s.v. Tiare Taporo III at Pulau Mesanak Lat. N 00 degrees 25.3' Long. E 104 degrees 30.2'

We left Kentar this morning at 0730 and spent the next hour or so avoiding the elaborate structures out in 40' of water which consist of raised platforms with thatch roofed sheds on them. Not really sure of their exact purpose but they sure make navigation difficult. There wasn't anyone on them and there must have been at least 100 of them for 5 miles north of the anchorage. We weren't sorry to leave Kentar because it was an extremely rolly anchorage with a big NE swell rolling in but we moved behind another smaller island yesterday and managed to escape the worst of it.
Our intention today was to travel north 35 miles to Pulau Mesanak but when we got there the anchorage on the north of the island was untenable due to the roll so we and another yacht - "Tropicali" - moved around to the west side and we've managed to plonk ourselves on the edge of a shoal to get shallow water to ease things for our windlass. Only 24' here right now. And calm thank goodness. Not so bad today, but for the last 2 days we've been surrounded by nasty thunderstorms which generate unpredictable strong winds and rain, not to mention thunder and lightning. This latter is very dangerous in this part of the world as on a yacht you are the only tall structure for miles around. Not a comfortable feeling and the lightning is of the forked variety.
We will get some sleep before leaving at midnight to go straight through to Nongsa Point Marina tomorrrow (some 70 odd miles) where we will clear out. It's Full Moon tonight so that will help in avoiding pesky local boats with no lights! We have decided to short circuit the whole drawn out business because we are sick of either indifferent or downright uncomfortable anchorages and Jean is of course anxious to get back home to see Peapod (Carter). She now has the nickname of Granny in the fleet so whenever someone speaks to us on the radio these days they always ask for Granny! Also she became aware about a week and a half ago that a very close and dear friend - cousin Margaret Hastie - and with whom she had spent many happy childhood times riding horses on their farm at Mangawhai Heads and spending school holidays together was very ill and not expected to live. Unfortunately, 2 days ago this unhappy event came to pass when she died. So, Jean feels very cut off from all these momentous family happenings and really wants to get home and Jim expects to become a Grandad for the 4th. time in a few days. Although realistically by the time we get the boat to Pangkor in Malaysia and clean her up prior to leaving her for about 2 months it will be another 4 weeks at the earliest before we can leave for Godszone. This cruising life is not all beer and skittles at times but at least the trusty old Ford just keeps going which is very necessary because there is usually next to no wind. 900 rpm giving us 5.5 - 6 knots.
The next blog hopefully will be from Nongsa Point so keep watching this space.
Jim and Jean
s.v. Tiare Taporo III

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