TELAGA HARBOUR
Before we can enter Thailand we need to check out of Malaysia. We decide to do this at Telaga Harbour as we were told by friends that it was a very easy and painless process, Harbour Master, Customs and Immigration all being in the one building.
Yes all true, except that we arrived on Friday only to be told that the Harbour Master was away until Sunday, so please to come back at 8.00 o’clock on Sunday, no problem madam.
TELAGA LIGHTHOUSE
Come Sunday morning we are on the doorstep with our paperwork ready to check out. No problem, just no Harbour Master! Yes, yes, no problem, he just having breakfast, maybe open 9.00 o’clock. Another couple, Jezz and Becky rock up to check out, so now there are four of us sitting on the steps.
Finally at 9.30 the Harbour Master opens the door and we are in, but not out. Apparently we need to check in before we can check out. More forms. Okay, no problem, you take this to Customs. Goodbye. See you later. No. problem.
CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION
Off we go to Customs. Yes, you guessed it. First check in then check out. No problem. You go immigration now. Now that really was no problem! Fill out one little form, stamp the passports and off we go.
KO TARANTAO
We are only going about 20nm today, so a late start isn't a problem. Our first anchorage was a little rolly, but not too bad. It is a bit difficult to decide which side to anchor, as the afternoon SE sea breeze kicks up a swell, but the NW puts us on a lee shore.
KO PHETRA
Monday we do 26nm to Ko Phetra, a stunningly beautiful anchorage with towering cliffs and tiny beaches. If this is a sample of what is to come then we are going to be very spoilt.
KO MUK
Another easy day on Tuesday and another beautiful anchorage at Ko Muk. We dinghy in for drinks and the sunset at the Chill-out Bar, and make arrangements with friends off Extra Spirit to take the local ferry to Kantang in the morning to check into Thailand. The plan is to meet on the beach at 7.15am, take a bike-taxi to the ferry, the ferry to the mainland and a car to Kantang.
Bright and early next morning, (okay, maybe not so bright yet) we arrive at the beach with five minutes to spare. Hmmm, guess we're a little early. That's okay, looks to be a lovely sunrise. 7.15 becomes 7.30, then 8 o'clock. Guess they slept in. Oh well, lets wander around the resort and then go back to the boat for a coffee. Just as we are ready to launch the dinghy our friends arrive. What we didn't know and they failed to inform us is that there is a one hour time difference with Malaysia. So at 8.15 it was only 7.15! Things could only get better, right? Yeah sure.
LOCAL FERRY
The motorbike taxi has a sidecar, which can fit four so it is off across to the other side of the island to catch the local ferry. The trip takes about half an hour, and then another twenty minutes in the back of a ute. The driver stops at Immigration to let us out, but it seems there is a problem. It is closed. On a Wednesday. Middle of the week. Someone comes out with a notice, it is a bank holiday, so please come back tomorrow. Oh well, we will wander round, have a bite to eat and then head back. Things can only get better, right? Yeah sure.
LOCAL TRANSPORT
We travel the reverse to the morning, and arrive at the beach. Hmmm, does our dinghy look flat? Yes, very flat. Okay, Jezz runs me out to pick up the pump and we inflate the dinghy. Doesn't look too bad, it's not far to the boat, and we will check for leaks then. In we go through the surf, get wet, again, and oh oh, it's deflating very fast, hope we make it. Quick get the outboard motor off and haul the dinghy on deck. A seam has let loose, with a gap as big as a fist, no wonder it went down so fast. Oh, well, things can only get better, right? Yeah sure.
DEAD DINGHY?
Looks like we will be heading to Phuket sooner than we thought. Early next morning we set off for the 40 mile trip to Phi Phi Don. Plenty of time so we ghost along hoping the wind will pick up a bit. It does, blowing 35 to 40 knots from the north east, exactly where we want to go to! Wind, rain, very choppy seas, having to motor because we can't sail into the wind. Things can only get better, right? Yeah sure.
STUNNING SUNSET
Next morning it is 30 miles to Ko Yahka Yai, where we will anchor for the night before going into Yacht Haven Marina. A late start and very little wind with the tide against us makes for a slow trip, but we anchor around six o'clock at a lovely little island along with 6 other yachts and a container ship. Turns out the yachts are waiting to be loaded onto the container ship for transport to Turkey. Due to the Somali pirates people are having to find alternative ways to get to Europe. It made for a very interesting evening.
YACHT HAVEN MARINA
Saturday we discover fuel in the bilge and track it down to a leaking tank. Looks like we need a new fuel tank, not easy when you have to demolish half the galley to do so. Surely that's the last of it and things will get better now? Yeah sure! Oh no, our engine won't start, we replaced the batteries so now what. Sounds like the starter motor. We eventually get it started and up anchor. Arriving at the marina we are advised to anchor off for at least another 3 hours as the tide is running far too swiftly to come in safely. Aaagh, who said boating was fun. They say that cruising is just fixing the boat in exotic locations, and how true that is. To be continued...
