With my new crew, Sebastian from Vienna, we set sail for the 400 miles passage to Kumai on Borneo. As we were coming closer to the equator calms, squalls and lightning storms were to become more and more frequent, but looking at the following forecasts we were luckily taking advantage of the last substancial south-easterly flow of the season ans could sail most of the way. This has very likely been the last good sailing in SE-Asia until leaving to cross the Indian Ocean.

Kumai offers not much except the possibility to visit the Orang Utans during an exciting two day tour on a river boat. Even more fascinating than crocodiles and Komodo dragons, this was one of the best experiences in the past months.

What followed was motoring for 600 miles all the way to Singapore, including crossing the equator on October 16th at 1310h local time. Three days in Singapore´s fancy One15 Marina and a lot of shopping in town were a enjoyable contrast to the "simple life" of the last weeks.

It was only another day passage which brought us to Danga Bay Marina in Malaysia, were we gathered with approximately 70 other yachts to join the Sail Malaysia Rally. Relaxed socializing and trips to town were the major chores for these in late October/early November before heading on to sail along the westcoast of the Malaysian Peninsula for the next couple of weeks.

October´s fotos