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Top
Gun in Langkawi
Written by Tim HILL
On
Saturday mornings at the Club, the J-24 fleet can be seen
whizzing out of the marina in the weekly battle for keelboat
supremacy near Sungei Pandan. Newly qualified Competent
Crew graduates can get their first slice of spinnaker action
on board RSYC Satu, Dua and Jumping Jack. And more experienced
members can get to grips with their first helming experience.
In
early August, the Top Gun program took time out with a long
weekend in Langkawi, continuing the fight for ultimate supremacy
on more scenic waters and with bigger boats. Two Sun Odysseys
35s set sail from the Sunsail base at the Royal Langkawi
Yacht Club for 4 days of extreme passage races. On “Princess
Sharda” were Tim and Penny Hill with infant daughters
Lauren and Sasha - accompanied for a part of the journey
by friends Chris, Della and Michel. On “Princess Christina”
were Tom and Sharimah Bonehill, Oliver and Justine Wingrove
and children Henry and Annabelle. And a fishing rod, with
a huge bait about the size of one of our offspring, purchased
by Tom from that fishing enclave near Kampong Glam.
The
race on Day 1 took us through the Southeast islands of Langkawi
and up the east coast to the beautiful “Hole in the
Wall” anchorage – a natural creek with high cliffs
and jungle on either side with eagles swooping around. Having
figured out how to anchor and raft the two boats up, we
fired up the BBQs for some serious steaks - (no fish, sadly)
put the children to bed (eventually) – and drained
the first bottle of Bombay. We only brought two litres along,
so serious rationing was going to be needed for the rest
of the trip.
The
beautiful sunrise and tranquility of the anchorage the next
morning was eventually broken by a few speed boats rushing
through the creek with tourists kitted up in life jackets
- in search of eagles. We pursued them in our little outboards
- and were rewarded with the sight of a few eagles swooping
around waiting for breakfast. (If they were waiting for
Tom to catch it for them, they would have died of starvation).
We phutted back to the boats for ours - and to get ready
for the day ahead.
Day
2's races took us around the Northern side of the island
through to Datai Bay - narrowly avoiding the thunderstorms
over Pulau Langkawi. A cunning plan to sail up to nearby
Ko Taratao (where Survivor Thailand was allegedly filmed)
was shelved in favour of an early anchorage at Datai. Everyone
piled ashore to drink copious quantities of chilled beer
and swim in the pool at the Andaman resort. The Wingroves
liked it so much they chartered a room for the night, leaving
the Bonehills with no option but to succumb to a full night's
sleep on board and dream of the one that got away.
But
that was after everyone had supped at the sumptuous troughs
of the Datai and drunk copiously to alleviate the problem
of further rationing onboard. Engine problems with the boats
were resolved with a swift call through to Sunsail - and
the arrival on the scene of their roving mechanic, Andy.
One new set of batteries later, and we were off, racing
around the Western edge of the Pulau. The wind gave us a
close reach for the final part of the journey, so we could
do some drag swimming - hanging off the swimming ladder
as shark bait. Tom used the opportunity again to put the
rod out. We popped into Rebak Marina on the way down to
replenish our ice supplies and stretch our legs. Then off
to Pula Singa Besar for sunset with golf tangos, swimming,
buzzing around in the dinghies and BBQing of the last of
the food.
On
Day 4 we motored over to Pulau Dayang Bunting where a shore
party went off to explore the “Lake of the Pregnant
Maiden”. Legend has it that if you bathe in the waters
and you will be with child. Penny and I last went there
about 3 years ago - and shortly after Penny was ‘with
child' (Lauren, as it turns out). So it works.
A
gentle cruise through the waters of Bass Harbour with the
wind behind us brought us back to the yacht club and Sunsail
Base, and the flights back home to Singapore.
An
outstanding time was had by all on board. Princess Sharda
took line honours for all races and won the Top Gun Langkawi
Cup. Sadly Tom never did catch any fish.
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