If you want to sell a boat then all you really need is a good broker and patience. Luckily, if you have been out sailing for over six years one thing you are good at is being patient. While Rachel is working on selling Artemis, we are gently exploring the 99 islands of the archipelago. Some days we sail, some days we wander around on land and some days we just alternate “office work” and swimming. When you are anchored off a tiny island behind a small island at the far end of Malaysia you get really good at chilling.
Michael, Christin and Maxime flew up from Singapore for a days sailing which was great fun. In the evening we anchored off their hotel to join them for dinner and after the meal crossed the flat sea back to Artemis and bed. At 04:00 a storm came raging in and drove huge waves which ripped the anchor out and threatened to drive us back on to the beach. Heidi ran up to the bow and started trying to pull in the anchor while I tried to hold the boat in to the wind and make progress forwards. Heidi was hampered by being constantly drenched by the waves but after each wave she appeared again dripping salt water but still pulling in chain. After half an hour we had the anchor on board and managed to claw our way out to sea. The dinghy disappeared during the fun but Maxime and Michael found it washed on to the beach. To quote our favourite saying: “No one hurt and no serious damage. A good day sailing!”
The next visitors were Johanna and Kevin who visited us for almost an entire week. They are working six months at the other end of Malaysia but managed to get a week off to join us. We had a fantastic time with them and enjoyed every minute of their company. Within two days they knew how to prepare the boat for sailing and we hardly touched the tiller while they were here. It was like a sailing holiday! You can read Johanna’s blog here.
Of course, the toilet got blocked and stopped working when we had guests on board. I love sailing but am not going to miss the seven hours of “boat yoga” as you twist and sweat in a tiny space to reach piping that has been designed to be fixed by an experienced gynecologist. Luckily we were in a marina that day so the “guest crew” were given a day off to walk the jungle and test the swimming pool. I really think boat designers should have to repair the boats that they design.
Our Malaysian visa was running out after 90 days and we needed a new one. The procedure is easy. Leave the country. Wait. Return. We left on a ferry heading to Thailand, waited five days on the paradise island of Koh Lipe and then caught the ferry back. Koh Lipe advertises as the perfect destination for couples which is code for “nothing happens here”. We walked most of the tracks on the 2 km² island, swam in the see through sea, ate, drank and slept. There are worse ways to get a visa. Photos are at our Google Album but don’t look as it will only make you jealous.