Krabi Boat Lagoon - 08° 00' 25" N 98° 57' 41" E

SY Popeye 1 - with a very trusting owner...

So, this beautiful 47 foot tub of plastic is to be our home for the next 10 months across two hemispheres, two continents and five countries. Or perhaps I should be more nautical - over six seas (Andaman, South China, Java, Banda, Arafura and the Coral) and through two straits (Malacca and Torres) - a distance of just under 4000 nautical miles (7235 km). Three cabins, two heads, a watermaker, 50 pounds of propane, 430 litres of diesel for our backup mode of propulsion (an 85 hp diesel 'iron sail') - what more could one want?

The first stage is race deliveries. We are again racing the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi in Malaysia starting on 18 November. Our first task is to deliver Popeye from Phuket, all prepped and ready, in time for the Regatta. We are also members of the race crew! Following the Raja Muda, Popeye needs to be delivered to Kata Beach of the SW end of Phuket to race The Kings Cup. This is a charter so she needs to be completely stripped down and lightened up. We will support the charter on behalf of Craig.


A very rough preliminary route (not to be used for navigation purposes!)

Then the fun begins! Cruising around southern Thailand until sometime in February when we will prepare Popeye and turn her south-east bound for Australia. We anticipate checking into Australia at Thursday Island in the Torres Strait sometime early July then bringing her down the coast to The Whitsunday Islands in time for Airlie Beach Race week in August.

Phew! I am unsure who is the craziest - us for attempting this voyage or Craig for letting us undertake it on his yacht!