Nov 23, 2007-Topping Off the Tanks (testing email update)

We've just returned from the fuel dock and we bought 142 litres of diesel. 'The last fill up was in Brunei in May 2006. Since then I calculated that we'd used 139 litres so my calculation is a bit off.

The other reason for this posting is to test the email update. We won't have internet connection for our passage north to Phuket, and if we want to update the log we'll have to do it with email, and no photos.

We don't expect anything newsworthy from this upcoming delivery, but it there is anything, or if we just feel like writing, we'll send an update.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

November 18, 2007-Ready to go

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Ready to Go

We've converted Wings back to cruising mode and we are ready to set sail.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

November 17, 2007-Last Singapore Race

For several months November 17 has stood as a milestone for us: the last Singapore race on our schedule, at least for this year, maybe ever. Yesterday we sailed it. So now our Singapore racing chapter has closed and we will be taking the boat to Phuket Thailand next week and we don’t have a firm plan to return to Singapore. We’ll miss Singapore and Raffles and certainly the racing here. It’s been good and yesterday was a fitting end to it.

We had a good little sail, typical for these round the cans races at Raffles: eight short legs, three spinnaker runs, fast action, and lots of drill.

We won the start and it was good not to be OCS which has happened too often this year. Even at that it was close and we had to burn some speed in the last 10 seconds which caused some outcry from Roo who had their hands full trying to stay clear. Tantrum, the First 44.7 was well back at the start and going slow and we looked good as we settled into the beat, going left as we have found to be the standard routine here, and working out to weather. But Tantrum tacked to the right a third of the way up the beat and one by one the other boats did too. At first we didn’t think they looked all that good over there but we decided to cover so we flopped, the last boat to go that way. Then a big righty came in and Tantrum started to look better. I could see that they would cross. Meanwhile Roo went back left and got some good breeze on that side. It left us to play the middle; not good. We rounded the top mark second and just ahead of third place Roo, but we had a good set and jibed inside of Tantum which put us back in the lead. Roo did a jibe set after us, the right call, and with their giant asym kite and scorched down the run, sailing right over the top of us. Damn!

But coming into the bottom mark Roo had a halyard problem and couldn’t set the jib so we got by them again. Now Roo was out and Tantrum was well behind. At this point the wind had shifted so that there was only one way to go around the course for the remaining legs, no passing lanes, and we held on to win easily.

The wind was nice, had some shifts which changed the tactical situation a bit, (also good practice), that was good. There was a bit too much yelling on the boat I have to admit which took some of the fun out of it, particularly for the fordeck, and we have to work on that. I think the pressure was on everyone, but they did well and it’s clear that we’ve come a long way since September last year. And it was nice to win the last race, and even if there were only four boats, and most of all, I think they way we handled the boat shows we are ready for King’s Cup.

No photos from the race, but while we are out here sailing in balmy conditions look what is happening back home in Puget Sound:

Ross Fotheringham image
Puget Sound Ferry

Ross Fotheringham of Everett caught this shot and others of the Mukilteo ferry battling waves in Puget Sound during a windy October day. He subsequently gave his permission for kitsapsun.com to display the photos, along with a link to his website, here .

I think we don't miss this very much.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

November 12, 2007-Reclamation Bay

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Wings at anchor in Reclamation Bay

We are at anchor for the first time in nearly two years.

It feels great.

On Friday morning we departed Raffles Marina on a bit of a shakedown cruise. We wanted to test all of Wings’ systems away from the dock so we could be better assured that things will go well when we sail north to Phuket later this month. It all worked two years ago but when you don’t use it you lose it, as they say, and Wings has been strictly a day-sailor since we arrived in Singapore in 2006.

First thing we wanted to do is run the motor. So when we left the marina instead of sailing, we motored. Hard motoring, on the autopilot. The motor worked, and the charging system, but the autopilot failed. We put on the spare. It worked. So we have to buy another autopilot drive unit to carry as a spare. Check.

Then we anchored in Reclamation Bay (or Bob’s Bay, as some locals call it, named after one the first guys here who dared to go in and anchor). The anchoring system works fine.

We got out the chairs (thanks Andy) and had a drink. The freezer still makes ice cubes. Check.

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Hey, this is nice!


The next day we checked out the dive bag. The zipper was frozen. Replace the zip. Dive bag fixed. We dove on the boat and cleaned the bottom. Easy, it looked good already. We watched the battery performance. Humm? That’s not so good. The seven year old batteries don’t have much life; another thing to put on the list. We set the automatic anchor light. It works fine.

