Travels – S/V "French Kiss"

Tropical Storm Developed Nearby Miri

21 December 2024

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Ho-ho-ho!
My favorite weather goddess sent me an early Christmas present. I was rather hoping she would forget. A tropical storm developed nearby giving some unusual weather inside Miri Marina here in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. I clocked a max gust of 46 knots at the top of the mast. By 4:30AM it was easing off which was fine by me. Just like Santa she likes to deliver her surprises at O-GOD-It’s EARLY. Nice to be in a fairly secure marina and NOT out on the open sea.

I am not real happy here in SE Asia. You may be interested to check out some opinions I found on YouTube. I could not agree more with them. They are not even sailors which opens up another whole bag of worms. It is NOT easy to sail in SE Asia Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand or Indonesia. The people are overall real friendly BUT the governments are definitely anti-western.

Got my mast track replaced last week. The boat is in better shape then it ever has been. I am considering selling MissKiss if I can get a reasonable offer. Still love sailing but the rising costs, worsening weather conditions, deteriorating political considerations are giving me second thoughts.

Question is what am I going to do next. I haven’t a clue as yet.

Happy Holidays to everyone!

Royal Brunei Yacht Club – Borneo Island

16 October 2024

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I am still alive even if weather and age begs to differ at times. Hope life in the real world is still wonderful for everyone.

Did a lot of work on the boat up in Kudat. My three month Malaysian VISA is up and time to head for Brunei to reset.

Did get my Starlink installed, loving it, what a difference to NOT be held hostage to the corrupt cellular crooks. I still keep one sim-card active for when I am traveling ashore.

Lots of boat work. Fixing stuff as usual, ice machine, inductive cooker, cellphone USB replacement, bunch of dingy battery work, got dive compressor going again, RO water system working again. AND too many other little chores to mention. I still like fixing things.

Rewired the boat a couple of times, still trying to fit in charging systems to bring my ship & motor batteries back up. Love the electric boat but tough here in Borneo with iffy sun, lousy wind and lot of motoring. Charging back up is a long, slow, noisy process. Designed the upgrade so I could have motor for leaving, entering anchorages. Hoped to sail mostly. Did not expect to have to motor most of a day. If there are any winds here they are generally very fickle. Don’t know how those old sailors put up with it. Bet they had plenty of down days in the ole south China sea.

Finally departed Kudat on October 3. Tough going, if any wind its usually on the nose, lots of motor sailing or just motoring. Usually find a safe place & spend an extra day just recharging batteries with 2KW & 1KW generators. Geesh! so noisy. 1KW Honda fuel shutoff broke. Was able to cobble a fix for now.

I am in Brunei – Muara Port at RBYC (Royal Brunei Yacht Club) again. Like the food, water, laundry, HOT SHOWERS! Starlink is working here in Brunei, great since cells won’t unless I add very expensive roaming. More boat work, carrying water, & petrol to the boat. Nice little food store 3KM away to bike to and re-provision. Had bent my Danfoth anchor again in major storm on Keraman island. Nasty night out in cockpit, nude, shivering in driving rain, motoring into the wind for hours after anchor broke free heading MissKiss towards the shore. What a night. No anchor available here, will try for new one in Miri, Malaysia. Did straighten the anchor again and reset it with two anchors holding now. Heavy tide change along with the usual nasty thunderstorms in the evening sure makes this anchorage lively. I have dragged here before.

Most places along the way are pretty muddy or have jellies in them, so not much for snorkeling or diving. I just jump in to cool off a bit and try to avoid the jellies. Helps some but not much change in air & water temperatures. Welcome to Borneo, motoring capital of the world with many muddy rivers to enjoy. Looking forward to sailing to Thailand in search of clear waters to swim, snorkel, dive in once more.

Short note to let you know I am still alive. Haven’t broke any body parts yet. Pulling anchors and sails by hand & just moving MissKiss is healthy for me. Working on the boat while satisfying is not very healthy and hard on this old back.

Kudat Marina Jetty “Duck Pond” – Sabah, Malaysia

8 August 2024

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Jalan Lintas in Kudat – Kudat Marina Jetty in Sabah, Malaysia

Still in Kudat area, North Borneo. Finally got into a VERY protected area called the marina jetty.

Been here in Kudat for around a month. Bottom has been pretty good since Miri cleaning with 3 expensive divers watching each other for crocodiles. But algae & barnacles love the area I am at now. I spent 2-3 hours knocking off several thousand-million little barnacles today. Going to need to jump in and clean every two weeks or less. At least the water here with tide coming it is pretty crystal and NO crocodiles!

