A special thanks to Sam Fadlil for sharing this. This is of particular interest to those who are joining the Sail Morotai Rally.

REPORT ON SANGIHE AND TALAUD

SANGIHE

• The Sangihe Islands (also known as Sangir) are a group of islands constitute two regencies in northern Indonesia, the Sangihe Islands Regency & Sitaro Islands Regency. I is located northeast of Sulawesi between the Celebes Sea and the Molucca Sea. Total there are about 105 islands in Sangihe Group.
• The largest island is Sangir Besar and where an active volcano, Mount Awu (1829 meters)  located. Tahuna is the largest town.
• The Sangir language is spoken in the islands; this Austronesian language is also spoken in some islands in the Philippines, and on the extreme northern tip of Sulawesi.

• The islands are the site of numerous volcanoes. Many are still active. The Sangihe tectonic plate is named after the island arc and is very active. Earthquakes  and volcano eruptions are quite common here.

Tahuna

03  13’45”N          125  45’78”E

Approaches: Tahuna harbor is located inside beautiful and  protected bay with sand and mud bottom. Only exposed to westerly.

Fuel: Available (arranged through local Govt.)

Water: Available

Harbor Radio:  Channel 16

CIQP:  Available           

Provision: Traditional market and Minimarket. IT is quite a bustling small town with hotels and restaurants.

Internet: There are numbers of Internet Cafes.    

Cellular/handphone: Telkomsel, Indosat (no X Cell).

ATM/Bank:  Available BRI/Mandiri, BNI.

People/Cultures:  Majority are Talaud and Sangihe origins, each with their distinctive cultural backgrounds. Traditional ceremonies, dances, rituals are well preserved. They are mostly Christian. Beside known for underwater natural beauties, is also well known as  rare bird  paradise. 

TALAUD

• Talaud is the northernmost Indonesian’s Regency which was set up in the year of 2000 with Melonguane as its capital. There are about  three main islands (Karakelang, Salibabu and Kabaruan Island) in this group.
• This area can be reached by sea or air. There are daily flights (Wings Air and Express Air) from Manado, except Saturday and Sunday.
• By sea, There are three ferries (Holly Mary, Karya Indah and Venecian) which connect Talaud to Manado. Ferry stop at Beo, Lirung and Melonguane. It carry passengers and cargoes.
• It produces mainly nutmeg and copra

Melonguane

03  59’76”N   126  46’43”E

Melonguane Harbor

• This quiet small town is the seat of Talaud Regional Government, while town of Lirung which is only 4 miles away in the island of Sariabu is commerce center   for the area.
• The distance from Davao is about 289 miles.
• There is a big concrete wharf where ferry and other bigger boats/ships dock.
• Anchorage with sandy bottom is exposed to Southerly.
• Dinghy can be landed on sandy beach.

Approaches: Red and green buoys at  03  59’76”N   126  46’43”E.  Concrete wharf is only about 300 meters away from it. Light house right next to wharf . Flashing 3.

Anchorage: On either side of main wharf. Keep good distance.

CIQP: Not available. Have to be brought in from Manado.

Fuel: Difficult. Arrangements have to be made in advance.

Water: Available but not recommended.

Internet: There are two Internet Cafe. Slow.

Cellular/handhone:  Only Telkomsel (signal is good).

Provision: Basic stuff (expensive by local standard). Fresh fish are plentiful. Beer are available (avoid local stuff).

Money Changer: Not available.

Transportation:  By air : Daily flights from Manado

                           By sea :  Twice weekly by ferry from Manado.

ATM/Bank: There is only one ATM at BRI.

Radio:  No VHF station (even at Port Captain’s office).

Restaurants: Panorama Restaurant near the harbor provide decent/inexpensive food. Mostly grilled fish. Others are Syekina, Feliciana and Bianca.

Hotels:  Some basic hotels. Some are equipped with A.C. 

People/culture:  This is still not complete yet.   It will be mailed soon it is available. Any changes and corrections  will be made.

The following is the preliminary itinerary of the Davao-Morotai Yacht Rally:

• September 6 - Flag off from Davao
• September 8 – 10 - ETA in Talaud (Melanguane city) - Welcome ceremony and CIQP clearance.
• September 11 – Departure from Talaud
• September 12 - ETA Morotai - Festivities from September 13 – 16.
• September 17 – Departure from Morotai to Bitung
• September 19 - ETA Bitung - Festivities & tour from September 20 – 24. Tour includes Manado.
• September 25 – Departure from Bitung and CIQP clear out. Yachts may continue their trip after the Bitung festivities on their own.

Entry forms will be emailed to you upon request. This should be filled up by the Captain, scanned together with the following documents below (1 to 5) and email to wiskun AT sailsamal.com.

