Wednesday, 29 September
The wind remained steady throughout the night and Shahna Bacal skipped along eastwards, and as the wind veered to the SSE I was heading 100˚M at times. I was expecting to raise Kangean Island light but had not done so as day started to break. I continued on for a while in the expectation of being able to see the island itself but by 0500, with the sun now up, I still could not see the island.
I estimated my position now to be 06˚40S; 114˚52E. I was concerned not to overshoot and pass north of the island where there are several shallow areas, so I tacked even though I was now heading west of south, about 200˚M.
A few hours later, around 0800, I saw a white tower-like structure ahead and sailed towards it with a view to identifying it and fixing my position. Around 1000 as I got closer I saw this tower was on the smaller of two low lying islands which were close together. After a close examination of the chart and chart plotter I identified these as the islands of Pulau Kamudi. This however, meant I was a lot further south than I had estimated which suggested my leeway, set and drift was a lot less than I had allowed for, based on my previous days’ experiences.
I was now shaping up to pass south of these islands and a short while later, at 1030, I took a bearing of the two islands in transit. After plotting this bearing on the chart I was 99% sure they were the islands of Pulau Kamudi. I decided therefore, to lower the main and head sails, start the engine and motor due south. If, as I believed, these were the islands of Pulau Kamudi then this course would take me clear of the reefs and into the open waters of the Bali Sea. If not, I could expect to see other islands fairly soon. Meanwhile, I intended to take a meridian altitude of the sun (at 1150) to check my latitude.
It was a clear sunny day; the wind was still SSE force 4 and the predominant swell was still from the SE, about 1.5 metres in height and of short period. In these conditions Shahna Bacal was very lively, pitching and rolling. I have taken many meridian altitudes of the sun during my career at sea but doing so now from the deck of Shahna Bacal was considerably more difficult and especially as the altitude of the sun on crossing the meridian was more than 87˚. Indeed, it proved too difficult and at 1200 I gave up.
It occurred to me then, to call Rob to find out what was the latest position Phil had for me. Working backwards, I could see how I might be further south than I had estimated, although this would mean light I had seen last night was Pulau Payangan light and not Pulau Sapudi light. I learned from Rob that my position at 0600 was 06˚52S; 115˚00E and that I was indeed a lot further south than I thought. I was now sure I had correctly identified these islands, and I continued heading south, raising the main and head sails at 1400 and motor sailing to make better progress. Thirty minutes later I sighted the rigs in the Joko Tole oil field which confirmed my observations.
I was now in the Bali Sea, and by midnight I had 112 miles to go.