SailSamal Blog

Cruising Notes - SANGIHE AND TALAUD, Northeastern Indonesia

wiskun — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:30:00 -1200

A special thanks to Sam Fadlil for sharing this. This is of particular interest to those who are joining the Sail Morotai Rally.

REPORT ON SANGIHE AND TALAUD

SANGIHE

The Sangihe Islands (also known as Sangir) are a group of islands constitute two regencies in northern Indonesia, the Sangihe Islands Regency & Sitaro Islands Regency. I is located northeast of Sulawesi between the Celebes Sea and the Molucca Sea. Total there are about 105 islands in Sangihe Group.

The largest island is Sangir Besar and where an active volcano, Mount Awu (1829 meters) located. Tahuna is the largest town.

The Sangir language is spoken in the islands; this Austronesian language is also spoken in some islands in the Philippines, and on the extreme northern tip of Sulawesi.

The islands are the site of numerous volcanoes. Many are still active. The Sangihe tectonic plate is named after the island arc and is very active. Earthquakes and volcano eruptions are quite common here.

Tahuna

03 13’45”N 125 45’78”E

Approaches: Tahuna harbor is located inside beautiful and protected bay with sand and mud bottom. Only exposed to westerly.

Fuel: Available (arranged through local Govt.)

Water: Available

Harbor Radio: Channel 16

CIQP: Available

Provision: Traditional market and Minimarket. IT is quite a bustling small town with hotels and restaurants.

Internet: There are numbers of Internet Cafes.

Cellular/handphone: Telkomsel, Indosat (no X Cell).

ATM/Bank: Available BRI/Mandiri, BNI.

People/Cultures: Majority are Talaud and Sangihe origins, each with their distinctive cultural backgrounds. Traditional ceremonies, dances, rituals are well preserved. They are mostly Christian. Beside known for underwater natural beauties, is also well known as rare bird paradise.

TALAUD

Talaud is the northernmost Indonesian’s Regency which was set up in the year of 2000 with Melonguane as its capital. There are about three main islands (Karakelang, Salibabu and Kabaruan Island) in this group.
This area can be reached by sea or air. There are daily flights (Wings Air and Express Air) from Manado, except Saturday and Sunday.
By sea, There are three ferries (Holly Mary, Karya Indah and Venecian) which connect Talaud to Manado. Ferry stop at Beo, Lirung and Melonguane. It carry passengers and cargoes.
It produces mainly nutmeg and copra

Melonguane

03 59’76”N 126 46’43”E

Melonguane Harbor

This quiet small town is the seat of Talaud Regional Government, while town of Lirung which is only 4 miles away in the island of Sariabu is commerce center for the area.
The distance from Davao is about 289 miles.
There is a big concrete wharf where ferry and other bigger boats/ships dock.
Anchorage with sandy bottom is exposed to Southerly.
Dinghy can be landed on sandy beach.

Approaches: Red and green buoys at 03 59’76”N 126 46’43”E. Concrete wharf is only about 300 meters away from it. Light house right next to wharf . Flashing 3.

Anchorage: On either side of main wharf. Keep good distance.

CIQP: Not available. Have to be brought in from Manado.

Fuel: Difficult. Arrangements have to be made in advance.

Water: Available but not recommended.

Internet: There are two Internet Cafe. Slow.

Cellular/handhone: Only Telkomsel (signal is good).

Provision: Basic stuff (expensive by local standard). Fresh fish are plentiful. Beer are available (avoid local stuff).

Money Changer: Not available.

Transportation: By air : Daily flights from Manado

By sea : Twice weekly by ferry from Manado.

ATM/Bank: There is only one ATM at BRI.

Radio: No VHF station (even at Port Captain’s office).

Restaurants: Panorama Restaurant near the harbor provide decent/inexpensive food. Mostly grilled fish. Others are Syekina, Feliciana and Bianca.

Hotels: Some basic hotels. Some are equipped with A.C.

People/culture: This is still not complete yet. It will be mailed soon it is available. Any changes and corrections will be made.

Sail Morotai 2012 - Update

wiskun — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:00:00 -1200

The following is the preliminary itinerary of the Davao-Morotai Yacht Rally:

September 6 - Flag off from Davao
September 8 – 10 - ETA in Talaud (Melanguane city) - Welcome ceremony and CIQP clearance.
September 11 – Departure from Talaud
September 12 - ETA Morotai - Festivities from September 13 – 16.
September 17 – Departure from Morotai to Bitung
September 19 - ETA Bitung - Festivities & tour from September 20 – 24. Tour includes Manado.
September 25 – Departure from Bitung and CIQP clear out. Yachts may continue their trip after the Bitung festivities on their own.

