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Karimata Islands,
Sailing To Singapore
Dodging Yachts and Ships
We had a fantastic sail from the Kumai River, Kalimantan,
through to the Karimata Islands, Indonesia.
The water is very shallow off this coast and many opt
to head a long way south to avoid the worst of it but
we decided to go for it through a narrow channel which
would save us a lot of time. |
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A few hours out and we noticed three boats behind us which
was a novelty as we had rarely on the trip travelled in
company, at least since leaving Babar Island in eastern
Indonesia.
One was a large ketch which powered along north of us under
motor only and the others had all sails up like we did however
we had by this stage only a tiny mainsail as the others
had blown out on the way here. |
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Mike was pleased that they couldn’t catch us, as
Whimoway weighs 30 tonne and by all accounts is not a
racer!
They were of course gaining on us but ever so slowly so
as to make us proud of our darling old girl!
Very late that night Mike woke me up saying “check
this idiot out” and here was one of those yachts
coming straight towards us honestly so close that our
torch when lit, lit up his whole boat. Mike fired the
motor and veered off whilst I tried to contact them by
radio with words like “are you awake!” and
“wake up!” but to no avail.
This went on for 15 minutes or so until I shone the torch
again which got a returning torch flash as a response
then they turned and sped off eventually crossing our
bow and continued on their merry way south around the
shoals.
We laughed because after all these miles and all the Indonesian
boats we were supposed to be worried about colliding with,
we nearly get hit by a westerner!
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No problems with the shoals and continued on to Seratu Island
in the Karimata group where many hours later two other boats
arrived and of course we recognised one because I could
have almost boarded her the night before!
Falling asleep is quite common for sailors but mainly those
who are single-handed. We heard on the yachty grapevine
of two incidents involving yachts on the big rally from
Darwin to Thailand. One hit a fishing boat in the Malacca
straights and sunk it and they were quickly escorted to
Langkawi to face justice! |
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Another was spotted by a big tanker, which not only slowed
down, but also then had torches blazing and people yelling
to try and wake him up but he still collided and is apparently
up here somewhere we hear, probably looking for a shipwright
to replace his bowsprit!
A book written in the 70’s by a round the worlder
tells the tale of a cargo ship pulling into port and those
on land called out “what have you got there”
and they were horrified to see over the bow a mast and
rigging caught on their anchor! Scary.
Seratu Island was another picture postcard anchorage with
a little fresh water stream and coral and friendly fisherman
who shared their catch in exchange for some tobacco.
The Lingga Island group was next and once again we sailed
through avenues of cumi cumi boats. We had a few close
or should I say confusing moments with some big ships
but we were by now getting better at the long hauls, or
Mike was to be fair! I do love my sleep!
We pulled in just on the far south of the island and anchored
in shallow water with a sand bottom in between two bamboo
fish traps.
These structures dot the whole coastline as far as one
can see and somehow they manage to imbed the poles deep
into the sand then they lower the net and raise it again
with a pulley system.
Late that night Mike saw flames and sparks and thought
one was burning down but he was just emptying his stove! |
The water was still clear here but we didn’t stay
as we had many more miles to go and we were running out
of visa time.
We headed north staying close to the coast and found ourselves
in shallow water amid heaps of islands with fish traps and
nets everywhere of course, and it was through here that
we crossed the equator.
We didn't dress up as is the tradition but jumped off the boat
holding on to a rope and swam across (so to speak) then opened
the champagne saved for the occasion.
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At Kentar Island the villagers came aboard and showed us how
to cook dried squid, it's like squid chips, quite different!
We then headed for Batam Island but went west up a side channel
used by ferries as we were on the lookout for a town which may
have had a Harbour Master etc to check out as we didn't want to
go the usual way which is via a marina and costs the earth.
We chose Batuampar, which is a commercial port full of rusty
old and new vessels from everywhere and diesel barges and it
stunk pretty bad.
