Inescapable Rebak

Hi everyone,
We're now back in Perth, and Zen Again is once again in a pen at Rebak Resort Marina.  So much for returning our lovely boat to WA this year!

We spent several stormy days at Telaga Marina after deciding it really wasn't wise to risk the passage around Sumatra to Cocos Island.  In the end we decided we had too little faith in our 20+ year old engine.  So back to Rebak we went during a brief break in the weather.

At Telaga Harbour

We're now looking at a range of options to return Zen Again to Fremantle.  Step one however will be to replace our engine.  We came very, very close to doing so in Darwin, and have regretted not doing so ever since.

Zen Again once more at Rebak Resort Marina

We are considering replacing our current 27hp Yanmar with a smaller engine, and not necessarily a Yanmar.  The 27hp easily drives the boat at lower RPM than it should be running at, so we haven't been working the engine as hard as it should be.  Hence the huge carbon build-ups we discovered in Darwin.

We would like to also replace the propellor since we know the current fixed pitch, 2-blade, folding prop is over-pitched (that is, it takes too big a "bite" at the water and the engine can't get up to the RPM it is supposed to be running at).  If we replace the prop the new one will be a Bruntons Autoprop which sets its pitch automagically.  We had one on our previous boat and it was excellent.

Telaga Harbour Marina for Fuel

Hi everyone,
This morning we motor-sailed the 6nm from Rebak Resort Marina to Telaga Harbour Marina, still on the Malaysian island of Langkawi.  In pen A26 at 06 22.00N 99 41.12E.  We were originally booked to stay here for two nights and had planned to depart for the Cocos-Keeling Islands today.

We had a great send-off from Rebak.  Diana from The Doctor, Mike & Jan from Asterie, Frank & Karen from Kokomo V, Barry & Sue from Nefertiti 1, John & Cheryl from Sea Mist, and Steve & Anne from Recluse all came down to wave us off.

Heading out of Rebak Marina
photo by sv The Doctor

Motoring out of Rebak Marina
photo by sv Kokomo V

We flew back to Langkawi from Perth last Sunday.  From Monday to Thursday we worked on the boat, doing lots of pre-departure jobs and replenishing supplies.  On Friday and Saturday we rewarded our hard work with a couple of days at the resort.  The rooms are very nice and well air-conditioned.  On Saturday night we watched the Australian election coverage on BBCworld.

View from our very nice cool room

Company for a walk around the resort - 2m monitor lizard

Our plan had been to sail for Cocos leaving Sumatra to port, and from there to Fremantle.  Eventually however, and at the eleventh hour, we decided not to proceed.  We'll return to Rebak later this week and consider Plan B.

Hello Again Rebak

Hi everyone,
Zen Again is now back at Rebak Marina in Langkawi, Malaysia. We had a great passage from Phuket, logging 121nm in 24 hours. The nice westerley breeze (10-15 knots) and fine conditions lasted until 0300 this morning. Then we had a brief rain shower with 20-25knot winds. A good opportunity to try out the new reefing arrangements.

Zen Again's track

After the rain the wind was light but still westerly. We continued sailing at 2-3knots until about an hour away from Rebak. We motored in from there, with the only drama being when the motor stopped when just 100m from the entrance (and on a lee shore). We unrolled the jib, turned around and beat off under autopilot while I bled the fuel system. With the engine running again we entered the marina and tied up at pen B30.

There are several yachts here which took part in Sail Indonesia with us last year - good to see them. Some of the boats have had major "makeovers" as we have. An hour after we arrived a violent storm arrived and it blew 30+knots and poured rain for nearly two hours. Glad we arrived before that!

Moored at Rebak shortly after arrival

Rainstorm a short time later!

The direct passage from Phuket certainly exposed us to far fewer fishing boats and fishing nets. We passed half a dozen pair trawlers near Phuket but after that only saw individual trawlers occasionally, and stationary squid boats overnight. We passed through one big field of net floats in 50m of water west of Ko Rok Nok. Just after dawn we narrowly avoided a large tree trunk - just as well we weren't further ahead!

Zen Again at Rebak Marina

For those interested in single-handed short passage watchkeeping, I used the ten minute scheme. So day and night I set a 10 minute alarm, rested until it went off, looked out all round for traffic, checked sails, wind etc, and then set the alarm again. It worked well for me and it seemed it would be OK for up to perhaps 48 hours. Could be used when watch keeping on crewed passages too.

All in all, twas a great sail!