2nd July - Kudat marina - party

Wednesday 2^nd July

A local jellyfish bobbing past 2XS

Every now and again yachties have the chance to, as Misty says, get their snouts in the trough.  There is nothing they (…we…) like better.  Last night the marina manager, with his kindly sons Adam and John, put on an astonishingly splendid party for all of the rally boats. Astonishing because only three of the rallyboats are actual IN the marina, paying fees… (Isis, Jolie Brise, 2XS.)  The others are all lurking on the outskirts, in the outer harbour, or tethered to the stone retaining walls. They have to come in to shore in their dinghies and there doesn’t seem to be a fee for use of the facilities.  There are no free spaces in here at all; I think we got the very last one. 

2XS & friends 

So a big party with plentiful food (kebabs, sticky rice, salad, spring rolls, watermelon,) and even more plentiful beer…how generous was that??  I was having an AFD (alcohol free day) so there was even more beer for my friends.  I told Adam how splendid it all was and he blinked a bit.  Do you mean AWESOME? he asked, puzzled.  Well, yes.

Maureen and Paul, SV Calypso, South Africa

This afternoon we have some sort of rally knees-up, organised by Sail Malaysia.  Nothing is ever set in concrete, with Sail Malaysia.  Originally we were having a breakfast meeting, then a 6pm dinner.  Now I think it is a 4pm bus trip to…who knows??  All will be well; I am sure we will enjoy it very much.

A local boat cruises on by

We are enjoying our stay in Kudat, in the sheltering little marina.  Soon it will be time to set sail again, with our naval escort.  The marina is full of very enthusiastic young Malaysian navy and coastguard blokes, all thrilled to bits to have a convoy of yachts to escort down the coast.  Fun!

Some of the Malaysian Maritim boats

Our families are so global… Chris and Angel are in Vancouver and they have, very sensibly, bought Tilley hats, from the mothership!  (ie Canada…)

(nicked from Angela's facebook page...couldn't resist!)