Just Cruizin On Bluemoon

LOG 67

We lifted anchor early on the morning of the 17th July - yet my gosh what a mission it was to get both the anchors out!  Easy more than half an hour!

Yet it was great to be free again and sailing out again heading for Thailand on the east side this time... though the weather was not fantastic, even the water was real bumpy yet we loved the bouncing around seeing the sail driving us on our way.

Shortly after leaving and coming around out the channel - there before us was this really BIG BLACK 'squall' ... or was it a Sumatra again....  LOL we were now not sure as the clounds seemed to look the same - long black and low, very low and heavy! Since the 50 knotter we were always ready just in case something blew in unexpectadly and so everything was lashed down and ready and now this 'squall' was moving real  fast and closer to us and we were now not sure if we should head right back and drop anchor though we would not have enough time for that.... what to do... what to do... we decided to brace ourselves and go right through it! We put our wet gear on then noticed what appeared to be a wall of sea spray which concerned us as to this being a big one.... yet were rather surprised to find it was only a 35 knotter with very hard heavy rain so all were very happy we carried on - also - as the squall passed overhead, we saw a wonderful rainbow anlong with some dolphins in the distance so it was really great! PFM phoned to check if we were okay after it went through Telaga.

We sailed on the east side of Koh Taratoa which is the largest island of the national parks archipelago. Tarutoa is derived from a Malay word for óld', mysterious and primitive which is densely forested and beautiful! Taratoa has lots of beautiful walking trails leading to water-falls, caves, lookouts and isolatd beaches - a truly spectacular place! We anchored at Ao Talo Wao, which has a long pier next to a big rock outcrop - this was also once the site of a prison. It was such a breathtaking site with calm waters which was extra special with dolphins that seemed to live in the bay and swin around. Being totally roasted (sunburned from sitting upfront spotting all the rubbish in the water)  we stayed another day going through some quick squalls which was very refreshing and cool while recuperating! It was such a lovely place to just relax and clear your mind from busyness....

John had scraped his lower back rushing out the cockpit on the key for that Sumatra and now it was very swollen and infected! Thank goodness for fusiden which worked brilliantly over the next few days!

We lifted anchor easily the following day real early keeping  in mind the one hour time difference from Malaysia and Thailand. So it was 6am Thailand time and 7am Malaysian time.... with a huge squall building. We set off with a great and beautiful wind except for it being right on the nose!! So we just enjoyed the motor sailing to the Koh Bulon group which is still part of the Taratoa Marine national park yet the waters are so much clearer and cleaner with some stunning coral gardens. these granite islands are blanketed by rain forest and fringed with white sand beaches - just stunning!!

We relaxed for the rest of the day after anchoring while watching the cloud build up knowing something was coming.... next thing while watching the ocean I see hundreds of fishing boats from all directions heading for our anchorage!!! Got distracted with some dolphins which are always such a delight and surprise.... next thing I look up and we have been surrounded by dozens and dozens of fishing boats, all rafted up in different groups... maybe 5 or 6 boats at a time all the way around us and close!! My gosh what an experience! It was unbelievable having all these people we could not communicate with so close to us! Talk about being a little anxious!

... what  a sleepless nigh jumping up to check how a group had to separate and re anchor as one boat was heading out and they all had to move with these low rumbling powerful motors! So this was an all nighter experience - just shows how vulnerable we were feeling as a few months back, sadly there was an isolated incidence of two fishermen trying to steal a dingy off Mr Bean... they killed the guy and threw him overboard while they tied up the woman.... terrible, anyways this was in Thailand and so without even thinking about it you were aware of it.... as all us yachties were shaken up by that and it is the season to go to Thailand and Malaysia... so we felt exposed though all went well with no worries except strong winds and rough seas.... early the following morning when the sea gypseys were lifting anchor or separating from each other, we too lifted anchor and sailed over to Koh Phetra .... yet when we anchored I was not too happy being so far out from cover and then noticed only later while checking the pilot that John had been reading the wrong anchorage and we could have gone closer in - much closer!! We had anchored off 250m instead of 40/50 meters on the east side which has spectacuar limestone ridges which are incredible to see! There are jungle fringed cliffs with caves and overhangs. This island is one of the main birds nest collection points in the area!

After relaxing - finishing a book I was reading, then showering off the back sugar scoop noticing the clouds building yet again, we had a great quiche Justine made for supper while we had a squall go over us, then back over us and for the third time go over us!! It just kept changing direction,  over and over and over with of course no less than 35 knots!!! Who would have thought that this current is just so strong and so puls Bluemoon into the current while the wind and rain hit us from the side and back!!!! Come on!! Yet more dolphins cheered us all up! Restoring our hope of finding an anchorage that really did protect us alittle more than what we had been having!

Looking at the beautiful limestone cliffs that were infront of us, made a picture perfect set of fishing boats hugging in close! These fishing boats are painted the same as their national flag which is real nice to see!

