Down the Malacca Straits we go.

Oh what a feeling, we were departing Phuket first stop Rok Nok then onto Langkawi. Happy days indeed, although adjusting to the rough weather on the boat took some time. My body felt sea sick at anchor back in Chalong but of our passage from Rok Nok to Langkawi the winds were up to 22kts close to the beam and as we neared Telaga the bouncy sea began.

A calmer moment at the helm enjoying the new shade.

Choosing to hand steer when the winds had come up earlier i felt more in control of the boats direction and rather than allow the autopilot to manuver us handsteering was much smoother. It was exhilarating til I realised how exhausted i was. Richard relieved me as we took turns to each lunch. Another day of record arrival into the anchorage, where previously it would have taken us a least another 2 hours we were in in early afternoon and smiling once again. 

Those first two days of complete sailing were dream runs for us to Langkawi and we knew  already that Ultimate Dream was a new boat. The performance had improved considerably and the comfort of the boat moving through the water was noticable. She cut through the waves were previously she would hobby horse the hard work was paying off already. Arriving in Langkawi we admired our new home remarking on our good fortunes in the beautiful surrounds of Telaga's mountains.

After a short stay which included our duty free provisioning and searching for the right person to fix our Aero gen we left disappointed that our wind gen would no longer be serving us. It was time to get a new one.

Our passage to Penang was much like our past 2 days, fast and furious. We arrived at Penang Marina exhausted and ready for rest. We enjoyed the atmosphere of Penang and its multi culture and after 2 days we headed off to Pangkor island. A long day of motoring into headwinds we arrived just after sunset to anchor in the northern bay. After waiting 3 days for the winds to settle (which they didn't) we headed for the marina to seek out a post office. Our chartplotter was bound for Australia to be repaired. Our second in 2 years, thank goodness we were still in warranty.

James at Pangkor Island Marina helped us out no end with our search for a suitable courier company and showed us great hospitality through the day. Thank-you James!

While the weather forecasts were not proving to be accurate south of Penang we chose to depart on a day of lowish winds. We were in for a rude awakening with 20kts of wind on the nose and motoring hard into it. Horrible, really uncomfortable and tiring on the body.

The winds continued to be on the nose and strong for our remaining passage to Danga Bay so we chose to do almost 2 overnighters and 2 days to reach Johor. As we neared the shipping channel giant vessels passed endlessly day and night and we passed those at anchor. We battled the wind, waves and smog from Indonesia's burning forests; so thick at one point that we had to wear masks. 

Port Klang, where is the sky where is the sea?

The haze of Port Klang a mix of port smog and Indo smog.

It is my wish that one day Indonesia will find sustainable practices of farming and that our planet will be a healthy environment for all people in all countries on land and sea.

A ship at anchor in the straits near Singapore.

Hercules, rudder out of the water is massive.

We arrived at Danga Bay ready to tie up and rest once more. Since then we have been busy each day in this incredibly humid climate sweaty profusely working on endless jobs in preparation for our ever so close adventure to Malaysia's EAst Peninsula THEN onto Borneo for the season. 

Launch day had arrived.

Anticipation was building as the days got closer to our planned launching. With the gel coat on, anti foul painted and a new stripe along the hulls the job was at completion.

Fantastic effort and result, Ultimate Dream has been transformed.

We said goodbye to our workers and a proud photo was taken, the previous day with the boys as they finished up. We were so grateful for the fantastic results.

Siphon fits the new frame.

The new stainless was added bit by bit and the boat was taking on a whole new look again. A new pole for the wind gen was added along with a small driving frame and cover. Our days of burning in the sun sitting at the wheel on passages were now reduced. In our opinion a driving station under cover is a MUST and yes we do like to sit at the wheel when necessity calls for it and at our pleasure.

Preparing the trailer.

