Balling your Anchor - Retrieval System if you don't have a winch

I usually fish onboard a 26 Footer Grady White Catamaran. It's a lovely boat for local waters and I enjoy the dry soft ride of this Cat. The space is perfect for 4 fishermen with a comfortable forward berth to catch a few winks and a nice little head for toilet emergencies. Everything about that boat is specially designed for fishing. The only setback is probably the anchor winch. It doesn't have one. So you have to haul up the 10kg anchor manually. That used to be no problem before, but age has finally caught up with me and it was time for a little innovation to make anchoring easier without the need for big muscles. So nowadays I use a round fender and the engine to bring up the anchor. This old school method is call balling your anchor. Here's a nice video that demonstrates balling perfectly. Enjoy.

  

Monaco - Heaven on Earth

If there is such a place to be bestowed the honor of being Heaven on Earth, it has to be Monaco. The little country that was made famous when the crown prince married the glamorous actress Grace Kelly. Mention Monaco and it conjures images of Super Yachts, Grand Casinos and the Rich & Famous. So why did I decide to write about Monaco? I know I will probably never reside there. Visit perhaps, but I probably won;t be at home in Monaco. It's also a very expensive place to live in today. Prices of houses for example are even more expensive than in Singapore. And already almost everyone is complaining about the high cost of living in Singapore. In fact a recent article in a prominent magazine, placed Singapore as the most expensive city to live in this year. Shocking but all too true. However in reality, Singapore pales when compared to the wealth that's openly exposed in Monaco. There are 50 Billionaires & ten of thousands of millionaires living in that tiny country bordering France. Here's a video on Monaco hosted by Piers Morgan that says plenty about that heavenly city.

  

The Marlow 57E

If there's a Yacht that I'm really delighted to have, it has to be the Marlow 57E. I've always liked Trawlers and I'm definitely no longer thrilled by speed. I actually prefer to cruise along at 12 knots and enjoy the journey. The slower the speed of advance, the less the damage to machinery and the more comfortable the ride. If I were to cruise to Tioman for Instance, I would plan to spend the whole of the first day to get there and do nothing else. There will be no more rushing and bashing waves for me. Once at the destination, I would prefer to stay no less than a week and just explore that one Island. I may be tempted to visit Pu Pemanggil and Pu Aur on the way back which is okay as they are along the journey back to Singapore. One factor, I will monitor closely now would be the weather. If the winds are blowing and the seas over 1meter, I would delay journeying back till the weather calms down. I've more time on my hands now and see no need to rush. As a consequence, I no longer have a passion for fast yachts and will no longer want to make long passages on small boats. Slamming waves head-on has to be a thing of the past for me.
Here's a video I've kept and still love watching from time to time.

The 2014 Singapore Yacht Show

The Singapore Yacht Show scheduled 10-13 Apr 2014, is very unlike the Annual Boat Show that Singapore boaters are used to. The Yacht Show (SYS) is luxury yachting at its best and brings one closer to the realm of Super Yachts and Mega Yachts. This truly is a lifestyle show and one where you'd be a lot more comfortable with, if you had a few million dollars to spare. The cost of a Super Yacht is upwards from about S$20 million and the yearly maintenance is generally about 10% of the cost of the yacht, ie. about $2 million a year to pay the crew, maintain the yacht, berthing and for fuel. Take a look at this video that showcases the essence of owning a yacht and the people who are already in this aristocratic elite circle.

I for one will not be able to afford this lifestyle but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about it or participating in the Yacht show. I can be happy fishing and diving off a 26 footer and making the occasional trip to Tioman or Nongsa over a long weekend. However I'm always happy and ready to be invited to cruise onboard these super yachts, every one a work of art.    

ICON Yachts - Discovery Channel - Super Yachts

My Favorite tool for Alongsides & Slipping off Docks

For a very long time now, I've been advocating the use of Boat Hooks when handling boats alongside or slipping off a dock. The other common use of the boat hook is to pick up floating objects in the water. I cannot emphasize enough the usefulness of a boat hook especially for new boaters who have yet to master boat handling and whose judgement is still average at best. Unlike a car, that stays put when you apply the brakes, a boat is constantly influenced by wind, waves and current. It is easy for new boaters to get caught in tight and awkward situations whilst coming alongside. I have always defined an alongside as "bringing the boat to a dock or jetty safely" and that there is no need for a beautiful alongside, just a safe alongside will do each and every time. Hence a necessary tool to help you execute safe boat handling every time has to be a good quality boot hook. I personally use the telescopic Boat Hook from Shurhold. I never leave the dock without it. Whether you own a 10 footer or a 100 footer Yacht, you need to have a Boat Hook handy. Here are some examples of good boat hooks.

