Ships, Currents, Upwind & a Scooter? Exploring Rote Island, Ep 107

​In this episode of Sailing Nandji, we clear back into Indonesia after a long time anchored in Timor Leste. It was a good feeling to be off exploring once again. On our previous (very rough) schedule, we had wanted to get to the island of Rote months ago! However as all things sailing, life got in the way! After such a difficult previous month, just sailing this way felt good.
The island of Rote is one of the most Southern Islands of Indonesia and actually the closest Nandji has been to Australia since we left 18 months ago! The island is developing rapidly as it is a popular surf destination during the Easterly trade season. Unlucky for us though, the weather appeared to be already changing and an opposing wind left us sailing upwind to reach our destination. Throw an opposing current and busy shipping lane in the mix, just for some added flavour!
Exploring the island of Rote, we hired the favourite Indonesian mode of transport, the Scooter! Neither Bonita or I are motorbike enthusiasts and Bonita had never ridden a scooter! This made for some interesting bike rides through the free range farm of the island. Pigs, Cows, Chickens and goats frequently decide to cross the skinny roads right when you are scootering on by!
We could have stayed at this beautiful island forever, but with the weather already changing, we head back to sea as it was just before this episode we had made the decision that we would install a new engine and we would do it in Malaysia. With over 1600nm to sail to our destination, we better make tracks!