5 Extra Days at Sea, with a broken Steering

It was 0600 hrs. The boat spun round in circles, no longer heading East towards Sarawak. The steering had broken down and the boat completely off its heading. Capt Wandi was wide awake. He has to act fast before the young crew went into panic.

The North East Monsoon started earlier this year. Capt Wandi and his crew of 2 were tasked to deliver a 39 foot Offshore Sports Express Cruiser fitted with triple 350HP Outboards from Singapore to Kuching, Sarawak. The 460 nautical mile journey would be simple enough so long as the boat held and the wind and waves cooperated. Unfortunately this was not to be so. The boat was battered by prevailing  15-20 knot winds and 2m waves. Alas the steering hydraulics leaked and failed the very next morning they left Nongsa Point Marina to cross the South China Sea eastwards towards Kuching Sarawak. Now the boat was going nowhere.

They had not anticipated a hydraulic leak. There was no spare fluid onboard and even if there was, it would all leak out in no time. Repairs would not hold. A hundred thoughts raced through Capt Wandi's mind, as he scrambled to get the boat back under control in the now very heavy seas.

Capt Wandi, founder of One-D Marine.  Certainty a very experienced and skilled Captain 

The Crew and new Owner before the delivery passage

 Eventually after several attempts at gaining some type of heading, Capt Wandi managed to steer the craft using the bow-thruster to direct the boat in the direction he wanted. Cruising at barely 3 knots in a 2 meter sea, he would make land in 48 hours if the bow thruster held. That would be a long shot. As they chugged along, they saw a glimpse of a local fishing vessel some 3 nautical miles away on the horizon and immediately headed towards it. As luck would have it, the vessel was at anchor and they eventually reached within flag signalling distance and attracted the fishermen's attention.

From then on, there was a furry of communications and negotiations for towing assistance back and forth with the fishing boat's owner at the mainland in Kalimantan. They finally agreed to tow the stricken craft for Rp 20 million (about S$2,100) enough to cover fuel and time lost. Capt Wandi got the go ahead from the Craft's agent via satellite phone and begun preparing for the long tow to Tambelan Island, 69 nautical miles away, where the plan was to pass the tow to another waiting vessel there. The mainland Pontianak was 143nm away and Kuching, Sarawak 183nm away. With the Offshore Express connected to the Indonesian fishing vessel with a very long tow line using the anchor rope, Capt Wandi and his crew started the long arduous journey to Tambelan Island. The wind was blowing 20 knots, the seas were rolling with 1-2m waves and as luck would have it, the towing vessel's engine belt broke 2 hrs into the tow. With the lost of steerage-way both vessels turned abeam of the wind and waves and started being tossed uncontrollably like toy boat in a vast sea.
Here are some pictures to help you connect visually....

Lucky to have seen the fishing vessel at anchor and finally coming alongside the next morning when the sea had calmed down for an hour

Being towed at last, making way at 4 knots average

The Indonesian crew sharing their food with Wandi & crew

 After 5 long days at sea, Capt Wandi and his crew arrived safety at their destination, the newly established Telaga Air Marina in Kuching, Sarawak. (N 01 40.594 E 110 12 593 E.
On 27th Nov at 2230hrs, they boarded a flight back to Singapore.

Things could have gone a lot worst; they could have gone adrift for weeks or even months as some boats in the past have experienced on the South China Sea. They were lucky the engines were running fine, the bow thruster worked and they carried a satellite phone to communicate their situation and get approvals for payment. Indonesian fishermen have a deep respect for the sea and their fellow mariners. They would not abandon you and will go out of their way to help. Compensating them for fuel and fishing time lost is necessary. These are not rich folks, but ordinary people who rely on the sea to support their family and simple lives. We're should be grateful we have them as our neighbours. As for the sea, love it, enjoy it and always respect the vastness and solitude of this last frontier.