can we help
+44(0)1983 296060
+1 757-788-8872
tell me moreJoin a rally

Menu

Firefly - Neptune and Lettuce



Firefly is on passage and has just crossed the equator and headed back into the southern hemisphere.

Crewman Jones had not passed this way before and King Neptune visited at about 0430 this morning (Thursday 15th September) officially - a ceremony was held as the virtual line was crossed. Neptune was particularly interested to know if Jones's first name was Davy? He had to drink snapps, was doused with water and Neptune and Crewman Bardell (who has crossed before) then toasted him with a glass of wine.

Earlier this year, Paul and Susie laid Firefly up at Pangkor Marina in Malaysia in April and she spent 5 months on the hard while they had the summer at home in the UK. During that time, Firefly has been treated to a complete repaint with Awlgrip and is now looking extremely shiny. She is therefore a happy ship apart from missing her co owner Susie - this is her third equator crossing and the first one that Susie has missed.

Paul, Gareth and Hugh flew into Kuala Lumpur a week ago and after 2 days hard labour had Firefly launched and rigged. Two 140 mile legs, the first to Port Dickson and the second to Puteri each took 24 hours. Puteri is in the very south of Malaysia adjacent to Singapore and proved a good place to re fuel, provision and check out of the country.

Hugh has joined Firefly for the first time and although Gareth has sailed on her before this was the first time both had been delegated the task of stocking the ship with food. Prior to their departure the existing stores and stowage places were examined in detail and a huge list was drawn up. Several hours later they returned with copious amounts of food and drink. All crew now focused on getting everything aboard and stowed. The verdict they gave was that the Aeon supermarket was OK and they had returned with almost everything...'we are a little light on meat for the freezer but the lettuce was excellent so we bought lots of it'. Eventually after much jiggery pokery all but 2 of the many lettuces were squeezed into the fridge. Supper this evening was a tuna salad with a lot of lettuce!

At 1130 on Wednesday 14th September, Firefly entered the Singapore Strait and crossed this busy shipping lane into Indonesia, heading south. The destination is actually Cocos Keeling, an Australian Atol in the east of the Indian Ocean. To get there requires a 500 mile passage that weaves along the east coast of Sumatra reaching the Sundra Strait separating it from the Island of Java to the east. In the middle of the Sundra Strait is Krakatoa, the famous volcano that erupted so vigorously in the 1880s. Despite not officially checking into Indonesia the plan is to anchor there for a couple of days in order to attempt to climb up the 800 meter island of Java.

On leaving Indonesia Firefly will enter the Indian Ocean and we hope to make a fast trade wind passage to Cocos some 700 miles to the south west. Timing is such, that if all goes to plan we will arrive at the same time as the first World ARC Rally boats. It is at Cocos that Firefly rejoins the Rally and will join the other 14 boats heading for St Lucia in the Caribbean via Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa, St Helena, Brazil and Grenada. The final Rally supper is on April 8th 2017!

Paul, Gareth and Hugh

Previous | Next