Trip to Sebana Cove

Date: Jan 14-15, 2017

Trip #2 (#22)
Weather: Sunny on outbound journey, and sunny, then stormy on return leg  
Waters: Choppy nearly throughout, except when going up or down river in Johor
On board: C, A, J1, J2 and R  
New gear on board: Carpet runners to protect carpet, coffee mugs 

It was another of those "admin" type trips that needed to be made as a condition of LW2 being registered with the Singapore Ships Registry; it was also what Eric of SG Boating called a "shakedown trip" to give new owners the opportunity to get to know their boats better, and to surface any technical problems the boats may have. 

This was the longest trip we have been on. We started out at Raffles Marina out in Tuas, hugged Singapore's southern coast out to the east, cleared immigration in the waters off Sisters' Island, then headed further east and then north-westerly up Johor's south-eastern corner to Sebana Cove Resort to spend the night. It took nearly four hours in all.  

We set out from Raffles Marina at 8.40am to join a convoy of five boats: Joey (Eric's behemoth), Strike Force III, Khan's, Pursuit (carrying Captain Wandi and boat mechanic Henry) and our LW2. This was C's first real time at the wheel of our new boat, and he was getting used to the power steering. The water was choppy, except for a short stretch off Pulau Hantu. 

We cleared immigration off Sisters' Island. As we were adrift, the boat was tossed about quite a bit, and J1 felt barfy. The grey immigration officials' boat pulled up and we passed our passports and travel papers to the guy who held out a fishing net. What a quaint practice. We will never know why they got a little het up when A took a picture of them doing this. 

As we continued along Singapore's southern coast, we looked inland. Several landmarks - Reflections on Keppel Bay, Marina Bay, Sentosa Cove, Raffles City, the Singapore Flyer and the seafront condos on the east coast were recognisable. We rounded the far-eastern corner of the island where the airport was and headed up Sungei Sebina (according to Google Maps), which leads to Sebana Cove. 

The way to the marina along Sungei Sebina was lined with mangroves.

What guests coming in by boat see on arrival at Sebana Cove Resort. 

Upon arrival, we berthed LW2 in one of the far-end berths, away from the resort's main building. We cleared Malaysian immigration in a building within the resort's compound. 

Berthed, connected to shore power. 

As members of the convoy were taken on a tour of fruit farms - we passed on this! - we spent the afternoon on the docks, listening to music, breaking open beers and fishing (or rather, trying to fish). We caught nothing and lost one of our new lures. 

We were trying out C's new rods and tackle. The line broke too easily.
It was an aborted fishing attempt. We have never truly caught the fishing bug. 

From left: J1, R, J2 and C, trying to catch fish.

A pleasant, quiet afternoon after four hours bouncing on the waves. 

We later moved our things to the suite that we had booked, and spent time by the resort poolside, where we had more beers and wine.  

Room 212's view. The large room was good value for money,
and the staff were friendly across the board.

After a quick shower, we were taken with the rest of the group in a few mini buses to the nearby town of Pengerang, where we had a seafood dinner at You Kees. (Don't ask. That's exactly what it says on their signboard!) The place was abuzz on this Saturday night, with many mainland Chinese workers having dinner there, and drinking what looked like baijiu chased down with - get this - soya bean milk.   

The strip on which You Kees sits reminds me of Batu Pahat or Singapore in the 1970s. We bought some snacks for MH at a provision shop and got back on the bus to head back - but not before stopping at a roadside durian stall to buy a couple of the fruit. 

Surreal scene at the durian stall.
Closest to camera, from left, J1, Henry and Eric.

Back on the boat, we had the durian and drank a prosecco toast to R, on her 26th birthday. J2 and R spent the night on the boat, and C, A and J1 took the room. 

Breakfast was at the Boathouse Tavern the next morning, after which we cleared immigration and checked out. 

