Follow our Track @ NoForeignLand

The waiting is over, nearly

Nai Yang proved to be the perfect anchorage after us having left the dockyard. Located only minutes from the home, we were able to steadily take stock and execute what we needed onboard, and what we didn’t need. Regular dinghy runs ashore began to wear thin, as time ticked over. More time than necessarily was spent mulling over what we needed. We soon found ourselves debating over minutia that only time waiting could allow. Road trips through a hopelessly congested Phuket to pick up a couple of 9V batteries a particular lowlight, highlighting the increasingly inefficient use of our time!

One particular pre-departure hurdle was the Waeco Car Fridge/Freezer loosing it’s ability to freeze. Not ideal timing, but equally the best timing, as it allowed a window in which to quickly source a suitable replacement. A freezer wasn’t critical for we already had a domestic fridge-freezer onboard, but Zippy had prepared a bunch of pre-made meals for use when conditions enroute made cooking in the galley difficult. Lazada, an online e-commerce app, had frustrated us by cancelling a freezer order a day before estimated delivery. We then scoured the island of Phuket looking for a suitably sized chest freezer, able to fit through a cabin door, that with trim removed, allowed a maximum 45cm width. We found one of suitable size, but meant we had to get delivered to Bangkok, and through family members arrange for transport to Phuket. That took an additional four days.

Over the course of these four days waiting we faffed about with unnecessary extra provisions. Frustrations and impatience onboard began to grow, as waiting idly was testing resolve. The number of dinghy trips from boat to beach, to car and back was starting to become comical, and a feature for the regular beach goers lounging in their sun chairs, looking on in wonder at how much could be loaded into a dinghy, and presumably asking themselves “Why?”. I had the same question of myself!

The previous 12 months of planning, talking, promoting were behind us, now was the time of doing, and sitting about the start line waiting was getting to us. All this talk, and no doing is perhaps perfectly exemplified by the fact you, the reader, having trudged through 8 chapters of this blog malarkey and here we are, halfway through Chapter 9 and you dissapointingly learn we’ve still not yet departed! Piss off already, I hear you say!!

Waiting was also driving us into an imperfect weather window. One week previously a low had formed between the Andaman Islands and Sri Lanka. A couple of boats had left Phuket early and had reported uncomfortable conditions enroute. I was happy to have missed the low, but now the weather predictions were suggesting something altogether different. Winds had abated, and forecast models gave warnings of 4-5 days of motoring and to carry sufficient enough fuel. We had enough fuel onboard, but i was really looking forward to sailing most of the way. I keep telling myself these are weather predictions and holding out optimistically for more wind than was being predicted.

We discussed waiting for a better weather window, but quickly agreed we would leave as soon as the freezer arrived. It was now mid January, who knows what another weeks waiting would harvest in respect of weather. Best we go now before impatience onboard reached fever pitch!

The Last Supper

A small gathering on the beach with some yacht friends heralded our final evening in Thailand. Thailand Checkout formalities had long ago been completed (Harbour Master, Immigration, & Customs) which was adding another layer of anxiety to proceedings as we had technically departed the country nearly 10 days earlier, and yet here we were, most certainly still in the country, and busily so!

An offering

we woke early to a glorious sunrise. A restless sleep no doubt on account a combination of fear, anxiety and excitement for what was ahead, whatever that might be!

The usual pre departure checklists were completed (Engines, Speed Paddle Wheel, Nav Equipment, Nav Lights) Dinghy stowed and outboard engine removed and stowed in the engine room. But before weighing anchor, there was one final task to be done. Poseidon will be our Master for the next however many years, and it was thus appropriate that we asked for his blessings and safe passage. We libated him with great lugs of Thai rum from all four corners of the boat, each time reciting a passage that i hope he has heard and will abide!

Deep-dwelling Poseidon, shield of sailors, stiller of storms… yours is the source of life, the water and the salt, yours are the treasures beneath the waves. Good friend of the sailor and the fisherman, granter of food and riches to mankind, Poseidon, we call to you. If ever we have honored you, poured out sweet wine in reverence and love, O great one, hear now our prayers, grant now your blessings

15th January 2026 (0800Hrs) – weighing anchor

Departure Point: 8°5.516’N • 98°17.708’E

Final preparations completed, engines started and anchor lifted from the sea bed.

To the emotive tune of “Time to Say Goodbye” blaring from the speaker a neighbouring boat, Luna Blu and her passengers were away, gently carving her way through boats anchored nearby.

We motored out through a narrow channel that separates shallows on either side, and once clear set a course for 250°, intending to pass south of the Indian controlled Nicobar Islands, which were 300nm away, or approx two days.

Tears were shed for what we were leaving behind. But there is such excitement for what lies ahead.

As was written, and at this particular junctures seems entirely appropriate.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

We were away!