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Navigating Singapore Shipping Lanes
When crossing Singapore Straight yachts are required (by
law) to cross each shipping lane at a 90-degree angle
so as to be out of their way as quickly as possible. Ships
are about 10 minutes apart and in some places there are
four lanes to cross as well as their designated turning
lanes, which are of course wider! |
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They travel I guess at about 20 knots or so and we average
5 knots which doesn’t always add up when one wants
to get out of the way of a massive freighter!
We decided to sneak westward along the top of Indonesia
then make our crossing where we hoped would be our shortest
and least complicated route. |
To add to all this the tides are very strong, crossways
of course just to add to the excitement and if you are
really unlucky you can get hit by a lightning storm which
may then blind your visibility or worse, blow all your
electronics!
I had been reading up on all of this so not only did we
have the knowledge but I had mentioned all the horribles
that could happen to us as well.
As it was, we fought tide for a while and came close to
a few barges and the like but we had sails up and managed
to cross drama free and arrived at the customs zone safe
and sound. |
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They directed us to anchor but it was 100ft with strong
tides so while they were trying to get our paperwork in
plastic bags handed over with the boat hook, Mike was trying
to get the anchor back up and I was trying to ensure we
did not run up on a reef! Not really the ideal spot for
yachts to check in! |
With all formalities completed we were quickly on our
way up a narrow channel with the tide racing then we had
to turn across it with motor full steam to then enter
the One 15 marina on the quite exclusive Sentosa Island,
Singapore.
Singapore is an amazing young country. The train stations
are spotless, fines are imposed for littering, eating,
drinking, spitting, chewing, the carrying of durians (a
very smelly but popular fruit in these parts) and because
they have plastic cards for fares there are no paper tickets
to get thrown around.
We bussed and trained our way to little India which was
an array of colours, fine food, antique shops and cheap
beer. From there we taxied to the Botanical Gardens which
we will never forget. These people pay such attention
to detail in all that they do, whether it be the simplest
pathway or the most elaborate orchard display. |
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Another day we visited the bird park. Included in the many
displays is a man-made waterfall inside a huge Avery, you
can’t believe it’s not real.
This place once again is also full of amazing gardens and
even included a king penguin display. |
We journeyed into the centre of town one evening, but
the beer was $22Aus a jug and that was on special so we
went home early.
We only stayed 5 days in Singapore as it seems to cost
money whatever you do, but it is well worth visiting and
exploring this place. |
Map of Singapore
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