Captain Jonathan Mercer 4th April: An arrival at Safaga, 12 hours ahead of schedule, having made a fast passage from Mumbai, India. This to cross the challenging Somali pirate area which includes the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Aden and parts of the Red Sea. We had a calm crossing, hardly a wave to be… read more of “Around the World…”
*This post was sent in several days ago and inadvertently delayed. April 1, 2012: The seas have been flat calm since we departed Mumbai, the sun has been shining and our guests are happy to have a few sea-days after our calls on the west coast of India. We are making for the Bab El… read more of “Around the World…”
Captain Jonathan Mercer March 28, 2012: Our passages up the coast of India have been busy. Apart from the coastal trade shipping, there have been vast amounts of fishing vessels. Every coastal community seems to have a fleet of these boats, ranging from reasonably large, in the 9-10 metre range, (28 feet or so), to… read more of “Around the World…”
March 26, 2012: Mentioned in historical books dating back thousand of years, Mangalore has been a trading port since time immemorial. Now it exports mainly coffee and cashew nuts. A tour was the order of the day, Mangalore Highlights, which consisted of visits to Hindu and Buddhist temples and other historical sites, not to mention… read more of “Around the World…”
March 21, 2012: Phuket, Thailand We were destined to anchor here, the small port of Phuket had 2 small cruise ships berthed there and there was ‘no room at the inn’ for us. Instead, we headed to the west side of the island and Patong Bay, a relatively sheltered spot, although it was almost a… read more of “Around the World…”
March 18 – 19, 2012 March 18: Arrival Singapore. The Singapore Straits are one of the busiest in the world, it’s a bottleneck for shipping, where both eastbound and westbound meet in a narrow neck of water. Nowadays, a modicum of organisation exists; the lanes are divided, more akin to a dual-carriageway, (or 2-lane highway),… read more of “Around the World…”
Thursday, March 15, 2012: Phu My, gateway port for Ho Chi Min City, (formerly Saigon). An early call, although a 6:30 a.m pilot was scheduled, the entrance to the Saigon river entrance is a busy one and complicated, an early arrival on the bridge is prudent. Ships everywhere, all shapes and sizes, either anchored awaiting… read more of “Around the World…”
Our voyage from Hong Kong was far better heading south than our heading for it. Although still rough, (force 7 gale and a rough sea and swell), it was coming from astern of us and we ‘rode’ it far better. If one takes a direct route from Hong Kong to Phu My, Vietnam, the course… read more of “Around the World…”