I bounced to several anchorages in Kudat with NASTY squalls always trying to push me into rocks or the fishing fleet over in Kudat harbor. Took some doing to get in marina jetty-duck pond, the man I kept asking was saying no room for you. Well, went back to Tommy Chan the magic man in the boatyard & he set me straight. It is free to tie here in the marina jetty-duck pond stern to the rocks. But a couple of weeks ago when I finally got in here, no room in the protected area. First stern to anchorage was facing the dead north open passage and I was not liking it, also too close to the noisy boatyard. 2ND stern-to was a week or so ago. Got a bit more into the protected area, still got both anchors down to hold the boat in heavier winds. Today, I got on a great mooring that the last sailor left. No anchors down and a few lines to shore to hold me in. Had super help from Denmark sailor Bertel Buring on the first two tie ups. Today the boat SV SoLong Stefan & Carina helped me get on a super double mooring. No anchors needed and 2-3 lines to shore to hold the stern. What fantastic people.

Be here a while I think. Got bunch of boat parts as well as a Starlink terminal coming in. I may even consider a trip back to the states if I have any money left for VA to check me again and see whoever I can. The EECP helped but the heat & humidity doing emergency work on MissKiss sure takes a toll on this old body. May not be a bad place to try and put ole MissKiss up for sale. Just don’t know what I would do with the rest of my life…….

Duck Pond - Kudat Marina Jetty — “Duck Pond” Kudat Marina Jetty

Kudat Marina Jetty-Fish fleet anchorage — “Duck Pond” Kudat Marina Jetty

Headed Kudat Harbor – “Duck Pond”

4 July 2024

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July 4th Whoopee! Heading into Kudat today. … Found out Marina Jetty or what we call the “duck pond” is full up. Headed around to Kudat harbor anchored and cleared in.

Hang around till I get my debit card. Maybe tour northern Borneo, I got nearly 3 months of Visa again. Maybe I bag it & head for Puerto Princesa again [Palawan Island] to check into the Philippines.

2024-07-10 North tip of Borneo – Headed around to Kudat
2024-07-25 Kudat Marina Jetty

Palau Kulambok – Sabah, Malaysia

3 July 2024

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July 2nd the fun begins. Before 8 AM a strong wind blowing me towards shore. If I knew then what I know now I would have re-anchored on other side of bay to let the storms blow by. …

Intended on stopping at Palau Sidad only 25 miles away but storm raged on. I must have went through five or more bands of whiteout squalls that day. I decided to continue on for nearly 50 miles to Palau Kulambok where I knew I could get behind the island there.

Usukan Bay – Sabah, Malaysia

1 July 2024

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July 1 departed Gala for Usukan Bay bay a 30 mile run. Had a little bit of wind to do to with wing & wing to help with motoring. Afraid to run that spinnaker with such weird weather. Did anchor nearby the D’Farah cafe.

Pulau Tiga – Sabah, Malaysia

26 June 2024

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June 25th cleared for Kudat leaving early the next morning heading to Tiga an old survivor island as if I care. Another LONG motor day. Got into Tiga OK, decided to stay an extra day to charge batteries.

2024-06-26-Tiga morning

2024-06-27 Palau Tiga sail

Labuan Island (Pulau Labuan) – Sabah, Malaysia

17 June 2024

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June 17th Well time to go again. Short run to Labuan Island. Labuan is a busy port with lots of ships. That shallow east channel is fun to run with tugs towing barges & ferries running. In this picture I see at least 87 ships.

Royal Brunei Yacht Club (RBYC)

10 June 2024

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cleared into Brunei on June 8th

June 9th left Kuala Belait to motor to Brunei-Jerudong Harbour.

June 10th left early for Royal Brunei Yacht Club (RBYC).

Gaya Island – Sabah, Malaysian

6 June 2024

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June 28th departed Tiga for Gaya Island. Very long motor day. Got in at nearly dark, finding supposed anchorages to be very deep for MissKiss.

Leaving Miri for Kuala Belait

5 June 2024

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I motored all the way. I am finding out that having a electric boat in a no-wind country to be a challenge without a LARGE generator to put the power you use during the day. Electrics are fine to putter around day wise when your are back to the dock to charge.