1. A scanned image of EVERY crewmember’s passport details page(s) only, with next of kin details.
2. A scanned image of a passport style photograph of the Captain only, a photograph taken with a digital camera with a plain light background will be OK.
3. A scanned image of your yacht's registration certificate.
4. A scanned image of the Bank Receipt for the Entry Fee – Not applicable for Sail Morotai 2012.
5. A scanned image or photograph of your yacht with the yacht name clearly visible.

The following mail came from our good friends, Ann and Eric, of SV Temerarius - of Detroit, USA. They are seasoned sailors whom we are fortunate to meet and made good friends with. We are also very happy they are here with us.

We arrived at Samal Island in May of 2010, sailing from Australia via PNG and Palau.  We chose Samal Island, mainly because our good friends, Ellen and Kjartan (Wiskun) were here, and we were anxious to reunite. Also, we needed to find a safe place to leave the boat, as we return to the States for 6 months each year to work.  For the past 20 years, we have been leaving our 50 foot sailing vessel, Temerarius, wherever we are.  Samal Island was perfect for us, as it is typhoon free, and that automatically eliminated one worry we don't need.

As we sailed up the Davao Gulf, trying to beat the sunset, we were greeted by a speedboat on our stern and the smiling faces of Kjartan and Ellen, and their dog Sheeba.   We tied up to their mooring, where we stayed for a few days, allowing for tide and preparation.  Our haul out was problem free, except that, it, of course, was raining, which everyone assured us was really rare.

While we were home, Eric was diagnosed with stage 4 nasopharyngeal cancer.  Thus, we were unable to return as scheduled, while Eric waged his own private battle.  He has been cancer free now for the past year, and recently, we have been able to return to Temerarius. We were very unsure whether that day would ever come.  While, we were gone, it was such a relief to not have to worry over the boat, because we knew it was being so well cared for.  Ellen and Kjartan went above and beyond the call of duty or friendship.  They repainted the bottom ( a beautiful red) and towed her to the brand, new. spanking marina 10 miles up the road.  We found her floating happily with 3 other vessels, at what is now, Oceanview Marina.

Irish Melody wrote an excerpt talking about the marina, which explains rather well the daily mechanics of life here.  I can only add how very happy we are to be here.  First, our boat was in very good condition.  We have had black widow spiders in Mexico, cockroaches in Florida, and almost any other type of vermin that loves to occupy empty vessels in the tropics. Here, other than a few ants, we are bug free. Even the mold was minimal.
 
Oceanview is quite a distance from the town of Davao, but Ellen and Kjartan and her brother, Boboy (the owner of the marina, with his lovely wife, Gene) make everything as easy as possible.  They have 2 scheduled trips daily to the main ferry which will then take you to Davao.  We find it all fascinating.  The people are very friendly, and, at no times, have we felt any animosity.  Just big smiles greet us.  If you get this far in the world, you are used to the idea of provisioning, and a trip to Davao each week will fill your food lockers.  The grocery stores are truly the best I have seen.  You can find almost any product imaginable for a lower cost than in the States.  Food is affordable, and wine, liquor, and beer, also, very reasonable.

It is tropical hot here, but there has been a breeze each night, and with the help of a fan, we sleep well. It is very quiet.  There are no mosquitoes or flies!!  You can jump off your boat and go for a swim.  It is as close to being at anchor as you will ever get at a marina. And it is quite beautiful.  On daily walks up the road, we are greeted by cows, goats, chickens, water buffalo, turkeys and farmers with small children who willingly give you their fruit for a smile.

The other plus that we were not expecting, is it is turning out to be a good place to leave your boat for other overland excursions.  We are looking at a trip to Vietnam this March.  There are flights from Davao to Singapore and fares are quite cheap at times. 

I have no words to thank Ellen and Kjartan for the many kindnesses bestowed upon us.  Boboy and Gene have also been so generous and gracious. It is a joy of cruising that allows you to meet such friends.  And your faith in the world is reignited to know such friendship exists.
 
 Ann and Eric
 S/V Temerarius

INTRODUCTION

In a move to boost the economy of the outlying islands, the President of Indonesia is spearheading the development of North Maluku, in particular, the island of Morotai. It is his vision to put Morotai on the map for the world to see that Morotai is the gateway into Indonesia from the Pacific Ocean. And being close to East Asia, Morotai can be a part of the economic movement in the Asia Pacific Region. A Master plan from Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister is now in place to develop the island as a fishery, tourist, trade and services center. As part of this plan, Sail Morotai 2012 is organized and will be the main maritime event for this year's Sail Indonesia rally.

MOROTAI

Morotai is the northernmost island of Eastern Indonesia, in the province of North Maluku. The rugged and forested island has an area of some 1,800 square kilometres (690 sq mi), stetching 80 kilometres (50 mi) north-south and no more than 42 kilometres (26 mi) wide.

