I dedicate this chapter to my Family.
(It would be nice if I could write better).
(Beginning
to write November 15th based on my notes and memories).
2007.11.03 (day 405)
P.M.:
Lunch in town for 1.8 pa’anga 2 cookies at a local bakery.
Cleaned
the ship’s bottom, if I hadn’t, I’d be 1 knot slower.
(There’s
hardly any alga-repellent left on the bottom anymore).
Re-installed
the side stay, a young local kid helped me with this (12 y/o), then we talked a
little, I gave him some Spanish biscuits. J
He
liked Carina a lot. (Everybody speaks English here).
Untied three 25 liter water containers in the bow.
Completely
disassembled and inspected the rudder. Alas the copper trunk wore some again.
Shimmed the gap as usual with thin plates (razor blades).
Fixing the life raft.
Packing.
Route planning.
Shopping:
5
loaves of bread – 7 pa’angas
12
eggs – 6 pa’angas
3
kg bananas – 2 pa’angas
1
pineapple – 2 pa’angas
3
papayas – 3 pa’angas
1
kg cucumbers - 2 pa’angas
Festival food for 2 pa’angas local cookies.
A
local girl (Lilly) came to the ship and we talked. She was very happy and (weighed) 100 kgs
– naturally she was eating all the time J
Gala
dinner in town:
Ice
cream – 2 pa’angas
Chicken/sausage/vegetables
(local fare) – 6 pa’angas
1
beer at the local shinding place 4 pa’angas. It’s called Garden Bar and there
were some stormy shindings. Dancing!
Got acquainted with Ben 33 year old rugby player, who
has been living here in
This
too was a long day.
2007.11.04. (day
406)
About
100k people live here. Smaller than
The
majority is poor, there are about 30 millionaires. Average income 1 (hotel
waiter) – 3.5 (state employee) pa’angas per hour.
This
is the only kingdom in the vicinity, though the majority is anti-king.
The
reason is that the king died last year and his son became king, who is disliked
by the people in general.
The
other reason: that a few ambitious politicians want to abolish the kingdom so
they can gain more power. The agitated crowd burned half the town down last
year.
In
town, there’s a strong conflict between locals and Chinese. The Chinese rule
the market (every shop is owned by Chinese), and the locals don’t like it.
Interestingly
here too they keep asking when am I going to come
back.
It
is customary on the street to take the cigarette out of one’s hand, even if
they don’t know each other J
In
bars they drink each other’s beer J If someone has no money, he doesn’t
pay on the bus. People here are much more informal, this isn’t
I saw the king on Nov. 2nd, because that’s when
the Parliament closed its session. Then the king motored to his residence in an
open car with two other cars escorting, with kids standing and waving along the
road. Earlier he got mixed up in a marijuana affair, perhaps that too
contributed to his lack of popularity.
Got up at 7. Hai returned the charged batteries which I
quickly installed.
Departure at 8 using the engine.
1011 mbar
35°C
Sunshine with clouds, there’s no wind.
9 waypoints guiding me through the passage, quite winding.
Many reefs and it’s fairly narrow. Pendig on the tide there could be a 2 knot
counter current here, so it’s important to leave at the right time. (Ebb tide
at
Course: for the southern tip of Matuka, (dist. 298 nm 290°)
Breakfast: bread with preserves and banana.
The margarin is from Galapagos and the preserves from
Lunch: chinese instant soup, banana, papaya.
Wind: easterly Bf.2 then Bf. 2-3
Spd: 3-4 knots 290°
I’d like to sail south of Vatoa.
Tied the anchor down with yet another rope, I hope it’ll stay
in place this way.
Alas the compass light is absolutely bad, I must buy another
lamp (and must alter the principle a little as well).
Dinner: bread, canned beef, cucumber.
Unfortunately the mp3 player doesn’t work. The error message is
written in Chinese because that language was installed. In other words I don’t
know what’s wrong with it.
Steering a few hours in the evening, then autopilot.
The night is calm and quiet, the easterly wind weakened to
Bf.2.
2007.11.05 (day 407)
1017 mb morning, 1010
mb afternoon.
