8th October - South China Sea - equator - Nongsa Point marina

Tuesday 8^th October

1 degree north

108 degrees east

Yes indeed!  We have crossed the equator!!  This happened at 5pm yesterday, in the middle of the South China Sea.  And this is what it looked like…

We weren’t able to celebrate with King Neptune but we did have a very nice celebratory G & T before resuming our 3-hour watches. 

It took us two long days and two long nights to get to our destination, but here we are, at Nongsa Point Marina, on Battam Island.  We are in sight of Singapore, just across the way… So yes we have come a LONG way.  It is, by the way, very nice here… At 8.30 Pete and I were swimming in the azure waters of a large, irregular shaped pool.  All of our washing is whirring away in efficient-looking machines.  I think the towels will be particularly grateful to get a proper wash and rinse…they really don’t get a fair go, being stomped on in a bucket of soapy water by me…

But…we want to go… Sam (SailIndonesia) sent our paperwork ahead of us, from Belitung, with a covering letter that it was urgent for 2XS & crew to get clearance out of the country.  There is an office (Customs & Immigration) right here at the marina and we have presented our passports and other necessary documents, well before 9am.  But…maybe it will get done today…and maybe it won’t…

We can’t leave from here, unfortunately.  We have to get into Malaysia because out Indonesian visas will expire and we won’t be allowed back in – all this bureaucracy…

So in the meantime…a day of rest, washing, recuperating…

And another lovely bit of Borubudur...