Entry forms will be emailed to you upon request. This should be filled up by the Captain, scanned together with the following documents below (1 to 5) and email to wiskun AT sailsamal.com.

A scanned image of EVERY crewmember’s passport details page(s) only, with next of kin details.
A scanned image of a passport style photograph of the Captain only, a photograph taken with a digital camera with a plain light background will be OK.
A scanned image of your yacht's registration certificate.
A scanned image of the Bank Receipt for the Entry Fee – Not applicable for Sail Morotai 2012.
A scanned image or photograph of your yacht with the yacht name clearly visible.

We understand the limits of onboard email systems. As there are new systems coming on line from time to time, when you email us please let us know if you are using email with download limitations.

We try to answer all emails within one day and if you do not receive a quick reply please resend your email. If you send us an email from onboard your yacht, please make sure that we are on your 'White List" so we can reply to you. After you send us your entry we will confirm we have received it by return email.

We will be forwarding this entry form, plus all required scanned documents to the Sail Indonesia Organizing Committee in Darwin. They will be processing the Cruising Application for Indonesian Territory (CAIT) on our behalf. The Darwin group will be processing a number of CAITs for the whole Sail Indonesia fleet and this takes time. Therefore the earlier we get your Entry Forms, the better. We will thereafter receive a scanned copy of the CAIT and this will be required for the processing of your Visas in the Indonesian Consulate in Davao.

A 3-month Social visa before entering Indonesia is advisable, compared to a 60-day tourist visa, as this will give you more flexibility to cruise other islands of Indonesia at your leisure. Both these visas are extendible 30 days at a time up to 6 months, after which one must leave the country. The Indonesian Organizing Committee will provide the sponsor letter (Letter of invitation) for rally participants to satisfy the extra requirement for a Social Visa. It is recommended that you obtain a Social Visa before you leave Davao. The Visa On Arrival option is not available in Talaud as this will only be a temporary Port of Entry (CIQP station) for rally participants.

The CAIT is a permit for your yacht to enter Indonesia. It is issued by the Indonesian Government in Jakarta and takes around 4 weeks to process after the application is made. The CAIT is for the yacht only and is valid for three months from the stated date of your arrival in Indonesia. It can be extended if you so wish.

In accordance with the Indonesian Government Immigration Regulations every person on your yacht and their passport details MUST be listed on your yacht's CAIT.

Please take note:

The scheduled arrival of the yachts from Darwin and from Davao is not the same.

Yachts from Darwin joining the Eastern Passage may proceed to Ternate, and if so chosen, head up to Morotai. If so, please determine the timing if you can reach Morotai in time for the September 13^th ceremonies. Those who signed up with Sail Indonesia for the Eastern Passage and have chosen to join the Morotai 2012 rally should list down the Ports and estimated time of arrival with Sail Indonesia, and do not have to sign up with the Davao organizers a second time.

Yachts from Davao are arranged to be in Morotai to attend the festivities and the commemoration of the Battle of Morotai on September 15^th. This will be a huge event, with lots of festivities planned. More importantly, the President of R.I. will be there to welcome everyone.

Marina Review 2

wiskun — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 15:51:00 -1200

The following mail came from our good friends, Ann and Eric, of SV Temerarius - of Detroit, USA. They are seasoned sailors whom we are fortunate to meet and made good friends with. We are also very happy they are here with us.

We arrived at Samal Island in May of 2010, sailing from Australia via PNG and Palau. We chose Samal Island, mainly because our good friends, Ellen and Kjartan (Wiskun) were here, and we were anxious to reunite. Also, we needed to find a safe place to leave the boat, as we return to the States for 6 months each year to work. For the past 20 years, we have been leaving our 50 foot sailing vessel, Temerarius, wherever we are. Samal Island was perfect for us, as it is typhoon free, and that automatically eliminated one worry we don't need.

As we sailed up the Davao Gulf, trying to beat the sunset, we were greeted by a speedboat on our stern and the smiling faces of Kjartan and Ellen, and their dog Sheeba. We tied up to their mooring, where we stayed for a few days, allowing for tide and preparation. Our haul out was problem free, except that, it, of course, was raining, which everyone assured us was really rare.

