Year 2- 9 August 2025 – Return to Ambon– Indonesia
I returned home to see my mother, Lady Jill Adele Hine, who had recently diagnosed with cancer. Whilst I made the earliest arrangements I could, she unfortunately died peacefully in her sleep in the early hours of the morning before I left. However, I had spoken to her and written her a letter which she had enjoyed and despite this I decided to go home to support my family at this difficult time. We have had two deaths due to cancer in the last 5 months which is difficult and has been devastating for our family.
The Times and Telegraph featured a short obituary – “Lady Jill Adele Hine (nee Gardner) died peacefully on 2nd August 2025, aged 90. Beloved wife for 68 years of Air Chief Marshal Sir Patrick Hine, father of Nicholas, Andrew (deceased) and Jeremy, Granny of nine, sister of Sally and brother Christopher. No Flowers. Family Cremation. Thanksgiving service later by invitation.”
My mother had been a fantastic mother to Andrew, Jeremy and I. She was very loving and we had a fantastic upbringing by both of our parents. She was so warm, friendly and kind with a lovely smile and we will miss her very much. As a family we regard her fast passing since her diagnosis as a blessing so that she did not suffer. She had had a fantastic and fulfilling life and reached a great age of 90 recently. She will be long remembered by many as the friendly, kind and generous person she was and may she rest in peace.
During my absence Adam had been looking after Stormbird. He had a mechanic out to look at the oil cooler leak which was not in too bad a shape but one of the pipe fittings needed some welding which appeared to be causing the leak. He was also trying to see if the outboards could be fixed. Whilst in the Uk I managed to see most of my family and spend some time with them. I also managed to find a replacement oil cooler and picked up some other parts for some other yachts.
I arrived in Ambon later than scheduled due to delays at Jakarta. I was picked by Agnes who is helping organise the rally here. We went through a busy Ambon and I returned to the Benpit Hotel where Adam came to meet me with a working outboard and I returned to Stormbird which was in good shape. Most of the other boats had gone and there was only two of us left. I had heard that the next place Tifu Village was very nice.
Adam filled me in with the engine repairs and the oil cooler was fine but a metal pipe had corroded. The workshop therefore made a new one and once this was all fitted it did not leak. He wanted to try the engine again and did so without a leak. Until we try it properly we will not whether it is fully repaired with no leaks. In terms of the outboards – the small one had a blocked carburettor and now seemed fine. In terms of the larger engine it is the cable from the gearbox which had become frayed and bent. They had cleared the issue but we will need a new cable at some point.
I did not want to go anywhere today but to leave for Tifu Village some 105 nm away. However, before we could do that we needed to provision. Tony Culmer and Jon Coates had arrived so it was good to welcome them. I did a general briefing with them and then we made a provision list. The freezer was just about working if you put the food against the right-hand panel.
We headed ashore and got taxi to take us to Ambon to the supermarket which was reasonably stocked and then we went to the fish and fruit and vegetable markets. The fish market had a wide array of fish and a lot of tuna. We bought a whole tuna for £7.50 which the man prepared into steaks for us. The smell of the market was quite strong of fish and a sort of musty rubbishy smell. The ground was wet with lots of bags and stuff and it was a typical third world type scene and everyone was vying for your attention. The fruit and veg area was extensive with lots of stalls and shacks selling wonderful looking vegetables and fruit. We got some tomatoes and carrots, bananas, mangoes and a pineapple. We were the only white people there and everyone was friendly and trying to win our attention but not in a threatening or overbearing way.
Once we finished we returned to the hotel and the guys showed me the posters they had put up for the rally and guess what - the featured boat was Stormbird – see the picture of the day. We put everything away and as it rained we decided to have supper on board which Tony & Jon cooked which was tuna with broccoli and roasted small potatoes which was good. John of Ambon who did the engine repairs came and he joined us for supper.
After a long journey I was ready for bed. It was good to be back on board.
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