A Telescopic Boat Hook capable of extending to 10 feet

The Shurhold interchangeable Boat Hook that I use

a Telescopic Aluminium pole with a heavy duty hard plastic hook is good enough

Nothing beats a good hook to pick up objects and even people from the water

The clever multi-purpose Boat Hook for securing dock lines

Another good example of the Lasso Boat Hook that makes docking even easier & more fun

  

Boat Handling Series Courtesy of US Power Squadron

1) Back to Basics of Boat Handling Video

2) Coming alongside a Dock in a 22 foot open boat fitted with a single Outboard Motor

3) This is a classic example of when not to use the engines to maneuver the boat.

A simple boat hook would have helped the skipper do a much better job.

Who do you call to Salvage & Tow your Yacht back to the Marina?

I sincerely wish every boater a safe and enjoyable boating experience every time. However there may come a day when lady-luck turns against you and you find yourself needing help at sea. Some of the scenarios you might encounter could come under the following categories....
1) flooding with a high risk of sinking - (the worst case)
2) fire on board (highly dangerous)
3) grounding
4) main engines breakdown making it impossible to maneuver under your own propulsion
5) Steering, propeller, shaft or rudder damage or breakdown .  

Most Marinas have a Rescue Craft that is capable of towing mid size boats

If its a fire, extinguish it immediately using all the means available. A fire onboard could sink the vessel in a matter of minutes. If its the other situations, allow your vessel to drift away from traffic and navigational dangers and anchor the vessel. Ensure your scope is at least 4 times the depth of water. As much as possible, rectify the defect and get back to the Marina on your own steam. That will save you a lot of money. However if that fails you may have no choice but to call for assistance. The first people to call would be your home Marina to tow you back to safety. The MPA has very strict rules governing towing of vessels in Port Waters. Their regulations only allow registered tow vessels to conduct any form of towing. Unless it is an emergency that threatens life & limb, the MPA will insist that you engage a professional towing service. The cost will be upwards from $1,000 in port waters and $6,800+ if you are outside Port waters.

For professional salvage and towing services, I recommend engaging Singapore Salvage Engineers,
 Hotline: +65-67757653 (24hrs)

Singapore Salvage Engineers' Barge salvaging a fishing trawler in Singapore waters

You will need a towing licence from the MPA before you're allowed to conduct any form of towing.
If you're in the high seas (outside port waters), there is no restriction on towing

The Police Coast Guard can help in an emergency. For non emergency situations that is non life threatening they may not come to your assistance at all

A grounding will most certainly cause some damage to your hull and propulsion system. Be sure to have the vessel surveyed for sea worthiness before putting her out to sea again. The worst thing that can happen to a boat is fire & sinking. Sometimes a skipper may deliberately ground the vessel to prevent it from sinking.  

Cruising the Anambas Islands

It's been a very long time since I visited the Anambas Islands, namely Pulau Siantan. My last trip there must have been in 1996 with the late Stephen Seow onboard our 28foot Albacores. Anambas is a good 220nm away. If the weather is good we'll take about 10hrs, cruising at a comfortable 22kts to reach that destination. It's about twice the distance to Tioman. Strangely what I remember about Anambas is the poor fishing and that splendid waterfall that ends up pouring all that lovely fresh water into the sea. It did seem such a waste then, but I was told that that waterfall has never ever been dry. Here are some pictures to show the beauty of the Anambas.

Anambas is a group of Indonesian Islands about 220nm from Singapore

We would usually set up base at Pulau Siantan where the main town is situated

A typical water village fringing the sheltered bay of an Island

Being in the middle of the South China Sea, the waters of Anambas is usually crystal clear & free of pollution

Finding a sheltered bay is easy. There are probably a hundred such bays throughout the group of Islands

Nothing like a trawler to make the journey there. Seen here is The Admiral from Marina at Keppel Bay

Many of the locals still use oars to propel their locally built boats. Great exercise actually 

Unbelievably crystal clear waters. 

