Water Islands to Port Klang

On day 4 we left the Water Islands for Port Klang.

Along the way we experienced a second fuel blockage of the journey despite spending much of the previous day de-clogging the diesel lines.  We discovered Erica was infected by her first-ever diesel bug. 

Diesel is an organic fuel so it provides an ideal environment for microscopic fungi, yeast and bacteria to feed and grow.  A single cell, weighing only one millionth of a gram can grow to a biomass of 10 kilograms in just 12 hours, resulting in a biomass several centimetres thick across the fuel/water interface.

Together we took turns removing the infested diesel from the affected tank by transferring it to the second running tank using several of Cathy’s nylons as a filter. 

We took shelter from the headwinds and sloppy seas behind a slow-going coal barge and tug while we performed the difficult work onboard.

Once that was completed, it was then time to wash out the empty tank with loads of fresh, hot, soapy water in the remaining daylight hours while maintaining our course.

We managed to have another wonderful meal prepared by Cathy and rotated watch into the night and into the morning.  It was difficult to navigate around the myriad of fishing boats, flagged nets and white buoys often indicating several metres of nets.

During night watch, an incredible electrical storm entertained us, coupled with the fright of getting tangled in nets and running parallel with the enormous vessels in the shipping lane.

We sailed into Port Klang with squalls of up to 35 knots and near white-out conditions.  We had to pull in the genoa as we approached the marina. We were greeted by Marina, a friendly little monkey. 

 

Ryan also made friends with a local fish he apprehended with his bare hands out of the water.  As we looked on in disbelief, the fish promptly decided to bite his forearm and escaped.   

After flying some early Christmas-present remote-control helicopters and eating a delicious birthday barbeque, we cranked up the stereo onboard and watched Spartacus.

We were the only visitors berthed for the night. 

We still intend to make it to Langkawi before Christmas, but anticipate a steady, but slow pace an additional 200 or so nautical miles north of our current position.