After eight months we are once again back in Thai waters as we head north from Langkawi, Malaysia to Phuket, Thailand. We arrived in Bass Harbour the town of Kuah on Langkawi island on the 4th of December. I made a couple of attempts to update the blog but we seemed to have an extremely slow internet connection. Just before leaving we found the solution but I guess you'll just have to wait for any photos.
Our time anchored off Kuah was busy! There were several last minute jobs for me to finish before heading off again. The main one to install the new membranes in the water maker and get it running once again. We are very tired of schlepping water. After several days of the water maker unit on the saloon table it was finally finished and making fresh water once again.
Now with room in the saloon, Kathy was ready to get to her sewing projects. We had brought new material for lots of the canvas and also new slip covers for the interior cushions. Hey, the machine seems to be stuck on zig-zag! Next thing we knew on trying to loosen a screw a piece broke. So no sewing. We called the machine distributor and they were able to help some, the part got ordered, a video emailed concerning the repair and more sewing supplies ordered. Our friend Connie is coming to visit just after Christmas so she will once again be the "pack mule" bringing us necessary things.
In Langkawi we did manage to finish most of the other small jobs. We restocked with wine and beer and chocolate at the duty free shops. Filled our fuel tanks and then yesterday checked out of Malaysia. We then moved to another anchorage to make today's trip a bit shorter.
Today, Friday, the 16th we got underway at 0730 toward our intended destination of Koh Tarutao. We had stayed there on our way last year. It was a mixed bag of traveling today as the wind was changeable from 5kts. to 25kts. We did some sailing and as always around here some motor sailing. Once again we found another rip in our old and tired main sail. We're quite happy that soon we will have a new main. After our arrival in the anchorage I once again managed to make repairs.
A nice thing about this spot as it's part of a national park they have several mooring buoys. Another boat arrived just ahead of us and picked up one and we did the same. Looking at the mooring line all appeared fine. It was 1 1/4" poly line passed through the buoy with a nice eye spliced in the end. We were secure. As is our habit I set the anchor alarm and we did a bit of clean up after the passage. Kathy was reading and I napping when she said we're adrift just as the anchor alarm sounded. The mooring line had parted just where it passed through the bottom of the buoy. This all happening at 3 in the afternoon was lots nicer than 3 am. We started "Miss Perky" moved off a bit and are now anchored. In the past I usually dive in and look at the quality of the mooring hardware, I did not today but will go back to that practice.
We'll be off again tomorrow. We hope to arrive in Ao Chalong, Phuket for our check in to the country on the 20th.
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