Sunday, October 7, 2012

ENROUTE PHILIPPINES

Anchored Position 07°16.117N 116°59.581E

This should be our last night spent in Malaysia. This morning we departed Kudat on the northeastern tip of Borneo and are now anchored 25 miles north in a large bay on the island of Balambangan. As usual it was a motor boat ride with less than 8 kts of wind. We can see some lights ashore though not many. We did have some local fisherman come by shortly after anchoring. They spoke no English and their leaky boat had no engine but a propeller shaft. They spoke in Malay and rubbed their stomachs. They did have some large clams in the bottom of the boat but were basically begging and not offering to trade. We had bought some small bags of sugar and flour and they were given these. Perhaps gifts such as these will help feed their families.

It is a calm night and tomorrows destination of Clarendon Bay at the bottom of Balabac Island is 35 miles away and in the Philippines. We still have limited internet here but are now primarily relying on weather from our subscription to "Buoyweather" along with the "grib" files that we download through our sailmail provider. The forcast for tomorrow is wind of 16 to 20 kts. meaning a beam reach. We'll see! Here in the Philippines we will be in an area of potentially volitile weather. They can have tropical storms here about ten months out of the year rather than only 5 for the rest of the world.

One of the great things about Malaysia has been both the phone and internet service. We're not sure what to expect in the Philippines but will see in the near future.

Tomorrow a new country and new adventures!!!

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