Iboih to West Coast Sumatra

Date: 10 February 2011 | Time Start: 1800 Finish: — | From: Iboih, Pulau Weh To: Off W. Coast Sumatra | Eng Hrs Start: 1932.7 Finish: 1958.3 | Avg RPMs: 2700 | Weather/Seas: Calms seas, mostly no wind w/ brief sailable conditions. Changing wind directions.

Package from Jakarta Yanmar dealer (PT Pioneer) arrived. Picked up at harbourmaster. All parts correct except R12P primary filter by Racor. Changed oil, replaced and bled secondary. Got clearance from harbourmaster (150k Rupiah bribe), passports from immigration (300k Rupiah bribe), and avoided coast guard chief, as they already had 1 million Rupiah profit from diesel and bottle of Johnny Walker. Provision at Sabang market and only grocer open at 130 PM (1-6 PM daily closures common). Motor to Iboih, dingy to N point of island N. of Rupiah, dive w/ brief shark sighting. Back Iboih to refill tank but they’re finished for the day at 5 PM. Avocado shake then shifts start. 2 dolphin escort in phosphorescence as approaching Banda Aceh. Take path through narrow Aroih Cut – scary at night. Depths fine but crazy 4 knot current, flowing from W to E. Around 3 am wind is up. Sails. Quickly grew to 20 kt apparent which was too much for near full, racing heady. Could not furl in heady (later discovered winch stuck) on same tack so brought her into wind and no problem. Wind died then later picked up and got nearly 3 hour sail in from 6 AM to 9 AM. Wind always swining around, suggested prevailing NE monsoon wind minimal and wind more driven by on-shore, off-shore winds and storms. Cell phone reception up to 13 NM from coast.

About Ian McHenry

Princeton '05
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