Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 4:25 AM
Subject: Muslim Separtists
In this area kidnapped resort tourists several years ago. So this resort has
2 platoons of soldiers that also work in the resort. Charity, a 19yo looker
and bartender, is one of our guards. Wed was total relaxation time on the
mooring. Best snorkling ever. The resort also had a large French wedding
party with several memorable women. High cliffs back the resort and a cross
is on one peak. While snorkling a praying angel was found in the depths
facing the cross. Today the 24th we left this special place and headed for
open water.19 kts`of wind on the nose no fun. Now at Cabulaun Island 11 23n
120 05e. A great natural anchorage. Several fisherman on shore supply
abundant flies but we are in a perfect semicircle of beach, palmtree, and
mountain.
Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 8:16 AM
Subject: Cabulauan
The depth sounder worked and we got into the lee and anchored in 20ft and
sand. On the beach ahead were 16 Vulcan war birds but different. These all
had curved outriggers that bent upwards from the one that went into the
water. Sort of a W on top of a M. Before sunset every one left the shore and
passed us close aboard. Each had exactly 6 crew. Now they are in sight off
shore with bright halogen lights--squid catchers. After sunset we were
cooking on the grill when out of the dark we were boarded by 3 men. Boarded!
They asked if we wanted to buy dried squid. Then added they did not have
enough money to buy rice. So I bought some. I have always said only 2 things
smell like fish and one of them is fish. Now I know there are 3 and one is
dried squid. Still a magic encounter. These men as poor as anyone on this
earth spoke English. They came from the mountain and invited us to visit
tomorrow.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Captain Scott's Log ~ Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Subject: Club Noah Resort
On Apulit Island. 10 57n 119 36.6e Last night in the mangroves and tonight
on a mooring jn the lee of high cliffs, sand beaches, and a resort built on
stilts over the water alla the south seas. We passes Paley Island this
morning which the guide book said had white beaches `and waterfalls. Finding
neither we went on to Tay Tay the old capital of this island. Old Spanish
fort overlooks this forgotton village. Lunch ashore and bought some fresh
veges and fruit. Then on to Apulit for the night. The resort was a suprise
and we were approached by a patrol who told us the resort was full. We said
we would pay for a mooring and dinner---and, they said they will pick us up
at 8 for dinner.As an aside, all the native boats have outriggers of
bamboo---even large boats. The bigger ones have high curved beams to the
outriggers and so look like a M when approaching. Neat but also sinister and
we call them Vulcan Birds of Prey
On Apulit Island. 10 57n 119 36.6e Last night in the mangroves and tonight
on a mooring jn the lee of high cliffs, sand beaches, and a resort built on
stilts over the water alla the south seas. We passes Paley Island this
morning which the guide book said had white beaches `and waterfalls. Finding
neither we went on to Tay Tay the old capital of this island. Old Spanish
fort overlooks this forgotton village. Lunch ashore and bought some fresh
veges and fruit. Then on to Apulit for the night. The resort was a suprise
and we were approached by a patrol who told us the resort was full. We said
we would pay for a mooring and dinner---and, they said they will pick us up
at 8 for dinner.As an aside, all the native boats have outriggers of
bamboo---even large boats. The bigger ones have high curved beams to the
outriggers and so look like a M when approaching. Neat but also sinister and
we call them Vulcan Birds of Prey
Monday, April 21, 2008
Captain Scott ~ Monday, April 21, 2008
Subject: Roxas and further north
The trip north from Puerto Princessa was easy in the beginning. Offshore the
depths went from 4000 to 16 feet frequently which made for some spectacular
tidal rips (like the hump off Marathon). A squall gave us 18kts on the nose.
Green Island Bay has numerous islands and shoals and we soon found our
charts and chart plotter suspect. Our GPS chart plotter showed us sailing
across an island that does not seem to exist. Roxas was found and we
anchored in 8.5ft well off the beach. Rosemary was delivered to her friend.
Jeff and Mark had a drink ashore and as foreigners became the town
attraction. The next morning it was apparent we had several problems. The
depth sounder did not work all the time, we were going east into the rising
sun and blinded, and the chart plotter was unreliable. So we chose a longer
safer route. Still I throttled back and slowly picked our way. In what
should have been 65ft of water, noted a water color change and pulled the
throttle to neutral. The depth sounder awoke and read 14ft. I reversed and
we hit and grounded at 3 kts. The sounder now reads 7.1 ft. We draw 7.5. So
after getting off we proceed very cautiously and found much wrong with the
charts. And the water is murky. Dumaran Island passage is narrow, reef
strewn, and charted by Capt Cook. We followed his route witch was fine
except for miles of unmarked fish farms. By early afternoon we were
exhausted by the slow pace and put into a nearly landlocked bay for the
night. Without depth sounder we used the Fortress anchor and line as a lead
line to find bottom. Now anchored in remote mangroves watching the natives
slash and burn the hillsides.
