Blog 84. 22 Nov. 04.12.89N 100.36.08E
Alcedo
David Batten
Fri 29 Nov 2019 00:30
One of the junctions on Fraser Hill, with well sign posted trails and a better road surface than in some places
Fraser Hill is a resort, with several large complexes including Silver Park where we stayed, but the forest is first growth and it did provide the Skipper’s wife with some good bird watching and the rest of the crew with some good walking. Sadly, the most spectacular birds were too far away and too active to photograph and internet not good enough to confirm identity of the ones photographed.
One of the few birds of many seen that allowed itself to be photographed
Possibly a Brown Shrike?
After an uneventful drive back to the boat and catch up with some of the other Rally members who had arrived from Puteri, the stay in Admiral Marina was completed by some marine led team competitions and the final dinner.
The Skipper exercising his climbing skills during the competition. This apparatus was considered too dangerous for us was not part of the competition!
We left Port Dickson before the majority of the fleet for the the “sail” to Pangkor and we would recommend doing it in 2 one day hops rather than overnight unless you are prepared to stick to the main shipping lanes. There are fishing boats everywhere, particularly around Klang, some with AIS and some with very active SARTs which they turn on and off with monotonous regularity. If you are not able to turn the alarm off and we could not find a way of doing this with the Garmin, it will add to the hyperactive state of your already on edge nervous system. Most of the fishing boats are trawlers, so providing a good, i.e. constant lookout is maintained, there are no problems with avoiding them, but we did see one trailing a long, surface net marked by a series of floats, so best not to cut too close behind them.
One of the smaller trawlers trailing a long net. More trawlers in the background and a member of the crew in sight on this one.
Our overnight stop was off Pulau Selatan, which we made just before dark by keeping the iron topsail on to maintain a speed of 6 knots or more. It is deeper than described in the cruising guide, we anchored in 18m. The powerful lighthouse on Pulau Angsa was not working, but lightening during the night and the flashing lights we purchased to warn off fishing boats more than made up for it. Flashing lights, any colour, are recommended at anchor as there have been reports of fishing boats hitting yachts, whether intentionally or unintentionally and these are what the locals use themselves.
Dawn over Pulau Selatan and Angsa, Forever Young (left) and Grey Nurse on the right. Endless Summer anchored in front so out of the picture
An early start and more help from the iron topsail found us approaching the new terminal off Symonds Point in a squall some time after 5.00pm. The starboard engine added to the entertainment by ceasing to work and the staysail was quickly employed to give more speed and control. After a talking to by the Skipper and Ship’s Boy, the engine started again and we called Pangkor marina to alert them to our arrival. Squall over, approaching the Marina James, the marina operations director, was waiting on the edge of the channel to help us over the shallows at the marina entrance. Definitely a keel up job as only 2.2m at the shallowest points and we managed to time our arrival for low water. Dear James had organised berths for all the yachts that arrived before and after us, in spite of there being no room and he escorted us to a very nice berth where we tied up with the help of his very excellent marina staff.
Last stop before Langkawi and time to do a bit more exploring before we start preparations for the trip back to the UK.
Alcedo