Raising the Singapore flags - Singapore, NZ, Q for Quarantine and numbers 2 and 5 (from memory!) to show we have crew on board, no passengers. Musketelle crossed the Equator in the South China Sea on Friday 24 October 2008 at 0900 (local time UTC +7) at position 0* 00.00 104* 46.0 E. A milestone in anyones book. Poor B was unfortunately laid low with a severe cold but was able to helm Musketelle at the relevant moment. The sky was overcast and although in less than 20 metres of water we could not see the line running across the bottom!!.
B had to be on the helm because P had decided to swim over........he dived in to the sloppy seas about 0020 south and swam to 0030 north before clambering back aboard.
We made up a King Neptune outfit for the skipper (second surface crossing) to bless the (first surface crossing) crew, but B was not up to the obligatory obnoxious imbibing drink and celebration so that was a shame for her first crossing.
We made up a King Neptune outfit for the skipper (second surface crossing) to bless the (first surface crossing) crew, but B was not up to the obligatory obnoxious imbibing drink and celebration so that was a shame for her first crossing.
That night we anchored at Pulau Mesanak at 0* 24.20N 104* 32.600E. Then next morning we headed for the the top of the Indonesian island of Batam anchoring off Nongsa Point for the night to prepare to cross the Singapore Straits in the daylight. The evening was fine and clear giving us a great light show from industrial Batam on the Indonesian side to our south and the impressive skyline of Singapore to our north with an endless stream of ships and aircraft in between.
We lay on the foredeck and immersed ourselves in the scene which was in striking contrast to the remote and undeveloped parts we had been in for the last 3 months.
We lay on the foredeck and immersed ourselves in the scene which was in striking contrast to the remote and undeveloped parts we had been in for the last 3 months.
Another milestone was achieved in the life of SY Musketelle and her two crew when we crossed the busy Singapore Straits from Nongsa Point, Indonesia to Singapore last Sunday in perfect conditions. It took us 4 hours from the Nongsa Point anchorage until we berthed at Singapore - traversing one of the worlds
busiest shipping lanes with an endless stream of ships (2 minutes apart each way) in a traffic separation system of two lanes each about a mile wide.
Visualise ships of every size and type from the fully laden mammoth super tankers sailing eastward to China and Japan to small smoking tramp cargo ships, cruise vessels, gas tankers, container ships, tugs and barges, naval ships, armed security patrol boats and even an oil rig being towed. The super tankers travelling westbound were high in the water having discharged loads and heading back to the Gulf to refill. It was like a motorway out there, and to put it in perspective we plonk along at 5/8 knots whilst the fastest of these big ships literally roar through the water at 25+ knots. However we had no problems at all with the crossing.
busiest shipping lanes with an endless stream of ships (2 minutes apart each way) in a traffic separation system of two lanes each about a mile wide.
Visualise ships of every size and type from the fully laden mammoth super tankers sailing eastward to China and Japan to small smoking tramp cargo ships, cruise vessels, gas tankers, container ships, tugs and barges, naval ships, armed security patrol boats and even an oil rig being towed. The super tankers travelling westbound were high in the water having discharged loads and heading back to the Gulf to refill. It was like a motorway out there, and to put it in perspective we plonk along at 5/8 knots whilst the fastest of these big ships literally roar through the water at 25+ knots. However we had no problems at all with the crossing.
Singapore is a welcome change but maybe not for long. Its busy, fast, crowded and expensive. All previous visits by the crew have been by air through the front door whereas this was through the back door at the busy and not so pristine Port of Singapore. We had booked a berth at the RSYC whilst in Indonesia and the promo material looked great but on arrival we find the marina is right beside the busy working port and it is rocky and rolly with support service craft rushing around the inner harbour day and night. The club itself
though is impressive with the most modern (circa 2000) clubhouse comprising huge pool, bars, restaurants, library, gym, sauna and free wifi and the staff very helpful. The local MRT train is 10 mins walk away and then only 30 mins to Raffles Place in the CBD.
though is impressive with the most modern (circa 2000) clubhouse comprising huge pool, bars, restaurants, library, gym, sauna and free wifi and the staff very helpful. The local MRT train is 10 mins walk away and then only 30 mins to Raffles Place in the CBD.
We have already been shopping and achieved success on that front with a new Raymarine VHF that will allow dual station communication between the helm and the downstairs nav (when we get the handpiece which was not in stock). Also picked up a new Icom Portable VHF. We are on the lookout for a new computer. Consensus is Singapore is nowhere near as cheap as it once was in part due to the value of its dollar 1NZD =.81c SID.
We were also planning to do a bit of boat work here but may now do this in Malaysia at Langkawi. Current plan is to stay in Singapore and then move around to Danga Bay Malaysia which is where the Sail Malaysia Rally departs from on 14th November.
We do feel like many other travellers that have gone before that we are at a real crossroad here in Singapore. Notable because among other things we will now be moving around this one huge landmass all the way from Asia to India, the Middle East and Europe and not leave it until we cross the Atlantic way out in the future! Its challenging, global economic meltdown notwithstanding.
Where will we be in a year from now ?
Where will we be in a year from now ?