  The weather was not looking favorable for our launch, the wind was up it was raining lightly and white horses could be seen in Chalong bay. It was our last opportunity to get into the water otherwise we would be waiting another 2 weeks for a higher tide. We couldn't wait that long our schedule had already been delayed from the extended period of work on the boat and we wanted to start heading down the Malacca straits. While there were suggestions that perhaps it was not the day to be launching, Richard was determined and at about 1pm we were launched. There were some immediate concerns upon launching: we seemed to be stuck on the trailer, the port engine wouldn't start immediately and then it's reverse was not functioning. Small stresses that startled us when all of a sudden the engine started we were off the trailer and floating. We breathed a sigh of relief that we'd made it back on the water, we were free and headed for a mooring. Having settled onto a mooring we were happy basking in the glory of our strange new boat. We couldn't stop smiling at how good it all looked. But how would it perform on passage it was comfortable at anchor, we were soon to find out.

Final week of work

Its here at last our final week before launching and its seemed like a long time coming but now that we are so close to launching our sights are set on our upcoming adventures.  While i have been enjoying the daily comfort of an apartment and swimming pool (am going to miss it but clear waters are up head) the guys: Richard, Yo and Chart (Thai workers) have worked hard in the relentless heat on Ultimate Dream to have her looking sooo good. Not to mention our Professional friend who provided his valuable skills in the initial form work and design. His name must remain nameless to protect his identity in Thailand (politics of the yard and the industry). We are really pleased with the results and look forward to the many improved benefits our new extensions will provide. Our final pics will be posted closer to launching. So the remaining list of work: polishing, fitting the stainless steel new hand rails, new driving shade and new wind gen pole and antifouling. Smaller jobs include installing our old stove and having the new shade for the new driving cover sewn up. Below are pics of the work in progress over the past 6 weeks.

The endless sanding Chart busy at work.

Yo begins to spay the gelcoat.

Bows spayed. 

Our new boat.

Masking up preparing to make the tread mould.

Yo and Chart lifting the mould.

Yo proudly holds up his new creation.

Extensions Week 2 & 3.....

Work has continued on at a cracking pace and while the season is showing signs each day of moving into the rainy season work has continued after the short interruption. Our friend "Shorty legs" visits us each day and we greet him with much enthusiasm. He returns the greeting with happy howls to us and finds himself a space to lie amongst the tools and action. The bows are ready for the next stage of work and the sterns are forming into shape and strengthening up with each days work.  Our wind generator had to be removed and will be replaced with a new stainless pole and moved to a new position.  Go team Richy, Yo and Chart.

Sterns all covered.

Shorty comes to visit looking for the water we leave out for him.

Looking good a whole new platform.

SV Ultimate Dream undergoes extensions in Thailand.

After giving it much thought we decided it was time to give Ultimate Dream bow and stern extensions. There were many benefits to be gained and we were enthusiastic about undertaking the project. Originally we had hauled out (in Chalong, Phuket) for our annual maintenance work and it was not long after that we committed to the project and work began.
Week 1 begins....

Haulout at Coconuts Chalong, Phuket.

Original shape of stern.

The rudders now dropped and layers of anti foul were ground away.
Last years hard work now gone.

Forming the structure.

A little help from our friends.

Beginnings of bow extension.

A Lightwave catamaran with Bob Oram inspired bow structure.

Wow, its real now.

Koh Phayam, West Coast Thailand

After 4 days we moved around to Ao Khao Kwai the northern bay, to find we were the only yachts. Another quiet anchorage; we settled into our new location.  With dinghies landed we went in search of lunch on the beach front overlooking our yachts. Picture perfect.

The dinghies landed we headed to lunch.  SV CanKata,  SV Aqua Dreams and SV Ultimate Dream.

Richy,  Julie and Steve SV Aqua Dreams (left to right)

Another shady lunch spot.

Cashews everywhere.

Koh Phayam and Koh Chang grow an abundance of cashew trees. In fact they were ripening and falling throughout the time we were there. All over the walking tracks, leaning over restaurants roofs as far as the eye could see there were cashew trees loaded with juicy cashew fruits. Lucky we didn't have one fall on top of us the fruit swells and when it falls it lands heavily. Once the fruit has fallen it must be dried then the husk opened to extract the nut and roasted. 

The drying process not very complicated; leave em out in the sun.

Local art.

Buddha high up overlooking the eastern coastline.

Local rubber plantation in the background.