MAUROLE TO LABUAN BAJO

September 12, 2014   Friday

The object now is to get to Labuan Bajo which is the central check-in point for Komodo National Park.  We will stop at several anchorages along-the-way for the evening.  When sailing along the coast of Flores, it’s risky to sail at night because of the fish traps one finds.  If you run into one, you can damage the boat or get caught up in a net and have to cut yourself free of it.  We try to find a secure anchorage for the night and they day hop.

We heaved up anchor at Maurole at 0630 hrs and started motoring to Nangekeo (08-31.698’ S x 121-20.159’ E) about 30 nm to the west.  At 1248, we dropped anchor in 16’ water depth with a sand/mud bottom.  There was a large fishing village at some distance from the anchorage but we did not go there.  It was just an overnight stop.

September 13, 2014   Saturday

0742 hrs – get u/w for Riung (08-24.637’ S x 121-01.486’ E) 28 nm from Nangekeo.  We are running short of wind and having to motor, motor sail and then sail when the wind comes up.  Dropped anchor off Riung pier at 1300 hrs.  Put out the dinghy and picked up our sailing friends Ken and Lil Bardon from “Moonbeam” a 52’ Island Packet.  We went into the town of Nangamese which was, essentially, a town with thatched huts built up on poles on tidal mud flats.  There was a diving tour operation and appeared to have a few tourist boats waiting for guests.  There were no supplies to be had other than the bare essentials: cigarettes, gasoline, diesel, some canned goods, soda and water.

There is a good pier off Riung which the fishing vessels tie up to.  There were a few inlets leading into other fishing communities so we went exploring.  No matter how remote, the locals are always welcoming and happy to see you.  There are some beautiful islands off Riung and these would be ideal for anchoring and snorkeling.

September 14, 2014  Sunday

Riung to Teluk Linggeh 36 nm

Heaved up anchor at 0800 hrs and got u/w for Teluk Linggeh (08-17.330’ S x 120-35.895’ E) which is 36 nm to the west.  This was one of our best sailing days: sea breeze out of the NE at 12-15 kts and flat seas.  We zipped along at 6.2 kts under full main and Jib.  Dropped anchor at 1512 hrs in 40’ water depth on a sandy bottom.  Pleasant anchorage.  Children came out on dugout canoes with outriggers and entertained us.  We gave them school supplies.  Later some girls showed up on their outriggers and Phyllis gave them some of her clothes and school supplies.  They sang several songs and a good time was had by all.  There is a book called “101 Best Anchorages” which is composed from yacht reports and this one is in there.

September 15, 2014  Monday

Teluk Linggeh to Gili Bodo  38 nm

0748 hrs – heave up anchor and get u/w for Gili Bodo (08-22.146’ S x 120-00.951’ E).  This is another one of the recommended “101 Best Anchorages”.  One has to be very careful when anchoring so as not to get tangled up in the coral.  There are some sandy patches and we got lucky in finding one of them.  I was a little worried because of the water depth which was 60’ at the drop and then back to 30’ with 165’ of chain out.  Beautiful coral and heard some monkeys on the beach but did not see any.  It’s probably best to stay away from them since they can carry rabies.  This species of monkey are called “macaque”. 

There was a fishing/supply/souvenir boat that came over with some of the local handicraft from? Labuan Bajo?  For us this was the final anchorage before Labuan Bajo (08-30.197’ S x 119-52.493’ E) about 22 nm to the west which is the western end of Flores Island. 

September 16, 2014   Tuesday

0800 hrs – heave up anchor at Gili Bodo   and u/w to Labuan Bajo which is 22 nm to the west.  No wind so we had to motor.  Dropped anchor at 1148 hrs in 56’ water depth on a sandy/muddy bottom with 195’ chain out (08-30.197’ S x 119-52.493’ E).  This is a big anchorage and there are more tourist boats than we have seen anywhere else.  More to come on Labuan Bajo and Komodo National Park.