Pulau Talang and back to Pangkor

Hi again to all,
We had been enjoying our time at Pangkor Marina provisioning the boat and eating out at some great restaurants in Lumut. And having Georg and Manuela as neighbours. We had our spare salt water pump for the engine fully reconditioned and then Jim fitted it in preparation for our passage north to Thailand. All went well and with the usual regrets we left Pangkor at high tide yesterday afternoon (15/03).
We had an uneventful short passage (14 miles) to Pulau Talang where we had planned to anchor for the night. We did that and everything seemed fine but around 7 a thunderstorm eventuated and suddenly we were anchored a bit close for comfort to some rocks. We hadn't dragged but decided to move away and re-anchor, but the windlass really struggled to lift the anchor and when we got it to the surface the reason was plain to see. We'd hooked another birds nest of rope which this time appeared to be firmly attached to the bottom. We couldn't get the anchor right up so Jim had another swim - this time in the dark and rain. The water was very warm however. Soon some sawing with the trusty diver's knife saw the offending mess fall back to the bottom and we re-anchored a short distance away where we passed a peaceful night - albeit with the anchor alarm on!
No worries and in the morning at first light when we could clearly see the many fishing boats all around, we raised the anchor - or at least tried to. However, the strain the previous night coupled with the beating the poor old windlass had taken at Kupang in Indonesia and Boydong Cays on the Queensland coast finally proved too much and, although the motor seemed OK, it refused to raise the anchor. Something wrong with the drive to the chain gypsy, like clutches slipping. So, a slow combination of manual hauling to take the strain right off the windlass and we eventually had it up, but a slow process.
By this time an hour had passed and, as we'd had a long passage up to Penang planned, together with the prospect of similar problems raising the anchor every time we put it down until Thailand where we'd planned to overhaul the windlass, we decided that the prudent course would be to return to Pangkor and have it overhauled there. So we turned back dodging fishing boats and their nets all the way but of course were going to arrive at low water and we need at least half tide to enter the marina.
So we killed time by going up the Dinding River just north of Pangkor to Lumut which we had visited 3 and a half years ago by car. Malaysia's largest naval base is here but we didn't see many ships - probably all out searching for this elusive Malaysian Airlines MH370. That's a real conundrum and smacks of the best James Bond thriller. Interesting diversion up and then down the river. We then drifted on the tide for about half an hour before deciding to go into the marina at about half tide. Not much water under the keel at times but we made it and are now in our same berth again. Bit of an anticlimax but at least that will be one less job to do when we do haul out and we can be sure of the expertise here. Thailand in that regard may be something of an unknown quantity, although the yard we are going to has a very good reputation in all areas.
Still, we take the view that what is meant to be is meant to be. We'll let you know how it all pans out.
Love again from us......
Jim and Jean
Pangkor Island Marina
Lumut.
www.tiaretaporo3.blogspot.com

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