Arrival Philippines

Anchored in Clarendon Bay, 07 deg 49.000N, 117 deg 01. 290E, Balabac Island, Philippines, just after 4.00 p.m. 17 February. Conditions were not bad to start with, then a bit lumpy about 15NM miles across the straits and for the last few miles we had to push up to 2 knots of current. We were almost going sideways to make our destination as we set a course of 020 deg, trying to make our bearing at 350 deg - we were being pushed west by 30 degrees! We trolled a lure after sighting a beautiful mahi mahi leaping out of the water chasing a flying fish. We did hook something and think it was a mahi mahi but unfortunately it managed to throw the hook and get away.

Clarendon Bay is populated with a small group of Muslims who migrated from Sabah several generations ago. There are a few small stilt houses over the water and a small village ashore which is hidden by the jungle. The people are poor but very friendly and we have bartered for a bunch of bananas and four nice sized swimmer crabs. The bananas are yet to ripen but we expect that most of them will be dried for later use as there are so many of them!

The calm waters inside Clarandon Bay

We have been having a lay day today, doing a few boat jobs, etc. and will leave tomorrow morning for Balabac town where we should be able to pick up Philippine sim cards and a few replacement provisions. Our peace was shattered this morning though when a couple of the fishermen let off an explosion. We were both down below and it sounded like something had hit our hull very hard. We rushed outside to see them pulling in the fish they had stunned. Sad but true that they still choose to fish that way.