Looking up into the sky in Langkawi, you are bound to spot sea eagles, which are fascinating to watch as they swoop down to catch Garfish, which are in the habit of tail walking across the water. Langkawi, according to folklore, got its name from the two Malay words...

The warm welcome we received on entering Malaysia at Puteri Harbour Marina was a harbinger for the friendliness and excellent facilities which awaited us, as we sailed north. Malaysia is a modern country with good infrastructure, a varied manufacturing base and a...

After leaving fabulous Belitung, we did a two day sail to Ketawai, a small island off the mainland. Robby the local organiser did a fantastic job of organising parties, food and music on the island, as well as tours onshore. During a visit to a local school, I...

The Watson’s took a ferry from Gili Air to Bali on the 22nd September and we cast off the following morning to have a brisk sail to Ambat on the north-east coast of Bali. Ambat is at the foot of the active volcano, Ugang. The Watson’s who keep abreast of the news,...

Our last report was from the Medana Bay marina on Lombok. We called in at Gili Air on the way to Lovina Bay in the north of Bali. Michelle our daughter, has spent some time surfing in the Gili’s and highly recommended a visit to these islands. Ironically, she and...

After day hopping along the north coast of Flores island, we arrived at Labuan Bajo on the western end of the island. This is a popular destination for those visiting the Komodo and Rinca National Parks. After re-stocking with beer, fruit and vegetables we did the...

After the welcoming dinner and tours of Wini, midway up the north coast of West Timor and close to the border with the Timor Leste enclave, we set sail for Alor island, 69 nm to the North. There was a good breeze at 6:30am when we set sail, but this only lasted for...

The Sail Indonesia Rally started at 10am off Fannie Bay in Darwin on the 29th July 2017. There was a good 13-18 knot S-E sending us off on a cracking reach. Barely an hour out and Annie caught a 1.2m shark which put up quite a fight before she landed it and then...

Drew the diver, did Esprit’s bio-security check on the Friday afternoon we arrived in Darwin. He squirted some pink mussel poison into all the sea water intakes of Esprit, in case there were some killer mussels hiding there. This we had to pump through the toilets and...

The Thursday Island Customs and Quarantine personnel came to clear us in on Monday morning, the 3rd of July, after which we went ashore on Horn island to have lunch, visit the museum and collect water for our tanks. In the afternoon, Annie caught the ferry across to...

The autopilot rudder feedback unit eventually arrived late morning on Monday 26th June, after waiting 5 days for the DHL express delivery from Sydney. After installing the new unit ($439 plus $100 shipping fee), we tested the autopilot and found that it was still not...

The plan was to take shelter and rest behind Doini island for 2-3 days before we set sail for Port Moresby. This was not to be, as the Predictwind Offshore forecast for the next 10 days indicated very strong winds for the next 7 days, only moderating by Sunday the...

The people of these islands are the friendliest people we have come across thus far. Although poor and with very basic living conditions, they are positive and accepting of their circumstances. We often hear the term “living a minimalist lifestyle” in the city -...

Due to tropical cyclone Donna which tracked down from the Solomon Islands past New Caledonia, we departed Cairns a week later than planned, on the 9th May 2017. This proved to be fortuitous, as a prolonged South Easterly weather pattern set in, providing a good...

Tropical low 99p has now reached cyclone status, called Tropical Cyclone Donna. Now you can see why we are waiting to see where Donna will track to. The wind on our route through the Coral Sea is currently blowing at 36 knots. Will update you when this system...

      Easter weekend is ahead of us and the South East trade winds have arrived, heralding the end of the cyclone season. Steve Friedman our neighbour on the water, has made new shade cloth side screens for Esprit's cockpit to keep the sun and insects...

On arriving back in Cairns on the 17th February, we realised what a good idea it was to go back to Sydney for 2 months. It was still very hot and humid in Cairns and the no-see-ums (sandflies) were out in force attacking me and leaving me covered in huge red welts...

After returning from Orange, we moved into Jim and Gail Petrie’s flat in Balgowlah, which we rented for a month. The flat is centrally located with beautiful views across Forty Baskets beach and Sydney harbour, from Manly and North head to South head. This has allowed...

Before flying back to Sydney, we spent four delightful days anchored at Fitzroy Island, snorkelling and exploring this beautiful island. After preparing and securing Esprit as best we could for a possible cyclone, we caught a taxi to Cairns airport for the flight back...