The voyage of S.V. Catcha Star: Penang

January 29^th 2011

Leaving Singapore was pretty much as expected, lots of strong currents and overflows and ships. Immigration took a little longer to get to us this time, but it all went very smoothly. We plotted a course inside the islands just north of Singapore, it felt like we were leaving via the rear exit, it was all very commercial and quite busy.

We only dropped anchor on the first night, just south of Pisang Island N01 27.5 E103 15.4. We set sail at sunrise and followed the edge of the shipping channel for 2 nights, the first day we sailed the most we have since leaving Darwin. The books all gave the south entrance to Penang a bad rap, but we rounded the Sth Channel markers at N05 11.8 E100 05.4 headed up the inside of Penang towards Georgetown and it was good fun, plenty to see and as always plenty to watch out for. They were constructing another road bridge and the works in progress signs and temporary navigation markers were much like the road works signs in Indonesia and Malaysia, none existent.

A bit like an obstacle course really

What's that in the mist Mark?

Foundations for the new road bridge

Look out bridge, here we come.

Are we going to fit under Cath?

Phew!!!!

Turn left when you can see the Georgetown Ferry Terminal

f you go past these on your right, you've gone to far.

Head for where the ferrys go

We were on the T Head of the jetty closest to the ferry terminal, that's it in front.
They run until about 0200 and start at 0600 seven days a week , they come in and leave at full throttle.

Originally we had planned to stop every evening and visit Melaka, Lumut and Kelang. However after speaking with a few yachties that had recently done this passage, their advice was to hug the edge of the shipping lane and keep going. Small fishing vessels using all kinds of nets and traps can be a real hazard in those waters, especially at night. Similarly it is advisable to navigate the south channel to Georgetown during the day. Melaka, Lumut Kelang and of course Kuala Lumpur can easily and more safely reached by road or a cheap flight from Penang or Langkawi another time.

Penang, especially Georgetown was amazing and we will definitely go back (probably fly from Langkawi) there. Tanjong City Marina N05 24.834 E100 20.669 is okay, but the swell from the constant flow of ferries can be a little tiresome. There is word that they will be building a breakwater, but then the RM10 per night pen fee will probably be increased. There is also the problem of depth in the marina. We called the Dock Master on channel 68 as required and gave him all our details including our draft which is 2.3M. As we were guided into pen C14 by the Dock Master and hour later, we heard our depth sounder alarm scream. “What depth is it here Sir” I yelled! “Not much Sir, it is a very shallow marina Sir”. With that we reversed out and tied up on the end of their jetty, even closer to the ferry terminal. It was the only berth available with more than 2.5M at low tide. The food, historic buildings and shopping in Georgetown are well worth a look.

City Marina is so central to Georgetown, we could walk out of the marina, cross the road and were in an area of Georgetown that has lot’s of great cheap restaurants, lot’s of history and pretty much anything you need. If you needed a large supermarket there was a free Bus service that stopped outside the marina. Customs, Immigration and the Harbour Master are all within walking distance. The water is drinkable and the marina will loan you a plug for your shore-power cable if you do not have the correct (small round three pin, Singapore is a large round three pin and Rebak is a large round three pin) one.

Yes they are here as well

Man could survive here

They say you can buy all kinds of food in Penang

It's crowded and busy, but everyone still had a sense on humour when they tried to pass me in the narrow isles

Another chance meeting followed. While at City Marina Cathy’s Mum Emailed us, asking us to keep an eye out for a yacht called “Labarque”. Owned by the brother to a step sister-in-law, or something like that, anyway. I said to Cathy “I’m sure we have seen that yacht recently”. Sure enough, there was Patrick working on his teak decks of “Labarque” in the pen next door but one too us. We had a fabulous evening with Patrick and his lovely wife Elizabeth, they were a wealth of information having sailed this area for many years. What’s that about a small world?????? The yacht next to us came from Canada owned by a Englishman, and had no engines ( not even the dinghy), no through holes in the hull (this means no toilet, no sink), a gaff rigged schooner, I need luxuries!