Indonesia – West Bound 2022

Departing Australia… We cleared out of Cullen Bay Marina in Darwin with the Australian Border Force who we’re very friendly and had us on our way with no problems at… Read more: E33 – DARWIN TO INDONESIA (PT 1/2)

Arriving in Saumlaki, Indonesia… The second part of the crossing from Darwin to Saumlaki, Indonesia saw our Raymarine main GPS chart plotter fail to lock our GPS position even with… Read more: E34 – DARWIN TO INDONESIA (PT 2/2)

Checking In at Saumlaki… We found the process at Saumlaki confusing as our agent had failed to show and without internet, we were unable to reach him. Checking in shouldn’t… Read more: E35 – SAUMLAKI TO NAMTABUNG

Glass out conditions. We hauled up the anchor from 20m at Namtabung and headed west in a flat calm sea into the incredibly deep waters typical of eastern Indonesia where… Read more: E36 – NAMTABUNG TO LATALOLA BESAR

The anchor is dragging! As is often the case, I slept with one eye open and noticed the change in Starlight’s motion during the night. By the time I had… Read more: E38 – LATALOLA BESAR TO KAIWATU

Bailed from another anchorage! In the wee hours of the morning at Kaiwaitu, as we continued to roll badly from side to side, a large thunderstorm system threatened to put… Read more: E39 – KAIWAITU TO HELA

Sailing the pick out at Hela. As conditions were calm and the exit clear, I sailed the pick out in a light breeze in order to save as much fuel… Read more: E40 – HELA TO WETAR ISLAND (WEST)

Sailing out the pick. With a very light easterly breeze and wanting to continue to save fuel, we sailed the pick out at our little anchorage and headed further west… Read more: E41 – WETAR ISLAND (WEST) TO KALABAHI (1/2)

Fishing vessels EVERYWHERE! Continuing through the night after our passage across from Wetar Island, we found ourselves in a cloud of fishing vessels and FAD’s off the north coast of… Read more: E42 – WETAR ISLAND (WEST) TO KALABAHI (2/2)

Early morning start from Kalabahi. We left Kalabahi about 5:30am on a flat calm sea planning to time the tide which flows very strong in the passage between the islands… Read more: E43 – KALABAHI TO BLANG MERANG

Heading out of Blang Merang in calm weather. Taking advantage of a light and suitable breeze, we sailed the anchor out at Bang Merang and headed north through the reef… Read more: E44 – BLANG MERANG TO NORTH HADING BAY

Local fishermen at North Hading Bay. We totally nailed the anchorage at North Hading Bay after arriving in the in the pitch dark and in the morning were treated with… Read more: E45 – NORTH HADING BAY TO BATABOGA

Engine issues! We woke to a perfect sunrise in Bataboga but when performing engine checks, I noticed for the first time severe salt encrustation on the back of the engine,… Read more: E46 – BATUBOGA TO CIENDAH BAY

Leaving Ciendah Bay. With the epoxy on the engine appearing to be a good, solid seal, it’s time to get moving again from Ciendah Bay. Obviously there is more issues… Read more: E47 – CIENDAH BAY TO LINGEH

Sailing away from Lingeh. Due to light, but suitable winds, we were able to get some motor sailing happening as we departed. That wind slowly filled to about 15kts giving… Read more: E48 – LINGEH TO BAJO