The convoy moved, going slow along the river, back the way we came, but turned to starboard at the river mouth and headed up Sungei Johor to Kong Kong Taison Seafood Resort for lunch. The boats all dropped anchor about 50m away - it was the first time C used the windlass - and we were taken ashore in groups in Captain Wandi's boat, Pursuit. 

LW2 (centre), the smallest boat in the convoy, anchored just off Kong Kong
Taison Seafood Resort in Sungei Johor. 

Kong Kong Taison Seafood Resort

As we hauled up anchor after lunch, the skies grew dark. We left the area, cruising through mostly flat water with Singapore's Pulau Tekong at starboard, until we hit the sea again. The rain came - hard. J1, R and A headed below deck, leaving C and J2 to take turns piloting the boat. 

It was a rough ride, and both J1 and R felt sick. LW2 powered bravely through the rain. Khan's hung back, so Captain Wandi had to move Henry the mechanic to Khan's to pilot it through the rain. This slowed the convoy down even as LW2 went ahead.  Later, as the skies cleared, Strike Force III and Khan's overtook us.

C later described it as "the storm of the century"; he couldn't even see the bow of the boat at one stretch. Down below deck, A (who experienced some bone-jangling moments with J1 and R), noticed the lashing waves; at one point, land wasn't even in sight.   

We went through immigration while adrift outside Sisters' Island again, after which the boats all parted ways. We headed back to Raffles Marina feeling - as many school-day compositions used to end - "tired but happy" that a good time was had by all.  

First overnight stay on board

Date: Dec 30, 2016

Weather: Drizzly in the evening, sunny the next morning  
Waters: Fairly flat
On board: C and A  
New gear on board: Cushions, potted plants, kettle, kitchen linens, bathroom and kitchen sundries 

We scheduled an overnight stay, specially to spray-paint the length of the anchor chain/rope at 5-metre intervals for a visual guide on just how much of it is paid out;  we were also expecting to meet Peter, the guy who will install carpet runners below deck. 

Arrived at the marina just past 4pm, headed for berth F11 (where Eric had earlier berthed the boat) and met Peter. With his two assistants, he had taken templates to make button-down runners that will protect the pale beige carpet lining the below-deck area. Eric had recommended these canvas overlays, which can be easily removed for passengers to enjoy the soft carpet - such as when everyone is all showered and has clean feet!  

We picked a pale beige canvas, just like the colour of the carpet. It will cost $750 and be ready in a week. 

The drizzle came and went, and we nearly couldn't get started on marking the anchor chain/rope with spray paint amid the wet. When it seemed drizzled out, C and A laid out all 30 metres of the chain/rope in five-metre zig-zags on the deck. 

Tape measure, old newspapers and
some back exercises.

We applied a layer of "flat white" (matt white) paint at five-metre intervals,
so that the second coat of fluorescent orange would pop. The hardware store
told us that, without the white, the fluorescent orange wouldn't
be truly day-glo.  

 
As we waited for the paint to dry, we brewed our first cups of coffee on the stove, using our Ikea whistling kettle and some Jed's coffee bags.

Below-deck area looking cosy with cushions,
bedsheet, flannel blanket, kettle, coffee cups and
(fake!) plants.  Almost like home.    

Time to enjoy a coffee and a ciggie while watching paint dry (literally). 

 We sprayed on the orange an hour later - not before A photographed another of the marina's spectacular sunsets:

Do we really need a caption for this? 

We then adjourned to the marina's bar for dinner and wine, and finished the wine later on board, sitting on the swim platform, just enjoying the quiet of the marina and the blue underwater lights. 

Retired for the night and were planning a shower on board the next morning, but thought better of doing this, because the marina was rapidly getting crowded; lots of boats were being launched for folks taking a New Year's Eve trip out. We canned the shower plan and C took his first drive back to the marina from berth F11. A, waiting by the dock, helped tie the boat when C pulled in without incident. Yay!  

Orientation Day

Dec 19, time for a "class" by Eric on boat parts and routines.

We showed up at the marina sans the family. We figured that since it was a lecture, there was no point in them being there, probably bored. Besides, the water, even within the protected marina, was so choppy.

