Sunday 16 August Langkawi

We left Penang on Monday morning and arrived at the islands on the SW fringe of Langkawi late afternoon. Before going in to the main town anchorage we wanted to have some island time and clean water to clean the hull. The bay on the NE side of Pulau Singa Besar offered good protection from swell in this the south west monsoon season. Wins continue to be light but when we get a thunder storm they always seem to roll in from the west. Indeed on our first night here there was a dramatic thunder storm in the early hours. At the first rumble we jumped out of bed; David to close cockpit windows and bring in anything which didn't want to get wet and me to gather PC, phones, handheld GPS and radio to go in the microwave and oven just in case we took a hit. At least we'd have communications and maps to reach the next anchorage.

Next morning David dived and cleaned the propeller and the bottom of the keel – the only place we had barnacles while I bobbed on the surface brushing the waterline of scuzz. Later we went for a paddle around in our new orange kayak. We like it a lot, a bit lighter than the RTM and not fuchsia pink. Suddenly I felt like a proper yachtie rather than a marina bunny; one who goes to sleep listening to the sound of the water on the hull not the squeak of fender on hull with only the moonlight, no dock lights.

Scarborough Fish 'n' Chips lunch

 

Langkawi north beach

Now we are in the main Kuah town anchorage with shore lights and the calling from the mosque pre dawn. I'm stepping off Jackster on Tuesday afternoon for a few weeks while I return to England to have a haul out and refit on a dodgy hip and there were things to do before I leave; we had a hire car for a day to go to the warehouse for a few cases of pop and beer. We also took the opportunity to see some of the places on the north coast, have a meal and pick up a couple of jerry jugs of diesel and David took the ferry to Satun in Thailand yesterday to renew his Malaysian visa for another 90 days. I dropped him at the ferry terminal to catch the 9am boat and he was back at 3pm mission accomplished. Meanwhile I'd spent my time making a batch of lasagne for the freezer and going through my packing – England's going into autumn which means it's going to be a lot cooler than I'm used to. One upside of being home, apart from time with my family, is I'll get to watch all the Rugby World Cup. Perhaps some dark clouds do have a little silver lining....

And so...for now the Admiral is on shore leave for the time being. Jackster, Captain Dave and deck hand Polly plan to cruise the waters of Langkawi until the ship's company is once more complete .