27° morning, p.m. already 33°
Got up at 5, sunrise at
Wind: Bf.2 east
Spd.: 2-3 knots, toward 280°
Breakfast: canned beef (yesterday‘s leftover), bread,
cucumber, banana
Raining for 1 hour, then sunshine again.
The wind died down at 9, started engine.
Wind blowing slowly and weakly, sailing at 2 – 2.5 knots
280°, mainly butterflying.
Made 92 nm during 24 hours.
A.M. resting and reading.
Lunch: Chinese instant noodles.
P.M.: wind strengthening around 2. Bf.2-3, so my speed is 3-4
knots 300°
Dinner: beef with scrambled eggs, cucumber, bread, banana.
Alas the noise is 6, but I can hear Péter.
Péter (VK2VZ, Sydney) 5-9
He also can hear me well (5-6 report received).
Feri (HA3MQ) isn’t there today.
POS (20-28S; 177-18W) 179 nm to my first target.
Expected wind 17 kts East.
This conversation of a few minutes means the OUTSIDE WORLD
and REALITY to me, it means a lot. Thank you.
The night passed calmly. When the autopilot and battery are
working they steer the ship at night. Then I check direction and mainly the
wind every 2 hours.
2007.11.06 (day 408)
The sun is shining.
1017 mb
30, then 32°
In the morning cleaned the toolbox, alas my tools keep
rusting all the time.
Breakfast: scrambled eggs with red chile, cucumber, onions,
bread.
Made 80 nm during 24 h.
Wind: Bf.2-3 E
Spd.: 2-3 kts 280°
A.M.: Sorting maps. Pulled out #83590.
(1:350000, south-eastern part of
Course change at
Lunch: banana, papaya
After
It’s coming slowly, 2-3 knots from 310°.
Dinner: Chinese instant soup.
14.287 MHz (USB)
Noise level 5.
Péter 5-7, though at
times the noise completely blanked him out, but I understood everything.
POS (20-04S; 178-41W)
80 nm during the past 24 h.
Weather forecast: light winds can be expected.
My stomach is slightly upset, it started in
Bottled water from now on and and simple meals.
My speed was 3 knots, hers must have been around 15-20. Lit up
my sail but no reaction. Called her on VHF when she was about 1 mile away, but
no answer, I called again!
“This is CARINA sailing boat. CARINA sailing boat. Do you
read me? Do you see my position?”
She answered.Identified herself.
Told her my course and speed: “My direction is west making 4
knots…”
Then she slowed down and finally noticed me and changed
course. I thanked him profusely and wished them good night. He said good bye
too and “see you again”. I don’t insist on that. J
1.
I
should have a mast light.
2.
Lighting
should be with LEDs.
3.
More
battery
4.
Should
put the radar reflector up higher
Aron, wake up!
OK, one of these days ..J
I heard that ship’s traffic was heavier here. From now on:
less sleeping at night and more checking (at least every 20-30 minutes).
2007.11.07 (day 409)
Slept little at night, watched the ocean. At 4 made home-made
cottage cheese from my milk. Good
entertainment, doesn’t make much sense but it’s fun.
Wind: Bf.2-3 E
Spd.: 3-4 knots 270°
Haven’t seen any ships since that memorable incident, but
there is continuous watch in the ship: 24 hours.
Breakfast: coffee, bread with preserves (preserves are now
gone), honey on bread, banana.
Wind: Bf.2
Spd.: 3 knots 280°
I’m tired and in a bad mood because of lack of sleep, that you
can get used to theoretically, since I’ve been doing it for more than a year.
But in reality, if I want to be honest, you can never get used to it. Of
course, the feeling that comes at this time is pleasant sometimes. J
73 nm made during the past 24 h.
Mainly butterflying when I am steering.
32°
1010 mb
Lunch: the last banana and a pineapple (which is the first
and also the last one)
Unfortunately my bugs like fresh fruit, greens, bread, their
storing is difficult, kept mainly in a bag hanging from the afterstay. They are
continuously soaking in the rain. The assignment: I must be smarter that the
cockroach! This is the key and the solution.
Dinner: Cream of lentils, canned beef, onion, cucumber.