Mike visited the diesel barge and was warned of thieves at
night then he proceeded into town and after hiring a guy to
ride him around he finally got us stamped out, they were all
very confused that we weren't in the marina but helped us all
the same.
We stayed the night but chose to sleep on deck and in the
middle of the night we awoke and were laughing about something
when we heard a boat very near to us which scuttled off
in the dark!
We were sure they were up to no good and as we found out
later, this port is rife with pirates but it is interesting
to note that their ill intent was disrupted by something as
simple as laughter, thus we have concluded that everybody's
journey through this area is their own and we are constantly
grateful for our good fortune.
So that was it for Indonesia for a time anyway, we had a great
but exhausting journey but were looking forward to seeing Singapore.
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Map Of Karimata Islands, Sailing To Singapore
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Karimata Islands to Singapore Blog
Indonesia News Blog
Aggregator of news on Indonesia from around the World.
• Sell Indonesia?s 10-Year Bonds on Inflation Risk, Mandiri Says
Investors should sell Indonesia?s 10-year government bonds to guard against a possible pickup in inflation, according to PT Mandiri Sekuritas, a unit of the nation?s largest lender.
The yield on the 11 percent note due November 2020 was 9.22 percent at yesterday?s close, according to the Inter-Dealer Market Association. That?s down from 13.57 percent a year ago and the lowest for a benchmark 10-year security since 2007. It will climb to 10.2 percent by the end of December, said Handy Yunianto, a Jakarta-based fixed-income analyst at Mandiri.
?The 10-year yields are very low and all the positive sentiment has been priced in,? Yunianto said yesterday in an interview. ?You can get back into the 10-years again when the yields are closer to the 10.2 percent level.?
Inflation, which erodes the value of fixed-income assets, may gather pace should the government proceed with plans announced this month to raise electricity tariffs by an average 15 percent in July. Ten-year bonds are currently pricing in a rate of 5.1 percent for 2010, less than the 6.3 percent anticipated by Mandiri, Yunianto wrote in a March 15 research note, citing the potential increase in power prices.
• Raft of Positive Data Points to Solid Economy for Indonesia
Officials, analysts and economists who have held fast and predicted that Indonesia?s economy is destined for great things in 2010 were rewarded with a slew of good news on Wednesday, including a jump in the tax base, fresh foreign investment, rises in corporate ratings and earnings, and a surging stock market and rupiah.
The Jakarta Composite Index jumped to its highest close in two years, largely on the back of a US Federal Reserve pledge to keep interest rates low, prompting foreign funds to continue a buying spree begun last week. The rupiah surged to its highest level against the dollar since August 2008, reaching 9,115 as stock trading in Jakarta closed.
As stocks were flying, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said more than half of the registered taxpayers had already submitted their tax returns for this year, a sign that a drive to encourage people to register and pay taxes is working. Tax payments account for around 70 percent of state revenue. Changes last year to airport-departure taxes that see those without tax registrations face punitive charges are credited for much of the rise.
Meanwhile, four Australian companies have agreed to invest more than $1 billion to expand their businesses in Indonesia this year, said Gita Wirjawan, chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), who met with investors in Australia last week.
Not to be outdone, national flag carrier PT Garuda Indonesia announced that it expected net profit to rise by 15 percent this year on strong passenger growth, thanks to the improving economy. Two other state firms, PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara and PT Perusahaan Gas Negara, have also received good news. Rating agency Standard & Poor?s raised their corporate credit ratings, along with that of state PT Telekomunikasi Selular, the country?s biggest cellular network operator.
• Indonesia says Australia firms to invest over US$1b
Australian firms Coca Cola Amatil Ltd, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Thiess Pty Ltd and Ramsay Health Care Ltd have agreed to invest more than US$1 billion to expand in Indonesia this year, the head of the country's investment agency said on Wednesday.