We launched the dingy and the Mercury started on one pull; another win.

Then some friends from Raffles came into the bay and dropped the hook. They invited us over for drinks, and then a barbeque on the beach. This is fun, just like cruising.

So we spent three days and nights at Reclamation Bay. It was very pleasant. When you are at anchor, even in a hot and humid place like Singapore, it feels good: the boat moves a little instead of the motionless feeling you get at the dock. It’s cool. Whatever wind there is cools you better at anchor as you swing to the wind, which can flow unobstructed. It’s quiet; there are no marina sounds. You can jump in for a swim if you want.

I think we forgot how good this is.

Click here, and go to Novemeber 2007 to see more photos from our shakedown cruise.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

September 22, 2007-Zen Moment

SMU Image
One More Mark Rounding, Western Circuit Regatta, August 2007


There is a whole world outside of the 40 foot circle of space which is Wings but at moments like this we don't know about it.

In these moments we are, each of us, inwardly focused into the world of this vessel, this place, this time; into the reality of right now. The rest of the world does not exist for us in this moment. We are are here, we are now, we are onboard Wings, and we have a job to do.

For a mark rounding like this we each have our own challenge to face. Each of us has a task to perform. We each know our own assignment and we each focus on that assignment and know that we must do it, and we will do it. Yes we have our mates to help us and we trust that our mates will do their jobs too; but for this moment we are completely focused into our own private challenges. Nothing else exists, we do our jobs.

We are eight persons just living for right now, for this boat, for this task, for these shipmates, for this Zen.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

September 9, 2007-Better Than Going To the Office

wingssail image-Judy Jensen
Takedown

We knew it was going to be a good day for sailing when the day dawned clear and breezy. Then it got better: the race committee gave us a long course to mark “21”, out by the big ship anchorage, no short legs on this day.

OK, I blew the start, over early again, that’s twice in a row for me, but we recognized it quickly and got back right away. From then the beat went perfectly. For once, for the first time for us in Singapore, we figured out how to sail south: play the beach on the left side, tacking in 12 feet of water, go around the reef at the green mark, and then head right back in, never mind the depth sounder, sail deep into the shore, and be sure to play the beach hard again at the power station.

So we were first to the top mark by a couple of minutes, had a nice set, and headed for home.


wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Great day on the water

Now all we had to do is sail as smart on the run as we did on the beat, only we didn’t. We did a jibe set and stayed out trying to catch the tide, which appeared to be flooding strongly at the top mark. Wrong again. “It was just a back eddy”, said Gorden later. He put his Shoon Fung Too in the right place: he bore away at the mark and sailed hard to the right. The path which worked so well coming out was also the choice going back. SF Too quickly passed us and held it all the way in to finish first. We corrected out 4th.

So that’s how it goes: Two mistakes and you finish well down.

But I’m not complaining. We had a great day of sailing and loved every minute of it. We’ll get this local area right one day and in the meantime, we’re having a lot of fun. It sure beats going to the office.

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Judy

Click Here to see our new afterguard with Bob steering.
Click Here to go to Wingssail Images.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

September 9, 2007-Boat Maintenance

Fred Up The Mast

Working hard to keep Wings in good shape is part of the deal. In fact I don't mind. It is satisfying to accomplish every thing on your list for the day and then go sailing and have it all work.

This weekend we spent Saturday morning patching our #3. This tired old sail is falling apart. I'm talking to Rob about a new one, even sent emails to some places that sell used ones, but nothing is firm yet and we still need to keep the old Fraiser in good enough shape to use. So we patched the bejesus out of it.

Then I replaced three halyards with the new ones from West Marine which were waiting for us when we arrived in Singapore this trip. Of course one of them came loose from the messenger line and fell out of the mast when I was changing it, so Sunday I had to go up and lead a new line down. But we got it, and so now all the halyards on the front of the mast are new.

We are still using wire to rope halyards. Haven't switched to all rope yet, the top of the mast has a lot of chafe points which would tear up rope halyards right away. I checked it out carefully when I was up there and I have a plan on how to fix it without taking the rig out, but when I get it done, who knows. Anyhow, using wire for the halyards means I have to do Nicro Press swaging to get the shackles attached, and with my hand tool this is a bit of a tough job. I had sore arms by the time I got this done.