Wind: Bf.2
Spd.: 3 kts, 300°
19:00 (6 UTC) radio
14.287 MHz (USB)
Noise level 5
Some Hungarians speak but can not understand because of the
noise.
Péter 5-9
Barely heard Jóska.
Also heard Árpi weakly.
Weather info: 16-19 kts easterly until Nov.11.
POS (19-47S; 179-58W) 122 nm to target.
Made 74 nm during the past 24 h.
The sun set after
At
A holiday moment. Naturally holiday rum for the Ocean, Carina and me.
Transited 0° (0E=>0W) more than a year ago off the
Algerian coast. Under very difficult circumstances.
“1522.July 9 was the day that once got lost in History. The
scriber and secretary of the Magellan expedition, Pigafeta, who spent three
years in the ship
Using candles for lighting for days now, found a good prop up
system (towel and book combination). Put the candle on the empty chile bottle,
perhaps a little aesthetic, but only moderately. It worked 500 years ago, it’s
completely OK now as well. Sailors used it in the old days, not so many in 2007
anymore.
The night passed quietly, but I kept getting up to check the
ship and traffic continuously.
2007.11.08 (day 410)
1016 mb (pm. 1012)
29° (p.m. 35°)
Breakfast: dinner leftovers, last papaya plus multivitamin as
usual.
Wind Bf.2-3 E
Spd.: 3 knots 280°
Finished reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s
P.M. fuel transfer #2. Tank => main tank 18 l, 1 tank 22 l
(Total 40 liters)
Must use the engine in the last section after the entrance,
for that I need a tankful (about 20 l). Inspecting the ship, I do it every day,
not my favorite pastime, but necessary.. For example: today a shackle holding
the port side stay got unscrewed, sometimes the wire securing the turnbuckle
breaks, that must be changed quickly. There’s plenty of work.
Made 70 nm during past 24 h, in good direction of course.
Steering A.M. as well as P.M., mostly butterfly.
Strong sunshine! It’s very hot!
Lunch: tomato soup.
Record: killed 4 cockroaches by 1 swat J
Dinner: pork patties, bread, onions, cucumber
Unfortunately I didn’t catch fish today, is it possible my
method is wrong?
14.287 MHz (USB)
Péter, (VK2VZ sydney
5-7
Heard Feri from Siklós.
Weather info: 13/17 kts east until Nov 10.
POS (19-36S; 178-49E)
The boom alignment bolt broke a few weeks ago, and now the
boom fell out of its rail. Temporarily secured with rope.
Dolphins escort Carina at sunset, there may be a hundred of
them.
At night: continuous watch. Passed calmly. At 2 the wind
picked up to Bf.4 and rained too, but Bf.2 again after an hour.
2007.11.09 (day 411)
Dawn: spotted Kandava at sunrise (it’s southern part) 22 nm
distant. From there my course is northerly.
1014 mbar
31° (P.M. 33°)
Wind: Bf.3 E
Spd.: 3 kts 290°
10:30 POS (19-19S; 178-03E)
72 nm during past 24h
Breakfast: yesterday’s leftovers and canned corn.
Lunch: Indonesian instant soup (chicken), canned fruit
P.M.: Steering continuously, trying to speed up the ship. It
would be good to arrive tomorrow evening. Alas the winds have weakened greatly.
Spd.: 4.5 knots
Raining. Raining. Raining.
Dinner: milk, oatmeal with little sugar, have no patience to
make scrambled eggs.
14.287 MHz (USB)
POS (18-52S; 177-45E)
Noise level 6.
VK2VZ Péter,
5-9
Expected wind: 13-15 kts from 110-95°
I can hear other Hungarians talking, but unfotunately very
weakly and can not lunderstand what they’re saying. Expect to arrive tomorrow
evening or morning the day after tomorrow, radioing uncertain tomorrow.
Got up half-hourly during the night to check the course and
the ship. Passing by
Then I light a candle and read.
2007.11.10 (day 412)
At 5 dawn made some fine scrambled eggs. Ate it with cucumber
and bread. Afterwards I drank a cocoa.
At 7, after sunrise I can see the island.
