-free booze for Christmas!

Oct 2011

Mon 10 Oct 07:02
- Ketoro holding tight to pontoon at Pu Rebak Marina till end November.
- Telaga for RUGBY!!! Farewell to John, who has sailed Ketoro between Phuket and Singapore!
Sun 9 Oct 00:39
- Fjord anchorage as beautiful as ever, but LOTS rain and wind... Dragging worries.
Thu 6 Oct 03:18
- Georgetown, Penang for fun 2 nights YIPPEE!
Wed 5 Oct 06:00
- Mainsail fell down!!! So had to anchor here at Pangkor to fix: 3h up mast in sun.
Tue 4 Oct 09:13
- Port Klang: again time to watch for ships crossing our path and trying to predict their behaviour!
Mon 3 Oct 11:33
- Port Dickson: had a swim in resort pool.... Heaven!!
- On our way again....

Sep 2011

Aug 2011

Jul 2011

Jun 2011

May 2011

Apr 2011

Mar 2011

Feb 2011

Jan 2011

2010

Dec 2010

Nov 2010

Sep 2010

Sat 11 Sep 14:24
- Yacht Haven: home for Ketoro while we go home to SA

Aug 2010

Jul 2010

Jun 2010

May 2010

Sun 30 May 13:08
- South of Sri Lanka on a beautiful sea running under the asymmetric spinnaker; no fish (beans yeah!) but beautiful dolphins....
Fri 28 May 13:19
- In the middle of nowhere, with good winds: all sail, no motors required!
Wed 26 May 15:41
- Last night in Hulhumale lagoon... leave tomorrow for Thailand!
Sun 23 May 02:52
- Our last fun anchorage (Velassaru resort island) before returning to Male and then departing for Thailand
Sun 2 May 06:26
- Protected coral garden millpond at Gaafaru Atoll... echoes of Bassas da India
- Amazing 32nd anniversary dinner on the beach with the Candys at Helengeli Island
Sat 1 May 16:47
- There are 2 kinds of skipper: those who have grounded and those who have not yet grounded. This is where we joined the aforementioned club.

Apr 2010

Wed 28 Apr 14:50
- Kept waiting a week here at Hulhumale for cruising permit. Now have permit... will cruise!
Mon 19 Apr 07:36
- Extremely isolated, anchored on Felidhe Atoll; no islands, only reefs and turquoise seas
Sat 17 Apr 08:03
- Anchored in a reef-enclosed lagoon in Mulaka Atoll: stunning! Alone and private... yet near 2 stilted resorts!
Wed 14 Apr 15:13
- Anchored in North Huvadhoo Atoll, a beautiful calm haven after 2 windy tiring days!
Tue 13 Apr 02:23
- The Equator at 0630: crossed the stormy, cold line with booze, chocolates and an apple upside-down cake! Shared with King Neptune...
Fri 2 Apr 04:52
- Gan, Addu Atoll, Maldives; welcomed by a big pod of dolphins!

Mar 2010

Tue 30 Mar 04:50
- On the road again: good sea, no wind.... clouds building though...
Sat 27 Mar 15:12
- A full gale brought us here but today spent forgetting as we swam with 30 dolphins!
Sat 20 Mar 09:00
- Surrounded by sharks but not like those in your big cities..
Fri 12 Mar 14:59
- Ile Diamant, Chagos and really being slothful and chilling, but catching nothing but shark from the boat!

Feb 2010

Jan 2010

Sat 23 Jan 07:23
- Port Launay winds and seas really testing our anchor: which comes up tops!
- Laria Bay, Curieuse.. Seychelles home but with marauding butterfly fish!
Sat 16 Jan 06:25
- Pretty Felicite island, amongst the many we have explored

2009

Dec 2009

Nov 2009

Sun 15 Nov 17:53
- Still night in protected anchorage... like a bus station with 8 other boats here!
Sat 14 Nov 11:49
- Beautiful Tara Bajina and snorkelling off the boat
Fri 13 Nov 07:04
- Nosy Fali An anchorage to hide from the predicted W wind that was awful in the ferocious suprise storm from the East
- Nosy Komba: beautiful island where soft, gentle Lemurs jump lightly onto your shoulder for bananas
Mon 9 Nov 17:49
- Lokobe Nature Reserve towering lush green
- Beautiful tiny marine reserve for two days
Sun 1 Nov 10:25
- Russian Bay.. beautiul, wild, remote, good storm hideout if necessary

Oct 2009

Thu 29 Oct 05:47
- Anchored at Sakatia island off Nosy Be; formally cleared into the country and ready to cruise
Tue 27 Oct 14:13
Sun 25 Oct 19:21
- Wonderful Nosy Iranje anchorage... our first Madagascar island!
Sat 24 Oct 11:43
- From becalmed to hectic to becalmed, but one constant is the curent against us....
Fri 23 Oct 15:19
- Hot hot hot ... still still still day....!
Thu 22 Oct 18:28
- Rocking and rolling up and down....!
- Hello! How are you? Thanks for popping in to visit us! Heading straight on to Nosy Be.
Wed 21 Oct 07:06
- Still at sea.... Juan de Nova ahead in case we need to stop for weather.
Tue 20 Oct 06:03
- Night sailed with a dozen storms around us, racing us up to NW Madagascar
Sun 18 Oct 13:14
- Anchored at Bassas da India: absolutely astounding atoll, reef fish hiding in our shade
Sat 17 Oct 13:18
- Swam in ultra blue ocean, enjoyed fish braai, watched feeding frenzy of birds, sharks take place around and UNDER us!
- Heaven: night sailing with sky awash with stars and sea with phosphorescence, favourable wind and current.
Fri 16 Oct 13:12
- Frustrated: pitiful wind and big current south
Thu 15 Oct 14:36
- Wahoo! First fish for supper... and another one..
- Inhambane harbour
Mon 12 Oct 08:21
- Waiting. Anchored off pretty Linge Linge near Inhambane... public hol in Moz
Sat 10 Oct 18:57
- Anchoring in rolling sea at Inhambane Bay, Mozambique
- Massive melodious whale foghorns over the ocean.
Fri 9 Oct 16:39
- Swimming in the channel
- Prolific marine life and spectacular whale sightings in amazing Mozambican waters
Thu 8 Oct 05:44
- Learning curve with Code Zero, obliging ship's captain's avoiding action, 4 whales, 100 dolphins
Wed 7 Oct 21:12
Tue 6 Oct 13:36
- Second round in R Bay
Sun 4 Oct 20:54

Sep 2009

Mon 21 Sep 10:48
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Sun 20 Sep 15:40
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Sat 19 Sep 18:59
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Fri 18 Sep 23:51
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Thu 17 Sep 22:13
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Wed 16 Sep 20:42
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Tue 15 Sep 20:51
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Aug 2009

Tue 4 Aug 16:13
- Ketoro position

Jun 2009

Tue 23 Jun 14:05
- web diary
Mon 1 Jun 19:26
- Planning for a different world