Year 2- 5th November 2025 – Royal Langkawi Yacht Club

It was a very quiet and a still morning when we woke and the water was like glass. We had tea and breakfast and Ruth had a swim. We were going into the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club but they had explained that the currents had been strong recently and advised that we should come in at slack water (when the tide does not run) between 11.00am and 12.30pm.

We therefore upped the anchor about 10.40am and motored round the island toward the marina. This took about 15-20 minutes and as we came into the marina entrance the wind increased and in fact we could see a rainstorm ahead. The wind has come from nothing to gust about 23 kts. I saw a red yacht in front of us going into the marina and in trying to come into a finger of the pontoon he got pinned against the end. I decided to come out of the marina and wait until things calmed down as I saw another rainstorm ahead. After we had come out the marina contacted us by radio and asked us to delay coming in until things calmed down. I had already made that decision.

We floated about for 20 minutes or so and then things calmed down and the rain moved off and the wind was down to about 10kts. I therefore informed the marina we were coming in and we entered the marina entrance where I noticed there was still some current. I went down between the pontoons and past our mooring and then reversed in with the marina staff helping take the lines. We sorted ourselves out and got comfortable and we had to borrow an adapter so we could use the electricity.

I went up to the office to check in and to find out what facilities there were etc. There was a nice pool by the entrance gate and a shower and loo block beyond it. There were several restaurants and bars in a warehouse shaped block and a small chandlery. It seemed to be well catered for.

The crew went off to the pool and bar and to relax. I went to the ferry terminal to check in with immigration and customs etc but came back as our agent should be doing it. There was a duty-free shopping mall attached to it.

I came back and spoke to the agent who also had my new mainsail which I am excited to get. The agent said she would come and get the documents and that the sail would be delivered about 4.30pm outside her office. I therefore had time for a swim and then a shower and joined the others in the bar for a beer and a snack.

The sail arrived on time and we had prepared a trolley. It was in a large cardboard box and the 5 battens were in their own polythene bag. We wheeled it round to the boat and put it in the cockpit. We had it – so far so good. The wind was too much to consider doing anything today.

The agent had recommended a restaurant called Wonderland which was about 10 minutes by car and did great seafood. We therefore decided to try it and got a taxi at about 6.45pm. Unfortunately it was closed so the taxi man recommended one nearby which also did seafood. We actually had a good meal there and it was very reasonable and the food was tasty and pleasant.

We returned to the marina and had a final beer and then returned to Stormbird and we were ready for bed.

We hope to get the old mainsail off tomorrow and the new one on but let’s see how the weather is in the morning.

The picture of the day is a picture of the marina at sunset.

Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to Chagos, Mauritius, Reunion, Cape Town, St Helena, Azores and back to the UK. I am looking for crew from Mauritius/ Reunion Island to Cape Town and from Cape Town to the UK. If of any interest do email me.

The blog will continue as we continue the journey. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com