Moving “foreign yachts” around Singapore waters

Truthfully, I had a hard time deciding on the subject of this post… which would be better? “Moving foreign yachts around Singapore waters” or “Sailing Calliste in busy Singapore waters” or “Navigating a small vessel amongst the giants in busy Singapore waters”?  

I hope this info is helpful to foreign visiting yachts to Singapore and maybe of some use to the local sailors and at the same time, be a fun blog to read… afterall, I did have a fun day out.

26/06/2010, 0700hrs: We arrive at SAFYC Changi with food and water for a day sailing trip, eager and in good spirits. Calliste has been sitting in SAFYC for a little over 2 months now, Doug expect prop to be fouled. A dive, to clean the prop is top on our list. There is still a sheen of oil on the water, so my job is to try to clear the area around Doug as best as I can with Simple Green and water hose. Despite my best efforts, Doug is still abit oily.

Like I mention in the last post, Calliste has something similar to “milky lips”, except that its really “oily lips”… just from sitting 2 days in water with the oily sheen water.

1130hrs: It took me longer than I expected to sort out the money matters with the YC. I would like to leave at 1000hrs… but it takes what it takes… BTW, in Singapore waters, I am the captain of foreign registered yacht Calliste. I have the PPCDL (MPA license for boating in Singapore), therefore was able to purchase the MPA required 3rd party insurance for Calliste, on the condition that on any trip, I must captain the boat with at least 1 competant crew (vessel owner Doug).

This is a escape pod? So cute!

1145hrs: Calliste left her berth nice and slowly without any drama…

1200hrs: We were underway, just outside the walls of SAFYC. I, as captain of the vessel and as required of me, made a phone call to the Marine Safety Department of MPA to inform them of Callistes’ intended passage and route. I was shocked, but had to turn back. Permit to make this trip was not granted! Because we hadnot followed the proper procedures to get the cruising permit 3 days in advance! :O . Totally shocked that we may not make this passage when the weather and conditions were fabulous, but simply due to the technicality.

Ohhh... I want 1 of these... ... can I can I can I?

1230hrs: Calliste back at SAFYC, tied to fuel dock. Captain Lang sat for the test for master of foreign vessels in order to obtain the permit… Fortunately I had enuf local knowledge and common sense enuf to pass. Trust me, the test wasnt that simple.. and that was just the 1st hoop.

1330hrs: Captain Lang took the public transport, rushed over to Keppel Marina to rent 1 a Harts transponder …(because the one at SAFYC was not working!).

1600hrs: Captain Lang back at SAFYC, and promptly got underway again. Fortunately for us, the great boating weather stayed with us for the whole trip… but the current was not so good for us… we missed the “free ride” … sigh… and it was all seriously choppy all the way until we make the turn past the Southern Islands..

Eerie looking ship.. and its BIG!

Although we were pretty shaken up by last minute “bureaucratic” events, and the violent tossing, I still am in pretty good spirits to enjoy the trip… and the sights… I dunno about you guys, but I always did enjoy moving small vessels around the super giants… 🙂 It dont scare me… … and did I hear on the VHF ” little boat little boat, this is MV something… are you crossing my path?”… VHF comms are sometimes very muffled and I have no idea if we are the little boat that should respond to that call…. well, but I did slow down and alter course 10deg port to allow the container ship to pass ahead of me… hmm… did it really think I didnt see him coming…? Or did the captain think that I am going to insist on my right of way and cut infront of him… hmm…? Oh come on, get real…

Hey look, this is an interesting one. See the cute escape pod?

And look, lighting make this ship look huge, dark and forebodding. Like something out of a nightmare…

Riptides. See the water going 1 way and another?

1800hrs: We made the starboard turn into the channel between the southern islands and sister’s islands. At this point, the currents changed and now in our favour. The chops ceased immediately, but then we got into the rip tides. This is an area of very fast cross currents. Sometimes we make 7ks(mostly), sometimes 4kns.

The helicopter flypast. National Day Parade review from the sea.

On hindsight… maybe God altered my trip in his strange, but kindly meant ways… being there between those islands at the time we were was simply a treat! We had a fabulous sunset, a learning experience of boat handling in  riptides, beautiful view of the islands and plus the display of helicopters flying in formation for the National Day Parade rehearsal.

Flypast over the Sisters.

Oh, did I mention the moonrise? 1 minute it was sunset, then turning my face about, there was the moonrise! This is just spectacular!

