Jakarta
18 Aug 2013 | Jakarta, Java, Indonesia
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Off we go again. While we had been used to calm winds on our back the weeks before, this leg starts on a different note with strong winds from our side, up to force 9 (strong gale), and waves several meters high. While sea-sickness is back, the deck being regularly washed away and everything falling everywhere, it's hard to find an occupation to spend time... And then nothing. Right when we arrive in the straight in between Sumatra and Java islands, the wind completely dies, and the strong current against us doesn't help. We end up motoring tacks all the way up, and most of the way to Jakarta where, not having the navigation permit required for the area, we have to make an 'emergency stop' to let off Arnaud and Ilona to fly back to France.
We arrive in Jakarta at night, there is a one-mile anchorage circle where we find ourselves alone, while tankers and tows cross all around, it's a bit like parking in the middle of the highway... In the morning, after unsuccessfully trying to contact customs or any authority on the radio to clear us, Tony and Ilona set off for shore where they end up meeting an instructor of the marine police school, who immediately offers to help us.
So we end up parking the boat at the marine police, they help us sorting out the endless immigration hassle, take us to the shops for refilling, give us free diesel siphoned from busted immigrant ships... But no time to go around at all. Too shorts 48 hours.