Eric did a walk-through of the features of the boat and the routines we should follow each time we head out. He started with the in-board engine, lifting the hatch and pointing out the key parts.

I hope we remember all the details!

The water in the marina was so choppy - we're talking white caps! - that A felt sick after half hour of bobbing. He said this is typical December roughness, though the westerly winds, instead of north-easterly ones, were atypical.

The late-morning briefing ended with a lesson on how to handle 
the windlass at the bow,  and tips on how to mark the length of chain/rope
 with paint so we will know how much is paid out each time the anchor is dropped. 

C declined to pilot the boat out. Given the choppiness of the water, which was slapping against the dock, he had nightmare visions of the brand-new boat collecting its first scuffs and dents. The maiden trip out will have to wait a bit.

We will be signing up for the trip to Sebana Cove in mid-January - another one of those administrative trips that have to be undertaken as a condition of registering LW2 with the Singapore Ships Registry instead of MPA. (We did one such trip outside Singapore waters with LW too, to fulfill this condition. See that post here.)

The first ride out on LW2 with Eric

Date: Dec 16, 2016

Trip #1 (#21)
Weather: Sunny   
Waters: Slightly choppy 
On board: C, A, J1, J2 and Eric  

The new boat's AIS has been fitted, but a couple of other things still need to be fixed. But she was ready for another sea trial, this time with us on board.

We got to the marina at 1.30pm to find her on the water, with Eric's guys seeing to the fixtures. Below deck, Eric explained how the various appliances on board could be powered - either by generator, battery or on-shore power.

Eric had an air-con unit tented above the skylight to cool the below-deck area for today as the boat's air conditioner wasn't ready yet. The boys retreated there and pretty much spent the entire time below deck, eating sushi at the table that was set up over the main bed.

Armed with a measuring tape, A took some measurements in preparation for "interior decor".

The skylight above the bed/dining area below deck is why the
below-deck cabin is cheerfully bright. 

Eric took the wheel and we went out for a short spin. C and A stayed above deck with him, and J1 and J2, below. It was unseasonably hot for December, the tide was very high and the waters just outside the marina, choppy.  The boys told us later that they were tossed like corks below deck, haha. Eric said that if they don't use the portholes there, they can't see what's coming, so that's likely to happen!

Eric checks that it's all systems go. He showed us how to "trim" the boat
to achieve balance and be level while underway. 

We didn't go far. LW2 purred through the short round trip just beyond the marina, and up Singapore's western coast and back. The plan now is for C to take the wheel when we next head out.

New boat, new things to get used to - an anchor winch, or windlass, for one.
It was elbow grease with Little Wanderer. 

Checking out Little Wanderer 2

The new boat went on its first sea trial in Singapore on Dec 10, and later that day, the family made the drive out to the marina to have a look at it on the water. The AIS hasn't been fitted yet, so it's not ready for a trip out to sea.

But no matter. There's the business of clinking glasses of champagne, listening to music and checking out the boat, above and below deck. See the specs of the Sea Ray Sundancer 260 here.

We are thinking of having the boat's name moved to lower on the hull. 

A few amenities remain to be fitted, such as the shower head and the air conditioning system. But Eric knew we were coming to have a look at the boat, so he arranged for a temporary air-cond unit to be fitted to cool the below-deck space.

The space below is rather a uh... tight squeeze, but I suppose it won't matter when you are asleep. Mental notes were made about what to buy - cushions, bed linen, melamine crockery... and maybe a fake plant or two! 

Some Verve to mark the occasion. 

C sent his new Mavic drone up, and this is what it came back with: 

Little Wanderer 2 is in the upper row, sixth from top right.
Yes, it's bigger than Little Wanderer by a couple of feet, but still smaller
 than most of the boats berthed here! 

Another pic, with us posed! 

Looking forward to more adventures at sea. 

There's one feature we have on Little Wanderer 2 that we didn't have before: underwater lights! When the sun went down, we turned them on. 

