LARANTUKA TO MAUMERE

September 3, 2014  Wednesday

We heaved up anchor at 1048 hrs which was calculated for exiting Selat Larantuka which has strong tidal streams.  Our first anchorage enroute to Maumere will be Gedong (08-04.759’ S x 122-50.653 S) about 27 nm from Larantuka.  It’s a lovely anchorage with 30’ water depth on a sandy bottom.  There are some fishing boats in the area but we saw no village and no one came out to visit.  Usually, in these anchorages with a nearby village, the children paddle out in their dugout canoes and try to speak a little English.  The common greeting everywhere we have been is “Hello Mister” and sometimes “Mrs”.  The children are beautiful, charming and curious.  These children come from fishing families and will follow in the footsteps of their fathers.  Although very humble and poor by western standards, there is a spontaneity and joyfulness that emanates from them.  Ask them to sing and they will send out a cacophony of sound meant to please.

September 4, 2014 Thursday

0842 - Heave up anchor and get u/w for another anchorage  Watuwulan (08-25.341’ S x 122-35.349’ E) which is 16 nm from Gedong.  It’s another convenient anchorage enroute to Maumere: water depth 25’ on a sandy bottom.  Nothing special but another scenic place.

September 5, 2014 Friday

0924 – heave up anchor and u/w to Maumere (08-38.098’ S x 122-18.519’ E) which is 22 nm from Watuwulan.  The water depth at Maumere is deep at 60’ but the holding is good with sand and mud.  During the day there is an onshore breeze but it fall slick calm at night with a land breeze developing in the morning which is displaced by the sea breeze which kicks in around 1000 hrs.

Maumere is a fairly large city and can provide all the necessities that a cruiser wants or needs.  It’s a rather unattractive city and sprawling along a main road.  During this time of year, which is the dry season, its dusty, dirty and smokey.  The smoke comes from burring off the grasses from previous harvests.  This provides ash which will fertilize the new crops once the rains start at the end of October.  The city has a problem with rubbish collection as do so many places in Indonesia.  There is a good central open market but you have to dismiss the rubbish that surrounds it.  We anchored in front of the “Sea World Resort” which is clean and provides a “Happy Hour” from 1600-1700 hrs.  It’s a pleasant place and welcoming to yachties.  Most of their paying guests appear to be German.

We  were able to reprovision in Maumere in a most convenient manner.  There are boats which come alongside and bring fuel, water, gasoline and any food requested .  Additionally, they take away garbage, will arrange for laundry and anything else needed.  The surcharge for these services is more than reasonable.  Phyllis and I always do our shopping at the local open market.  We enjoy the bargaining and interaction with the local women venders.