While we were home, Eric was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer. Thus, we were unable to return as scheduled, while Eric waged his own private battle. He has been cancer free now for the past year, and recently, we have been able to return to Temerarius. We were very unsure whether that day would ever come. While, we were gone, it was such a relief to not have to worry over the boat, because we knew it was being so well cared for. Ellen and Kjartan went above and beyond the call of duty or friendship. They repainted the bottom ( a beautiful red) and towed her to the brand, new. spanking marina 10 miles up the road. We found her floating happily with 3 other vessels, at what is now, Oceanview Marina.

Irish Melody wrote an excerpt talking about the marina, which explains rather well the daily mechanics of life here. I can only add how very happy we are to be here. First, our boat was in very good condition. We have had black widow spiders in Mexico, cockroaches in Florida, and almost any other type of vermin that loves to occupy empty vessels in the tropics. Here, other than a few ants, we are bug free. Even the mold was minimal.

Oceanview is quite a distance from the town of Davao, but Ellen and Kjartan and her brother, Boboy (the owner of the marina, with his lovely wife, Gene) make everything as easy as possible. They have 2 scheduled trips daily to the main ferry which will then take you to Davao. We find it all fascinating. The people are very friendly, and, at no times, have we felt any animosity. Just big smiles greet us. If you get this far in the world, you are used to the idea of provisioning, and a trip to Davao each week will fill your food lockers. The grocery stores are truly the best I have seen. You can find almost any product imaginable for a lower cost than in the States. Food is affordable, and wine, liquor, and beer, also, very reasonable.

It is tropical hot here, but there has been a breeze each night, and with the help of a fan, we sleep well. It is very quiet. There are no mosquitoes or flies!! You can jump off your boat and go for a swim. It is as close to being at anchor as you will ever get at a marina. And it is quite beautiful. On daily walks up the road, we are greeted by cows, goats, chickens, water buffalo, turkeys and farmers with small children who willingly give you their fruit for a smile.

The other plus that we were not expecting, is it is turning out to be a good place to leave your boat for other overland excursions. We are looking at a trip to Vietnam this March. There are flights from Davao to Singapore and fares are quite cheap at times.

I have no words to thank Ellen and Kjartan for the many kindnesses bestowed upon us. Boboy and Gene have also been so generous and gracious. It is a joy of cruising that allows you to meet such friends. And your faith in the world is reignited to know such friendship exists.

Ann and Eric
S/V Temerarius

Sail Morotai 2012 and Holiday Oceanview

wiskun — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 16:01:00 -1200

INTRODUCTION

In a move to boost the economy of the outlying islands, the President of Indonesia is spearheading the development of North Maluku, in particular, the island of Morotai. It is his vision to put Morotai on the map for the world to see that Morotai is the gateway into Indonesia from the Pacific Ocean. And being close to East Asia, Morotai can be a part of the economic movement in the Asia Pacific Region. A Master plan from Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister is now in place to develop the island as a fishery, tourist, trade and services center. As part of this plan, Sail Morotai 2012 is organized and will be the main maritime event for this year's Sail Indonesia rally.

MOROTAI

Morotai is the northernmost island of Eastern Indonesia, in the province of North Maluku. The rugged and forested island has an area of some 1,800 square kilometres (690 sq mi), stetching 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-south and no more than 42 kilometres (26 mi) wide.

It is famous for its natural and marine beauty, with various coral reefs, colourful fish and marine life.

In addition, it is also known for its history in World War II, in particular, the Battle of Morotai. In July of 1944, General Douglas MacArthur had selected Morotai as the location for air bases and naval facilities which was needed to support the liberation of Mindanao. The battle began on September 14, 1944 when the United States and Australian forces landed on the south-west corner of Morotai. With only about 500 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, the Allied force assigned to Morotai outnumbered the island's defenders by more than one hundred to one. The ensuing rapid development of Morotai into a major military base took place. Base facilities, Naval installation, road network, 1,000-bed hospital and 2 airstrips were quickly constructed. Morotai became the staging point for Allied forces and played a major role in the liberation of the Philippines.

In light of its history, Morotai is a haven for wartime artifacts.

