Visa run

One of the issues with being in foreign countries is that visas periodically run out.  With the type we have in Thailand this is every 90 days.

At such times we have to cross an international border, get checked into a another country and return to Thailand to have our passports stamped and earn another 90 days. The time in the foreign country can be as little as 5 minutes!

Having considered two main options - fly to Penang, Singapore or KL or take a trip to Myanmar we chose the latter.

We rejected the various one-day visa run options, involving 4-5 hours each way in a minibus to the border town of Ranong and either a longtail across the river  to Kawthoung or a more comfortable ferry to the Andaman Club Resort on Thahtay Khyun Island in the mouth of the river.  Instead we hired a car, drove to Ranong and stayed overnight in the resort.  The resort essentially takes care of everything and all payments are in Thai baht.

Andaman Club resort

Thus it was that we found ourselves taking a couple of days off from boat work and spending a night in Myanmar, a country we had not expected to return to after our trip last year.  In fact you wouldn't know you are in Myanmar if it weren't for the all-important stamps in the passport - it is to all intents a Thai hotel (except for the casino).

The next day we returned by the longer "scenic" route across the central mountains and back by the old road across to Phang Nga.  A side visit was to the Keereewong Nature Temple, a Buddhist temple set in a forest glade.  We were looking for a "geocache" hidden there, which we failed to find, but were glad we went as it is a really peaceful place which most drive past.  We then visited our friends Richard and Pauline (cousins of Susan's cousin Paul's wife Elizabeth) at Khok Kloi just north of the bridge onto Phuket for a late lunch.  It was however so late that we stayed the night and still managed to return the car in Phuket before it turned into a pumpkin at 0900.

Sea Bunny progress slow but sure

Test fit of the rudder

The weather has been unseasonally kind to us and the hull underwater has mostly been filled, faired and more epoxy applied..  Just the parts that were under props, now moved, remain to be finished.  Then we will be ready to antifoul.  We have decided to use Coppercoat which, although slightly more expensive, should be effective for several years - some boats achieve 10 years or more with just gentle rub downs.  The topsides are undercoated and being finally prepared for topcoat as we write.  We will not have access to the boat for a few days as she will be masked up and surrounded by clingfilm.

Seawater inlet manifold before fitting

R has modified the huge manifol, that controls most of the seawater flow intothe boat, under the floorboards outside the engine compartment. The area has also been painted white so will be able to see the crud in future.

S has repaired the 3 large awnings, made 5 new hatch covers (essential to keep the heat out) & new cockpit table cover (essential as it is knocked every time something is taken out of the cockpit locker). She also found time to make herself a new blouse but not from the same material!

The galley beautiful project is virtually complete.

Cutting times

Cutting the cake

Here is a some recent cutting experience -  R with his birthday cake at a local seafood restaurant and Susan getting rid of of a weight on her mind.

More cutting

Indian Ocean Voyagers

With the increasing dangers of piracy in the NW Indian Ocean an increasing number of boats are choosing to cross from SE Asia (Malaysia and Thailand) or Australia to South Africa.

Last year Dave and Jan on the yacht Baraka compiled a list of these boats with the aim of facilitating communication between them and helping to get boats to team up if they so desire.  With Baraka's departure on the trip and consequent limited internet access, we  have taken over the running of the list, which at present covers yachts planning the voyage in 2012 or 2013.

N route (red), S route (yellow), S route outside Sumatra (green)

Essentially there are two routes. 

The "northern route" leaves SE Asia in January-March and heads to the Chagos Archipelago via some or all of Sri Lanka, India and the Maldives, using the NE monsoon of the N Indian Ocean.  Traditionally these boats have then waited for about 2 months in Chagos for the saesons to change in the southern Indian Ocean, notably the end of the cyclone season.  The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT)administration now restrict stays to 28 days so boats have had to adapt plans to accomodate these rules. Boats on this route then either pass to the north of Madagascar and cruise the eastern coast and then to Richards Bay or head down to Rodrigues, Mauritius or Reunion and Richards Bay or Durban.

The "southern route" either passes down the west coast of Sumatra and then to Cocos Keeling or Mauritius or down the Malacca Strait to Singapore then through Indonesian waters to the Sunda Strait between Sumatra and Java thence to some or all of Cocos Keeling, Rodrigues, Mauritius, Reunion and then to Durban or Richards Bay.  Best timing for this route commences in either May/June or September from the Sunda Strait.  The SE trades can be quite boisterous in July and August.  Boats from Australia would probably pass south of Java to Cocos Keeling.

