Exploring Lombok and a light airs start

by World Cruising on 19 Sep 2016 After the excitement of welcoming the tow into the anchorage at Gili Gede on Wednesday afternoon it was appropriate that the participants gathered for an informal welcome at the Tamarin Resort, where local dancers performed local traditional dances, and a typical meal of grilled fish or chicken was served.

The setting was perfect, with large tables close to the beach, enabling everyone to mix and enjoy being back together after what had been a frustratingly light airs leg. Welcome speeches were made by Ray La Fontaine, owner of the proposed Lombok Marina, local businessman Pak Abu, and Andrew Bishop, World Cruising Club, who thanked the islanders of Gili Gede for the tremendous warmth of their welcome, and took the opportunity to thank Gunilla and Tony from Katarina for their help given to Odysseus in the tow of over 200 miles.

During the stopover participants greatly enjoyed exploring Lombok, on the organised “Lombok at a Glance Tour” organised by World Cruising Club and, for the more adventurous, independently. The island has so much to offer from the volcano of Mount Rinjani to the surf beaches of Kuta Lombok. Everyone loved exploring the island, and taking the opportunity to relax in the tranquil setting of Gili Gede.

Friday evening was prize-giving time, hosted at Secret Island Resort, the temporary base for the rally whilst in Gili Gede. The small restaurant buzzed with the excitement of hosting fifty five crew, plus local invited guests, firstly for a local banquet prepared by the resort owners wife Titin and her amazing staff, and then for the awarding of some prizes. Being a light airs leg with most boats motoring the majority of the course there were no official results, the emphasis being on fun prizes.

New joiner Resolute II was awarded for the best dressed crew and party boat, judged on pictures of how the crew spent their hours entertaining themselves in the light airs! Whilst in theory Odysseus did the least motoring – having a broken engine – she was towed, not finishing the course without assistance, and so the prize for least motoring on the leg, and being first across the start line in Dawrin went to Mearra Nieda.

Tony and Gunilla were recognised for their tow of Odysseus, and lastly Sheila was presented a certificate for completing her circumnavigation with World ARC, having set sail from Bali in 2014 on Polaris.

Libor from Odysseus made a moving speech of thanks, which had himself and several in the assembled crowd shedding a few quiet tears. The act of seamanship by Katarina was in the true spirit of the rally, and much appreciated by all who gave Tony and Gunilla a well-deserved standing ovation as they moved forward to collect their prize.

Eventually it’s time to move on, and so with reluctance this morning the fleet hauled anchors, cast off moorings, and headed out to the start line off Desert Point for the start of their leg to Cocos Keeling, via Christmas Island.

Unfortunately there was not a breath of wind, and so after the start yachts motored across the line and set off to find wind. Fishing lines were cast, and a report of the first catch of a four pound blue fin tuna was reported just seventy five minutes after the start!

Trillium and Odysseus remain in the anchorage, Trillium planning to leave after replacing a faulty oil pressure switch. The engine repair on Odysseus may well take considerably longer.

With the planned development of the marina here it is likely to be a very different Gili Gede that the next World ARC returns to next year. It is nevertheless a beautiful a most amazing place to have visited.