27
th April 2011
We checked out of Rebak Island Resort Marina on 22nd April and sailed up to Talaga on a high tide. In Talaga we anchored near our friends Paul and Tracy on “Cockatoo II”, the next few days were spent getting the two yachts and everything ready for the sail up to Phuket, Thailand. “Cockatoo II” were also taking on their two friends David and Vicki they had met in Adelaide, that were keen to sail up to Thailand with them on “Cockatoo II”.
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| Leaving Datai Bay, Langkawi |
Our first leg was only a two hour passage, taking us over the border and into a bay We are now anchored in Ao Chalong, Phuket, Thailand N 07 49.415 E098 21.340
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| Hin Daeng |
The passage up from Langkawi took us eight days, we only did short hops and enjoyed some lovely quiet anchorages. Our first anchorage was at Hin Daeng N06 39.9 E099 41.3, we then had one night at Ko Bulon Le N06 49.8 E099 32.7. Our next stop was at Ko Talibong N07 12.24 E099 23.5, all of these anchorages were in 6M to 8M of water.
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| We were not alone |
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| Ko Bulon |
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| Have Men,,,,,,,,,,, Can move boat |
Next we made for Ko Ngai where we found a lovely long white beach and a number of basic resorts that provided good food at a very realistic price. We anchored at Ko Ngai for two nights and our position was N07 24.686 E099 12.772.
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A spare motor, transmission, shaft and prop for a Longtail Boat.
Many of these are Turbo charged 4cyl engines out of late model cars |
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| Those deck chairs look okay |
We then made for Phi Phi Le all the moorings were taken so we dropped 65M of chain in 25M of water. Phi Phi Le is well photographed, small but well known island just SW of Phi Phi Don N07 43.907 E098 46.907 where we anchored for three nights.
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| Phi Phi Le |
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| Lot's of tourists looking at a locals cave house |
Although very pretty, we found Phi Phi to be very busy with tourists and speed boats taking tourists diving and site seeing, this made our anchorage quite uncomfortable. We had a chat wih the guy’s on “Cockatoo II” and decided to move on to Phuket as soon as the weather allowed, however the approaching Sumatra storm did not look like it would provide the weather we were looking for. An hour after Mark had called his Mum for Mother’s Day, the weather improved and we were off. We started with two reefs in the mainsail, but before long had everything we could find up. We averaged 6kts and showed a maximum of 8.2kts, it was the best sail we had experienced for a long time and put us in the Ao Chalong anchorage in time for afternoon tea.
The procedure to check in with Immigration, Customs and the Harbour Master was by far the easiest yet. All three are in the same building, were very helpful and there was no charge.
On Tuesday we shared a Tuk Tuk (baby Taxi) with Paul and Tracy on “Cockatoo II”, for the afternoon. The driver took us into Phuket City, a large shopping centre and the total cost for the six hours was 600 Bart (AUD$20). We then had a beautiful Thai evening meal, quite a few German beers and apple crumble for desert and that cost the four of us 1400 Bart (AUD$45). Brunch usually costs the four of us about 750 Bart (AUD$24) and to get our laundry done is about 35 Bart (AUD$1) per Kg. I think we will enjoy Thailand! During the next few days we will be looking for a local stainless steel fabricator, Shipwright and a chandlery.