Wind: Bf.1 (Sea state 1, have seen this before. The waves are
small).
1012 mbars
32°
It would be nice to arrive in daylight.
12 nm to the entrance, but the wind is Bf.0-1
For some reason the engine was weak around the end. Perhaps
because of the sparkplug.
Fuel transfer: there is 22 liters, I need this from the
entrance (the port is 22 nm from there)
So sailing at 1-2 kts and waiting for the wind.
Steering and maximizing the speed.
80 nm made good past 24 h
Lunch: Indonesian instant soup (rather spicy)
The entrance isn’t simple, there could be strong current, not
too narrow though. Saw a sailboat, called on VHF. Ch.16 but alas didn’t answer.
According to my calculations it would be best to enter after
The engine is not OK.
(Navula Passage and vicinity)
Nov.10.
I suppose the propeller shaft broke. Because there are many
trees/vegetation/everything floating near the islands, they could easily have
blocked the propeller and therefore broke the shaft. This has happened when
tying up at
I cannot check it in these large waves. Repair out of the
question.
--- I can not transit
the entrance (Navula Passage) without the engine. Shoals on both sides, strong
current back and forth and variable, weak winds. The entrance direction is 77°,
typically there are easterly headwinds.
--- There are no safe
anchorages nearby or farther, continuous shoals before the entrance all along
the island. I’d anchor and fix the problem if I could. I have no map of this
area, only the MaxSea (digital map on the laptop, the laptop’s battery could
last 1 hour), carefully observed the surroundings and made sketches. Found a
small harbor nearby, though with a smaller entrance (POS: 18-03.6S; 177-15.9E),
but perhaps someone will answer my calls on the VHF radio.
VHF radio calls:
POS (17-59S; 177-11E)
Nobody answered.
Changed tactics: will try to sail in, could succeed should
the favorable wind last:
1.
Plotted
(wind direction, course to entrance, Carina is able to sail 60° against the
wind, she has a large slip), could succeed theoretically, if there’s no current
and the wind lasts.
2.
2.
The critical section is 0.8 nm, the entrance width is 0.3 nm.
The wind has died out completely and it’s raining, raining,
raining. Slowly drifitng toward the shoals, 0.82 nm distant. I can not stop (the ship), there’s no wind, only
current. Rowing doesn’t help.
OK. This isn’t a good tactic.
VK2VZ Péter,
Sydney, 5-9 Informed Péter of my situation. Asked him to inform my Dad of this.
Because there isn’t any ship’s traffic here, I’m unable to
ask anyone to tow me in..
Ship’s name, Pos., Problem. It seems they’re not watching the
VHF radio here.
Perhaps Dad can lfind somebody from
Trying to keep my position and not to get near the entrance.
Péter informed me of
the promises Dad was able to get from the Navy/Police/Rescue Center.
They promised to send someone out in the evening, so I was up
all night, kept my position and watched for the ship to come. Got ready to
shoot a rocket and my position lights were on of course.
No one came until 5 (POS: (18-00S; 177-10E), so I slept a
little between 5 and 7.
(Will use
Nov.11.
VHF radio:
Gave POS, described the situation.
Gave POS again.
(17-56S; 177-07E)
VK2VZ, Péter,
Gave my POS. again. Péter got the message from Dad, that some one will come out
during the a.m. and tow me in. He’s going shopping now, but will be on the
Internet with fresh news.
VK2VZ
Péter,
Gave my POS. again. Unfortunately there’s no ship for the time being,
trying to sail in, this is the message. It didn’t make me any happier.
I
was there about 20 minutes and a motor boat approached. Offered
to tow me to the Hotel Sea Shell’s buoy 2nm away because it’s safer. OK.
Ben
and Pat come over to my ship and they like Carina very
much. They work in the hotel. Their job is to take tourists out surfing.
I
had almost nothing to eat for a day. Only crackers and coffee
with rum. It was enough but not too tasty. Prepared a
large dinner.
Scrambled eggs.
Canned corn.
Soup
Hinano
(Tahitian beer)
After
Swam ashore to the hotel (100m swim, 100m walk – cut
my foot on a coral).
