Mergui Archipelago
Digiboat's "Product Testing"
Simon Blundell
Fri 17 May 2013 00:17
09:58.85N 097:51.756E
17/5
0100LT
Great progress last
12 hrs with the expected SW winds eventuating. Started with a slow but steady
sail with full rig up along the Phuket W coast winds light around 6-8 kn
broad reaching at 4-6kn. Later in the day, kicked off by a band of
thunderstorms peeking at just over 20kn we climbed quickly to 9-10kn boatspeed
with a reefed main and half furled genny. Fortunately we'd started cocktail hour
a bit early so our evening G&T wasn't interrupted by the need to perform
deck duties. The storms passed before dark and settled into the predicted
12-14kn allowing us to maintain a 9.1 kn average speed over a 40 mile leg. Winds
eased slightly to 10-12kn as we entered the southern islands of the
Mergui's before midnite.
Beam seas with long
period from what remains of the far-off ocean swells that manage to get past the
Andaman Island group give some of us a regular reminder that we're not level and
stationary - with local gravity anomalies throughout the boat being held
responsible for dumping bodies and galley items on the
floor.
The two ocean-going
punters have settled in well to passaging: Aimee has assumed the role of ship's
cook the last few days and was introduced to Pasta El Oro tonight which was
executed to perfection with Rogerio acting as Su Chef. The Jolly Roger is
actually not so jolly tonight being somehwat queezy - but still
functioning, and I don't believe he's fed any fish yet (but the trip's still
young). Silky and I exchange watches every 6 hours, or when tiredness
demands.
Expecting to arrive
at my World's favourite passage at Lampi Island mid morning today. This pristine
narrow channel between two islands with sandy beaches and a small sand island in
the middle is occupied by a local Burmese fishing fleet and there are usually
around 100 primitive fishing boats at anchor or buzzing around. I've been
through this channel a couple of times in the past and expect a large sailing
yacht is still a rare sight for the locals as they mostly just stare
open-mouthed and frozen in position when we transit here.
Looking fwd to these
terrific sailing conditions to continue for next couple of days
which should put us at the Irrawaddy delta on Saturday
night.
SJB