Splash Down and Departure Day

Tweed returned to the water on Thursday, 29 January, looking a whole lot nicer than when she arrived at Boat Lagoon on 29 December. After a night spent in the marina checking that the engine was working properly and getting the fridge cooled down again, we departed Boat Lagoon on the high tide at midday on 30 January.





Again, we had to navigate out through the mangroves and then the narrow channel through the mudflats before we were in safe water. The snapshot from the chart shows our track in and out and how it in no way resembles what has been charted!!

We used a pilot boat to lead us out through the mangroves...

...and then along the channel markers.



After a night at Ko Rang Yai we sailed across to Ko Phi Phi Don before sailing south once more.


All Work and No Play....

During the month of January we found at least two occasions to have time off to play. The first was on January 19 when Pam celebrated another birthday - but who's telling how many? A group of 16 people met at Nai Yang Seafood Restaurant for a meal and another good night together. It was also a night of goodbyes as most were heading either west or south and would perhaps never meet up again. But that's the cruising lifestyle - meeting and making new friends and saying goodbye to old ones.






The second was on 26 January when being good Aussies we had an Australia Day barbecue at home. Along with Ley and Neil, we were joined by Bryce and Martha (Kiwi and American) from the yacht Silver Fern and neighbours from across the road, Brian, Kaew and children, and A, from next door plus all four of her dogs. We all enjoyed food in abundance which was topped off by Ley's delicious pavlova.

A New Year and Almost a New Boat

With Christmas over it was time to prepare for our haulout at Boat Lagoon on 29 December. We sailed over to Ko Rang, a small island a few miles from the mouth of the channel through the mud and mangroves which led into the marina. We anchored here for two nights, enjoying being at anchor for what would be the last time for maybe two weeks but probably four. Boat Lagoon is depth-challenged and with our draft of 2.2 metres we could only enter on a tide of 2.7 metres or more. Our first opportunity would be the 29 December. As novices at entering the meandering, mud-surrounded channel, we requested a pilot and he duly arrived at 10:00 at the first of the channel markers. Pam took the wheel while the pilot calmly called out when to make any turns and then Jon took over to take us through the mangroves. It was disconcerting stuff to see the depth sounder showing nothing under the keel but the pilot assured us that there were no rocks or sand beneath only slippery mud so we wouldn't get stuck!! Well, he was right and despite a bit of a slide as we entered the mangroves we arrived at the lift-out berth and Tweed was expertly lifted from the water. After a hose down with the high pressure hose, she was then transported to a section of the hardstand and propped up into position where she was very secure. Jon now spent his time preparing the engine for removal as he had to replace the rear oil seal and it was impossible to do it in situ.

Tweed being put in position at Boat Lagoon

We were met by friends Neil and Ley from Crystal Blues. They also have their boat on the hardstand where they are doing a re-fit over a six-month period. They have rented a 3-bedroom house and had kindly invited us to use the ‘spare’ room. It was holiday time though, so we had plenty of time to prepare as well as think about New Year's Eve. Kris and David from Taipan had invited us to spend the evening with them at Patong Beach but a last minute plan changed the location to Panwa Bali, tucked into the eastern corner of Ao Chalong. The reason: An uncomfortable swell was running on the west coast of Phuket where Patong is located and, as Kris had her elderly parents visiting, it was not considered safe. We and our friends Ley and Neil thought this was a good decision and duly arrived about 7:30 p.m. with no parking problems and a calm anchorage. Neil was kept busy talking with Edna, Kris's mum, who had the same surname before marriage and they were keen to work out if they were related. We all enjoyed the food, the drink, the fireworks and the company. It was an excellent night and before we knew it, it was well past midnight and time for us to go home.


Jon's workshop

The new year period was spent removing six large bronze fairlead fittings, unfastening the whisker cables from the bow sprit, removing the teak from the boomkin, pulling cables back inside the boat which ran to the wind generator, the GPS, the solar panels, the stern navigation light and the barbecue light. Everything attached or running through the teak had to be removed before the workers arrived. A forklift arrived on 2 January to remove the engine and the 4 January soon rolled round when the workers came back from their breaks but our work didn't start in earnest until the next day. Since then it has been all go and now Tweed is looking very nice indeed. The new teak along the bulwarks is finished and looks fabulous; the cockpit teak seats and cockpit sole (floor) have been freshly sanded; a roller door has been made for the cupboard which housed the old microwave; and the hull below waterline has been stripped of layers anti-fouling that have accumulated over who knows how many years. Mali's team of carpenters from Yachts Repair Company have finished and we are very pleased with the results. The bottom is now having a rest before having a barrier coating applied and then the anti-foul. Jon has replaced the engine rear oil seal and the engine is ready to be hoisted back aboard. The engine is located beneath an island galley bench and entailed removing the granite-topped bench complete with double sinks and taps, then hoisting the engine out through the coach-roof via the large hole left when the butterfly hatches were lifted off.

Old Teak Removed From Below Caprail and Bottom Scrubbed

Pam has been kept busy either tidying up after Jon, cleaning numerous bolts and nuts, or sanding and varnishing various bits of portable teak such as storm boards, boomkin, timber-framed hatch screens, and fridge lid, as well as some pine oars. Next job will be the roller door.

Teak work not quite finished yet