A great day out

Date: April 29, 2017
Trip #5 (#25)
Weather: Cloudy 
Waters: Choppy, then calmer in the Sinki Fairway, peak high tide at 1.40pm. 
On board: C, A, J2 and R 
New gear on board: Purple bath towels, raincoats for four 

It didn't start out promisingly. There were even a few sprinkles on the drive out to the 
marina. The wind was up, and we could see the currents sweeping into the dock area. 

But we headed out anyway. 

This was one of those days when the water was choppier just off the marina than out in Sinki Fairway. We got to Pulau Hantu in good time, and moored in the lagoon between Hantu Besar and Hantu Kechil. 

The name of the boat has been newly added to the back of the rear seat,
post-boat show.

It was to be a great day out in the way we call it a great day out.  For some people, getting a good haul of big fish is a great day out; for others, perhaps, wakeboarding or sunning themselves to a crisp on the boat. 

For us, being anchored off Pulau Hantu Kechil on a cloudy day, at high tide, turning the music up, breaking open the wine or beers would be as good as it gets. In fact, it was pretty darn near perfect. 

A pause. R and J2, post-dropping anchor. Capt C was checking
to see whether the anchor was properly... uh... anchored.

Nerd's side note: The depth gauge said 1.3 m in the lagoon, but it was actually 1.6 to 2m (or more) deep. How do depth gauges work? Where do they take their depth measurement from - the bow? Middle of the hull? Stern (unlikely)? It couldn't have been that the lagoon floor was all hills and valleys. It seemed to be a flat, sandy bottom, but yet the depth gauge showed readings of between 1.3m and 9m from one minute to another. Go figure. 

Pic by J2, who was in roughly 1.6m water.

Folks come up with all sorts of crazy inventions. Look what A found online through Pinterest today:   Magic Swim. 

A swimming pool set up just off the swim platform of your boat when the sea is all around you - more water than you would ever want to swim in??

When you think about it, it is a a pretty good idea, and those crazy Italians are on to something: 

• It is of adjustable depth, so if you get one that is, say 1.4m deep, nobody ever needs to expend energy treading water. Good for non-swimmers or those with aqua phobia (yes, we are looking at you, A.) Leaves your hands free, say, to hold a beer or a glass of wine or Cheetos. 
• Look ma, no need to fight the currents within this safe, enclosed space. 
• Look ma, no jellyfish or other critters too. 

The fine print: this thing costs 1,200 euros. Make that S$1,826.24 at current exchange rates. Argh.

Finding a good anchoring spot - on the third try

Date: April 22, 2017
Trip #4 (#24)
Weather: Drizzly and then sunny 
Waters: Choppy, then calmer much later
On board: C, A, J2 and R 

The weather has been bad for boating lately, but today... today, the weather app said it would be fine in the afternoon. 

It was wrong, of course. 

A drizzle fell en route to the marina, and didn't let up even as we headed out to Lazarus Island, our destination. We picked to go there because its bay is relatively deep, so although the tide was to be at its lowest at 2pm, we would be able to anchor there. 

We had hardly reached the Elbow when Captain C made the call to turn back. If the waters were so choppy even in such relatively sheltered water, it would be far worse out in Sinki Fairway. 

Captain C: The safety of his passengers comes first.

We decided to do a float instead of making for a particular destination. Spot #1 was near the long jetty about a third of the way to the Elbow. We dropped anchor, but the waters were so choppy that J2 was feeling ill. 

Spot #2 was halfway to Puteri Cove, just off the Singapore Armed Forces' live-firing area. Sure, we heard some muffled booms on this Saturday afternoon, but since the Coast Guard wasn't around to shoo us away (like they did once last year, when we were fishing off Puteri Cove), we anchored, broke open the sandwiches and pretzels and beer, and turned up the music.  

That didn't last. A few minutes later, a Coast Guard patrol boat came by and, through their loud hailer, the officers advised us to move out of the area. 

Spot #3 was about 200m from the entrance to the marina. Dropped anchor a third time, and this time, we stayed put till the end of the outing.  

An eagle soared overhead, and at one point, went into a tight tuck and
barrelled seaward. We thought it was going after a fish, but at the last minute,
it pulled up and shot away skyward again. Dang, left my telephoto lens at home. 

The drizzle had stopped and the sun came out with a vengeance. It was hot, so J2, C and then R went into the water to cool off. The water was also calmer now, but only looked that way. The current was strong; one needn't swim to be swept 3m from the boat in 10 seconds; the swim back to the boat was a strain, they found! 

The dip in the water was to tire them out far more than they knew.
They were zonked by dinner time.

So what looked like a scrappy outing - the drizzle, the inability to find a good spot to drop anchor - turned out quite nicely after all.