SAIL MOROTAI 2012

Holiday Oceanview Marina, in conjunction with the organizers of the Sail Indonesia 2012, is proud to announce that it will be the official Philippine organizer and the registration base for cruisers who are interested in joining the Sail Morotai 2012 rally. The festivities due to take place in Morotai on September 8th will coincide nicely with festivities happening in Davao City the whole month of August - the Kadayawan Festival. The highlight of this festival is the parade where different tribes and organizations compete for the best costumes and presentation. This parade normally occurs the 3rd weekend of August and the timing is just perfect for cruisers to attend the festivities in Davao before they set sail with the rally bound for Morotai.

As this will be the first year for Sail Morotai 2012, entry fee will be free and Indonesia will sponsor and cover the costs through its Sail Indonesia program. All yachts, motor and sail, are welcome to join but minimum size of 10 meters LOA is required to ensure safety to sail overseas in International waters. The Marina will coordinate and collect all required documents for the issuance of the Indonesian cruising permit (CAIT), as well for all entry and visa into the Philippines. The CAIT will be used to apply for the Indonesian Visa (non ASEAN citizens) through the Indonesian Consulate. In addition, the Marina will be offering its own programs and festivities, organization of tour packages, rally orientation seminar, free berthing, parties and get-togethers.

Route of the Sail Morotai 2012:

This is made part of the Sail Indonesia Rally and the whole map can be viewed in their website - http://www.sailindonesia.net/home/home.php and about Sail Morotai 2012 - http://www.sailindonesia.net/news/sailmorotai.php. Further news about Sail Indonesia can be found here - Sail Indonesia and Rally schedules .

All interested cruisers are urged to email me through the contact page, or through the comments sections, as it is also important for us to get an idea of how many interested participants there will be. This is an exciting rally to attend specially because of our historical ties with Morotai and also because it is the first maritime event ever for Davao to be a part of. It is our wish and the wishes of the government of Indonesia to develop stronger ties between our 2 countries and to establish an attractive route from Davao to Morotai and beyond, to other parts of Indonesia and Philippines.

More information and updates to come, so feel free to check in occasionally.

Marina Review

wiskun — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:21:00 -1200

From: Anthony and Andrea Mitchell of SV Irish Melody

Australia Sept. 30, 2011

This marina is part of a larger residential development and will eventually include a resort hotel and island spa. In addition to the usual shower and laundry facilities, wet berths have access to water (free) and power for a small fee. The marina is well protected, and provides long term secure storage for cruisers away from the cyclones further north. There are over 50 berths, but there were only 6 boats booked in during September when we were there. Haul out dry berth storage on the hard is available for smaller boats and there is access by arrangement to another haul out boat yard further south for repairs or anti-fouling. A free shuttle service runs visitors from the marina to the ferry which runs between Samal Island and Davao city. The location right at the top of Samal Island means it is a 30 minute ride over a bumpy road to the ferry to Davao, so organizing supplies from the supermarket is often a full day adventure, taking an hour and a half each way to get to Gaisano or Abreeza Mall from the Marina. Buses or taxis are easily available once on the Davao side. The Davao supermarkets are well stocked, have many imported items, and also sell inexpensive alcohol. The department stores are worth a look if you need new linen or towels, with prices similar to Australia.

The up side of the marina's island location, is that the marina is very peaceful, clean and quiet, so a very relaxing haven in the normally hot dusty bustle of many Asian ports. The smaller village of Babak is 20 minutes away and fresh fruit, vegetables, eggs, fish and meat can be purchased easily there. UHT milk and alcohol and a limited number of items can be obtained from a small convenience store catering to locals just north of Babak village. Fuel can be arranged and diesel is available at the service station near the ferry terminal. Marina staff can help get your jugs down there and assist with carrying them down to your boat. The marina staff are all friendly and very helpful. Twenty four hour security ensures your boat is safe at all times. Irish Melody had been at the boat yard and the marina for over a year, with no problems. Cheene in the office can organize check-in and check-out. We needed to fix a damaged steering component and Kjartan and Ellen were fabulous in helping us find local experts to assist.

Booking contact details:

holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com

VHF Chanel 68

Mobile Phone +63 (929)510-5160

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA - INFORMATION AND RATES

wiskun — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:45:00 -1200

FACILITIES:

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA is the first and only marina in the Gulf of Davao, located in the northernmost tip of Samal Island (7°11.94N, 125°42.74E).

A) BERTHING

The facility offers 2 docks (A and B) with a combined total of 56 berths, Each berth can fit yachts up to 50 feet LOA. The end of Docks A and B can fit longer yachts up to 100 ft LOA.

