ROMANG ISLAND TO KISAR

August 16, 2014    Saturday

We heaved up anchor at 0930 hrs and u/w to Kisar (08-05.116’ S x 127-08.796’ E) which is about 35 nm to the SSW of Romang.  This would be sailing close-hauled or hard on the wind.  You’re beating and banging into the seas and, occasionally, taking one aboard.  Heeled over on the port tack at 12 degrees and making 6.5 kts, it’s exciting but you don’t want it to last too long!

As we approached Kisar at about 10 nm the wind veered into the South which made it impossible to fetch up the island without tacking.  This would have meant standing off the island all night until daylight which I didn’t want to do because there was going to be Independence Day celebrations the following day.  Therefore, I decided to motor the thirteen miles into the anchorage.  It started off OK but the engine sprang a leak at the exhaust bend pipe that goes into the heat exchanger.  It took awhile but I put a temporary patch on it using Recue Tape which is self fusing – Don’t go on a boat without it!  Then I had to run slowly to make sure all was well.  We didn’t arrive in the anchorage until dark and would not have been able to anchor if it hadn’t been for our German friends on “Elonesa” that came out in their dinghy and guided us in.  The brotherhood of the sea is alive and well.

August 17, 2014  Sunday

This is “Independence Day”.  It is one of the biggest celebrations of the year.  Kisar has about 17,000 inhabitants and all attended this affair.  Unbeknown to us, we were treated as guests of honor.  We were seated in the shade in the front row with all the officials.  There was traditional dancing and a warrior display of swords and spears in traditional costumes: a gala affair.  Many of the officials, dancers, warriors and children wanted to take their pictures with us.  Once again, it’s unusual for us to be treated in this manner.  These people ooze sweetness and hospitality.

Kisar is one of the first towns we have been in, since we left Saumlaki, where there is a market to buy fresh fruit and vegetables.  The harbormaster in Tombra arranged for us to buy bananas, papaya and spinach in limited quantities.  In Romang, we negotiated for a pomelo but that was it.

The anchorage in Kisar is coral and sand.  It’s on a shelving slope that is not quite so steep as in Leti and Romang.

On August 18^th, we will depart Kisar and set sail for Wetar and Alor.