Year 2 -22 December 2025 -La Flora -Koh Lak -Thailand

I set the alarm for 6.30am as I had to get up early to go to AOPO Marina in Phuket as Stormbird was going back in the water. I had a quick breakfast and as you can imagine it was relatively quiet at 6.45am!!

The taxi took about an hour and 40 minutes and I got to the marina about 9.00am. Stormbird was already on the trailer and the antifoul people were making good and doing the bits that had been under the supports.

I had asked the marina where we were going as a berth but they were still not sure!

I got on board climbing up the climbing frame and the first job I did was to put the speed log in now it had been antifouled.

I then checked the engine room and that the seacock for the engine was on. I got all the fenders out and lines. The upholstery on the navigation seat was done and it was back in position. The man came to put the new hatch cover on the front hatch. I tidied things up. I heard we were going temporally to E pontoon where a superyacht is normally moored and then we would have to move again. This was not ideal but there is nothing I can do about it.

I therefore arranged the fenders and lines for a starboard side to mooring. The engineer who fitted the skin fittings came and checked things and he said he would be back for when we go in the water to see if any of them leaked. I hope not. The engine people were also coming to ensure that the engine would start otherwise we could be in some difficulty.

The tractor started up about 10.25am and before long we were slowly moving toward the slipway. I was the only one on board and we were wobbling a little and I hoped the tailer would work well and we would not fall off. We slowly eased our way around the buildings and then came to the top of the slipway and stopped.  High Water at 2.7m was at 11.00am and so they waited until 11.00am as Stormbird draws 2.5m.

The engineer and engine man and a marina guy got on board with a ladder and the tractor slowly reversed the trailer into the water and a diver went in I assume to check how far Stormbird was in the water and whether the keel was on the bottom. The line handlers came and we had two each side on the shore and 2 at the rear holding Stormbird in position.

At the right point I started the engine and it did start and I put some revs on in neutral. The depth gauge was working and the speed log which was good. The man checked the skin fittings and they were not leaking but the end of the new generator pipe was. This was fixed with some plumbers tape so I will need to keep an eye on that.  

Once we were given the all clear I reversed out off the trailer and I used the bow thruster but the propellers had been put on the wrong way so left was right and vice versa. I thought well they can sort this out with divers. In fact the engineer switched round the electrical switches so they now work as they should.   

We slowly came down the pontoons and we soon came to our berth and eased in without any issue and Stormbird was soon secured. I sorted out the lines how I wanted them but unfortunately could not connect to the electricity as they were working on it.  

The guys then left and I had organised for another engineer to come to look at the davits, fridge seal and water pressure. I therefore had time to go for a smoothie before he came at the agreed time of 1.00pm.

He checked the davits as I wanted some cushioning on them to protect the dinghy when up. He also checked the fridge seal and it seemed that the balloons in the pressure tanks are not working. He will therefore deal with these issues. As we were checking the water tanks the dials stopped working. He checked they were getting power and they were and so he cleaned the contacts and they are now working again.

I then left and got in the taxi and got back to La Flora at about 3.00pm. Jules and the girls had gone to a local coffee bar so I joined them there for a drink. We then walked into town and to the market which sold all sorts of souvenirs etc and had bars and restaurants.  

Once we had had enough some of us returned and we had a swim and then met for sundowners at about 5.15pm on the beach and it was a lovely sunset. We then walked into town to Siam a local restaurant which was pretty full and we got one of the last tables. It was a good meal and fun. It was so nice to be here with the girls and they were now getting relaxed and into the scene as it were.

The picture of the day is of the sunset.

Need/Opportunity Year Three

In year three I will be going from Thailand to Sri Lanka, India, Maldives and then on to 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