Next on the list:
New hydraulic hoses
New water heater
New broiler for the oven
New mast light
and I think I'll buy some new jib and main sheets

That's how I'll keep myself busy in Singapore on the next few trips, in addition to more patching on the #3 if we use it.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

August 25, 2007-Day 3

Western Circuit Regatta, Raffles Marina.

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Prestart

I gave this all up once, this hard core racing. We had enough, sold the sails, put on a dodger and wind vane, went cruising, retired, put it behind us. We had little left to prove after 10 years in the Seattle racing scene. No regrets. Move on.

We cruised in the South Pacific for the next ten years, did a few pickup races in places like Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji. Raced quite a few times in Hong Kong, did OK. We had a good time but none of them was a serious attempt at racing, it wasn’t hard core, it was just fun, we didn’t care if we won or lost.

Now we’re in Singapore, and we’re back at it again, starting over, rebuilding. We’ve got new crew, new sails, and we’re relearning skills lost in the intervening 10 years since Seattle.

We are struggling some. Not struggling to race; struggling to win. That’s hard. It always was, but we want to do it, want to win. Racing is about winning, or it is for me.

Now that the Western Circuit, the first real test, is behind us we see that this is going to be tough. We did OK on day 2, on the long windy passage race, but the short courses on the other two days were hard and the light boats smoked us. That and we had some mistakes. It added up to a last place in the standings; not where I want to be.

wingssail image-Judy Jensen
Start


I know about these things: You just keep working at it and one day it all comes together. Maybe King’s Cup; maybe.

The crew?

I love them. They are doing great. They can get the boat through any maneuver, they stay cool, they take orders, they’re having fun. I am sure if you asked any one of them about Western Circuit and the six races, they would say it was great. It was.

But I have my sights set on higher things.

Click here for more images from the Western Circuit Regatta

Click here to go to the event website.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

August 19, 2007-Windy Day at Western Circuit

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Windy and white-out conditions

Three weeks after Day 2 of the Western Circuit I still have vivid images from that race.

The strongest is of power; the power of big sails and big wind. A squall blew through and for nearly an hour the boat was sailing in the 8’s and 9’s as the wind reached the low 30’s. We were powered up.

Wings was driving through the seas, a river sweeping by the hull, white foam rolling along side. The power gripped the rig and the hull and strained the sheets and I could feel the power in my hands on the helm. It was a good feeling to have excess power at my disposal, and the strong, solid feel of the boat was reassuring and gave me confidence. I love how the boat’s reactions to my input quicken at that speed and I love it when I can harness, control, manage, and use that power. I could feel the pressure on the rudder of the flow of the water and the turbulence and the way the boat would respond and swerve to my pull on the tiller; all of this I felt with my body and my hands and in the hairs on the back of my neck and it left an indelible and intoxicating image. After sailing like that you just want more. I love that kind of sailing

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
White Squall

Then there was the visibility. We never noticed that the visibility was blanking out; we were inwardly focused, our world was 43 feet long and a few yards more, just the water directly in front of us and we were set on controlling our wild ride not looking around, but the visibility got bad. In fact there wasn’t any; the conditions were “white out”. Some boats lost their way. It came to us that we were charging along blind, we didn’t know where we were, we couldn’t even see Marambong Island to give us our bearings; it must be time to turn, but where is the mark. Check the computer.

Judy went below and after a few seconds I called to her, “Where is it?”
Her voice came up from the nav station, “Bearing Three Four Zero, ¼ mile”
I looked to the left, a flash of yellow steel wallowing in the waves, washed by the seas; we were nearly past it. “Ok, I got it”.
To the crew: “Standby to jibe.”

The jibe was a bang and a shock as the main, even on the short leash where Omar had ground it in to before I turned, slammed over and hit the stops. And the running backstay was still on, not cleated, but with too many wraps on the winch and it didn’t run out; the mainsail was plastered against it. I yelled and the tail was thrown off the winch and the main flew out. No damage done. The rest of the boat was cleaned up from the jibe and we settled down on the new heading for the run home.

