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So this leg didn’t go according to anything we planned. I arrived punctually at 6:30 in Roxas Panay, only to hear reports of stormy seas just east of Boracay. After a bit of contemplation and deliberation with Mike in Boracay, I decided to get a vehicle to take me to Boracay so we could attempt to leave together Saturday. So there I was - another Friday night in Boracay. On a positive note I got to see a bunch of my friends who were in the middle of the President’s Cup regatta for a few beers! After watering my frustrations, it was another early night in bed in order to ensure an early start the next day! |
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THE WORST IS OVER ?? I don’t think the escape from Boracay could have been more difficult, 2 metre seas bunched together so that the stern was up and the bow was buried in the next wave – yuck. So, instead of our usual dramatic exit of 35 knots, we were forced to maintain 7 knots for the first two hours, covered in wet weather gear and lifejackets, (the first time Mike has worn one for more than 35 years!!) The seas calmed down a bit later and we headed for Malapascua at around 20 knots, rough but ok. Having been delayed for one day due to the high wind and seas, this was to be our overnighter instead of Bantayan. |
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A loss of power was noticed, and a quick glance behind confirmed it, black smoke from one engine, only fully serviced in Manila one week ago!!! The smoke turned white after a few more hours, the other engine started losing power and we limped into the beach in front of Thresher Divers in Malapascua, at around 4.30 pm. Thanks to them for a pick-up after finding a patch of sand to anchor in, the coral off the beach here is fantastic, and untouched by human hand or anchor, wonderful… |
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Johnnie Walker welcomed us to Kuan Ba resort and we had a great meal there after a freshen up, the English sausages and mash were perfect, as was the the curry etc etc. A nice cooling swim in their pool was very welcome, and we thank them for their hospitality, air con and conversation, www.malapascua-island-resort.com |
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An early start, a search for ice, a beautiful dawn and calm seas – wow! Then we found an outdrive sticking up at an angle not normal. A quick fix with a couple of wires shorting out the motor brought it down again, a fast beer after the effort and we’re off, albeit with all the same problems as the day before. |
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It really was a beautiful day for the 75 mile trip to Cebu, but it would have been great to be doing 30 knots instead of our 18/19, which was the most we could get out of two very sick engines. |
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They’re happy now with their location at the Cebu Yacht Club, with doctors arriving today to help them get better (we hope). The Cebu Yacht club is a wonderful place with very friendly people and great food and beer prices, Mike even bumped into an old mate from Puerto Galera, Dave Morgan, one of the founders of the yacht club there. |
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After a huge clean up of the boat and many beers at the club, we hightailed it to the Kiwi Lodge ( www.kiwilodge.org ), for our own clean up and to meet up with Ken Dunlop (owner of the Kiwi) and Geoff Hall and his lovely daughter Aimee, and many other very friendly expats and locals alike. It’s a great place, a little off the beaten track, but a sanctuary for most excellent adventurers, and that’s what we are, especially after the last 48 hours! |
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So, Sean is back at work in Manila, already, on this Monday morning, and Mike is sitting at the bar of Kiwi, drinking a beer, tapping this out before going to meet the engine doctors at the yacht club. We still hope to be out of Cebu and in Bohol by Friday and then we’ll be back on schedule for that weekend. More updates will follow re doctors diagnosis………. |
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