Bali to Bilatung

6th December 2010
The weather guru's said if we were heading for Singapore, we should have left Lovina when we arrived. They were right, but our stomachs weren't quite ready, we both had Bali Belly especially Mark and were not going anywhere today.
We left Lovina Bay early on the 7th December, bound for Bawean 245nm away. It was a less tan comfortable passage with winds up to 40kts on the nose. We also encountered a moving island, later to be identified as an island under tow.

This was the first of many tugs that we encountered towing large barges, at night they have no navigation lights.

This was the last we saw of "Black Pearl" until Belatung four days later. The rain was so hard we lost sight of each other minutes after this shot was taken.

This was another kind hazard we had to be aware of

The fuel at Bawean was a day late and relatively expensive, I am not sure that there was any alternative for us though. The weather was not improving and we needed to get going. An hour after we left Bawean a huge black cloud formed and we got drenched. The wind increased to around 40kts and was on the nose again. We took off to the north towards Borneo and "Black Pearl" headed due west. Once the thunder clouds cleared and the rain eased we still getting 35kt winds and because we were only in 15M to 20M depth of water we had steep short choppy seas. All was uncomfortable but okay until about 100nm off Kumai, when our auto pilot striped it's gears. This was the first of a list of mechanical failures during our passage to Singapore, it was a long hard passage to Belitung that did not improve at all.

Thanks to Joni +62 8127 143 4108 for organising a driver, finding diesel, a supermarket and helping with Immigration. There was a shortage of diesel (Solar) on the island at the time, a tanker was due any day though. We had lost three or four days due to the weather and our visa had expired. We decided it was best to check out of Indonesia in Belitung, rather than wait until we got to Nongsa.

Rusdi's Bar

The wind continued to blow

When we dropped anchor there was one other yacht in the bay flying an American flag and a French flag on the port spreader. Soon after we anchored we went to sleep and not long after we woke there were two lady's in a dinghy alongside. Linda and Florence had a heap of information about Bilatung for us. The Girls's on "Serafin" were to become very good friends.

Serafin (this photo was taken in a different bay)

Rusdi's Warrung

Rusdi's Warrung on the beach, this Man get anything done including the laundry, can find anything you need and his wife's cooking is something else. So good we ordered four meals to take away with us when we set sail for Lingga. rusdibiliton@yahoo.com

Some of the local entertainment

Great food and they make you feel like one of the family +62 819 2975 1766 or +62 819 2978 7348

Rusdi, he is the Man, saving a starfish

One day Rusdi had 45 Chinese tourist, he took them all out on his boat, fed them and made them all very welcome. 

This huge resort is just up the beach from Rusdi's Warrung, it shut down about ten years ago.

This Guy uses his feet to row

The anchorage at Belitung

There were plenty of coconuts, but no Carter's?

"Black Pearl" had pulled into the main harbour at Belitung, managed to contact Joni, got their fuel and supplies and then made their way around to Kalayang and Rusdi's Warrung. Belitung was a breath of fresh air and a great place to relax for a few days before continuing on for Singapore. We wish we could have stayed longer and we will go back.