Now ahead in the gloom we could just see Foxy Lady and Panic with their kites up and we could see Lunchcutter who had set their asym and flown past us in a cloud of spray. They were all were having trouble with the spinnakers. Foxy hadn’t jibed and they were headed towards the beach at 10 knots, running out of water. We saw a round up then a round down and then the spinnaker blew through the fore triangle and they were knocked down, beam to the seas. For a few minutes we could see them bareheaded, going the wrong way, just regaining control. I don’t know if something like that happened to Panic, didn’t see it, but suddenly they were bareheaded too, and while we watched Lunchcutter just ahead their kite just disappeared. We hadn’t set our spinnaker and at that point we were glad. We put the jib out on the pole and had an easier time of it than the boats ahead.

The other good memory was the earlier race against the squall on our approach to the turning mark. We were coming in with the ounce-and-a-half up on a tight reach in 15 knots of wind, already walking a fine line, on the edge, but the boat was taking it, the rudder held, the sail was quiet, we’re OK. A mile away from the mark Judy noticed the dark clouds coming in on the left; coming in fast. She voiced concern; a blow was on the way, and we had the biggest sail up, wind abeam, close to overpowered already, not a configuration in which to get caught by a blow; big problems if that happened. I looked at the sky and the dark water and I looked ahead to the mark. Should we drop the kite? There were boats near us, pushing, surfing, maybe gaining. Lunchcutter was just behind and to leeward and coming fast. If we dropped we’d lose to them but if we had the kite up when that wind hit we’d have trouble. I looked at the mark again. Tightness in my chest, nervous, but it was judgment time; time to make the call.

“Let’s hold, I think we can beat it.”

The wind started to build ahead of the squall but it went aft a little and we kept our control. More wind. The mark was 1/4 mile away now, just a minute or two more; the jib was in the feeder, ready to go up, but I held my nerve and we continued on. Nobody on the boat said a word. Everybody’s eyes were glued on the green mark ahead. We were holding our breaths.

We carried the kite right to the mark, dropped as we turned and tacked immediately in one tight maneuver just as the wind came on hard. No room for Lunchcutter inside of us, not even two feet between us and the mark. We forced Lunchcutter to round outside.

Beating The Squall

The wind hit like a hammer. In the blast we reached off toward the Singapore side under number one and full main, flying, Lunchcutter on our hip to windward. I chanced a look back and saw the next boat behind dismasted and dead in the water; a pile of sails and spars and rigging on the deck, the crew looking dazed. Their regatta was over. To leeward boats still on the way to the mark with spinnakers up were having problems: round ups, flagging kites, flagging mains; we could see more dark round bottoms of boats showing then shiny topsides. We were in good shape though, holding a safe angle in the building breeze with only plain sails on a fast jib reach trimming aggressively and holding off Lunchcutter who rode our wake and stayed right there all the way to the next mark.

There the race course turned downwind enough for the kite again, but by then the breeze was over 28 and it was still building. For us the kite was out of the question. Lunchcutter popped their asymmetrical however and they were gone. Nothing we could do.

Later the wind dropped and we could have set but there was a hard rain, the finish was a mile or two off, we were just about home and we were still going 7.5 knots. I delayed, couldn’t make the decision, and even though Marco asked if were still racing I didn’t make the call for the kite. I waited. The rain came harder, in big drops. I had visions of a huge soaked sail down below after the race, and I looked at my sodden crew and I said, “Throw it below”. We sailed in with the jib; it was a costly decision, we were only a few minutes out of second place.

A more costly decision though was on the beat out to Johore early in the race. We were crossing tacks with Foxy and Panic, and after Marambong they went in to the beach and we stayed out for one hitch too many. I didn’t think it was right; Judy didn’t think it was right, but Omar did. It was his job to make the call and he said stay out, so we went with it. But I looked up to weather, to the beach where Foxy and Panic had a lift and more pressure and I would have done anything to be there. We weren’t. On the next tack Panic had us by 5 minutes. Omar was crestfallen. It’s Ok, Omar, we all do it.

We ended up in third, losing to Panic and Lunchcutter, but beating Foxy Lady by 10 seconds on corrected time. At the post race party Peter Forbes told me that we looked under control all day. I guess we were in control, on the outside. Inside, well inside, it was a memorable day.

And it is for days like that I sail.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

Click here for more images from the Western Circuit Regatta

Click here to go to the event website

August 12, 2008-Western Circuit Regatta-Day One

wingssail image-Judy Jensen
Out there, doing it

The biggest race in Singapore is the Western Circuit Regatta sailed out of Raffles Marina in August; a three day regatta sailed over three weekends.


image:www.westerncircuit.com
Kite Takedown

Click here to go to the event website for more photos and information.