Clear into Malaysia again – Miri Marina

27 March 2024

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March 27 Clear into Malaysia again

For what is is worth I had a very adventuresome trip down western Borneo form Kudat to Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. Made it somewhat safely for body & boat. Really seems like a safe place to leave the boat for travel. Made a mistake clearing out of Kudat, should have cleared out in last port in Sabah. Cleared into Brunei & forget it you won’t find a beer there. I had one beer left leaving Kudat that I drank on arrival in Miri. A nice long drying out period.

Had to go to several places to clear in. Finally got that done and found the “My Beer” place. They have quite a selection of expensive beers. Food is so-so but nice to have a cold beer again. Capt Fin, manager of marina did drive me into town to buy a few case sof Carlsberg so I am set for a while. They have Grab & Maxium taxi apps which work pretty well to get around. I hate waiting for taxis. Forgot (somewhat intentional) the old rusty broken bike back in RYBC. Donated it to the club. I bought a new shiny Dahon D8 Launch fold-able bike. Expensive but really nice to ride & it fits in the boat easily. Always hated breaking down the old bike to get it into the boat. Nice sea food restaurant only 1.5KM away which I bike to for my evening meal. So cheap I can’t buy and cook for one at their price. Of course they have Tiger & Guinness beer.

Miri Marina is a nice enough place & seems safe & secure. No cyclones here. Hot as hell with heat & humidity here a few degrees north of the equator. Don’t want to get in this water to cool off either after seeing the local signs.

I am working on ordering a lot of parts for the boat. Replenish food stocks or at least some can stuff. Not much left on board. Also trying to schedule a trip back to Kota Kinabalu (KK) for more EECP sessions. Like to finish that while I am here in Malaysia for another 3 months on my visa.

Miri Marina - Sarawak, Malaysia — French Kiss at Miri Marina

Miri Marina – Miri – Sarawak, Malaysia

26 March 2024

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March 25 I cleared Kuala Belait for Miri, Sarawak Malaysia

Motored to Miri Marina I had added a 12V 40A charger to 12V system in RYBC. I needed it on
this run. No wind at all, had to motor all the way running both the 12v & 220V generators. So noisy may as well have had the old motor going. 35 miles but left very early & made it into marina before dark. Port authority did meet me at the dock but have to clear all the other offices tomorrow on March 27. Had my one beer I carried all the way from Kudat along with my nasty survived the trip cigar. Nice marina but pretty cold showers again. Put some pics of the Marina on my FB page.

Clear Kuala Belait, Brunei – Borneo Island

25 March 2024

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March 25 Clear Kuala Belait

Monday took most of the day to clear out of Brunei. Bought a little food again from the small shop. Not much open during the day. Again no restaurants open till after dark. Decided to wait till early Tuesday to head for Miri, Malaysia.

Arrived in Kuala Belait – Belait, Brunei – Borneo Island

23 March 2024

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March 23 arrived in Kuala Belait

Wanted to leave at dawn but anchor was all snarled up in an abandoned anchor and other crap. Took hours to free up. Most work I ever did in bringing an anchor up. My Rockna is close to 45lbs, 3/8″ chain is heavy but then this nasty wrapped up old anchor around 40lbs was almost more then I could handle. Wondered why the boat held so well all week in very weird winds & tides. If crocs were not the problem i would have got into this murky water to clear it. I am afraid of prehistoric animals.
Very long run over 70 Nmiles. It was full moon so decided to sail all the way to Kuala Belait over 70 Nmiles. My longest run yet. Don’t run at night but I love moon light sailing and see nearly as well and don’t get sunburnt. Had some good sail winds on beam reach making 4-6 knots at times. No good places to stop along the way anyway. I anchored just outside the river at around 9PM, nice to have moonlight. Incoming swells made for a bumpy night but so tired it did not matter to me. I was NOT going to go 2-3 miles up the river with all the oil patch work boats moving in the night.

Got going at first light and got anchored across from the old Kuala Belait Boat Club. It was closed down. Drat! supposed to be showers and good eats there. Did head for shore for food but with Ramadan here nothing opens until after sundown. Got some junk to eat from a small store and holed up on the boat. Boring Sunday listening night & day to the loud diesel boats churning up & down the river. Huge industry supplying the oil patch here. Water nasty, muddy like most rivers. Hot as hell but won’t get into the water to cool off because of the crocodile danger here.

Royal Brunei Yacht Club (RBYC) – Muara, Brunei – Borneo Island

13 March 2024

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March 12 Left for Muara, Brunei and anchored at Royal Brunei Yacht Club (RBYC)
March 13 cleared into Brunei.

