Monday 12 August 2013

Fwd: Sail Indonesia - Tiare Taporo III - NZ Registration NZ 1572

To: "Sail Indonesia" <mail@sailindonesia.net>
Subject: Sail Indonesia - Tiare Taporo III - NZ Registration NZ 1572
Date: 12 Aug 2013 12:34:38 -0000
From: zmq5985

Hi to everyone,
We are sending this email because we wish to set the record straight as regards the incident that occurred here at Kupang soon after we arrived when "Kielba" dragged her anchor and collided with us. There are other matters that we will mention here as well. In particular we wish to note in the strongest possible terms our extreme disappointment with some other boats who took it upon themselves to berate us on the radio anonymously. If you have something to say the least you can do is identify yourself.
We came into the anchorage without engine in over 30 knots of wind and "Camomile" kindly offered to co-ordinate appropriate assistance. Kevin off "Tintin" came on board outside the anchorage to assist with sail handling. It was unfortunate that due to a misunderstanding we anchored where we were told by Kevin when in fact there were some dinghies waiting for us further in to tow us to a more appropriate anchorage. In the event we anchored well astern of "Kielba" in 35 metres of water which was far too deep. In spite of this, we held position. Then, about 2 hours later we noticed that "Kielba" was moving in our direction. There was no-one on board. We broadcast an SOS on VHF 77 and then tried to fend her off. "Kielba" is 56' so much bigger than us and in the conditions (1 metre waves and 25-30 knots of wind) the situation was extremely dangerous. "Kielba" hit us several times on our starboard side bending 2 stanchions, breaking our top lifeline, bending a pin rail upwards and causing possible damage to our starboard capshroud. Fortunately dinghies from at least 4 other boats arrived and fended her off further before our starboard solar panel and windvane self steering were smashed. But it was very close and the risk of serious injury to us was very real.
We are convinced that, had we not been on board, "Kielba" would have been lost and probably also our boat as not very far behind the water deepens to over 100 metres and they would both have taken off with anchors entwined.
We must in particular make mention of the expert help we received in a very difficult situation and in that regard must mention Gene of the American boat "Reflections". He towed us into our present anchorage with his dinghy the next morning after "Kielba" had successfully retrieved
their own anchor. And a Swiss boat "Nikkona" lent us their petrol generator to keep our batteries up until we could start and run our engine again.
You have to understand that we were both exhausted after a 4 day passage from Darwin and in no state to handle the situation adequately. Jim (the skipper) was on the foredeck attending to the anchor and therefore not aware of the depth when we let the anchor go.
After the near miss with "Kielba" Jim completely understandably had a bit to say to Sail Indonesia about the Kupang anchorage and subsequent experience hasn't changed that opinion. We were both completely traumatised and it was completely inappropriate for other boats who had no business doing so to comment anonymously on his remarks. Jim was somewhat and understandably fired up at the time but does not for one moment regret or withdraw anything said on VHF 77 that afternoon.
We are of the opinion that Kupang is a potentially dangerous anchorage, particularly when there are 60-70 boats all vying for space. Our experience proves that assertion. Just what that means for Sail Indonesia we are not sure, but some drastic changes to the rally format should be made before a real tragedy occurs.
It was not our fault that our engine developed a problem; we had it all checked out before we left Darwin. So much for Aussie so-called marine engineers. On that note we have to say that we have been fortunate to contact an extremely capable and resourceful local mechanic who has been a tower of strength so that we are now ready to carry on, albeit not with the rally due to our windlass still working but leaking oil, probably as a result of retrieving our anchor from 35 metres in adverse conditions. We are hoping to have that repaired when we are at Benoa.
We would also note that it was all very well to have the "beach boys" to assist with landing through the surf on the beach below Teddy's Bar but we paid 50,000 Rph per day for the privilege. This was supposed to include a watch over the dinghies while on the beach but after a few days our dinghy was trashed by the local kids with the "minders" obviously not doing their job. Our dinghy has been damaged so badly that we cannot repair it ourselves and we are hoping that we can get it repaired at Benoa on Bali. If not we will no doubt have to purchase another. Obviously this will affect our participation in further rally events.
We also mention the fact that since the main rally fleet departed from Kupang diesel fuel is now available at 11,000 Rph per litre and will be delivered to your boat, whereas when the rally was here the price was 14,000 Rph per litre and you had to take your own containers to shore and back again. How is that justified?
In short we feel very badly let down by Sail Indonesia. From our experience and observations, it seems to us that while not deriding the friendliness and hospitalty shown to us by individuals, the rally events, including the "Gala Dinner" at Kupang where a substantial number of rally participants contracted various forms of gastric disease (not us fortunately!), are predominantly arranged to showcase Indonesia and have very little to do with the rally participants, as long as they are present to make everything "look good" with the local dignitaries. In particular, sailing directions are thin on the ground and so individually we have had to independently gather what information we can. Even something as simple as tide tables are not available unless one goes to a British Admiralty website and pays for the information. We don't all have I-Pads!
We are proceeding direct to Rinja and Komodo and then, depending on our windlass, will make the decision whether to proceed to Benoa via the northern or southern route.
We hope to see you all again soon.
Regards,
Jim Donald and Jean Tallentire
s.v. Tiare Taporo III
Kupang
W Timor
Indonesia
----- End of Original Message -----

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