On the first day we came, we met, we placed well down.

That's the way it goes sometimes, sail well: do badly, sail worse: do terribly.

We had three races on the first day; six short legs each. We had lots of sail sets, kite sets, jibes, takedowns; a lot of good training. The first race we were sharp. We got off the line well and sailed well; but we got third and corrected out to 5th. The next two races were worse; we again got 5ths and that was only because Foxy Lady dropped out. We should have done better.

At least the crew work was good. I have no complaints; they know their jobs.

My work could have been better: on two of the races I had terrible starts. On the last race we were over early, we fouled a boat and we were lucky to avoid a serious collision. Omar helped me get out of that one. Usually I don't like to feel some one's hand on my tiller, but Omar gave it a big shove right when we needed it. Thanks Omar. We were pushed over the line early and in trying to get back we fouled Aquavit. Then we had to do a 720. So we got away from the line in one piece but we were behind, and didn't catch up. A problem at the top mark put us completely out of it.

Anyhow, the races were brutally short, but that's the nature of the beast at Raffles; you have short races or you have really long ones. Today we had short races and we worked hard to get all 18 legs done without screw-up, which we did, except mine.

But it was really hard work. At the end of the day people were pretty tired, including Judy and me. In fact, were all exhausted.

Never mind, we worked hard, we felt tired, and that is what this crew expects.

So from that perspective we had a good day; we didn't win, but we're out there competing and that is what counts, and we are getting experience on the boat and that is what we need.

Next week we have a "passage race", a longer race out past Marambong and up to the Malaysian entrance mark. We will try again.

wingssail image
Fred & Judy

Fred & Judy, S/V Wings, Singapore

Click here to see more photos.

Click here to go to the event website. Look in the "photo gallery" and you might find some photos of Wings

July 21, 2007-My House Has A Spinnaker On the Floor

Like all good for’d hands Marco gets a little bossy now and then; when he yells to “Slack the blue halyard” sometimes it seems unnecessarily loud and commanding.

But we put up with it because we expect the for’d hand to have a bit of swagger. How could he be otherwise when his only domain is that constantly moving pointy end and he has to be the athlete on cat’s feet doing his magic under the very eyes of the whole crew? When your bowman gets to know his part of the boat and his confidence starts to grow he forgets how he might sound; he just gets into it; he tells us what he wants, and we do it; the blue halyard gets slacked.

And in fact we love it as the teacher always loves it when the student begins to surpass.

We are watching our crew grow bolder and become more confident. Pierre has to teach a new tailer each week it seems and he has the pattern down. Jennifer rules her pit and her hands fly over the sheet stoppers like the artist’s fingers over the keys of a well known piano. After the practice today I was saying, “Not too bad, just one small hole in the kite to repair” and Tobias dug his hand in his pocket and out came a zipper pull and he said, “Not quite, here is another repair for you.” I showed him how it goes back on the zipper of the number#3 bag and I know a little more of the mystery died away for him. Bob has even brought his own personal tactical computer and together he and I drilled holes and to mount it on Wings. You know they are feeling at home when they want to drill holes in your house.

This is the way the members of our new crew come to know Wings; not as we know her but a maybe a little better than before, and this is the way they become part of our family.

Tonight the crew has gone home and I wiggle my toes in the cool nylon of our spinnaker which is stretched out on the cabin floor drying out. Most people wouldn’t want their house to be the inside of a racing boat with all of its untidy clutter but as I reflect on a good day’s sailing and where we are now with this crew and I look across the cabin at Judy curled up on the settee with a cross-word puzzle and there is music on the stereo and some rum in a glass by her side, I have a warm and comfortable feeling.

All in all this feels pretty good.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

July 1, 2007-First You Have to Get Around the Course

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Jibing


Then you can look at things like boat speed and tactics.

We are improving each time we go out and on this day we again sailed two short races but this time we got around the course pretty good with no mistakes. It’s a good feeling when you can tack for the top mark five boat lengths away and still have pole up and the spinnaker halfway up the outside of the jib when you get to the mark.

The jibes are also getting smoother but it can be tough keeping the sail filled in light air, as this shot shows.

So now, while we continue to practice these things, we can work on getting the boat into a fast mode and picking the right places to go on the course. Even there we are making progress and on this race Bob was tracking the shifts. The wind trended left all day and we made some gains going that way. Not enough though, because even though we finished well up, on corrected time we were down near the bottom.