B) BOATYARD

There is one slipway for hauling and launching vessels. Vessels are hauled out using a trailer system.

A) UTILITIES

Electricity	220 Volts receptacles available
Water	Taps available in every berth, free supply of water
Lighting	Marina pontoons and walkways are well lit
Boat ramp	One ramp available
Security	24/7 security guard on duty, access to marina restricted
Fuel	Fuel service is available
Clubhouse and office	Available for get togethers. The building is complete with toilets, showers and laundry area.
Service vehicle	A vehicle with service runs 3 times a day is provided free of charge for cruisers to/from the marina to/from the ferry terminal. There are public transits to Mainland Davao from the Ferry Terminal

RATES:

Visiting boats are very welcome. We ask you to book a berth in advance. Call us on VHF channel 68 or by email at holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com or by mobile phone no. 0929- 510-5160

A) WET-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

LENGTH OVERALL

PER

MONTH

PER

DAY

40 FT. AND OVER

@ PER FOOT

300

20 FT. TO < 40 FT.

FLAT RATE

12,000

1,000

< 20 FT.

FLAT RATE

8,000

700

All berths have access to fresh water and individual power points
No charge to water; power is at price posted
Fuel can be arranged, at prices posted
Laundry, shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located in the clubhouse building. Open 24 hours throughout the year to berth holders, accessible with key
The marina is protected by security 24/7
OFF-SEASON DISCOUNT (MAY TO OCTOBER)

- 35% OFF ABOVE RATES

B) BOATYARD/DRY-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

HAUL IN & OUT >20 FT

FLAT RATE per vessel

10,000

HAUL IN & OUT <20 FT

FLAT RATE per vessel

500/FT

CRADLE/HARDSTAND/STORAGE

PER MONTH LOA

250/FT

Slipway for haul-out and launching (may have to coincide with high tide)
Individual heavy duty cradle with adjustable arms (for monohulls)
Water is available
Power at price posted
Fuel at prices posted
Miscellaneous marine services available
Tradesmen and labor from Php100 to 400 / hr.
To make a boatyard booking, email holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com with boat details – LOA, draft, beam, weight and type of keel.

ARRIVAL DETAILS:

A) SEA APPROACH

Entering the Gulf of Davao, vessels can approach on either east or west side of Samal Island.

The channel between Davao mainland and the westside of Samal island is busy with boat and ferry traffic. The narrowest area (just over half a nautical mile wide) has a strong tidal current, mostly south-setting. Sailing closer to the Samal side, the westside is lined with resorts and white sanded beaches.

Latitude:                7°11.94 N

Longitude:         125°42.74 E



Radio Channel: Channel 68

Email or contact Marina prior to arrival is preferred.

Davao Tide Table link:

http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/1502.html

B) MARINA APPROACH

The marina is surrounded by a stone wall (breakwater). Stay well clear of the breakwater until ready to approach. The 20 meter-wide entrance is on the NW corner, marked with red and green flags. Approach from the north and turn port into the marina. Caution: Breakwater walls are lined with rocks on the seabed. Allow clearance. The entrance has a metal gate to prevent swells and debris from entering the marina. It is left opened when there is a vessel expected to arrive or depart. Otherwise, it remains closed. It can easily be opened when a vessel is sighted approaching.

C) CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) CLEARANCE

Check in or out service is provided by the Marina. A vehicle and staff will drive/assist you to the different offices for checking in or out. This is to expedite dealing with the CIQ officials. Alternate route for self check-in is to anchor on entry, at the quarantine area near Sta. Ana wharf, for CIQ boarding.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

A) DAVAO

DAVAO CITY, being near the equatorial belt, is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and there are no wide fluctuations of the barometric air pressure. There are two seasons – the NE monsoons (October to March) and the SW monsoon (April to September). The beginning and end of the seasons are normally transition periods. Northeasterly winds are predominant during the NE monsoon season and this will the best time for cruisers when the weather is pleasant and the chances of being caught in the path of typhoons are minimal. The SW monsoon is the rainy season. Winds are predominantly southerly, humid and warmer.

Davao City boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo. Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies which is the Philippine Eagle.

