Sumatran Cruise

[surfmachine]

https://plus.google.com/photos/11173...CN-QiIPei9fETw

Click on the link above to view a heap of pictures in google+
Cheers from Keith.

[surfmachine]

Ahoy shipmates!
Well we are at it again in 2014 and 2015, sailing and surfing around the banyak islands and nias.
At present stuck in Lagundri Bay on the island of Nias waiting for the arrival of our new autopilot control head to replace the failed raymarine st70 control head.
Is coming from Raymarine via Hong Kong and Surabya. Stuck in customs for 4 days, but now on the move again.
Hopefully that will be the end of hand steering. It was difficult to steer for 22 hours from Sibolga on Sumatra to Nias.
Luckily my wonderful wife is aboard and she helped a lot with the passage.
The surf has been indifferent during JUly, August and September. Now the rainy season here in Nias. Torrential downpours most nights.
Broke the aft anchor rope three nights ago, much better with a 18mm nylon rope attached to the fortress. What an anchor, really digs in and very difficult to break out.

We are planning on sailing back to Phuket in Thailand in early November. Normally takes about a week with stops for waiting for good weather windows. Where we will store surfmachine on the hardstand at Krabi Boat Lagoon and head back home to Margaret River for the southern summer.

Had some unreal spearfishing in Bawa, Nias and the bay of plenty in the Banyaks. Been eating fresh fish most nights.

Fair winds from Keith.

[hogesinwa]

Hi Keith,
I wondered where you'd got to. The blog was very quiet this year and there don't seem to be any surf shots on it. I do have difficulty navigating your new format, though.

We are on the coast of Spain near Valencia getting repairs to stuff. Only 127 miles to go to our winter berth so maybe end of next week? We want to spend 4 or 5 days in Valencia first, then a few in the Mar Menor.

Back home south of Bunbury in early December. Hope your passage back to Thailand is smooth and uneventful.
Hoges

[surfmachine]

Ahoy Terry!

Splashed surfmachine in April from the krabi boat lagoon

SURFMACHINE: Where is Surfmachine now?

Thanks for the reply. Surf has been pretty quiet after an incredible May and June!!

Had a great 3 week sail around Phagn Gna Bay near Phuket and Krabi, with my wife Rebecca.

SURFMACHINE: Sailing and cruising in Phagn Nga Bay in Thailand in April May 2015 with my wonderful wife Rebecca!!

SURFMACHINE: Sailing from Cock island to Phi Phi Don Island in April May 2015 with Rebecca

Visited James Bond island, what a busy spot!

SURFMACHINE: James Bond Island visited by Surfmachine with Keith and Rebecca!!




Great sail across from Phuket to the top of Sumatra.

SURFMACHINE: Sailing from Phuket to Banda Aceh at the top of Sumatra in May 2015

We have had a few dramas here in the banyak islands . Two yachts hit by lightning, one prop destroyed and shaft bent by floating log, one motor failure, took them 4 weeks to get from banyaks to langkawi. One vessel being towed back by another cat to langkawi. Another vessel lost autopilot, our autopilot failed. Lost aft anchor in storm, but found it again!

I have been following your blog posts, well done in the Med mate!!!
It is wonderful having my wife aboard all the time.

We have had three very good crew come and stay with us so far this year. Now it is very nice with just the two of us aboard.

All the best to you and your wife and we hope to catch up in WA over summer?

[surfmachine]

Cheers shipmates!*

Now resting at banda aceh at the top of sumatra. *We have checked out of Indonesia for 2015.

Will fill up the diesel tanks*today*and leave at midnight to tackle the mighty Malaccan straits. *Then back to phuket in Thailand.*

Had a great 5 days of motor sailing up from Nias and treasure Island. *The charter boat pulse was still working at treasures and a steel sloop called Bella.*

No smoke here. Starry skies with a nice bright moon.

Keith.




Sent from my GT-S7582 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[surfmachine]

Ahoy Shipmates!

Thanks for your mail.*

I have just returned to phuket from Sumatra from the 2015 surf cruise. It was a wonderful season.

Had a great 7 day sail back from Nias.*

Crossed the mighty Malaccan straits in 46 hours.

Phuket is fantastic!

New crew was wonderful. Stood all her watches at night and was very happy. Lots of dolphins playing at the bow..

Checkout was easy in banda aceh and free!

We may head out again in 2016?


Will contact you if we do.


All the best from keith.*

P's no smoke here!!!

Sent from my GT-S7582 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[surfmachine]

Avast mateys! We are on the way back to Krabi and then Phuket and sumatra for another 6 months cruise with a great German guy as a crew for 6 months.

Should be a really great year!!

Cheers from Keith and Rebecca.

[tropicalescape]

Originally Posted by surfmachine

Avast mateys! We are on the way back to Krabi and then Phuket and sumatra for another 6 months cruise with a great German guy as a crew for 6 months.

Should be a really great year!!

Cheers from Keith and Rebecca.

Enough is enough..You have been warned, Stop having fun...

[surfmachine]

Hi.
Keith Stirling here. Australian Captain and owner of my 40' aluminium Feltz Skorpion IIA. Btritsh flag.

I am on my seventh surfing cruise of Western Sumatra. Focussing on the Banyaks Islands and Bias.

I have just sailed from Phuket in Thailand to the entry port of Sabang on Pulau Weh at the NW tip of Sumatra. The passage took 49 hours and it was very rough for the first 16 hours and the last 8 hours. We lost the port front section of rub rail in very heavy seas.

I am very pleased to report another very easy check in with the people at Sabang on a Sunday afternoon at 1400 hrs.

Without prior warning they willingly and politely opened up their quarantine, harbour master, immigration and customs offices late on Sunday afternoon. I did not expect this. Being prepared to wait until Monday morning.

They insisted on helping and apologized for being out of uniform. No charges and no customs or quarantine visits.

This is the second time I have visited them at Sabang. Last year was a Saturday afternoon and we were
treated with the red carpet.

I must state publicly that they are the best and friendliest group of officials I have met in Indonesia. I used the Indonesian online yacht registry for the customs service which worked flawlessly. Our 60 day social visa with the wonderful Raymond T Lesmurda as our sponsor was readily accepted and endorsed. I had left my crew list aboard, no problm's, they typed up a new one on their computer.

We are now waiting at Banda Aceh for the winds howling around the top of Sumatra to abate so that we can sail the next 50 hour passage to Palau Bankgaru or Treasure island for the famed right hand barrelling waves.
Fair winds from Keith aboard sailing vessel Surfmachine.