KOTA KINABALU 27june2012

Today we flew from miri to KK.we had a good aerial view coming in,seeing the lovely offshore islands,the stilt villages of phillipino immigrants on nearby island,and even sutera harbour marina,where will hopefully get a berth next month.our taxi driver could speak 10 languages and was very chatty in english.we arrived at jalan gaya-lovely street with trees,and our backpacker hostel- on 1st floor,with busy chinese restaurant below.walked a few blocks to waterfront.lots of colourful wooden boats,nice sunset,and found busy night market-esp the wet market with fishsellers loudly extolling their seafood.we had bbq fish,chicken and prawns,cold lime juices and then some Delicious mangos from market.

new anchor winch,miri,25june2012

A sucessful 2 day project,albeit hot,sweaty and dirty,and only sucessful because of supervision and tutelage by Jon from yacht Tweed.we had planned to renew anchor winch at end of year in phuket,as motor and gearbox old(1995) -rust and corrosion,and want something super reliable for next few years.when winch started slipping,we ordered a new one from australia,same brand,but more powerful model.We initially dismantled winch bit-which was fascinating as i had never seen inside a winch before it showed signs of wear and age..then struck problem of winch plate and gearbox being corroded together-problem eventually solved with a chisel and big hammer.after we got it all out we removed a circle of wood from the fibreglas s deck sandwich,and filled it with epoxy.first time to see and use 2 pack epoxy this made it stronger and prevents water going into wood..next day redrilled and countersunk (another 1st) 4 deck boltholes and countersunk winch hole-to put in bostik clear seal  copolymer seal as waterproof seal.put in new shiny winch after greasing all internal surfaces,and usingduralac between dissimilar metal surface to prevent corrosion.  and gearbox and motor.then attached 5 wires,and it worked perfectly!jon showed us how we can use it to go up the mast as well.kerry has put new shrinkwrap around cables.yet to grease terminals and actually all the motor and gearbox surface,then wrap in densotape,to prevent corrosion from exposure to seawater in anchor locker.we rode into miri to many small hardware shops to get replacemeny epoxy,clearseal,shrinkwrap,but yet to find densotape.
thankyou very much Jon

TRIP PLANNING BORNEO 22/06/2012

A great relief t safely arrive in miri.crossing the south china sea was our longest ocean passage yet.Looking back the first night was blowy and some swell,but then easy hydrovane sailing into wind or beam,,some motors ailing,but sailed 80%of time. Overnight slow sail till 0300'then motor,not wanting to arrive miri in dark.no fishing boats or nets or rubbish.passed some big gas platforms,all well lit.radar told us their distance.big mooring buoys around them,so gave adequate clearance.one made great sunrise photo.2nm from miri till can see buildings thru haze,and then the seahorse statue marking marina entrance channel.confirmed our berth with captain fin on phone.shallow at entrance and channel,about 2 hours till high tide.he helped us tie up.next door is veedon fleece.jon on our pier gave us a miri map and great miri/marina rundown.lovely little Maria.reminds me off rebar as surrounded by trees,with air of seclusion.shower,breakfast,ring Simon,the marina taxi,and into miri CBS,to do customs and immigration,and hire bikes.but all 20 hire bikes hired-to yachties! Mr tan will deliver 2 to marina tomorrow(10rm /week).lunch at miri cafe,walk to electrical shop,taxi back.we like miri.a few high rises.mainly 3 story concrete commercial buildings/ units in faded colors,with bright signs in Chinese and some English.few headscarves.mainly Chinese.lots od beer ads and lively restaurants- feels like another country compared to terengganu,mainland Malaysia.sundowners on our pier.nice to finally relax after our 5 day passage,have a few dRinks,and pick up more info on miri/ Borneo.had the last of the beef curry for dinner,and early to bed,with no night watches.

DAY 4 Crossing we'd 20062012

DAY4 CROSSING SOUTH CHINA SEA 19062012

DAY 3 crossing Monday 18062012

DAY 2 sunday17062012

2 mter swell o/n.tethered on in cockpit o/n as usual.nightwatches=2 hours,with 1/2 hour changeover

0800 HF radio daily rally sked.

CROSSING TO MIRI 16062012 day 1

after changing 2 primary fuel filters,washing yellow scum off dinghy,loading dinghy,and doing goodbyes,we left terengganu,n e  malaysia,to cross to miri,sarawak,about 680 nm.the weather forcast was good.we headed northeast to go around oilfields,then planned to stay north of indonesian islands in middle with rumours of piracy,then angle down to miri.started motorsailing,4pm=sailing,6pm=1st reef,8pm=2nd reef,as wind and swell rose.yesterday we bought a kilo of beef and a whole chicken,and precooked them.today we cooked beef curry and 2 chicken stirfries,enough for 5 nights.tonight it was beef curry for dinner,just add tomato and yoghurt and reheat.

KUALA TERENGGANU AGAIN 13june2012

11june2012 KAPAS ISLAND AGAIN

11june2012-BOOKS

10june2012 snorkel pulau rawa

9june2012 another perhentian island hike

8june2012 perhentian islands turtle snorkel

7JUNE2012 PERHENTIAN ISLANDS-big walk

4june2012 REDANG ISLAND WALK

3june2012 REDANG ISLAND

31MAY2012 FLOATING MOSQUE

30MAY2012 LAKE KENYIR

29may2012 TERENGGANU STATE MUSEUM

29MAY2012 ISLAMIC EDUTAINMENT CENTRE

28may2012 KUALA TERENGGANU

25MAY2012 KAPAS ISLAND

21may2012 TIOMAN ISLAND

19052012overnight singapore strait to tioman island

120512 portdixon.13140512overnight to s'pore

port klang 11may2012

10may2012pangkor

9may penang to p.rimau

6-8 may2012 east malaysia sail rally- & dinner briefing

4may2012rebak to fiord anchorage,langkawi

may2012 haven hot on hard-boatworks

april2012-visit brother wal in iron knob

4dec2011 fly home-australia

mr zul-new bottom paint job

24nov2011 rebak marina

23nov2011telaga harbour marina

22nov2011langkawi-hole in the wall

21 nov 2012 pupau payer

test 06062012