Sun setting over Jurong. Ships anchored near Jurong Island

1900hrs: Passing Sentosa. Its getting a little dark. Time to turn on the lights..

Called Keppel on the VHF channel 77. They will assist us in finding the way into our new berth… BTW, it was quite difficult navigating thru the unknown waters leading into the marina. We almost ran aground at Labrador Park. Definately advise all helmsman to go very slowly around the area at night. The many lights around that area are definately a great distraction for boaters. The red/green leading lights into the marina were small and difficult to find among the numerous lights all over the place. 

It was just getting dark, enuf to see the rising moon.

2000hrs: We are in. Slowly we crawl into our slip. The dock staff were great. They knew how to tie up a boat and receive new visitors, well prepared and well educated on our needs… we got a goodie bag and were hook up to the utilities in no time. Aaaarrrrr, time for a hot shower at their very fancy new facilities… and then back to the aircon cabin for the night… The pleasures of what money can buy…

Oil Spill Cleaning – Part 2 – Calliste

Doug decided that Calliste is not going to Punggol… after our poor Eleanor suffered at the hands of very helpful and over eager staff at Keico Yacht Services. Look, they probably know how to handle good size boats… but Eleanor is too small for their equipment and much too delicate for their rough hands… Calliste would have been okay, me thinks… but hey, we dont want no risk! And the alkaline degreaser is definately not the right stuff for Callistes’ AWLgrip.

Callistes been playing in the mud

And since Marina Yacht Services is not available to take on the job for the next 2 months, that leaves us to do the cleaning ourselves.

Working on H/P Yakuni, cleaning S/V Calliste...

We found information by Awlgrip, to use T0016 thinner for cleaning off the oil. This stuff is expensive! S$38/quart! We bought 4 quarts. Plus, 4 dozen “Good morning” rags, box of surgical gloves, 4l jug of Simple Green.

Doug showing some sticky tar scrappings from the waterline

Here we go. Thats me, cleaning the most inconspicious spot on the hull 1st. We have to check if there be any damage to the 5yr Awlgrip paint and stop immediately if there is… okay, clear.

Its a tough job!

Its tough working on the water, especially at SAFYC Changi. Its so rolly and I got seasick after a while… still have to do it… bluh… and taking in fumes from the solvent… blurrhhh! … This could go on for hours! and it did…

Oh yes, we found that its better to work small areas at a time. 1st wipe the blackish oil with T0016, then clean it off with Simple Green before moving to another area.

Left- before, right - after.

But some stains remains after the cleaning. Calliste look much better though.. just dont look too closely… I suppose in this condition we will pass the inspection for Marina @ Keppel Bay, which is our next stop. Look, we have to clean her up somewhat to be presentable amongst those pretty new boats over at Keppel, otherwise we be thrown out… me thinks..

Just 2 days after cleaning... sheen at waterline

Only 2 days after cleaning, Calliste got the “sheen” again… but its the day of departure… well… definately not as bad as it was before… I think we’ll pass.. time will tell… 

I suppose you know this, but anyway, click on the pictures for bigger, clearer view.

Oil spill cleaning

Eleanor in the slings, going towards her cradle

The recent oil spill around Singapore is a real pain in the b**t. I know I know.. its nothing compared to whats happening in the Gulf, but hey its here and upfront in my face. .. thats the time when it really hurts.

Not looking too closely, she seemed cleaned

This is Eleanor going up on the slings at Punggol, for the 1st time in her history. She has always been lifted in her cradle, but this time they want to use the slings. Bad move, the slings were not wrapped with plastic protection sheets, resulting in multiple scratches on the badly tarred gelcoat. I had no way to know that this was going to happen, else I would have done something about it before the lifting. The messy tar also made it difficult to actually see the scratches. Only upon close inspection after the washing did I realize the damage is already done … sigh… I am dazed… and disappointed by the so called professionals.

Looking closely, stains show up.

Anti fouling damaged by oil and degreaser streaks

Back to the cleaning, the guys use a alkaline degreaser..? What is that..? The men went ahead and rolled it on, followed by power spray wash. Viola, boat looks clean, but antifoul is totally gone from the most tarred area around the waterline, and the streaking down solution ate away the new white Micro Extra, exposing the old blue antifoul.

This stuff just gobbles up the antifoul and render it useless. .. anyway, the oil may have already made the antifoul useless to begin with, so further deterioration cause by the degreaser is really insignificant…

Vinyl bootstripe soften by oil, damaged by slings.