There are, of course many variations.

Yachts planning this trip can be included on the monthly updates of the list by emailling us at seabunnyhr42@gmail.com. The information required is- yacht name, type, length, communications equipment carried, route and dates proposed, email address, sailmail or similar address if carried, skipper and crew names.

Its neck and neck in the Hull and Galley Beautiful Stakes

The weather held until a couple of days ago
. 
The fibreglass sheet went on without a hitch. We asked Jimmy Watt to inspect it - his view was that Oh's men had done an excellent job so relief all round.

It was left for 10 days for the amine bloom to come out and the hull was then scrubbed with Scotchbrite pads and  hot water.  Then 500 microns West system epoxy was put on & now epoxy filler, which will be mostly faired off, in place. Then the boat supports will be moved & the same process done where they rested. We have kept tabs on the amount of product used etc. Like after 8 coats "we have finished " - NO only half the required quantity of product had been used.  All done without loss of face & great humour!

As our bunk mattresses have at last succumbed to mould after 12 years. 2 queen sized latex ones have been delivered from Bangkok to Mr Peh who has the pleasure of cutting these heavy bulks to fit the 4 covers that make up our bed in the aft cabin. He will store this until we are ready.

The fridge cabinet goes here

In the galley beautiful stakes Richard has removed the fridge cabinet and reinsulate around it,.  Removing the foam was a time-consuming mechanical job and it was interesting to find, on removal that two of the hull stringers had been cut to make room for the cabinet - presumably on initial installation by Hallberg Rassy as it was the original cabinet. Yes that is daylight you can see shining through the hull which is more translucent without gelcoat or paint.

The galley top has been fitted & unfitted. It is now back in the workshop having all Staron fiddles moulded around so that no liquid will drip down beside the cooker or into the cupboards when we heel over. This will take another 2 weeks. Richard has refurbished the fridge compressor - what a guy.

Most days Susan is high on paint thinners 10 & 17, as she is painting the insides of cupboards  with 2 part, ie 4 coat paint. The only type that does not go yellow on boats.
Richard has been in the engine compartment doing more electrics & installed a new inverter/charger system.

On Monday Susan had a girlie day out with Ley, Carla & Diane - little boat talk. Richard may have a day off on his birthday!

Weather permitting - 14 June

Well while we were in the UK there were 4 dry days here.
Since our return it rained on most days for a month!
So during the rainy period Richard was has been crouched in the engine compartment rewiring for the galley panel & updating other bits of knitting! He reinsulated the fridge & the carpenter finished the underlying woodwork. The kitchen guy for the tiny work surfaces in Staron came to remeasure yet again!
Susan did entire boat stowage list that is now on the iPad! Very tedious but will be invaluable.

The best photo would have been of Susan on her bike wearing yellow poncho, sporting an umbrella in one hand, riding through a foot of water in the boat yard at high tide! Unfortunately there was no one to take the picture as it was raining so so hard. During this time we had to be extra cautious getting on & off Sea Bunny, Richard only fell over in the mud once!

Glassing the hull

After long talks with Mr Oh our painter & jimmy Watt, the surveyor, we had agreement ( so many technical details- just to say the glass fibre resin has to be mixed correctly & applied in a tight time frame easy in Europe not so easy in Thai time) & felt happy that Mr Oh with new weighing scales, has the expertise  & was willing, to do the hull work with a team of 6 men. On day 1 of dry days the fibre glassing process started under Richard's supervision. This stage was finished in 3 days with no rain clouds building.

We took photos and copious paperwork to customs for an extension on the time Sea Bunny can stay in Thailand without a heavy fine and duty.

Phuket - itchily back to the grindstone,

Our Emirates flights back to KL were not full, so we were able to spread ourselves.  We only had a couple of hours in Dubai, just time to get a coffee and pastry. Arriving in KL in the evening we overnighted at the Concord Inn, near the main terminal. 

During the night Susan remarked on being a bit itchy.  Over the next few days she developed some 60 inflamed and very itchy red weals, identified as flea or bed bug bites.  These took about three weeks to go down, after a large doseof antibiotics and anti-histamines.

Back at Boat Lagoon we asked Jimmy Watt, the local surveyor, to check on the moisture readings. They were good, so jubillant we can proceed with repairs when the rain breaks.