Wednesday, 8 September
I was originally planning to sail away today but learned on Sunday that Rona – 1890’s built, 90 foot ketch – would be sailing to Bali tomorrow, so I have decided to sail out with her.
I spent these last few days at the marina preparing the boat for the voyage to Lombok, stowing away all non-essential gear and rigging sails and lifelines; cleaning all of the bilges and replacing the gasket on the toilet discharge which was leaking, and tightening the V-belt on the engine which was loose.
I noticed on the voyage back to the marina on Saturday that the stern seal was leaking, and that the tricolour navigation light and echo sounder were not working. The shipyard technicians arrived on Monday and put additional packing in and tightened the stern seal (all with the boat in the water); whilst the problem with the echo sounder appeared to be air bubbles in the hull recess in way of the transducer which they cleared. Then the guys from XSP arrived on Tuesday and fixed the problem with the tri-colour light which was a faulty connection at the masthead.
I took on 163 litres of diesel (making a total of 513 litres) and 17 litres of petrol (for the portable generator and outboard engine) on Monday, and then shifted berth on Tuesday, moving from the fuel dock to a berth on one of the pontoons (C4).
My passport was returned to me on Monday with my new Indonesia visa (expiring on 14 October); and I had a nice farewell lunch at the marina with Paul (CEO) and Adrian (GM) from the shipyard on Tuesday. After this lunch I went to the local hospital for a PCR (Covid-19) test and into Nagoya (the main town) to buy some fresh provisions.
On Wednesday the Marina processed my outward clearance papers, and when my PCR test result came back negative I was now free to sail out! After a last dinner at the restaurant, I studied the charts and planned my first day’s passage down the Riao Strait.
It was late when I finally turned in, excited and also a little apprehensive about what lay ahead.
