#22 - Belitung to Singapore

01N20.6 103E37.9

Belitung was lovely a lush, tropical version of Magnetic Island in Queensland. Huge granite boulders around a beautiful white sandy beach with clear water. Enough anchoring area for the whole rally fleet and secure in just about all winds which we needed as we had a few thunderstorms during our 5 day stay.

From Belitung we day hopped, not wanting to do any overnighters!!
Belitung 02s33.3 107e40.4
to Bankka 02s08.7 106e16.2
to Lingga 00s16.7 104e58.8
crossed the Equator at 00s00.0 104e47.6
and then Bintan 00n56.2 104e26.6
where we cleared out of Indonesia
and finally Raffles marina after clearing in at the sisters at 01n20.6 103e37.9 a little over 400nm in 10 days.

Crossing the equator was done at 9am in the morning under blue sky and flat seas! We dressed up as mermaid and mermen and cast an alcoholic beverage to the four winds. Took stacks of photos! The weather was very unlike the days before and after with grey leaden skies and windy conditions with squalls just about every day. In a way it was good the weather has been windy as we have managed to sail a lot. Most yachts have motored through the rally as they are heavy boats. Even the majority of the catamarans have motored heaps.

We have done well out of the 2030nm we covered in Indonesia, we have used 540litres in both outboards, our dinghy and the main 25hp. We calculate that we managed to sail over 60% of the way. We don't know of another boat in the rally that can better that! We are one of the lightest boats in the rally.

Now that we are in Raffles marina we are busy getting the engine repaired, restocking with certain items of food that we can't get in Malaysia and Thailand and looking at all the electronic gadgets we can get in Singapore. Our wish list has increased a mile!! The engine managed to get a large clear plastic sheet wrapped around it just before we crossed the Singapore straits. We were lucky we were able to sail with wind and tide at 7-8knots across the narrowest part of one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes! The engine would overheat at the drop of a hat so John had the cowling and cover off and constantly sprayed it with fresh water till we reached our destination. A very stressful, nerve wracking experience. James feelings were the opposite. He was in heaven. Big ships, barges, tugs, dredges, mobile oil rigs and cranes everywhere. Planes flying overhead and something large and mechanical wherever you looked. He was so excited by our arrival in Singapore.

Since we have been in the marina we have had trips to all the main shopping and tourist areas. James has loved the MRT (train system) and buses! We have also been to the Singapore childrens hospital to have Jamies arm looked at. He had it in plaster for four weeks after falling at a restaurant in Lovina, Bali. We had been recommended to have it plaster for two weeks we had left it on for 4 and then cut it off just before Bintan. At Singapore they xrayed it and told us that it still hasn't healed completely so he is now in plaster again for another 2-3 weeks! No more swimming for a while.

The Raffles marina is fantastic. It is like staying at a five star resort. We have three restaurants, a pub, a swimming pool complex, gymnasium, largest chandlery in Singapore and free internet access, a bowling alley as well as tennis courts and table tennis. They supply freshly laundered towels everyday and also free newspapers. There is a golf buggy ready to drop you at your yacht if you are too lazy or drunk to walk the short distance!! Haven't used it yet....

We hope to depart Raffles Marina Thursday morning and head into Malaysia. We will update this blog as we go!!