9th January - 2XS in Thailand - boat incident - Bicheno

Thursday 9^th January

Pete rang from Phuket – yes he has reached Thailand!  He sounded very happy and very tired.  2XS is tucked up in a remote corner of the Boat Lagoon marina, where there is a team of people ready willing able to install the new (Multiquip) batteries.

All is well in 2XSLand.

So what else can go wrong, on boats?  Expect the unexpected…

Dave and Jacqui, from SV Jackster (UK) had a horrid surprise recently.  Dave called down to ask Jacqui if she was burning toast.  Or…burning something.  No, she was at the other end of the boat, burning nothing.

Dave and Jacqui in a happier moment

So what was the ominous smell??  A few seconds later his navigation Raymarine screen burst into flames… NOT good! 

He rushed about, doing the right thing to put out the flames, and found that the power cords leading into the back of the screen had overheated and had caused the startling conflagration.

Jackster going under Penang bridge

Oh deary me there are SO many things which can go wrong…

He had a G & T with us one evening, when poor Jacqui was languishing on her bunk, stricken down by one of the Rally Illnesses.  He was full of determination that he could salvage something from the molten mess.  What man has built, man can re-build!  He is a very positive sort of chap…

Meanwhile in beautiful Bicheno…

We haven’t actually done anything major – no excursions to the nearby Douglas Apsley River, with its glorious swimming holes.  No wildlife park.  No glass-bottom boat.  There doesn’t seem to be any need to get in a car at all…

We have cousins.

Penguins.

Family, beach, cricket, chat, food, much laughter, and endless movement across the road from one house to the other.

And seagulls which fill my heart with joy - we haven't seen seagulls for many months;
there don't seem to be any inIndonesia or Malaysia