This landlubber stayed on board, fighting her demons about treading water.

Back at the marina ...

Raffles Marina cements her reputation as the place to watch sunsets.

At the Singapore Yacht Show 2017

This is how it's done, Eric once told us. He called it "being ship shape".
 Mooring rope for Little Wanderer 2 at the Singapore Yacht Show 2017

Little Wanderer 2 is on show at the Singapore Yacht Show being held this weekend  (April 6-9, 2017) at the One Degree 15 Marina at Sentosa Cove - just one of the many vessels Eric Koh of SG Boating is showcasing in his missionary zeal to get more people sold on the boating life.

LW2, flying the banner for Sea Ray, lived up to her name all right, being one of the littlest boats there. Many other vessels, outfitted like palaces of the high seas, made her look really tiny. (OK, at least one other boat there was smaller than ours.)

Random bunch of people in front of Sea Ray's
Sundancer 260, the best in the show. Haha.

Aside from the boats on the water, the indoor exhibitors were hawking boat toys and accessories, along with other items that are questionably related to boating - like women's clothing and private jets. Half a dozen Lamborghinis also yowled into the dockside area and parked next to each other while everyone gawked.

I guess the event wasn't 100% about boats as much as it was about a Swish Lifestyle that most people won't come even within sniffing distance of.

But if you have the dough, you could pick up your own submersible. The base model starts at a million euros for a two-seater and shows you the wonders of undersea life without your needing to get wet or have a problem equalising the pressure in your ears. (The unspoken thing was that you would probably have to own one of those said palaces of the high seas that would have a hold in its hull to accommodate this toy.)

If you have the dough (yes, this clause is necessary for so many things at this show), you could also cut a cheque for your own jet and a luxury apartment somewhere in Melbourne, complete with a berth for the super yacht you probably already have...

Those looking to drop somewhat less money can buy luxe bed linen, fluffy towels and soap dispensers for their boat-board shower room... or perhaps support the Nature Society Singapore by buying its birdwatching guide. (We did, for S$24. Hey, it will come in useful for spotting bird breeds from the boat.)

The weather has been really crappy lately. We hope to be able to get out on the seas on LW2 again soon.    

The first outing in 2 months

Date: March 18, 2017 

Trip #3 (#23)
Weather: Sunny 
Waters: Mostly flat
On board: C, A and J2 
New gear on board: Melamine plates (with blue Mediterranean-inspired design, no less) for future high dining on the high seas, and an in-board flushing kit 

This was our first trip out on LW2 since the Sebana Cove journey, hampered as we were week to week by bad weather and an assortment of distractions and obligations, but mostly unseasonable weather - rain, unfavorable tides and currents. December wasn't as wet, and it just seems like the skies have been making up for lost time; it's been a wetter-than-usual January/February. 

We were only three today. The day was cheerfully sunny and the waters mostly calm.  

I noticed this tableau from a few outings back. It is about 15 minutes after the
boat leaves the marina and before it reaches "The Elbow". It looks to me 
such a sad scene: it's a place where retired buoys go to spend their last days, 
baking in the sun on terra firma before they crumble and die.  

There was no plan. We came upon Pulau Hantu and decided to berth in or around the lagoon. It was just after 1pm and the tide was coming in, and for once, the mouth of the lagoon wasn't awash in that ugly brown seaweed.

The waters of Pulau Hantu Besar lagoon were a little too shallow still; the depth gauge went crazily from 1.4m to 10m, probably confused by the rocks on the seabed. We rounded the island and berthed instead in the channel between Hantu Besar and Hantu Kechil. 

The sun beat down and the guys went into the 1.4m water to cool off. Music on. Beers downed. Cashews and macadamia nuts crunched.

A, fiddling with her telephoto lens, a Christmas present, got this.   

 

It was a peaceful hour or two. We shared the lagoon with only one other boat - two dudes who were there, but not to fish. Must be good pals. Hahaha. The reverie was briefly broken by a convoy of three water scooters. They didn't get the memo about such toys being banned in the lagoon. 

The sun ducked behind the clouds briefly and we got a
"Our Daily Bread" moment. Cue soaring violins and religious awakening. 

After we got back to the marina, C hosed the boat down, and used a plastic attachment to hold the dock hose to an outlet in the boat engine. We ran fresh water through the system for a while to rinse out the saltwater. Not many boat owners do this, but we have decided to protect our investment.

It used to be simpler to do with LW, no need to lift up the rear seat and see the innards of the engine. We just attached the hose to an outlet on the outboard engine.

LW2 has power steering, which makes it more of a challenge to steer while out on the water; "trimming" is also required while underway to get the boat level, unlike with LW. Overall, it's a more sophisticated beast than LW was.

We are still getting to know our new boat.

 

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.)