As this anchorage was
actually located nearer to the airport ,we sailed through an
internet signal zone, after we left the next morning. I think much to
the surprise of the local fisherman we then floated about “in the
zone” randomly it would appear, whilst “in the signal”,
allowing for communication with the outside world and the payment of
some bills via the wonder of internet banking, as apparently, life
in the real world is continuing to grind away, needing the odd bit of
attention to keep the wheels of commerce turning.
We eventually anchored
again in a beautiful inlet at an island called Mandriau. In the bay
as we arrived were 10-12 floating houses, or so it appeared. Upon
closer inspection they were squid (cumi) fisherman.
There were signs of
life on a couple of them and then about two hours before dusk, 3
small boats appeared with the fisherman, from where we are still not
sure,as there were no nearby villages. They came by to check us out
and then the boats did the rounds dropping fisherman off to the
various squid boats.
As we watched, the
“village” set off to sea for the nights fishing.
 |
| Out they go |
Each platform is towed
out of the bay by a boat. The boat then returned and towed another
and another until the bay was empty, save us and one squid boat.
Some of the squid boats
had been rafted up together, and each one was towed separately.
 |
| The neighbourhood lights up |
As it got darker
,astern of us, the sea was a blaze of lights. They obviously
have generators for the lights, but not for powering up an anchor
winch. The anchors are retrieved manually, using a two poled vertical
capstan arrangement.
Some of them as they
passed us, appeared to have a pole running forward and aft down each
side with nets attached. Perhaps here they catch
the squid in nets
rather than the jigger system we have seen else where.
The next morning they
returned , an exact reversal of procedure. Watching them raft 6 up
together was fascinating. Seamlessly dropping one alongside the last,
using only a longish tow line behind a single boat, passing so close
to the '”raft “ that lines are just passed across, and q.e.d. the
task is completed, once an anchor is dropped , from what had been the
towing line. In no time the bay was basically deserted again of
fisherman, as they returned from whence they came.
Before they left with
their nights catch , we went over to buy some squid. $3 procured us a
bag full, which provided at least three meals worth. We stopped them
from giving us more, as they just looked as though they were going to
fill the bag we had given them. Three double handfuls were more than
enough for us!
After that whilst the
washing dried, we ventured ashore to give the drone a bit of a test
flight. Drone had a near death experience back at Ayam anchorage,
when taking off from the fore deck.
I have flown it very
few times and until now always with vision , provided via mobile
phone app. No signal means no app , so flying it is only by visually
watching the drone.
During take off, I was
a tad hesitant and didn’t get the altitude high enough as quickly
as I should. I’m not sure if there was a slight updraught through
the trampoline , or if we swung slightly on the anchor , or if I was
just too slow, or a combination of all or some of the above but I
realised (in slow motion really) that it was not going to clear the
safety wires. Indeed as I lunged towards it to grab it from
underneath the blade did just tip the upper wire,resulting in a tiny
nick in a set of blades.
 |
| Mandriau Bay .The cumi fisherman have returned for the day |
My flight control
ineptitude almost resulted in the early demise into a watery grave of
drone. Since then , I had been waiting for an opportunity for a test
flight on Terra Firma The beach at the head of the bay presented such
an opportunity.
Result , yes all ok,
drone flies fine. The footage seems a little jerky but that will be
nothing to do with the near death experience , that is just trying to
preset the aperture and light settings prior to take off, as I have
no way of seeing what is being recorded without the app. Sort of like
flying on IFR, I guess!
We moved on to Akar
Island , yet another beautiful anchorage in a bay. Talk about
seclusion, apart from the squid fisherman in Mandriau, every
anchorage has been ours alone.
Lost my little spoon
spinner on the way- something must have hit and run.we didn't notice
as a the time we were having a great sail in about 15 knots of wind.
I think that takes the lost lure total to two now.
We started to clean the
squid,but decided to do the lot and freeze them down in meal size
portions.
We dined on cumi,
marinated for a short time in a little oil, soy ,ginger and sweet
chili and a little squeeze of juice our ever depleting lime stock,
then flash fried on the bbq- tender and yummy!
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| Akar Island- wonder if we will find an anchorage amongst the crowd? |
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