B) SAMAL

Nearby and only 10 minutes Samal-Davao ferry ride over, in the Gulf of Davao, is the ISLAND GARDEN CITY of SAMAL. True to its name, the island is a paradise surrounded by a natural garden of corals. The island has become a tourism hub for southern Philippines, boasting its pristine, white sandy beaches, natural wonders and attractions, yet it still remains unspoiled. This beautiful virgin island has been protected from commercialization to preserve ecotourism. The 116 kilometer stretch of coastline and crystal blue water is rich with underwater wildlife and the colors contrasts harmoniously from the green lush vegetation of coconut trees, to the white sandy beaches, to the dark blue color of the sea. From the hairy squat lobster to the Hawksbill Turtles to the Duggongs and a vast array of tropical fishes and corals, this island has become a diver’s haven. For the landlubbers, you have the mountains and lush forests for serious mountain-biking, camping and extreme sports. You can test your endurance as you trek and negotiate your way through caves of varying sizes.

Davao and Samal both boasts of very friendly people. Festivals or fiestas would be a good way to observe how happy and sharing the Dabaweños are. Fiestas are their way of showing their love of their homeland, culture and traditions. Amidst the chaos, hostage taking, war and conflict happening in some parts of Mindanao, Davao is still at peace and order. This is evident during the KADAYAWAN festival, the ARAW NG DAVAO festivities and Samal’s HUGYAW Samal. One must not miss seeing and participating in these festivals. It is definitely a must-see event.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

C) GULF OF DAVAO

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present. There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

Back in the Water

wiskun — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 11:22:00 -1200

Wiskun was hauled out in late 2008 and sat in the Samal boatyard next to the Samal Ferry terminal (Davao Gulf, Southern Philippines). For almost 3 years, there were a lot of work done on her. Not that she needed repairs, but more because Kjartan needed projects to do to keep busy. Some projects of course were real repairs when we found the damage - such as dry rots in the wood and rusting problems.

Dry rots:

The masts were taken off as soon as we hauled Wiskun out. We found some dry rotting and the spreaders needed to be replaced. This project is ongoing.
Deck boxes were rotting away. New and better desiged boxes were built.
Deck housing, especially the area where it connects to the deck had some dry rot. This probably caused some of our leaking problems below deck.

Rusts:

Our biggest problem since leaving Vancouver was the rust oozing off our gunwales. They became a nightmare when we reached the tropics due to the high salinity in this area. We tried so many ways to stop it and listened to so many advice. All to no avail. The rust kept on coming back. We knew that we had to somehow seal the metal embedded in the gunwale real well. But just imagining all the work covering about 100 feet all around was so daunting. Finally, Kjartan started this big project in Samal. He placed several biaxial fiberglass cloth on, sanded and sanded, painted and painted. When you look at the gunwales now, you will never know that there are several layers of fiberglassing over them. Now I dare the oxygen to penetrate and find a way into the metal part.
Rudder post rust started to destroy part of the rudder. This too got repaired with several layers of cloth and epoxy. Probably overdone again by Kjartan, but better be safe than sorry. It is much cumbersome to repair areas under water so it is better to make sure the repair is longlasting.

Miscellaneous:

Engine - taken out and got overhauled. Engine room got new insulation.
Bilge area - super cleaned and painted with 2 part epoxy paint. It now looks so clean you can live in there.
Deck - the whole deck area was smoothened, epoxied and primed. We will paint it all in white. There is a big difference in keeping it cool this way.
Keel - lots of blistering problem areas repaired. With over 2 years of drying out time, we hope this time the repairs will last.
Bowsprit - taken off for the time being and is already nicely painted.
Deck boxes - newly built ones and better designed to prevent water from entering.
Masts and spreaders - taken off and dry rot still to be repaired. New spreaders were made ready for installation.
Body work - all scratches, nicks and imperfections were fixed and Wiskun got a new paint job.
Waterline - Wiskun always looked port and aft heavy. Finally, we got the waterline corrected.

The decision to launch Wiskun back to the water was made because Kjartan is now busy building the 50 ft. catamaran with our friend Bill from Vancouver. Being away, Wiskun was gathering too much dust where she sat, from the ferry traffic next door and the boatyard operations all around. Also, the metal of the shed was shedding too much rust onto her deck. The moment of truth came on August 15th when she was launched. The engine purred and the gears worked! We motored slowly to Oceanview marina. While I steered the boat, Kjartan went below to check everything. Everything seemed fine, and the insulation worked so well, I couldn't hear the engine as loud as before. The only thing weird about it all was that Wiskun had no masts, no bowsprit, no sails and no anchors.