Thanks for the memories, Little Wanderer

Yes, we are moving on ... to a bigger thing.

We bit the bullet a couple of months ago, and traded in Little Wanderer, our tireless steed of the sea, for a bigger boat - which will let us drop anchor and do sleep-on-board over-nighters off Singapore and maybe even Malaysia.

We had to pony up some money of course, but because Little Wanderer (a 2015 model Chaparral SunCoast 250) is still quite new - and we have taken good care of her - we got (what we thought was) a good offer from Eric of SG Boating.

Our new boat, a Sea Ray Sundancer 260, will have sleeping berths for four adults, a small on-board kitchen (microwave, stove-top), bath and head - all below deck - and seating space for about eight adults above deck. It will have an inboard engine, unlike Little Wanderer's outboard one.

Over the last two months or more, this boat has been on some cargo ship, taking the long route to Singapore from the US, via Australia. (Sigh, yes.)

On the night of Dec 7, this boat got towed from the port to Raffles Marina in the dead of night, in the company of police outriders.

The Sea Ray, still under wraps, arrived at Raffles Marina, late on Dec 7.

The next day, most members of the family - A and R excepted, because they were at work! - went to take a look at it. It was still parked in the wash bay for pre-handover inspection, her hull still virgin from Singapore waters.

The Sea Ray in the marina boat shed, many parts still under plastic wrap.

We are letting Little Wanderer go, but with a pang. She was ours for just over a year, and we had 20 memory-making trips, be they to the Southern Islands or just to float somewhere to fish or to chill.

C, and occasionally J2, have enjoyed piloting her. A and R have spent a lot of time in the seats up front, wind in hair and getting "marinaded" by saltwater. We have taken family and friends out, and bar none, the trips were memorable, whether or not we made an island landing, and yes, even when we were fighting off aggressive macaques.

There have been anxious times, like when we got into too shallow water (see this post), when the boat was practically beached (see this post), and when we had problems hauling in the anchor, which was stuck fast - twice, both in the channel off Puteri Cove, so we think it's a major Anchor Jinx.

In tribute to Little Wanderer, our new boat will be christened Little Wanderer 2.

Back on the water after 2.5 months

Date: Nov 13, 2016

Trip #20
Weather: Cloudy, then threatening, then clear   
Waters: Slightly choppy, especially off the SLNG terminal
On board: C and A  
New gear on board: DJI Mavic Pro drone

Litle Wanderer sits at the mouth of the Pulau Hantu lagoon at low tide. 
The deep brown patches are seaweed.
Mainland Singapore to the north of this. Photo by the new Mavic drone. 

That's the newspoint of this post, folks! It's a photo we've been wanting for a long time, and now that we've got it, it runs first, ahead of the preliminaries!

Now, the preliminaries: Talk of a long break from boating. It wasn't for the want of trying. Some weeks, we had stuff going on on Saturday, our designated boating day; other weeks, the weather screwed it up for us. Or the tides did.

With J1 still to return from Sydney and J2 in Milan on holiday, it was just the old fogies today. We were looking to fly C's new toy off the boat and getting aerial shots of Little Wanderer sitting amid the blue.

We arrived at the mouth of Pulau Hantu's lagoon to find it awash in seaweed. The tide was very low but just starting to turn. It was just calf deep even at the breakwater, so we cut the engine and floated there.

Fairly clear water. Pulau Bukom in the background. 

Seems to be the sargassum?

A short video of C putting the drone into take-off from the swim platform of the boat:

The skies turned dark as we ended the flight.

We waited it out. There was a thin drizzle, then the skies brightened. We headed for home base, and there, Raffles Marina laid out yet another one of its spectacular sunsets for us. We berthed the boat and C hurriedly assembled the drone again and got this from the dock:

It was so picturesque that a wedding couple were having a photo shoot there.

This was taken a few minutes before the pic above. C at left
at the controls of the drone, and A washing out the icebox.

This was Little Wanderer's 20th outing, and what a great day it was.