I
though it was Monday, but it was Sunday J Yet, I’m writing yacht log every day so that I can picture what day it is. Api, the local diver enlightened me of this. A reporter from
Fiji Times called me about the rescue we talked over the telephone, she liked
my web page a lot J Especially the opening picture.
Then
I went for a walk on the beach. There were many people fishing, generally two
together with a large net walking in the water. Then there are those fishing
with a throw-net.
Met
with some Fiji Indians on the beach, they offered beer. We talked, then they gave me a few fishes for dinner. 1 kg fish here
costs 6 FJD, they offered me this work. I should learn better how to fish.
Péter VK2VZ, 5-9
Outlined the engine problem. Outlined the towing problem.
I’m looking for a cheap solution, this is time demanding. If one has money, it
can be taken care of quickly. I have more time than money. Evening: reading
Hemingway by candlelight (The Nick Adams Stories)
Lessons
drawn from the incident:
---
The
engine problem is not yet a PANNE PANNE (urgency signal/tr)
call, but it could become a greater problem.
Later
could call PANNE PANNE or even MAYDAY (i.e.: drifting onto a shoal the hull
gets broken and I begin to sink, in this case my life is in danger: MAYDAY
call)
First
of all I’m thankful to everybody for everything.
In
more detail:
1.
Péter, VK2VZ, Sydney was our channel of communications,
without him I couldn’t have informed Dad of the situation.
Nov.
10.
2
I thank my Dad
unbelievably much. He organized the Saturday night rescue at
3
Handling engine
problem caused situations is not the function of the
Because
there wasn’t much traffic through this entrance, I had a hard time finding
another ship. A few months ago many yachts sailed through this vicinity, but
now the season is over. No one is sailing here anymore.
It
would’ve been better to check the engine out earlier and stop the first sailboat
with a danger signal, or trying the passage earlier in the afternoon with
stronger wind. Alas, one doesn’t know these things in advance.
My
main guiding principle was not to risk the ship. Generally this is most
important!
The story of
Carina’s tow.
2007.11.12 (day 414)
BULA
This
ended a long voyage, started from Koper 2006.Sep.24
and now I’m here in
I
saw a sailboat coming through the entrance, called on VHF (ch.16), didn’t
answer. She could be going to Vuda Marina. I certainly wouldn’t have the right
to signal danger now J For a large, 10-20 ton sailboat towing 1 ton Carina
would be nothing, they could tow her easily.
I thought if the Coast Guard knew I’ve not checked in yet it
might make them nervous. I should report myself, then they’d certainly tow me
to the port J
Appeared in the
The Immigration Office hasn’t seen me yet though.
Breakfast: coffee
A.M. packing things away in the ship.
It’d be risky to leave with sails alone. There are
continuously changing winds and strong currents here and of course reefs
everywhere (shoals).
Lunch: cream of beansoup, canned beef, onions, cucumber.
Spent the early afternoon at the hotel. Played ping-pong with
an Australian, who beat me of course. Talked with tourists, then played soccer
as well. Considering that I’m not a guest and didn’t pay a penny for anything,
they’re very kind. They asked no money for the tow or the buoy space.
MOST FREQUENT QUESTIONS:
1.
How
long on the voyage?
2.
When
and from where did you start?
3.
When
are you going to get home?
4.
Next
target?
5.
How
many countries have you been to?
6.
Where
did you tie up so far?
7.
When
did you shave last?
8.
How
big was the greatest storm?
Inventory:
1.
Quite
a few vitamins remaining for the next sections. Perhaps they’ll last until Koper.
2.
Because
I shall call in
Alas sprouting wasn’t succesful so far, now trying again with
radish seeds. Washed my trousers to have at least one clean one, but it didn’t
get any cleaner. (Used the last 25 liter tank with Panamanian water for the
heck of it for the wash.
Péter VK2VZ, Sydney 5-9
WA6HDD, Árpi, 2-5 (CQR, transceiver is in
Dad records the conversation through Árpi. Got a 5-4 report.
Couldn’t hear HA3MQ, Feri today.
