Labrador Park Fishing Jetty re-opens

I ust found out that the long awaited re-opening of Labrador Fishing Jetty was reopened in Dec 2017. Many anglers mush have been waiting for this ever since they started  renovating the site. Must make the time to try fishing there soon.

The Grady White F26 Tiger Cat 20 years on

It was built 20 years ago in 1998. For the first 10 years she cruised the waters of the United States of America before being shipped to Singapore in 2008. The Grady F26 Tiger Cat is incredibly reliable and low cost to run. She has never broken down mechanically, never ran out of fuel and her twin 150HP Yamahas have never refused to start so long as I replace the batteries every 2 years. She truly is one hull of a boat for coastal fishing and day cruising in fair weather. The furthest she sailed from her Marina at RSYC (Repblic of Singapore Yacht Club) was to Karang Mas (Eastern Bank) just North of Horsburgh Lighthouse where we spent an entire night fishing. Well, after 20 short years, she is running better than ever and her hull is still rock solid. What amazes be most is, almost all of the original fittings and electricals are still in good working order.

My trusted brother-in-law with his durian farm kaki and sons

My fishing & diving buddy Fred Chua. We've been boating since the SAFYC days in 1990

It is rare for a catamaran to be able to be lifted by a Marina Bull forklift. The Tiger-Cat is the only exception at RSYC

I love the Grady Tiger Cat... It has never broken down

    

The Grand Banks EU54

If I ever decide to get a Cabin Cruiser, it would pick the Grand Banks EU54. It has absolutely everything I would need to cruise Singapore waters and the popular destinations of Tioman, Aur, Rawa, Batam & Bintan and all the way to Penang, Langkawi & Phuket. This trawler is the perfect boat if time is not the essence.

Enjoy the Video:

Leaving 1Deg15 for Sebana Cove Marina at Santi River 

e Marina

Alongside the newly renovated Sebana Cove Marina

View from the Port Quarter

A Kelong off Tg Rimau, Sentosa at the Entrance of Keppel Bay

I had all but forgotten about this little kelong that was built just outside the entrance of Keppel Harbour. It lies West of Tg Rimau, the North-Western tip of the Island of Sentosa. Then it was called Pulau Belakang Mati. This picture brings back memories of the fishing village that was Singapore.

Behind the kelong is Fort Siloso. On the left is Tanjung Belayer where the 2 colonial bungalows still stand today.

  Kelongs were the idea trap for squids and small fish. They operate only at night as lights was used to lure the fish into the netted enclosure. I remember my many overnight visits to operational kelongs. It was always fun and exciting. 

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.       
  

Latest Fishing Trend in Singapore called Ajing

Fishing in Singapore waters has certainly changed quite a bit. Gone are the days where you just bait your hook with cut prawn or squid, drop the line and wait for the fish to bite. Then, all you need was a good spot and the right tide. Nowadays the pool of anglers who use artificial lures has grown so rapidly thanks largely to the higher bite rate and variety of catches in Singapore waters as a result of this new trend.
Take a look at Ajing. Its more than just using artificial lures. The rig has to be very light for this style of fishing. Enjoy the videos.

   

The results are amazing especially for Singapore waters.

In my Opinion the Best Catamaran has got to be the WorldCat Series

Take a look at the performances of the Catamaran over the mono hull. Nothing comes close if you are looking for the softest ride ever. I have been operating a Cat the last 10 years and now I won't go back to mono hulls unless they are over 55 feet.