The trip north from Puerto Princessa was easy in the beginning. Offshore the
depths went from 4000 to 16 feet frequently which made for some spectacular
tidal rips (like the hump off Marathon). A squall gave us 18kts on the nose.
Green Island Bay has numerous islands and shoals and we soon found our
charts and chart plotter suspect. Our GPS chart plotter showed us sailing
across an island that does not seem to exist. Roxas was found and we
anchored in 8.5ft well off the beach. Rosemary was delivered to her friend.
Jeff and Mark had a drink ashore and as foreigners became the town
attraction. The next morning it was apparent we had several problems. The
depth sounder did not work all the time, we were going east into the rising
sun and blinded, and the chart plotter was unreliable. So we chose a longer
safer route. Still I throttled back and slowly picked our way. In what
should have been 65ft of water, noted a water color change and pulled the
throttle to neutral. The depth sounder awoke and read 14ft. I reversed and
we hit and grounded at 3 kts. The sounder now reads 7.1 ft. We draw 7.5. So
after getting off we proceed very cautiously and found much wrong with the
charts. And the water is murky. Dumaran Island passage is narrow, reef
strewn, and charted by Capt Cook. We followed his route witch was fine
except for miles of unmarked fish farms. By early afternoon we were
exhausted by the slow pace and put into a nearly landlocked bay for the
night. Without depth sounder we used the Fortress anchor and line as a lead
line to find bottom. Now anchored in remote mangroves watching the natives
slash and burn the hillsides.
Captain Scott ~ Saturday, April 19, 2008
Subject: Puerto Princessa
We are anchored off a YC in a pretty bay with high mountains to the west.
9 45N 118 47E. There are only 3 other cruising boats here. All friendly and
helpful. We have found fuel, good provisions, a good restaurant and several
drivers. Most transport is by Tuk tuk (3 wheel motor bikes). Yesterday we
went across the island to a World Heritage Site--a park which features the
world’s longest navigatable underground river. We were told it was a 2 hour
drive which it was. Had it been driven safely (which it wasn't) it would have
been 4 hours. And if one of us drove it would have been 6. A white knuckle
hair raising drive on one lane dirt roads across the high central mountains.
Passing brightly colored buses that had seats for 30 and contained 90
passengers and their chickens. 30 in seats-30 on their laps-and 30 on the
roof. 3rd world driving is the real danger in sailing around the world—
forget pirates and typhoons. We called our driver "suicide Willy"
which seemed to make him drive faster. In the park we stopped for a
permit---then later stopped to pay for the permit---then later stopped in a
small town to pay for a boat. We were told the boats were all filled and to
come back in 4 hours. So we ate at a roadside spot that featured 2 pots. One
was a greasy wild boar stew and the other was greasy cooked vegetables.
Bill has relapsed and does not get far from the head. We finally caught our
boat--a canoe with outriggers that took us around to a beach. From there we
got into our 4th line for the one hour trip through the underground river.
Bats and Stalagtites I expected but my surprise was swallows. They flew
through the cave in large numbers obviously navigating the same as the
bats--by sound. Today we sail north to Roxas. We will take Rosemary. She’s a
British lady, who sailed here with her husband, then he died, and she’s here
alone on their boat.
We are anchored off a YC in a pretty bay with high mountains to the west.
9 45N 118 47E. There are only 3 other cruising boats here. All friendly and
helpful. We have found fuel, good provisions, a good restaurant and several
drivers. Most transport is by Tuk tuk (3 wheel motor bikes). Yesterday we
went across the island to a World Heritage Site--a park which features the
world’s longest navigatable underground river. We were told it was a 2 hour
drive which it was. Had it been driven safely (which it wasn't) it would have
been 4 hours. And if one of us drove it would have been 6. A white knuckle
hair raising drive on one lane dirt roads across the high central mountains.
Passing brightly colored buses that had seats for 30 and contained 90
passengers and their chickens. 30 in seats-30 on their laps-and 30 on the
roof. 3rd world driving is the real danger in sailing around the world—
forget pirates and typhoons. We called our driver "suicide Willy"
which seemed to make him drive faster. In the park we stopped for a
permit---then later stopped to pay for the permit---then later stopped in a
small town to pay for a boat. We were told the boats were all filled and to
come back in 4 hours. So we ate at a roadside spot that featured 2 pots. One
was a greasy wild boar stew and the other was greasy cooked vegetables.
Bill has relapsed and does not get far from the head. We finally caught our
boat--a canoe with outriggers that took us around to a beach. From there we
got into our 4th line for the one hour trip through the underground river.
Bats and Stalagtites I expected but my surprise was swallows. They flew
through the cave in large numbers obviously navigating the same as the
bats--by sound. Today we sail north to Roxas. We will take Rosemary. She’s a
British lady, who sailed here with her husband, then he died, and she’s here
alone on their boat.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.jpg)
+(2).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
.JPG)
