Date: 15 February 2011 | Time Start: 1330 Finish: 0630 (16/02/2011) | From: Pulau Baleh To: Sibolga | Eng Hrs Start: 1983.6. Finish: 2000.0 | Avg RPMs: 2700; 2500 after 3 hrs | Weather/Seas: Little wind until offshore breeze in the morning
Midday start. Easy motor out and set way points to avoid 5m spots on the chart along whole mainland coastline. At some point at night, Adam shut down engine to refuel. Previously, we had reduced RPM to 2500 after realizing that @ 2700 we were burning 3L/hr. When Adam shut down, temperature went up to 180 deg F. Let it cool down to around 140 deg F and changed shifts. Exhaust water was coming out when we restarted, but after a couple minutes, temperature alarm went off and temp had hit 240 deg F. Shut it down and decided to sail for a while to let it cool and be okay for entering Sibolga. This is around 3 am. Sailed at 43 deg to wind toward Sibolga, between 2.0 and 4.5 knots of speed. Several fishing boats. Close to 6am, ferry from Nias passed closely behind us (still we don’t have starboard nav light). Looked up from Kindle and saw the autohelm had taken us strongly to the south as wind shifted. Woke Adam up to check coolant. Overflow tank had overflowed and header tank was low. Refilled, started engine, and headed into Sibolga – no further temp problems Anchored near ferry terminal and coast guard. Had breakfast in terminal where CG was hanging out, then walked across street to harbor master. He didn’t speak much English and took a couple hours on documents. Explained we need to see immigration. Went to VoA office (15 minutes outside of town), sent back to main branch of BRI to pay $25 and get receipt (other branches had no idea). Back to immigration, then return @ 230 pm to pick up and pay 100k Rupiah bribe, but got stamp in passport so could leave the ship.