Year 2- 13 September 2025 –A Busy Day in Badas Town – Sumbawa

The sun was shining when we woke and we watched the world go by and the locals fishing and going about their business. I cooked scrambled eggs on toast which was good and we enjoyed our coffee in the cockpit.

We had to meet our man Boridge at 8.30am as we had hired him for 2 days to show us around and to have some transport. We had to get the dinghy down and then using the crane get the large outboard into the dinghy which we did using our spare outboard. We then loaded the old oil from the engine and our rubbish for the last week into the dinghy. There was just about enough space for Mark and I to get in.   

We headed ashore and were met by Boridge and his younger brother and we unloaded the outboard into their car and the oil Boridge took as they often reuse oil here and are apparently happy to reuse it. Our rubbish was taken away. We got in the car and were then driven by Boridge’s brother to a Yamaha man on the waterfront. He said he would look at the outboard and would then tell me what the issue was.

We then set off to get a new regulator for the Indonesian gas cylinder which we found and I hoped it will fit. We then set off to find some new pipe for the oil remover pump which had split. We found some and I got 4 m so I will have some spare as I can imagine the other side of the pipe may go as well.

We then set off to the big supermarket. However, it was not great and we got some things but it was not like the supermarket in Labuan Bajo. We then went to a fruit shop and got a load of good fruit which was good but there was little in the way of vegetables and we had not found any yoghurt or honey. Our driver took us to the general local market which was extensive and very good although there were some very odd smells around. We got some bananas, tomatoes, cabbage, lettuce and eggs although the egg carboard tray stunk. We were doing well but we had still not found yoghurt or honey. We were taken to several shops without success until we eventually found some nice honey from a local traditional village. Eventually after several shops we found some yoghurt.

I had heard from the outboard man and he said that he thought the coil needed replacing and he would order from Bali but it would take 3 days to come. This was annoying but we are coming back this way and could drop in to collect it. We carried on shopping and then within 50 minutes he sent me a video and all was working. We therefore went back and he said it was not the coil and he had cleaned out the carburettor and then it all worked. We therefore took it with us which was a relief although it worried me that he diagnosed something else first.

We went on and then bought some Bintang, the local beer which is difficult to obtain. The supplier had some wine so we bought a bottle of white and red and thought we would try it. We then returned to the boat and took all the provisions back to the boat and then we returned for the engine and then hoisted it back on board with the crane. Thank goodness we have that. We packed all the provisions away.

We then headed back to shore and the driver then took us to a bar and restaurant near the airport where we had a good lunch with some cold Bintang. We were then driven back and came back to Stormbird. I put the new regulator on the Indonesian gas bottle which worked well so that is a relief. I also cut the new pipe and fitted it to the oil pump. I checked the oil in the main engine and it was a good level. I prepared the cabins for Ruth and Janet who join us tomorrow when they fly from Bali.

We had a beer in the cockpit once we sorted everything out. We then thought we would have a wine tasting. We tried the white which smelt like cough medicine. It was basically a sweet type of dessert wine and awful. We then tried the red which smelt similar and was a sweet, fortified wine. Both were awful and we will not be getting any more of that.

The fisherman had come out into the bay by now and were shining their lights into the water presumably to catch squid and other fish. It was interesting to watch as the lights lit up the bay and were more evident as it got darker. We then had the rest of the chicken curry I had made a few days ago which still tasted good whilst chilling to some music.

The city had been busy with traffic and many larger buildings but there was a lot of evident poverty. There were lots of hardware shops and supermarkets and fruit shops etc. The pavements are painted black and white like a racetrack. There were lots of motorcycles and few cars or trucks. Everyone seemed busy and happy.

It had been a very productive day and we look forward to our new crew tomorrow.         

The picture of the day is the fisherman in the bay with their lights.

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