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December 2008 |
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We arrived from the Sulawesi in Davao in the southern
Philippines without any major problems.
Annemarie departed from here to fly back to Switzerland
and I am on my own again with Little Swan.
Davao has nothing really to offer for me to hang around.
Mount Apo, the highest mountain in the Philippines (nearly
3000m high) would have been a challenge, but with the
trouble they are having with Rebels it was out of bound.
Well, no crew and 600 miles to go!!
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Davao Mount Apo |
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A
Pilipino guy was helping me getting fuel and water on
board again.
He was keen to crew for me and so we made an agreement
for him to help me getting to Puerto Galera.
We left on the 11th of December hoping to be in Puerto
Galera before Christmas time.
Davao is right on the end of a long gulf and we had to
backtrack south for 60 miles. Rounding Cape San Augustine
just before nightfall and headed NE along the Mindanao
Eastern coastline.
Of course the wind was on the nose. The North Easterly
Trade winds as is normal for this time of the year. We
also had 2 knots of current against us. It slowed us down
to a frustrating 3 knots of ground speed sometimes even
less.
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You
should have heard the sailors laments!!!
I don't give up easy, but it was a struggle to do 200
miles in 72 hours.
We arrived at the spot where we could turn into Buccas
Grande passage now heading North West.
Would you belief my rotten luck, the wind now coming from
the NW at 30 knots.
We made no headway at all, as a matter of fact we were
going backwards.
I was totally confused and did not really understand the
situation.
I hate going back again, but there was no choice and it
is no good risking boat and lives.
The east coast of Mindanao is fringed with a coral reef
and very few passes lead to a safe Harbour.
The wave 3 to 4 meter high were braking spectacularly.
For a while we thought we have to hove too, but then I
found a spot on the chart which had promises getting past
the reefs and it was only 3 miles south of us.
We tried to anchor first but were rolling out of control.
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Local
fisherman came in their Canoes and informed us there is
a Typhoon “Dolphin”coming.
My thought were mixed, but generally Typhoons rarely go
below 10 Deg North and we are 9 Deg North
The Fisherman guided us past breaking reefs and shallows
to anchor in relatively calm waters and 30 feet deep.
I decided to ride it out here rather then go back to Davao.
I send an email to my friend Vagn in Puerto Galera and
he rung me back straight away knowing the weather situation.
(see below)
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Severe Weather Bulletin Number FOUR
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Tropical Cyclone Alert: Tropical Storm
"ULYSSES" (DOLPHIN)
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Issued at 11:00 p.m., Sunday, 14 December
2008 Tropical Storm "ULYSSES" has
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Maintained its course as it continues
to move towards Eastern Luzon.
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Location of Center:
(as of 10:00 p.m.) 690 km East of
Virac, Catanduanes
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Coordinates: 13.8°N, 131.2°E
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Strength: Maximum sustained winds
of 85 kph near the center and gustiness
of up to 100 kph
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Movement: West at 13 kph
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Forecast Positions/Outlook: Monday
evening:
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440 kms East of Virac, Catanduanes
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Tuesday evening:
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230 kms East Northeast of Virac, Catanduanes
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Wednesday evening:
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230 kms North Northeast of Virac,
Catanduanes
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We
waited for 3 days and eventually conditions became reasonable,
but the wind was still from NW and not in favour for us.
My hired crew also got sea sick and spend most time on
deck looking for ships.
We struggle on and got lucky at least the currents near
Buccas Grande were with us sometimes we weredoing10 kts.of
speed.
We stop in Surigao to buy supplies. Bad weather was still
forecasted and even here it was raining torrentially.
Never mind I am determent to get to Puerto Galera before
Christmas. It’s the stubbornness in me.
Getting closer to the island of Cebu this horrible dark
cloud came up from behind us and it looked very scary
even to me. The lightning flashing all around us. Blitz
und Donnerwetter!!
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Now we are heading a bit more west into the Sibuyan
Sea and we get wind from the north sailing 7 kts all
night
Let’s hope it will last. Well it did for 12hours
and then we are back to NW winds again.
The ships became very numerous and we had to be careful
with our look-out. My crew sometimes got ballistic if
one of them came a little close. I get this feeling
we are gonna make it and sure enough good wind came
up for us and were now sailing smoothly towards Puerto
Galera. It was a pitch dark night ( I am always arriving
at night, it is a curse!) and no way would I go in amongst
the reefs and anchored outside in calm waters.
On the 22nd of December 0800 we entered Puerto Galera
Harbour and it felt like coming home.
Soon we were attached to the mooring of the Puerto Galera
Yacht club and I feel good.
It was a tough trip, and LS used a lot of expensive
fuel, but I am at the location predicted many month
ago.
I shall stay here for a while and hope to do some charter
cruises.
Join me please!
Mabuhay
Toni
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Typhoon anchorag |
