Author: Scott
During the past week we have finished up a number of boat tasks. Our watermaker may now be finally working and our wind generator bearings were replaced. Now all we have left on the project list is the replacement of our dodger/bimini and this will take another two weeks (sigh). It is nice that we are able to move to the non essential boat task list and turn our attention to things like rust removal and cleaning the boat.
To add to this exciting week we started the process of obtaining our Indonesian visa. It turns out that Indonesia is one of the toughest and bureaucratic countries to enter with a cruising sailboat. The first hurdle was applying for and paying for a Clearance Approval for Indonesian Territory or CAIT. This is essentially a cruising permit for Indonesian waters and can be obtained online from the Bali Marina once a hefty fee has been wired. The second step is to obtain a visa in advance. Tourists are granted a thirty day visa automatically but to stay longer is a whole other ball game. Crew on a visiting yacht must request a visa in advance from an Indonesian consulate or embassy, but you can not request a visa prior to ninety days in advance of your trip. This means that we would have had to apply for a visa from Darwin Australia or Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (a scary city), but with our temporary marooning in New Caledonia we are fortunate to have a local Indonesian consulate available to us, and yes we are now within the ninety day window. I must say that our first experience at the consulate was quite hospitable with a charming woman who sent us away for a week, but she sent us away with a kind smile after learning about our voyage. Apparently there was a change in diplomats with the new official arriving this week. Our first impression is that we will succeed in obtaining our visa, clearing the final Indonesian hurtle.
Other highlights include seeing our friends from “Aloha” Sandy and Gwyn who we met in New Zealand. We had a nice sundowner cockpit evening with our friends on Harmonica. I got a haircut and managed to communicate so that I still have a quarter inch of hair left. And!!!! I found very tasty GIANT bowls of café au lait for 300 CFP or about $3.85 - Starbucks eat your heart out! We got to move Starship to the Visitors Dock miraculously after being told that there was absolutely no room. The final uneventful thing in an uneventful week was that we did not even realize it was Independence Day in the states until we received Happy 4th emails from friends.
Well folks that’s it from the Starshippers for now. Back to watching the grass grow and listening to the wind blow!
Au revoir.
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