Updates... The perfectionplanner has organised an Oz and Indo flag, the local upholsterer will fabricate a quairantaine flag while he makes a large shadenet for the foredeck. Tribute's cockpit is almost too well protected in any sort of heat, there's no breeze in it at all so I thought the trampolines might become a favourite hangout once there's shade. I stocked sufficient tinned food and staples in storage to last 4 persons a fortnight and replenished the spices and condiments. New fuel- and drinking water filter, a new VHF, water purification chemicals, a boarding ladder, parachute flares, 100 m mooring rope ( apparently one often ties the stern to a palm tree with the anchor in 30 m deep water- sounds interesting)- it is all being fitted and sorted.

Some things for the crew:
Take TWO polaroid sunnies please, get your immunisations updated and have a think regarding malaria. Although we'll be boating, there's still the usual stuff for everyone- to get some Rupia for example & have to a look at flights there and back and to have travel insurance.

I checked my inflatable PFD's yesterday and both were useless- worth checking for those who have one.

Meanwhile still hunting insurance...


Kees

More updates- Speaking with Mix and Kate yesterday, we'll try to put 2 mini-mal surfboards aboard (in my bunk!) to make a bit of watersport activity possible. There's a speargun too and I'll decide if a kite + gear is coming once the boat is stowed. Lil' Louie is joining Mix for the journey back, they hope to come aboard sort of 1 July when there's still a week or so of Indo left.

Insurance has been refused- I'm exploring other options.

Nat is exploring possibilities for Exmouth-Dampier and it is all starting to look good.

Passports, guys, passports!

Hi all!


**** stop press**** Peter Breevoort will be joining the Indo leg, and expects to land on Bali before the 1st of June. He used to live in Indo as a kid, with a bit of luck there's some remnants of the lingo deep in his brain. We've travelled widely together and have managed to chalk up but a single disagreement in the past 25 years while hiking in the Pyrenees in 1985. I really objected to his elaborate cooking preparations. A few years later, while free-camping neer Lago Maggiore he accidentally put metho rather than water in our dinner. It all evens out in the end....

Anyway- that makes 3. Room for 1 more. Although piracy is not a problem (allegedly) quite another thing is leaving the boat unattended at anchor. It is prudent to leave one person on the boat to guard the dragging anchors and possible pilfering. Meanwhile the others can explore the islands. With only two aboard that means solo expeditions, so I'm very happy with at least 3!

Time is now getting tight- the CAIT application has to be sent off before 1/2 April. And many people are still sitting on a variety of fences, however uncomfortable that may be for them. Remember- if your name is not on the CAIT, then being aboard Tribute is illegal in Indo.

Kate- she of 'planning to perfection' will be handling the CAIT application, and she'll be in touch with all the participants.

Tribute's good- Bruce Hullett will inspect a state-of-the-art rigid inflatable dinghy one of these days in Perth, an application for a satphone has been made and a 6-man surveyed liferaft has been purchased. It will probably be big and heavy and permanently in the way but there you are. The boat will have a haulaut before departure and all engines will be serviced, charts of electronic and paper variety will be aboard, I still have to find an Indo flag and a quarantine flag and heaps of other odds and ends but so far no insurmountable obstacles have been encountered.

Can everyone please also think about vaccinations and travel insurance and stuff?

Fair winds to all,

Kees

More Crew!

Dear all, I just spent a week upgrading my sailing skills. This needs more of the same, because Bruce and I are now officially the slowest multihull to enter the biggest WA regatta.

Updates, updates.....Micky Tarossi has signed up for the return trip, and he's a salty fellow. This is all great stuff, insofar that the bare minimum of crew (2) for each of the legs has now been sorted- any more is luxury. Kate Najar has actually taken the time off to do the Indo leg.

Spoke to the Customs people ( about 5 of them) and NO WAY can we skip straight from Indo to the Kimberley. It's Broome or Dampier or Carnarvon or the detention camp at Christmas Island. Our choice.

And corresponded with an agent who will handle the CAIT. The Bali Marine peoiple did not respond to 2 emails, but Andi Howes recommended another outfit who did get back quickly. They reckon they need a month to process stuff so I'd put a deadline for the SCANS of the passports on 1/1/09.

The Cruising Guide to Indo has also arrived, and is probably just about useless for us. But it is the only published guide and it would feel less than prudent to not have it aboard.

Keep you all posted.... KEES

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.