Indonesia has been trying to attract more investment in the face of stiff competition from regional rivals such as Vietnam and China. Investors often complain about obstacles such as red tape, corruption and a shaky legal system in Southeast Asia's biggest economy.
Gita Wirjawan, head of Indonesia's investment coordinating board, said Australia's top soft drink bottler, Coca Cola Amatil Ltd, planned to expand.
'Coca Cola Amatil plans to open more factories, in addition to its 10 existing factories,' Mr Wirjawan said.
Mining and construction firm Thiess, whose main interest in Indonesia has been in the energy sector, wanted to expand its infrastructure business after obtaining two contracts to build toll road in Java, he said.
Commonwealth Bank was planning to open more local branches, in addition to its 74 existing branches in Indonesia, while Ramsay Health Care also plans to expand its operations.
Mr Wirjawan said in early March that he expected foreign investment of up to 61 per cent would be allowed in hospitals across Indonesia.
• Indonesian Man Asia?s Biggest Loser
"I never thought that I?d be saying this, but it feels great to be a loser,? said David Gurani of Jakarta.
David, 25, was proclaimed the winner of the first season of ?The Biggest Loser Asia? during the reality TV show?s finale at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia studio in Selangor on March 9.
His family and friends, all wearing black T-shirts with the words ?King David for the win? printed on them, were there to celebrate with him. Also present were the show?s three other finalists, Carlo Miguel of the Philippines, Malaysian Aaron Mokhtar and Martha Lai of Hong Kong, as well as fitness trainers Dave Nuku and Kristy Curtis and the show?s host, Malaysian actress and singer Sarimah Ibrahim.
?The Biggest Loser Asia,? which aired on the Hallmark Channel, is a spin-off of NBC?s ?The Biggest Loser? in the United States.
David won $100,000 and a silver Renault Koleos SUV valued at $70,000 as the biggest loser. He beat out 15 other contestants who underwent a punishing three-month exercise and diet regimen at the A Famosa boot camp in Malacca, Malaysia, and another three months of independent exercise and diet at home.Their success was measured based on weight loss and fat percentage loss.
David, a textile salesman, appeared gaunt and lanky, is a shadow of his former self after having lost 83 kilograms from his starting weight of 157 kilograms. Standing at 1.83 meters, he now weighs a mere 74 kilograms, having lost 53 percent of his total weight and 45 percent of his body fat.
It initially seemed unlikely that David, who comes from a large family of Indian descent, would have what it takes to win. He loved to eat and when asked what his favorite food was, could not decide on one thing. ?You should?ve just asked me what food I don?t like because there are none,? he said. ?I think I love every kind of food ? Padang food, junk food ? I love them all.?
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24-7PressRelease.com (press release)
Previous editions of the regatta have featured sailors from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, the US and various European ...
• Cape Breton Island leads through gate - Cork leads St Patrick's Day celebrati...
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Cape Breton Island leads through gate - Cork leads St Patrick's Day celebrations
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"We've had fast, very pleasant sailing on Hull & Humber these last 24 hours. The wind is at the perfect angle and ideal strength for these boats, ...
Clipper Round the World Race: Cork crew leads St Patrick's Day celebrationsBYM News (press release)
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• Singapore - SMS Zainul Abidin Rasheed welcomes the Jewel Of Muscat in Kochi ....
Singapore - SMS Zainul Abidin Rasheed welcomes the Jewel Of Muscat in Kochi ...
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The voyage to Singapore will be difficult. Nonetheless, I have no doubt that the Jewel of Muscat and her crew will succeed in this endeavour. ? Sailing on ...
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• 9th Century sailing ship reaches India from Oman - Sail World
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9th Century sailing ship reaches India from Oman
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The replica ninth century 'Jewel of Muscat' square rigged sailing ship has completed the first leg on its way from Oman to Singapore, triumphantly arriving ...
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'Jewel of Muscat' arrives at Kerala portArab News
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