I recently met Oliver Benoist, the Founder of The Equator Club. He tells me Anambas is probably his most favorite destination and he should know having been there many times. Here's a video of the one of their trips.

More details of The Equator Club can be found on their website: www.theequatorclub.net/

Dreaming of Phuket

Running my Nautical School, Captain Francis Log has to be one of my fondest business achievements and happiest memories. Shortly after leaving the Singapore Navy on the 2nd Jan 1994, I set my sights on setting up such a training school for the chief purpose of imparting my nautical knowledge and love of the sea to students attending the Powered Pleasure Craft Driving Course (PPCDL). Although the school was a business, it had a lot of elements of fun and adventure in its activities and making money was the least of the priorities at that time. Little did I know then, that the school would flourish into a credible business and bless me financially . Apparently, when I left the Navy, I didn't just loose a job, I was just over broke and needed funds in order to buy boats, rent a classroom and pay staff. All the trappings of a business you might say. Well apart from the wonderfully attentive students I had and that grew to over 6,000, one of my fondest memories were the expeditions I led to exotic island destinations with the Albacores. These were my 28 foot center console inboard diesel boats that we used to journey to Pualau Aur, Tinggi and Tioman and most fondly to Phuket. What an adventure that was. I remember being drenched in sea spray from the day we left Singapore till 4 days later when we reached Au Chalong, Phuket. I will always remember those expeditions as the happiest days of my life. Here are some of the reasons why in pictures.

Scenes like this makes paradise on Earth without having to utter a single word

These Rock Islands make Phuket a paradise on Earth. Nothing beats the beauty of raw nature. 

I made all my trips to Phuket with Stephen Seow, founding owner of Dynaglass, seen here with Mark & me

A beautiful 12kg GT caught on pooper

Trip to Tioman with Tan Hua Chiow, Yeo Ngak Hoe, Robert Merah, Nicole & me at the helm 

Magnificent Bays like this are everywhere in Phuket

These long long-tail boats are the life-blood of transport for Phuket Island

Ko Racha, a stunningly beautiful island, 14nm south of Phuket & a popular resort for the rich & famous

Turquoise waters abound in shallow waters off isolated beaches 

The sandy beaches in Phuket is always clean and free of rubbish

        

Funtasy Island

Fancy having a beach holiday home just 8nm south of Singapore? Well, interest in the Funtasy Island development seems to have taken off extremely well since it's launch 4 years ago. Today's Straits Times full page colour advertisement puts the price of owning the smallest one bedroom unit at S$488,000 for a 993sqft fully furnished Villa, Leasehold till 2112. The biggest attractions is probably it's close proximity (16km) from Sentosa. This equates to a 20 min ferry ride from Harbour Front direct to Funtasy Island. The Customs & Immigration office is probably on the Island itself. Watch the video for an update.

PS: At that price, I'd rather just buy a holiday house boat. That way my scenery can change anytime I wish it to. The mobility of a boat wins hands down when it comes to taking full advantage of what the sea has to offer. I would love to own one of these bungalows, but I'd rather have the flexibility of a boat anytime.

Floating Homes

Wouldn't it be lovely to be able to live in a nice home on the water. Right now the closest thing you can get to that is a house-boat. She won't be as broad, but there will be enough room for a small family of 5 to live comfortably for a long while.

The perfect villa on the water

Notice the 2 boat garages; that way the boats will always be safe when no one's around

T 

Although being built on stilts is more stable, it's always nicer to be closer to the water

This little pier is good enough for a small boat, but not much else

Having a covered garage with a boat lift will save you thousands of dollars a year in maintenance

This is perhaps the ultimate Boat-House. Catamarans are well suited for this purpose and can cruise to most coastal destinations safely & comfortable.
 

If you're on a budget, this locally built wooden boat is a satisfactory option. But you cannot sail her on the open seas.
She may even have a little trouble coping with wakes in the harbour.  

I recently met a Singapore family living on a Lagoon 400 Catamaran Sailing Yacht. They bought the boat for just over a million dollars. I could see their young children, all 5 of them thoroughly enjoying themselves and growing up in fine fashion. All 5 spoke fluent English and Mandarin. They went about the Marina bare footed in the hot afternoon sun and were seen navigating in and around the narrow pontoons, gangways & boats with the sure-footedness of a mountain goat. What a way to grow up as children. The parents must have deliberated on the decision for years. It was a brave and most correct move.