Small details, vinyl bootstripe and stern letterings will have to be redone.

… I am … disheartened…  Eleanor is not the pretty old girl, more like a sad old lady. … Next, to muster up some energy and dough to restore her to her former glory.

kids onboard S/V Eleanor to Punggol

This will be my 1st time taking 2 kids onboard and handling the boat and kids myself on Eleanor… will it be my last…?

Arriving at Punggol, kids on foredeck

………I had to bring Eleanor for cleaning at Keico Yacht services at Punggol … due to the oil spill damage … Anyway, kids are out from school and I thought this might be a good chance for Ray to go out to sea with me onboard Eleanor… and his friend Justin happen to be hanging out with him and wants to go too… 1 kid too many, Doug begged out… 🙂

Its raining quite heavily!

Alright alright, only a short journey. Expect 3hrs only, have tide going with me 80% of the trip. Think I can handle it… pysching myself up for the task.

Expected time of departure, 930am. Actual departure, 1010am. Reason.. kids… Plus its raining! Hard to keep up the good spirits when it rains just a little too much.

1 seasick crew...

Fortunately no wind, but still waters outside of the SAFYC Changi are choppy. SE monsoon, its like that they say…  

Still I have 1 seasick crew… and 1 who loved the excitement and view on the fore deck. … my most favorite spot on Eleanor really… when the going is calm and nice and dry… holding Justin back until we get into calmer conditions.

Chops immediately drop off 2 notches as soon as I turn round the corner at Angler bouy. Allowing the boys to go forward now, glad they did move slowly and carefully holding onto the dodger for support. No MOB drills! Phew! Day went well… phew! Kids returned. Phew! A little bit stressful…. but its okay, I can manage… 🙂

Home Cooking

I havent actually been cooking much lately, being busy with work at the office, moving boats around, StickY.BusinesS  and not doing too well health wise. Finally a weekend, after knocking off many important things to do during the day, found some time to indulge myself a little..

My kitchen. Like the mossiac stove top? "DIM" "Did It Myself"

Over the last 3 months, I had quite afew incidents of “Transient Ischemic Attack” or TIA for short. .. I am not even 40 and going thru this “mild stroke” sorta thing is depressing.. .. well.. anywell, the 1 thing that is established is that I have low haemo, caused by low iron… what causes low iron in my blood is still a mystery, 1 for the Gastro Intestinal clinic to sort out. .. but I will eat what I can and try to improve my condition.

I did a research on foods that are high iron and iron absorbtion aid and inhibitors. Ok, some modifications to my diet. Totally cut out tea drinking, because the tannine inhibits iron absorbtion by 70%! Less coffee drinking and never during mealtimes. Marmite is a good source of vit B6 and B12, essential for the body to form haemos. I like white bread and the nutritional info says it gives my 3mg iron for 2 slices, YES! I am having bread for breakfast as often as I can… or cereal is great too.

Cockle cevichi. Vit C is great for iron absorbtion

Seafood is a great source of iron… and cholesterol… but my chols levels are really good, and my iron levels are really bad! So I better wake up and realize that seafood is GOOD for me! So are EGGs!

Oven baked crab sticks and fish fingers

Currently, my blood iron is extremely low, indicating that my iron store (the liver) is depleted. RDA recommends 18mg iron per day for adult women, and I am setting my personal target at 30mg till my levels return to normal. … BTW, I am now counting my iron like how some people are counting calories… I have a tracking sheet… 🙂

Tada! My sorta seafood dinner.

Bread – 3mg, 1 large eg – 1mg, 100g beef – 3mg, 50g liver – 4.5mg, veggies – 1mg …. 100g boiled cockles – 28mg. Thats the comparison, seafood vs my regular foods..

Alrighty, so here it is… my dinner, oven baked crabsticks and fish fingers, 1 egg darkened with soy sauce, soupy rice and cockle cevichi on the side… + ice-cream beer float!

An adventure, not quite complete

I asked God to give me a sign, that I should go on this trip… and he did! So I went ahead, got myself ready, Eleanor ready and went…. Despite not being in the best of condition(health wise), despite Eleanor not looking her best and despite being delayed on departure date and time.

