We left the dock in Miri this morning just before 6:30 and managed to scrape our way out of the entrance on a falling tide and into the South China Sea. This time we remembered our rope mat which was on the dock and got left behind last week. Maybe this time we won't be turning back. We've had this mat since we made it in Fame Cove, Port Stephens, back in 2005 so would be a shame to get rid of it now.
It was good to get away early as we would arrive in Kuala Belait about 2:00 p.m. The skies were blue with some high cirrus cloud and the seas were flat in the very light breeze but that ever present South China Sea swell was there to ensure we had a rolly ride. Passing the shallows of the corner at Tanjung
Baram the swells were bigger but no turbulence to trouble us. We must have crossed at least 20 NM of coffee-coloured waters, the result of the continuing destruction of the rainforests in the name of oil palm plantations. The heavy rains are washing the Borneo topsoil out to sea.With the sea looking deceptively flat, Tweed's mainsail casts a shadow across the coffee-coloured water.
A line of cumulus was building over the land but by the time we arrived they were still far inland and showing no signs of build-up. We crossed the bar at the entrance to the Sungai Belait and continued motoring about 1.5 NM to anchor off the boat club. We are now out of Malaysia and in Brunei.
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