Racing against Thyme...

The trip to Kinabalu was largely done with the motor running, the only real excitement was provided by the Malaysian armed forces.

As we were not part of the rally or the race we anchored just south of the marina on our arrival. The next day the race organizers convinced us to do the Kota Kinabalu races therefore be entitled to free marina usage for 5 days. Count us in.


Even though the wind was practically none existent we headed out for our first ever race in Thyme. The course was shortened and we drifted around, coming a respectable 3^rd for our class. I don’t think anyone spotted my small mistake of in my excitement of putting the inner jib on upside down.

I woke up early the next morning to the noise of the wind in the rigging. The afternoon races were anything but lacking in wind. Being only the 2 of us we had our hands full getting around the course and seriously considered reefing the main at one point. We were rewarded with a 2^nd for our efforts and as the boat that came 3^rd was still a long way back, this put as second over all. At the dinner and prize giving we picked up our first silverware… maybe I need to build a trophy cabinet?


Once our 5 days were up we moved out back on anchor even though a swell was still coming in from the earlier weather. The roll although acceptable was a bit much after the marina so I scouted a new spot with the sounder in the dingy. This found us later that afternoon up a canal, tied up to large traditional boat just across from town.

Hamilton Island Race Week

We were lucky enough to be invited aboard Ocean Safari (or did invite ourselves??) for Hamilton Island Race Week. Ocean Safari is a lovely 51” Farr, owned by our friends Marilyn and Robert who we met at Middle Percy. Like all good fast boats, she was designed by a Kiwi!




It was such an exciting experience, with the jostling at the start line causing everyone to hold their breaths. Si and I were secretly thinking – thank god it’s not our boat! I don’t know how Marilyn and Robert kept their cool.



The racing was equally exciting – sailing so close to other boats, tacking at the last minute to avoid collision, digging in as close to shore as possible and raising and dropping the spinnaker!



Despite all the excitement, I think we were the only boat who managed to fit in lunch during the course. All the crew were really lovely and even though it was a race, the good humour and friendship aboard was memorable!



In case the post doesn’t say it all, this photo does… we had a ball!

Bombed at Port Clinton

Port Clinton was not a planned a stop, but with the more beautiful Island Head Creek and Pearl Bay closed for live firing testing by the armed forces, we sought shelter from a storm in the protected waters of the South Arm.



The winds were very light, so despite not having all the rigging set up we decided to try and fly the MPS. We had tried on a few occasions before, with varying degrees of failure from the ludicrous to just plain dangerous! But now we were armed with a 2 page flyer on how to do it courtesy of Rosco, our confidence was high. At last success - we chased down a number of faster boats, putting up a valiant chase but eventually had to admit defeat when the wind veered. Alas, there was one lone boat we managed to overtake nearing the entrance to Port Clinton - the yacht "Absconder".



Our stay at Port Clinton was kind of like being in a war zone, the picture completed by the bleak weather. There were bombs going off in the distance the shudders resonating through the hull, fighter jets and large carrier aircraft flying low overhead and warnings over the VHF regarding laser bombing.