Year 2- 20th October 2025 – Belitung Island -South China Sea
It was a lovely still morning and the water was crystal clear. We all had a swim as it looked so inviting and to cool down. We had breakfast and I prepared for 200 lts of fuel being delivered by boat in 25 ltr jerry cans. I had to pump what was in the port tank to the starboard tank to fill that and then I emptied what I had left in my jerry cans into the port tank.
I got the 12 v pump out and at about 8.15am the boat came with the jerry cans and we pumped some 200 lts into the port tank. The filters in the funnel are very good and do not let in water and amongst the 200 lts there must have been about 2 lts of water. It is always a messy job but it was good to get it done and I have more than enough to get to Malaysia and beyond where filling should be easier.
Steve wanted to swim to the local island namely Pulau Kelayang and Ruth and Janet wanted to go there too as they were selling jewellery and to explore the island. Steve went off and I dropped Ruth and Janet off on to the Island. Keith, Mark and I went ashore to pay for the diesel, laundry and yesterday’s taxi ride and had a Bintang whilst there.
We returned to Stormbird with the laundry and Keith decided to stay and make some bread and tidy up. Mark and I headed to Pulau Kelayang and joined Steve, Ruth and Janet for lunch on the beach. We had seafood rice or prawns or local crab at a shack type restaurant with our feet in the sand. This was very enjoyable and it was sunny and warm.
After we had enjoyed a few hours Steve, Ruth and Janet decided to swim back whereas Mark and I decided to go snorkelling and got our snorkelling gear from Stormbird. We went to an area to the east of Pulau Kelayang and the coral was quite good with large flat fan type round corals which were metres across. We noticed there was little fish and it could be because boats often come through this area.
As we were snorkelling the wind got up and a swell started to form. We therefore motored round to see if Steve, Ruth and Janet had left. They were just leaving and Ruth and Janet were happy to come into the dinghy as the conditions were a little choppy. Steve continued to swim back.
Once back we sorted ourselves out and had invited Eddie, Therese and Clara from Kiskadee for a drink. The wind continued to blow some and the swell also continued so we were bobbing a little. They came about 5 and we had an enjoyable drink on the rear deck with them. They will continue on up to Malaysia for Christmas and will join the Malaysia Rally, which quite a few boats from our rally have done.
I had heard that my new mainsail is on way and will be delivered to the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club on about 22 October 2025. This is good news and we hope to be there by about 5 November 2025 to fit it.
Janet leaves tomorrow and I have to take her to the beach for 5.30am. It has been good fun having her on board and she will be missed and Ruth will now remain without her good friend for the rest of the trip to Thailand.
We plan to explore the islands and beaches tomorrow. The welcome ceremony is on the 22nd in the morning so we will go to that and then Andy Marshall arrives in the afternoon. We will then be 6 again and will most likely leave for Batam early on the 23rd where we will check out of Indonesia.
The picture of the day is the view from the beach at Pulau Kelayang over the large boulders which are a feature here.
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