Up the Strait of Malacca - February 24

We cast off with the morning tide and headed out of Georgetown harbour, in the company of a cruise ship and several freighters. These soon outpaced us, and we continued on our north by northwesterly course making for Langkawi, mostly motoring with the help of a sail. We spotted occasional freighters and fishing boats throughout the day, and our trip was a very pleasant new experience, sailing in open water.

As we had lots of free time I decided to do some cooking, so I set some ribs to slow-cook for dinner, and made barbecue sauce. A batch of shortbread to complement our tea, and an apple-rhubarb pie for dessert meant a good meal that night.
We moored for the night just before sunset at a small island, and just as we entered the bay, two marlins provided a show by jumping out of the water. We enjoyed our tender ribs, warm potato salad and pie.
A late-night swim off the stern revealed an unexpected thrill, as tiny single-celled dinoflagellates (plankton) began to luminesce when we moved in the water. A splash or simple movement of an arm through the water would generate hundreds of tiny points of light in its wake, an astounding sight. In the morning Sheila and I went snorkelling, and then we sailed northwest again, heading for Langkawi.
Later that afternoon we anchored in an extremely beautiful sheltered basin between two islands, a few miles from Langkawi's main island. Eagles soared above, and the idyllic, peaceful surroundings, green forest and rocky outcrops transported me back in time to hot summer days spent on northern Ontario lakes. The next morning snorkelling was excellent, we saw hundreds of fish including a clownfish of Finding Nemo fame. Sheila saw a baby shark.
We then sailed the last few miles to the marina and resort on Rebak Island, a short ferry ride from Langkawi. Barb and I took a room in the resort and Michael and Sheila stayed on board in the marina.