Well what another blasted night we had! The current ripping and us going over the anchor yet again with the cockpit into the wind!! 35 knots blasting with lots of rain and we were rocking and rolling once again going side to side with the current when the wind took us... It was really not a good night at all! The problem started just a few days ago with the chain missing the gypsey and so it is terrible lifting anchor!!!!. We had very little sleep an so lifted anchor early and headed off to Koh Kraden which was a full days rough sailing which surprisingly we all enjoyed!! Jono and I sit up front navigating past nets and rope and huge tree logs and other stuff.... still shocked at how big those logs are floating in the water... shoes, plastic bags... rope... drums... we just missed like a 150 kg barrel then narrowly missed a loooooooooong line floating freely!

The bows of Bluemoon were raised out of the water then pounding back down giving us such an exciting ride!!!  Like being on a roller coaster!!! It was real great!! Rain, rain and more rain made it very difficult yet we managed to get snug near Koh Kraden and enjoyed a really well deserved good cuppa nest to a snail! (Sea Gypsey)

LOL! Yet again, a few minutes later there must have been more than 50 fishing boats tying up one to the other all over the place! hehehe

Just before dark we see low tide and thank the Lord!!! There were just rock everywhere and the wind was up as always, and getting stronger.... so what a mission to lift anchor and re anchor further out... which was such a good thing with that wind!!!

We seem to be doing things arse about face here as we keep sailing over the anchor with the cockpit into the wind and rain because of this current! Well, it was more wind, rain and lightening to entertain us for the night... the WHOLE night! 38 knots almost consistently!!! And pumping!!!... and so it went.... dawn had barely cracked its eyes open and we were lifting anchor which is really a concern as the chain keeps slipping on the gypsy!! Anyways, had another good day dodging the junk all the way to Koh Lanta where we dropped double anchor and enjoyed yet another great cuppa! We love this little island so much!!! The wind just keeps on and the clouds just keep building though no worries as we are firm on the anchor and that is pretty much our life line if you wanna see it like that.... but fun and games it was for the whole night yet again! we are convinced that we are having mini Sumatras every night!!!! Laying into the wind would be great cause we can be alert yet get some sleep, but going over the anchor and laying in the current with has been extremely strong , rolling side to side rather harshly with whipped up waves that pound into you and winds of 38 knots plus not dropping under 36 knots in the rain is no fun!!!!! Especially when you have other boats anchored around you and this goes on fiercely for 6 hours non stop!! And it is pitch black and you are sitting watch that no one drags into you!.

Someone had there torch out, another blowing a horn and we could see squat!! Thank goodness for a great lentil soup which John made for supper and was perfect for the weather! Just past midnight and things simmered down a little  - which was great taking off our drenched clothes, having a quick shower and trying to catch some sleep. We were up at the crack of dawn which was so lovely to see the sunrise... or rather the new day opening its eyes.... we lifted anchor and headed for Ao Chalong - to a little bay just before the big bay... we left at 6:30am and sailed into rolling seas all the way till we dropped anchor at 3:30pm. We sailed into this cute little bay which is also a fish farm. The last visit to Thailand always took up past this little bay and now we were here. The wind was up though that was quite nornal for us now and who knew what the night would hold, being so exhausted as we were! The wind was 20 knots constant yet so many stars!!! What a treat from all the clouds and blackness we had faced so far on this trip... John and I fell asleep straight after supper in the cockpit which was wonderful as we heard nothing and felt nothing! Great night!!! Whew!! Then to lift the anchor with it slipping.... it was getting far worse! We lifted anchor and went into Ao Chalong when we quickly dropped anchor while John went to sign us all in. That took a litte longer than anticipated so we rushed off to boat lagoont then when arriiving, it is a 45 minute winding lagoon which you follow with stick poles lining the way and we were undecided as it was late in the afternoon shortly before sunset and it was very shallow.... so sadly, with about 5 ski boats behind us and heading for the lagoon, I did an about turn heading straight back for an anchorage on our most loved island. We anchored on the east side on Rang Yai bay.

Had such a calm and wonderful night, or so we thought!! The kids said they woke up to close hatches for a big squall... John and I were dead to the world  - it could have been a biggi and we would not have known!!! heheheh

Having had little sleep for the last few days, always on alert because of the strong current and riding on the anchor with strong winds etc, I think it just all caught up with us! So we woke up totally refreshed and decided to head for yacht haven instead so we can firstly sort out the chain! Have to buy new chain. Then water , do our washing and just get things back in order.

It is a beautiful day with calm seas - just lovely!

We we escorted into yacht haven and pushed onto the dock!!! The current was shockingly strong!!!! Yet thank the Lord we managed to dock as the weather is not looking to good yet again! After a beautiful start.....

We did some washing but decided to just chill and destress then do washing on Monday.... hehehe It has rained and squalled all day!!!!! NO SUN LOL!!!!

Also we have come up with a new family song for when we come to marinas!!!!

' ... we are Bluemoon and no-one can be prouder , and if you cannot hear us, we'll let Jessca out of her cabin..."

As Jono says... if no one knows we are the Danks family on Bluemoon, then everyone will know within minutes of Jess setting foot on shore!!! hehehe

To try and keep the voices down on this boat is worse than facing a Sumatra!!!!

Till more news guys, keep on living life to the fullest!!

Love John, Jenny, Jessic and Jonathan