Captain Scott ~ April 9th 2008

Subject: Pipe Dream becalmed

36 hours out of Singapore and all under engine in calm wind and mirror flat
sea. Several local sailors said we were crazy to go to Brunei as there was
little there and this Muslim country had imposed a strict prohibition on
alcohol. Boats are inspected on arrival and all stores are confiscated. So
we originally set out to go all the way to the Philippines but it’s apparent
that we will run out of gas before then. Borneo does not have a lot of
alternatives but we are headed for Kota Kinabalu. You know where that is,
right? Its 810nm from Singapore in Sabah on the northern coast of Borneo.
Its got a 14000 ft mountain Just inland. So far it’s been boring, it’s been
hot but at least flat and easy. The only sport is hunting sea snakes. We
have seen 8 so far swimming on the surface. They are twice as venomous as
King Cobras. Now grilling steaks on deck in a very pretty sunset