SINGAPORE TO PHUKET - Poem
The most demanding mariner’s wishes
The Bollinger came in “free flow”
It was hard to keep count of the dishes.
We cleared Singapore at the Sisters
And elbowed our way down the Road
Through hundreds of ships at anchor
All waiting their turn to unload.
When we sailed overnight past Malacca
The pirates must have been on vacation
There was only Impulsive and dozens of ships
Ranged beside us on convoy station.
Port Dickson offered a beautiful pool
And a chance to catch up on rest
We set off again with Free Spirit
To Port Klang, where who could have guessed.
That the Royal Selangor Yacht Club
Would emerge from the smells and the rain
With Carlsberg on tap and a dance floor
It was old British Empire again.
In the course of the voyage to Pangkor Laut
We met a Sumatran squall
Thirty knots from the north with driving rain
(one the forecasters didn’t call).
So we called time out at Pangkor Laut
Tried some spicy Malay creations
Had a swim and drove round in a hire car
(Fifty RM, no documentation).
We were tied at Penang by late afternoon
The ferry wash threatened our stay
We explored the hybrid of cultures
The Indian, Chinese, Malay.
The relics of British colonial days
The houses of Chinese clans
The Indian hawkers’ food stalls
Improvised anniversary plans.
Pulau Payar has coral and brilliant blue fish
That swim unfazed up to the mask
Now a beautiful sheltered anchorage
Is surely not too much to ask?
It was, for the wind came up from the south
And the sea soon resembled a wash tub
So we sailed up the east of the island
To the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club.
We did boat repairs, we took on some wine
We toured and the anchor came in
We ate on the beach at the lighthouse
(Girls choice and a definite win).
We have a short sail to the Hole in the Wall
Two hours would have been a safe bet
But there is an unscheduled stop on the way
When we foul a fisherman’s net.
We’ll eat fried rice at the jetty tonight
Then tomorrow at six o’clock
We’ll say goodbye to Malaysia
And head for Koh Rok Nok.
At Phuket Free Spirit meets Andrew and Kate
We take on the Williamses and Joneses
What price the additional crew list
After sailing Impulsive alone?
The Williamses and Joneses brought wine, cheer and rain
They tested the strength of our tender
We island hopped, snorkelled and ate good Thai food
Sent tsunamis straight back to their sender.
IMPULSIVE
AUG. / SEPT. 2007
