ARRIVAL LOMBOK

25 November 2023

The overnight anchorage at Kananga was OK.  I slept most of the night in the cockpit as inside the boat was so hot, only moving inside when the dew began to settle.  After my morning cup of tea I decided to head direct to Lombok.  Worst case scenario we run out of fuel and end up sailing the remaining miles.  It might take a bit more time, but we will get there.

Once we departed Kananga an excellent fifteen to twenty knot breeze sprang up.  All thoughts of stopping for fuel were blown away as we romped along towards Lombok.  The wind held until the early afternoon when it died away.  The wind gave us a good push of thirty-five miles and all concerns about fuel had long disappeared.  I turned on the engine and took the opportunity to make some fresh water as we headed into Potopaddu anchorage for the night. 

Potopaddu turned out to be a delightful anchorage.  The entrance is through a narrow channel fringed by reefs and around a sand spit into a protected basin. I dropped anchor in 10m of water with a mud bottom and felt very secure.  The local fishermen came over as usual to say hello and enquire about gifts.  I explained that I didn’t have much left, just a few pencils for the children and a pair of sunglasses that I don’t use.  Later in the evening one of the fishermen brought me a fresh squid that he had just caught – lovely tasting and I was very grateful.   

The anchorage at Potopaddu was so good that decided to stay another day and take a trip ashore to the nearby village.  The walk to the village was extremely hot.  Monkeys were playing around in the bush.  Horses and cattle grazed on the outskirts of the village.  The village itself was clean and tidy, the locals were very friendly and eager to chat with the stranger.   

I bought some fresh water and snacks at the two small stores in the village and enquired about some fresh fruit.  They didn’t have any for sale in the store but raided a couple of gardens and came up with a nice papaya and mango for a good price.  The fruit was wonderful and tasty. 

That night at anchor it was perfectly calm, not a breath of air and the heat was terrific.  I slept in the cockpit; it was a sticky night and the bugs were fierce.  The next morning I was ready to depart, it may be a perfect anchorage, but the heat and bugs took the shine off it. 

The trip across the strait to north Lombok was forecast to be good sailing with a breeze from the south.  I was looking forward to a good beam reach across.  The wind didn’t arrive, we motored nearly all the way to the north coast of Lombok where I anchored for the night in 13m of water just off the coast.  In the early evening the clouds to the south cleared for a while and I had a good view of Mount Rinjani in the distance, an impressive sight.    

The next morning was calm again and we set out under motor for the last few miles down to Medana Bay Marina.  As we turned around the northwest corner of Lombok the temperate dropped slightly, the seawater is slightly cooler here than the thirty degrees plus we have been subject to since arriving in Flores – slight relief.  At the Medana Bay Marina I picked up a mooring and then went ashore to introduce myself.  The staff were very helpful and relaxed, a friendly and welcoming place.

There is a restaurant and bar.  I was soon tasting the wares, wonderful to be sitting ashore in a cooling breeze overlooking the boats in the bay and drinking cold beer.  I am here for Christmas and the New Year, a bit early but better to be early than rushing to make an ETA.  Time to relax and chill out.  Truth is that I am quite exhausted after the trip from Saumlaki.  The constant heat, lack of wind and almost daily motoring have worn me out.  I am looking forward to recuperating and a family visit for Christmas and New Year.

2023 Destination Attained.    

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