Plan:
To visit both marinas by bus tomorrow, talk to them and see
what they’re like. Day after tomorrow or later they’ll tow me for 100-175 USD,
depending whether the target is Nadi or Lautoka. ( I’ll try to find the
cheapest solution). Internet in the hotel is 5 USD per hour – expensive !! –
surely must be cheaper in town.
Dinner: lunch leftovers.
2007.11.13 (day 415)
Increasingly more cockroaches. There are ones you can’t kill,
there are mutants, also some giant ones.
Exchanged 25 FJD in the morning (max. obtainable from the
reception for a 4% handling fee), then caught the
Visited the Swami
Bused to Nadi Marina (ticket 60 cents), in Denarau. Spoke
with the office manager of the marina office, then walked around the site. It’s
small and is not a cyclone shelter. He suggested Vuda Marina (The Marina at
Vuda Point).
Bused back to Nadi busdepot.
Lunch: cookies from a local bakery ($1.5F), with Indian
sweets (60 cents).
Took the bus (ticket 1.5FJD) to Vuda Marina (www.vudamarinafiji.com),
where the office told me they have no more spaces. Then at the plant Morua told
me OK, there is space, I can come. The manager sill decide tomorrow, I’ll have
to telephone the
Bused back to Nadi after hitchhiking to the main road.
Interneted for 1 hour for 3 FJD (the cheapest 1FJD/hour).
Late afternoon spoke with a Fiji Indian farmer at the bus
depot, they can not be the majority owner here. They lease either from the
state or privately. In most cases for free or for symbolic amount.
1 hundredweight sugarcane 50-100 dollars, of course there are
all kinds of animals on the farm, chickens, cows, horses.
The bus depot is full of Indians, it’s as if I were in
Got back to the Shell Hotel at
2007.11.14 (day 416)
Ate the leftover beans for breakfast, at least now it’s gone.
Swam ashore but was picked up by the motor launch halfway.
Had a fine hot tea with the divers in the morning, then
called the
We are waiting for Carina with love. Whew! This is done!
Then walked over to the ship’s owner, the whole family was
there except Mike, so I had to wait. They invited me for tea and pancakes. Got
to meet the whole family: John, (grandfather), Dix, Max, Geru, Marry…then Mike
arrived and we went out to the yard and negotiated the details.
The significant part of the dialog in English was like this
while they spoke in
-
200
FJD
-
Just
the fuel cost that much
-
240
FJD
-
400
FJD. Ship’s rental fee, captain’s fee for 1 day…
-
That’s
too much. I spoke with several people, nobody wants that much. (This wasn’t
true). I could ask someone from the
-
Make
an offer.
-
Max.
300 FJD, I can’t pay more. (350
-
OK.
We want to help you – said captain Mike, who kept quiet all this time.
Towing taken care of. Whew! That’s done too!
I was reading the Lonely Planet that I borrowed from the
diverbase.
Ping-pong matches:
John (Swedish, just graduated economist)
Charles (Australian, holds Phd in chemistry)
Naturally I was the worst, but at least had some fun.
In this hotel everybody stays 1-2 days only, then they visit
1 or 2 smaller islands. So I’m the “oldest” guest, of course this isn’t very good
business for the hotel J
VK2VZ Péter,
5-9
HA3MQ, Feri, 5-9
Dinner: noodle soup with a lot of noodles. Afterwards my
stomach got upset from something.
2007.11.15 (day 417)
Theoretically this is my birthday, but it isn’t important for
me anymore.
If it’s a good day, then good day, if not, then not a good
day.
The day is good when I can sleep, eat (and there’s a good
wind) J
Celebrated my previous birthday in the
Several people told me that I’m Fijian because I’ll be here 6
months.
I answered that my skin is white, my eyes are blue, my hair
is blond, I’m very European. “That doesn’t count!” Received a name too: Ároni J
The tow, et al went well. They ran out of fuel 3 nm before
the marina, so I dropped an anchor while they went to get gas. Then Meil came
over to Carina, gave him biscuits and naturally a little whisky too, alas he
couldn’t hold his liquor, he was slightly drunk by the time we arrived at the
marina. J
After 11 we arrived at the Vuda Marina (www.vudamarinafiji.com).
