update 1 and geological winds

Right! While trying to earn an honest crust, and make friends and influence people the following updates:

1. Kate is signing up for the island hopping, a month of it. That makes two. Sorted.

2. Starting the paperwork of the insurance . The kind folk at Nautilus would like to know the name, DOB, and (presumably sailing) experience of all crew. I filled in Bruce's experience as ' moveable ballast on a great variety of vessels, both as captain and crew'. And a list of all the safety equipment ( not easy, if you think that a boat in itself is really a bit of safety equipment to improve your chances over swimming). And what watch-roster we'd be keeping. And for me to list exactly what safety measures we would be taking 'while on passage'. That's a tricky one. On a small boat, 500 k's from shore- which measure is NOT a safety measure? Anyway, I'll plod through. Your DOB please.....

They also enquire if any boats of this design have done something similar, so I mailed the designer-Bob Oram- if he was aware of any Mangos crossing any ponds.

He wasn't, and so Tribute may have set the record for Mango offshore sailing while on her delivery trip crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria. I then asked him if there were any concerns regarding the seaworthiness of Tribute and he replied that the dearest thing in his life was his son. And that he would be happy to crew (?) with his son on this trip. Right. That's it, and gets no better.

3. They may look like simple pictures to YOU. Enjoy them. It took me weeks to find them. It looks like 20 knots of S/SE on the way to Bali, then 20 knots of E/SE on the way back on average.And sailing upwind along the island chain. Tim (of 3x Indo vv on a 21 ft Wharram fame) reckons the steep volcanoes make a local mess of the averages, and any messing with a headwind is a bonus!

Indo Trip Organisation

Hi all!

This BLOG has been created to share information about the possible Indo Trip aboard Tribute. Just about the only certainties for this trip are the locations of Oz and Indo, and that Tribute is currently a vessel afloat. Weather, timing, crew, route- it is all subject to change.

Another matter that appears certain is that the Indonesian bureaucracy is very particular about WHO is aboard WHEN. The entire boat gets a visa called CAIT which includes any aboard. ( see http://www.baliyachtservices.com/baliyachtservices_FAQ.htm) And this is the main reason for starting early.

Roughly speaking, the plan is to sail from Carnarvon to Dampier in the first 2 weeks of May 2008. Leg 1. Crewing wise, I don't expect a problem with this and Hutchie and Hullett have already signed up from Dampier to Bali, (leg 2) where I hope to arrive in the latter part of May.

So far, the idea is for Naomi and Jenny to join in Bali and to cruise around for a week or so. Then the island hopping Eastwards (against the tradewinds) starts and so far, I'm on my own. As it is daysailing, two aboard is the aim and four the max. Let's call this leg 3. It will likely start with the month of June. It appears that the public transport connections between the islands are good, but how and what is unclear at this stage. What is certain is that anyone possibly aboard needs to be on the CAIT.

The latter part of the trip is hazy, but somewhere in the Eastern part of the island chain- Kupang or Roti or Flores- the trip back to Oz starts. Leg 4. Beginning of July. Say 2nd week. Oz Coastguard is very likely to obstruct the otherwise brilliant plan to hop from Indo to the Kimberley to do some great cruising there. They will likely insist on a beeline to Broome or Dampier. Timewise, there's only 3 days between the 2 and there's only Rowley Shoals and Ashmore Reef to sightsee until the Dampier Archipelago and Montebello Islands can be visited- leg 5. Paul has exibited an interest in this bit.

Overall- everyone needs to make sure that their passport is in order and beyond to 6 months after arrival in Indo. Those who might be on the boat in Indo need to photocopy, or better scan the relevant bits of passport and send it to me. khbakker@yahoo.com .

I hope that people can let their minds wander to get an idea of what bits they might want to join. Let me know, and I will try to keep this blog updated with everything.