sailing2xs: 19th-20th September - Coron - Point Lucuyan - Coron

Friday 19^th September (am)

We didn’t stay long in our anchorage at Coron. Too much reef around us; too much possibility for disaster. The weather forecast was predicting very strong wind (well 20-30 knots, not that bad but BAD if you are entirely surrounded by shallow coral…)

So we scarpered, without setting foot in the town.

We are now anchored in a much more sheltered location about five nautical miles from Coron.

Co-ordinates

11 degrees 59.145N

120 degrees 06.546E

Depth 8-11m

There seems to be another storm brewing but we are safe and happy here. I have peeled potatoes so we can have comfort food (mash!) – no panic at all!

This photo was taken in the late afternoon yesterday. The sky was dark and we were very happy to be anchored before it got even darker. Most of the islands here are heavily forested (be-jungled, in fact,) and there is little sign of human occupation. Every now and then there is a cleared hillside, where, presumably, farmers grow some sort of crop. It seems amazing to us, all of these empty islands in a country with such a huge population (97 million?)

The storm raged from about midnight until this morning. Loud wind, driving rain. And 2XS sat peacefully at anchor, barely moving. This is a VERY good anchorage. (And 2Xs is a very good boat.)

RAIN!

Friday 19^th September (pm)

Pete thought we might go back to Coron and have a look at the town later in the day. I am SO glad we just stayed put, not matter how benign the weather forecast was looking.

At about 2.30pm a huge storm erupted around us. (40 knot winds, very heavy rain.) We had a tragic loss – our green bucket, which has been with us since Pete first took possession of 2XS, was torn from the deck by the fierce wind and very soon vanished beneath the waves. It was part of my water collection system and will be sadly missed, even though its handle was horribly rusty.

RAIN!!

We were cosy and dry inside the cabin, and we were both very grateful to be in such a safe, benign anchorage.

Saturday 20^th September

During the night there were several more violent rain storms. So nice to lie in bed and hear the rain pelting down, washing the decks much cleaner than I ever can, with a hose and a scrubbing brush.

When we got up the sea was smooth and silky. No rain, no wind.

A good time to haul up the anchor and go back to Coron. #2 anchorage is MUCH better. We are very close to the wharf, in amongst the ferries.

It doesn’t look quite so much like Hobart, close-up…

Pete was slightly worried about the anchor, but I think all is well.

(Actually we moved about 100 metres from the original anchorage an hour or so later.)

He was very keen to go straight into town – we have errands to complete. Our phone cards need topping up; we have no veggies. That sort of thing. Pete has lowered the dinghy and was quite keen for us to go straight into town, until I (gently) pointed out that it is still only 8.30am and that normally he would still be reading his book in bed…and that no shops will be open in town just yet.

It was all very beautiful, coming up through the islands.

Generally people in their small fishing boats wave and smile. These people were not at all impressed by 2XS, and just glared, with their noses in the air.