Moored at place no.20, thanked captain Michael Vukuwale, Deve, Seru and Meil
for the tow. They invited me for Christmas on their island several times. I
said OK. I don’t have any other programs then…
Millie, the manager received me with kindness. She’s helpig
with everything, regarding the fast paperwork and ship’s space. Because I
couldn’t tie up at the Customs Pier, 5 officials came out and quickly filled
out the documents at the table. Previously one came into the ship and noticed
the cockroaches. He was quite upset about this situation. I must exterminate
the cockroaches before I can lift Carina ashore. Had to pay 304 FJD to the
officials:
Health, Customs, Agriculture, Port Authority, Immigration. Of
that 200 FJD was their calling fee.
Packed things away in the ship.
Dinner: biscuits.
VK2VZ Péter, 5-5, informed him about the marina
HA5CAR Karesz, 5-1
HA3MQ, Feri, 5-5 he relayed the messages
The time of the next radio schedule is uncertain because I’m
going to lower the mast and antenna.
Evening: wrote and wrote the yachtlog. My main aim is for
everybody to better understand the theme and get to like sailing a little.
Rained all evening.
The WLAN internet in the harbor is free but slow. After
I’m netting from
Nov. 16
Slept unitl 10 in the morning, then went into Lautoka
hitchiking and by bus.
Lautoka is the sugarcane capital here, everything is about
sugarcane. Not a very beautiful town, very small: market, bus depot and main
street.
Bought a new cell phone (Motorola, Motomanual) for 49 FJD, I
can use up the 49 dollars with the card. This new company was founded Inc (1mp – 1 cent),
Bought 2 small lamps for the compass (60 cents).
Cockroach killer (6.5 FJD) and a strong cleaning fluid (2.4
FJD), will hold a ship cleaning over the weekend. Bought mosqito repellent
crème 2.2 FJD, there’s dango-fever here sometimes and many, many
mosqitoes.
Breakfast, lunch in an Indian eatery 3.4 FJD (curried chicken
with pancakes and curry sauce). The town is full of Indian eateries.
There are 3 radio stations here:
1.
2.
Hindu
language
3. English language
P.M.
Went to the marina’s sailing shop. May put up a mast light.
The 15W 3 colored underway light is 131 FJD
The 10W white mastlight is 21 FJD – this is what I’m going to
buy
Will change the sternlight too: the 10W sternlight costs 23.3
FJD
Met Hans, a German captain, around 60 who left sailing from
home 31 years ago with his wife. This 40 foot, old steel hulled ship is their
third.
Then spoke with Brian, who is one of the managers of BaoBab (www.baobabmarine.com)
land, will inspect my ship’s bottom on Monday. I suspect osmosis in a few
places under the waterline.
Started drinking with the security guard and the gardener,
later joined with us Morua, the marina’s all around man and assistant manager.
He’s been working here for 15 years, from the beginning. Before this he worked
at the Suva Royal Yacht Club. So he must know about ships.
Masa invited me to his house, so we left after
We had dinner then a coffee ceremony.
Meanwhile they played a local game with french cards, it was
very simple. The winner got food packets. I told them about
After an hour only the young ones remained. Bon, Franco,
Masa, Dave…then we started to mix coffee and beer, I fell asleep while watching
the netball (it’s like basketball but different, there is nothing like it in
Had breakfast with Masa and walked along the beach to the
next little village to his buddy.
Then, late morning I swam back to the marina.
Cleaned and killed cockroaches all day. Got some boric acid
from a neighboring sailboat (Australian couple). I’m sure I won’t have any
cockroaches after a few weeks!
Spoke with a few sailors about many subjects.Basically it’s
difficult to get Indonesian sailing permit, I don’t know the reason why. So,
many will start in the Darwin Sailing race, for every sailor gets it because of
the route. Of course actually only a small portion ot the initial starters take
part in this race, the majority goes to the office www.sailindonessia.net
for the permit only. (From Gene, captain of Emelia)
Lunch and dinner: biscuits and coffee. Swithed to biscuits
quite a lot. I have many and they’ll expire shortly.
The usual evening program: free net in the laundry.
Translation by Laszlo AA7UY