Now Wiskun sits in her new home - in Holiday Oceanview Marina. There are still lots of projects to do below deck and some things in my wish list have yet to materialize. Oh well, in due time. For now, cleaning away all the dust some of which are 3 years old plus more and throwing away many many things. By the way, I found out that batteries melted in the heat. Luckily I thought of emptying all the electronic gadgets of batteries when we hauled out.

The Gulf of Davao and Holiday Oceanview Marina

wiskun — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 14:33:00 -1200

There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA

The only marina for yachts in the whole of Mindanao, it is located at the northernmost point of Samal Island. It is now operational, with yachts coming in mainly for storage purposes whilst owners go back to their home country. The marina offers 24/7 security and Davao being typhoon free, it is a perfect area to leave your yachts in. Power and electricity is available. There is a slipway for haul-outs as well. For more information and booking of berths/haulouts, just click on my contacts link.

Cruising Notes - Gulf of Davao

wiskun — Sat, 21 May 2011 15:36:00 -1200

We just received an email from our friends, Walter and Ae. Their sailboat was hauled out here for maintenance and painting not too long ago. They are now on their way north of the Philippines. It will be interesting to follow their route and hear of their experiences. I am sure a lot of cruisers who are planning to come here would be interested too. Below is their email to us, and a few pictures which they are so kind to share with all of us.

"Hello Ellen & Kjartan Just a quick hello. Hope you are well. How is progress on the cat? We are still in the Gulf of Davao. A couple of days ago we stopped in a bay in front of a small village & had the most amazing welcome. The town Capitan, the Governors secretary, school teachers & most of the locals couldn’t welcome us enough. Out came the local coconut wine, Tuba, delicious! Even the neighbouring village send someone over to drag us away to their huts. Obviously a bit of local rivalry. Later the Governor sent his secretary back to invite us to the town hall for a formal welcome, with a request to sleep there. I declined & told him I would let him know the next day if we would attend a formal welcome at the Town Hall. Then he wanted to arrange for a police escort! So I asked if we were in danger, he said there won’t be any problems here, we are very welcome. So I told him we can’t see any reason for the police to watch over us. The next morning we sent him a text to advise we had to leave. This was just too much!

Our pos. was 06 deg 41.42 N, 126 05.33E (close to Gov. Generoso/Sigaboy).The next day I had to recover from a coconut wine headache, that’s a change! Thank you very much again for your help, Kjartan & Ellen. Still looking for the motor problem, must be sucking air intermittently. All is well here, just waiting for some favourable wind. Have fun, don’t work too hard, hello to Bill & Boboy, Ae & Walter "

Fair winds to you both, Walter and Ae.

Boat Building in Samal

wiskun — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 08:02:00 -1200

We are very excited. Finally, after over a year of talking and planning, the actual project of building a 50 ft catamaran in Samal has started. Cedar and building supplies from Vancouver arrived and work started a week ago. Bill, our Canadian friend, flew in from Vancouver Island, and together with his new apprentice, Kjartan, have started building. The offshore cruising catamaran is a Ron Given design called "Norma". Bill built his own Given design catamaran before, sailed the Pacific to New Zealand, and back to Vancouver Island before he sold it. He is quite familiar with the Given design. Bill is super rich in experience, knowledge and know-how. Kjartan is very excited to be learning from him.

And this is what it will look like when finished:

Update - 5

Hull No. 1 and Hull no. 2 now connected by the bridge deck. Beams 1 to 4 installed.

Watch the video -
;feature=youtu.be">Building Norma Part 5

Update - 4

For the months of July and August, pieces are being built and dryfitted into hull no. 1, whilst work on finishing hull no. 2 is ongoing. Watch the youtube

Building Norma - Part 4.

Update - 3

Several pieces being worked this month, such as the keels, daggerboards, the deck pieces. Hull no. 1 has been turned for the guys to work on the inside - sanding and fiberglassing. Preparation for hull no. 2 also in place. Watch the youtube Building Norma - June 2011

Another youtube was prepared on just the vacuum bagging part. Watch Vacuum Bagging

Update - 2

May 2011 - Hull No. 1 is almost done. Watch the youtube Building Norma - May 2011.

UPDATE - 1

April 2011 - Month went by fast and while waiting for more tools to arrive from Vancouver, the days were spent building sections that is meant for later - i.e. daggerboards. To summarize the work done in April, watch this youtube video:

Building Norma - 0411