The Captains Notes - Sailing Nandji - Froth Lyfe

Leaving INDONESIA behind! Sailing to THAILAND! Ep 292

12/10/2022

In this episode, we clear out of Indonesia and head out to sea on a 220 nautical mile sail across the busy shipping channel of the Malacca Strait onwards to Thailand. We have been racing weather the entire journey up the coast and with only more expected storms to arrive in a couple days time, it is off to sea we go hoping to reach Thailand before the weather comes in. With some glorious days of Spinnaker sailing, we really settle into the smooth ride without any presence of ground swell. But we don't reach Thailand before the storm...

This could have gone HORRIBLY WRONG!! Navigating treacherous waters! Ep 291

11/14/2022

Heading north up the Sumatran coast towards the most GNARLIEST patch of water for this whole journey!
In this episode, we have been steadily making tracks north towards Thailand over the last week. With the final stretch in Indonesian waters, we are preparing to round the northern tip of Sumatra. The entire Indian Ocean tries its best to pass through 3 tiny cuts through the land mass. With currents flowing up to 6 knots, we are in for a wild ride if we don't time this right! This could go horribly wrong!

GETTING SMASHED by a STORM! Losing our Steering at SEA! Ep 288

11/14/2022

Trying to make ground out of Indonesia we leave a little early and sail directly into a Storm!
In this episode, after missing our great sailing window because of needing to change props... We try to be sneaky and sail 25 nautical miles up the coast before the expected bad weather comes. We didn't make it... We get smashed by a massive squall in 35+ knots and a building confused sea, off the headland we lose our steering. Then the windvane breaks... We have no steering and hove to in massive waves...

SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS?? Ep 279

9/19/2022

Let's go remote, like a LONG WAY FROM ANY WHERE!! Trying to sail to a remote atoll, but the weather has other plans
In this episode, we depart the last town of the Mentawai archipelago and head south towards the unknown. We are yet to venture this far south and are heading 75 nautical miles to an atoll in the Indian Ocean. Heading south east straight into the trade winds create some rough upwind offshore sailing. Not ideal with a baby onboard! Sometimes it takes more than once to reach these destinations, thats what makes them so rewarding when you arrive! Catching a big Barracuda, we spy some local canoes fishing for their dinner. Deciding to gift away the fish we caught, we make an old guys day!

Tiny boat, BIG LIFE! Sailing Remote Indonesian Islands! Ep 274

7/16/2022

In this episode, out to sea we go and it is downwind dream sailing, until its abruptly over... Smashed by squalls, we break the running rigging and are forced to enter into the islands to seek shelter for repairs. Our glass is always half full as we hadn't planned to stop here, however it is a very stunning area to stay for a while!! Supplies are steadily dwindling away and are forced to head into the village in search of gas and food. Heading through the cut between the islands, we nearly have a collision with a ferry that wont stop or move!! What an amazing village full of friendly faces. We are on land for no more than 2 minutes and walked 30 metres when ladies run out from all corners to play with our daughter Tallula. Nothing like having a baby when travelling!

THIS PLACE IS JUST TOO MUCH FUN!! Ep 273

6/25/2022

In this episode, Returning back to Nandji after a quick trip to Bali, we had the froth to go sailing! We have been eyeing off an atoll 400 nautical miles away for the past year! We have been trying our hardest to get there and finally the time has come when we can set some sails and head towards this attol oasis. Needing to travel through the islands, it is hard to pass up stopping at places to play. This place is just too much fun!!!

NEW PLACES = NEW CHALLENGES... Ep 271

6/25/2022

In this episode, We head out for our first big sail since returning to the boat. We had been labouring over fixing and cleaning everything ready to go, but before we take Nandji on an extended journey, let's first see if everything is working. With a group of islands 25 nautical miles away, the perfect destination for a test sail.

SAILING OUT INTO THE INDIAN OCEAN ... Ep 270

6/25/2022

In this episode, we have been busy sorting and repairing Nandji after our time back in Australia. It has been a long week of preparation, but with a boat ready to sail, its time for a shake down and see if everything is working! This anchorage has been a wonderful protected place to hide away, with some crazy squalls blowing through the anchorage, it was nice to be somewhere protected. With a friendly fisherman dropping by daily to offer up his catch, we ate well and Bonita got to practice cleaning fish! WHAT A WOMEN!!