Eleanor sitting in a pool of crude

27 May 1100hrs, Lang is not yet ready to go. Decided to delay departure to 0500hrs next morning.

Its all around inside the breakwater walls

28 May 0600hrs, arrived at SAFYC Changi and found Eleanor sitting in crude mud pool! Yucks! Not a good sign for departure…

Passing thru the walls of SAFYC

0730hrs, current movements inside the marina opened up a path around Eleanor.. just enough clear water for me to start the engine going without sucking up too much oil into my trusty Suzuki. Eleanor left her berth at SAFYC Changi. This is 10hrs later than originally planned… recognized immediately that I will be fighting current all the way up to Telok Rumunia, but I will get slack tide around North Rocks which should make my passage thru it comfortable.. and if I got my tides right, I should get a current boost going up to Jason Bay.

Out into clear water.. just motoring.

0900hrs, Eleanor cleared out Singapore immigration at South Angler and head out East into some rather choppy waters around the point of Pengelih. This is where the inflow of current was the strongest… I try to stay dry and only making 3kns cutting thru some short choppy peaky waters. For those of you who are wondering how does short choppy peaky waters look like, I am sorry that you have to rely on your imagination, because I refuse to take out my non-waterproof camera in these conditions.

Look at how smooth this water is ..

1000hrs, we pass Pengerang… the chops flattened out into silky smooth waters. A very light breeze, now making 4 -4.5kns with mainsail and motor at low trottle only, motor-sailing at 15′ off the wind. This is Eleanor’s normal speed going against current. Very comfortable ride to Telok Rumunia… albeit slow…

1100hrs, was puzzled by the puddles of crude that we had to circumvent, all the way up to just off Sg Rengit… Hey! Isnt that the tanker with the gaping hole!! It was anchored off Sg Rengit! No wonder! All the broadcasted reports of containment are just rubbish!

Tanker with 10m wide hole anchored of Sg Rengit.

12oohrs, passing the point of Telok Rumunia. SE wind picked up to 5kns. Raise jib. Motor-sailing at 40′ to the wind, slack tide, making 5kns. Small chops, quite comfy really.. tho slow and passing this point later than I had hope. Will have to catch up later…

A little more breeze, a little more chops. Islands off Telok Rumunia

1300hrs, passing the North Rocks. E wind picked up to 15kns, 1m waves coming from South.. large chops and mild peaks with some white caps. Cut motor, just sailing. Making a decent 4.5 to 5kns… was surprised that tide was not with me…? Couldnt make the 6kns that I was hoping for to make up for the lost 2hrs. … but it was a really comfy ride on Eleanor in this condition. Yahoo! This is Eleanor making it out to the S. China sea for the 1st time! And she is doing so well!

1400hrs… we are somewhere near Point Penawar… E wind 10kns, current picked up pace against me. Now making only 3kns sailing. Time to make a decision. My options. 1) To continue North, non-stop to Tioman. A trip of 28hrs, then turn around for another 28hrs back. 2) To continue North and hope to anchor in Jason Bay for the night and then turn back next morning? 3) To turn back now and ride the current back home, but beating against the wind and waves.

This is how I spent 14hrs 01min on the 28th May!

… well, I choose 3. My biggest realization is that Eleanor would have made it, if the captain had more time…

1410hrs, down sails completely and head South. Wind and waves makes heading SE uncomfy and wet. Strategy, head S and turn E whenever there is a chance.

1600hrs, passing the point of Telok Rumunia again. Back into calmer conditions, and time for catnaps. Motor at low speed and we are making 5kns. Foot on tiller as I winked away. Found that I get about 30′ off course every 5mins… ;P

1700hrs, passing Sg Rengit again, and now in silky smooth waters again. Felt like reading… passing smoothly and reading till sundown…

1830hrs, lights on. Getting into the chops at Pengelih again.

1930hrs, at South Angler… called ICA on channel 74. Dark, dont see them… was told to look for blinking yellow light … Arhhh! They are 1.5nm off they usual location!

2030hrs, cleared SG immigration again… starting to drizzle.. warm air. interesting combo… 2100hrs, pushing against large peaky chops off Naval Base. 2130hrs, finally made it back to SAFYC. Tied up to fuel dock for the night, as berth is boomed off.

So happy to see Doug again… 14hrs 01mins after leaving in the morning….

In short, I went sailing in the right season, but the worst of time. … and so, I never made it… but hey, I went with the attitude that as long as I tried and made it on my own around the rocky bend into the S. China sea, I would celebrate and praise God for helping me make it that far.