The yacht club was great so I stayed till March 22nd

Did get to clear in. One location for everything just no transport. Dart a cell app is supposed to work but drivers would tell me they would not come out to RYBC cause it was to far. Got ride from club worker to customs, no ride to come back and nearly died in the heat & humidity trying to walk back in afternoon. Finally a local felt sorry for me & gave lift back to RBYC. Guess I will get out my old rusty-trusty bike to get around. Only cable still working is the one for rear brake. V

ery nice yacht club, great food, great lamb or beef steak, and even
have HOT showers! Lousy cell service, I did not put roaming on either cellphone so did without for a few days. WIFI in club did work but slow. Finally got one of the office workers to get me roaming turned for one phone. Expensive and very-very slow. Ordered petrol for my
generators but did not get it till the next week. Things work very-very slow during Ramadan IF they work at all. I spent the week fixing all kinds of things on board, even got my Danforth anchor straight again.

Left RBYC for Kuala Belait Brunei early March 23.

Arrived at Muara Brunei – Borneo Island

12 March 2024

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Day 8 – March 12 Arrived at Muara Brunei – Brunei-Muara District

Short trip only 18 Nmiles to navigate around ships & drill rigs. Then a very long nearly 3 Nmiles up industrial channel to get to RBYC (Royal Brunei Yacht Club) Early but wind kicked up and i was afraid to leave the boat since tide dragged one way and 20K winds pushed opposite. All boats sat cross ways to wind & sea. Made it an early night and will try to clear in tomorrow.

Labuan Island (Pulau Labuan) – Sabah, Malaysia

11 March 2024

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Day 6 and 7 – March 10-11 Arrived Labuan Island; anchored in Labuan Harbor

Needed rest & time to give hands a chance to heal with no plans to go to shore.

Wow! mellow night on Tiga BUT went in circles all night long. When I pulled the anchor up the Danforth anchor shaft was bent. Not sure how that happened with such easy winds at anchor. Have to use the Rockna heavy anchor now on. Got to Labuan through a VERY shallow-narrow
channel to the town. Geesh! recorded over 81 AIS BIG ships anchored here. Crowded, noisy, polluted, downright nasty. Re-anchored a couple of times because there was so much crap fouling the anchor and it would not hold. Thought about sneaking to shore for some beer. Nope! local coast guard on big inflatable showed up with about 8 toughs on-board. Shown them my hands and said I needed to rest and heal up a bit. So I spent two nights here in this nasty place and could not even go to shore for food or beer. Very happy to leave for Brunei.

Arrived at Tiga Island (Pulau Tiga) – Sabah, Malaysia

10 March 2024

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Day 5 Arrived at Tiga island

Leaving KK area for Tiga island. Longest run so far of over 40 Nmiles so I left at light around 6AM. Good progress at first wing & wing for a few hours. Looks like I may dare putting up that big spinnaker again. Sailing wing & wing is fairly nice, just not as fast as if I put spinnaker up. Bit scared of the winds that come up after 2PM. Estimate 2 more night stops before arriving in Brunei.

Kampung Besabak – Sabah, Malaysia

9 March 2024

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Day 4 March 9 arrive at Kampung Besabak Just north of Kota Kinabalu (KK).

Really bad day. No wind starting out, after an hour some light wind dead downwind. Finally put up big spinnaker. Worked great, in good shape. Have not used this big guy in many years. Later on, wind increasing, worried that it may get too strong. They were predicting it. Well, it got bad really fast. 12K to over 19K fast, too much for spinnaker. While trying to take down sail moving nearly 10KT, I slipped releasing one guy rope. Tried to get away from it but still took off some skin on both hands. Guess I will be using gloves the rest of the trip.

Coming into a protected cove north of KK, I could not get the new motor to drop down. Tried sailing in with just head sail but winds very swirly. Finally kept turning circles in bay until I got the damn motor to drop. I have problems with outboards, even new ones. Poor cell connection, surprised that the cell service is so poor on west side of Borneo. It is better several miles offshore but usually too busy to mess around sending messages while sailing. I got 2 bars just off KK now so maybe get some weather. Winds from all directions, went in circles many times during the night. Anchor held well at least, 11′ in sand close to rocks. It was the first place that had clear water. Temp around 84 degrees, perfect. Jumped in for snorkel, wonderful. Checked anchor and surrounding rocks. Looks good so far.