So, can we optimize our IRC rating a bit?

Click Here for more photos.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

July 1, 2007-Dock Party

wingssail image-fredrick roswold
Baby Shower, an American tradition

After the race we had a little party on the dock and Marco and Tessa opened baby presents.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

June 25, 2006 Singapore Flashback

Judy Chills Out

Thirty-seven years ago I sailed into Singapore as a petty officer on the US Aircraft Carrier Hancock. I went ashore back then and walked around for a day. I remember three things from that visit: Orchard Road, The Singapore River, and Raffles Hotel. This year Judy and I decide to go looking for those same places in today’s Singapore.

Thirty-seven years ago Orchard Road was a narrow street which headed out of the city into the countryside. Back then I walked out Orchard Road until I was on a dirt road lined with small residential houses behind hedges and muddy runoff ditches. Orchard Road is now all high rises and upscale shopping malls. I don’t see any thing which rings a bell in my dusty memory lane on Orchard Road.

Thirty-seven years ago the Singapore River was a transshipment center for rubber exports. Sampans and lighters were loaded with bales of raw white rubber by skinny, mostly naked, Chinese coolies, and then unloaded onto ships waiting in the roadstead. As I wandered the back alleys at night back then I caught glimpses through doorways of the coolies reclined on narrow wooden benches, the thick smell of opium smoke mixed in the air with the exotic cooking smells from the streets. The Singapore River is now lined with trendy restaurants and skyscraping buildings of multinational banks, and tour boats ply its waters.

Raffles Hotel


Thirty-seven years ago I walked into Raffles Hotel and had a Singapore Sling. I remember Raffles as a cool, quiet, shady, and very pleasant haven of relaxed elegance with more than a few impeccably dressed bell boys, waiters and concierges moving silently through the lobbies and bars, ready for the slightest glance or wiggle of a finger from one of brits who made up most of the guest list and whom were always seen lounging nearby. At Raffles Hotel this week I experienced a flash back: It’s the same as I remember it. Judy and I wandered in, sat in big chairs in a cool inner courtyard, and each had a glass of white wine. White-hatted chefs prepared exotic foods under a green awning, bartenders swizzled drinks in tall iced glasses, and waiters hovered nearby. It was a nice flash back. I saw the Singapore Sling on the drink menu, and I remembered it from 1969, but we’d already ordered our wine.

Maybe in another 37 years we’ll go back again and have that Singapore Sling.

Singapore

Click here for another Singapore view

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore

June 15, 2006-Landed in Singapore

Singapore

Not too much to say right now; we’ve landed in Singapore, and we’ve found a place to stay. We’re starting to find our way around, trying to get established here, and we’re looking for jobs.

For us, this is what cruising is all about. We sail into a new place, park the boat, and start to make a life for ourselves. This time we’d like to stay a while, two or three years, maybe more.

Thanks to Neil and Ley, our friends on Crystal Blues, we were able to find a good marina to stay in, ONE15 Marina at Sentosa Cove. It isn’t finished yet. The marina is in, but the shoreside facilities are still under construction. Some time next year there will be a fitness club, a pool, laundry, and WiFi, even stores. Right now we have to rough it without any of these. Tough life, huh?

We’ve started to get around a bit. We have passes for the mass transit system, have found some grocery stores and a laundry (albeit very expensive). We’ve discovered that Singapore is more expensive in some ways than other places we’ve been; that’s the price we pay, I guess, to be in this big and booming city.

We’ve started to look for jobs. Judy is looking again in the legal field, and she had made contact with a court transcription company, like the one she worked for in Hong Kong, that may turn into something. I’ve been talking to recruiters in the IT industry. There seems to be some activity in this market, job wise, but we’ll have to see. Salaries seem OK, not high though.

WINGS is OK. We have a few problems to deal with, like a leaking water tank (again), a leaking transmission, and a B&G instrument system which demands constant attention to remain operational. Actually, it’s all very typical; boat fix-it lists never get to zero.

What is not typical is the likelihood that we won’t be sailing much for a while. We really want to focus on employment and our general living situation; going sailing isn’t high on the priority list. Plus, Singapore apparently does not allow foreign registered yachts to move around in their waters. In other words, we can’t take the boat out.

Right now that’s OK. We’ll see how we feel in a few months.

Fred & Judy, SV Wings, Singapore