Year 2 -7-9th December 2025 –Phuket -Thailand

7th December 2025

This was a Sunday and no one was really working. We had a relaxing day at our resort going to the gym and swimming in the pool. The resort is spread out and very beautiful with every villa, apartment and suite made of wood a lot of it teak. The resort has two pools with the first being close to our room which has an affinity view out towards Phuket and there are spectacular sunsets. In addition the Saaitara Restaurant is right by the pool. Over time we came to realise it is quieter and the food and staff there are very good and they came to know us.

 By the beach ,which is a long sandy beach, there is the pier where you get the boat transfers from. They have a bar at the end which means you can have a drink and a seat there to watch the sunset. The beach has two restaurants – namely the Titan Grill which has Japanese type food and the Chantara which is quite large. There is then a large pool behind the beach with a large waterfall coming down a large rock. Behind that is a gym and a shop and a place where you can do Thai Boxing.

We had a relaxing day and I started to begin some planning for Year 3.

 8th December 2025

We had a good night’s sleep and it is nice to wake up every morning and to look out over the balcony toward Phuket and to feel the warmth as you open the doors from the air conditioning.  We had a great breakfast and the selection and choice of food is phenomenal. Thai, Indian and continental. The selection of fruits is amazing and so tasty.  

I caught the 10.00am boat back to AOPO Marina where I found Stormbird on the hard and at her position and on her supports. The antifoul guys had started and were taping off the white line at the waterline so antifoul would not go on it. The engineers had taken off the windlass and were removing the seacocks from the water maker and generator inlet valves. I discussed with the engineer about removing the current through the hull log fitting and putting a new one in that I had which has a flap to minimise water ingress when I take the log out. I therefore had to empty the locker for access and to show him the new fitting. I also showed him the new anodes to be fitted and he was getting on with his works which I was pleased about especially with Christmas coming up. He said he would take the windlass apart (the motor which pulls up and lowers the anchor). He said he thought there was water in the oil and that the seal had not sealed properly at the top. Therefore when the windlass was serviced in Indonesia it was not sealed properly.

I met the antifoul man and he said he will get on with the job. I noted the electricity was not connected so I made sure that was connected to protect the batteries. The generator service people had finished which was good. I emailed the engine people as to where Stormbird was and they are to come on the 11th to service the engine. I had brought out with me a new solenoid fitting which should mean when fitted I can turn the engine off at the binnacle as otherwise I have to go into the engine room and turn it off at the engine itself which has been a bit of a pain the last few weeks.

The workmen here seem good and know their stuff although they are not cheap which you think they may be. They all charge reasonably and give you a quote and then request either full payment in advance or 70-75% upfront. They are therefore quite commercial. I suppose it is the sign of the times.

Once I had done all I could I decided to leave. There were no proper ladders and so each time we had to go up a sort of climbing frame which was a little precarious.

I returned to the Santhiya resort by speedboat and it takes about 20-25 minutes and I was in time for lunch with Jules. It felt good that the works were being got on with. The only issue that was not yet resolved was some rigging which was required as the Rigger was in hospital. However, his colleague would be back on the 9th.

We had lunch and then a restful afternoon although we did go to the gym which I had not been to for some time which was a bit of a struggle. We also set ourselves a target of 10 lengths of the pool with 2 extra lengths a day. We watched the sun go down and had a good supper. It had been a good day.

 9th December 2025

We had a good night and another great breakfast. We then relaxed by the pool but my preparation began in earnest. I contacted all the crew for Thailand to India and made sure when they were arriving and when were they planning to leave. I drafted a letter for them from me as Skipper which confirmed them joining Stormbird and that they will not have a return flight. I also made contact with agents in Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives as I need them in each location. I then started confirming and reviewing dates and considering whether we would stop at the Andaman Islands which belong to India and lie between Thailand and Sri Lanka. This all took a number of hours but at least I had started properly.

I made contact with a guide we had used before in Sri Lanka about a 2-week road tour when we get there and he said he would revert. I also looked at the Southern Indian book about the things to do there.

The antifoul man contacted me and said that he would need to take off the silicon layers which would mean more work and sanding. This was annoying but I had little alternative. He also said there was a small leak from the rudder so he would need to release the water and then re gel the rudder before antifouling. The windlass man contacted me and said we would need a new cog for the windlass which he would have made. At least they were getting on with it.

We had a good day planning and swimming and relaxing and enjoying the food etc.          

 The picture of the day is the view from the pool at 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