It is famous for its natural and marine beauty, with various coral reefs, colourful fish and marine life.

In addition, it is also known for its history in World War II, in particular, the Battle of Morotai. In July of 1944, General Douglas MacArthur had selected Morotai as the location for air bases and naval facilities which was needed to support the liberation of Mindanao. The battle began on September 14, 1944 when the United States and Australian forces landed on the south-west corner of Morotai.  With only about 500 Japanese soldiers stationed on the island, the Allied force assigned to Morotai outnumbered the island's defenders by more than one hundred to one. The ensuing rapid development of Morotai into a major military base took place. Base facilities, Naval installation, road network, 1,000-bed hospital and 2 airstrips were quickly constructed. Morotai became the staging point for Allied forces and played a major role in the liberation of the Philippines.

In light of its history, Morotai is a haven for wartime artifacts.

SAIL MOROTAI 2012

Holiday Oceanview Marina, in conjunction with the organizers of the Sail Indonesia 2012, is proud to announce that it will be the official Philippine organizer and the registration base for cruisers who are interested in joining the Sail Morotai 2012 rally. The festivities due to take place in Morotai on September 8th will coincide nicely with festivities happening in Davao City the whole month of August - the Kadayawan Festival. The highlight of this festival is the parade where different tribes and organizations compete for the best costumes and presentation. This parade normally occurs the 3rd weekend of August and the timing is just perfect for cruisers to attend the festivities in Davao before they set sail with the rally bound for Morotai.

As this will be the first year for Sail Morotai 2012, entry fee will be free and Indonesia will sponsor and cover the costs through its Sail Indonesia program. All yachts, motor and sail, are welcome to join but minimum size of 10 meters LOA is required to ensure safety to sail overseas in International waters. The Marina will coordinate and collect all required documents for the issuance of the Indonesian cruising permit (CAIT), as well for all entry and visa into the Philippines. The CAIT will be used to apply for the Indonesian Visa (non ASEAN citizens) through the Indonesian Consulate. In addition, the Marina will be offering its own programs and festivities, organization of tour packages, rally orientation seminar, free berthing, parties and get-togethers.

Route of the Sail Morotai 2012:

This is made part of the Sail Indonesia Rally and the whole map can be viewed in their website - http://www.sailindonesia.net/home/home.php and about Sail Morotai 2012 - http://www.sailindonesia.net/news/sailmorotai.php. Further news about Sail Indonesia can be found here - Sail Indonesia and Rally schedules .

All interested cruisers are urged to email me through the contact page, or through the comments sections, as it is also important for us to get an idea of how many interested participants there will be. This is an exciting rally to attend specially because of our historical ties with Morotai and also because it is the first maritime event ever for Davao to be a part of. It is our wish and the wishes of the government of Indonesia to develop stronger ties between our 2 countries and to establish an attractive route from Davao to Morotai and beyond, to other parts of Indonesia and Philippines.

More information and updates to come, so feel free to check in occasionally.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA is the first and only marina in the Gulf of Davao, located in the northernmost tip of Samal Island (7°11.94N, 125°42.74E).

A)    BERTHING

The facility offers 2 docks (A and B) with a combined total of 56 berths, Each berth can fit yachts up to 50 feet LOA. The end of Docks A and B can fit longer yachts up to 100 ft LOA.

B)    BOATYARD

There is one slipway for hauling and launching vessels. Vessels are hauled out using a trailer system.

A)    UTILITIES

RATES:

Visiting boats are very welcome. We ask you to book a berth in advance. Call us on VHF channel 68 or by email at holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com or by mobile phone no. 0929- 510-5160

A)     WET-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• All berths have access to fresh water and individual power points
• No charge to water; power is at price posted
• Fuel can be arranged, at prices posted
• Laundry, shower and toilet facilities are conveniently located in the clubhouse building. Open 24 hours throughout the year to berth holders, accessible with key
• The marina is protected by security 24/7
• OFF-SEASON DISCOUNT (MAY TO OCTOBER)

- 35% OFF ABOVE RATES

B) BOATYARD/DRY-BERTH RATES – in Phil. Pesos

• Slipway for haul-out and launching (may have to coincide with high tide)
• Individual heavy duty cradle with adjustable arms (for monohulls)
• Water is available 
• Power at price posted
• Fuel at prices posted
• Miscellaneous marine services available
• Tradesmen and labor from Php100 to 400 / hr.
• To make a boatyard booking, email holiday_oceanview@yahoo.com or info@holidayoceanview.com with boat details – LOA, draft, beam, weight and type of keel.

ARRIVAL DETAILS:

A) 

The Holiday Oceanview Marina's goal is to achieve a standard that is accepted worldwidA)    SEA APPROACH

Entering the Gulf of Davao, vessels can approach on either east or west side of Samal Island.

The channel between Davao mainland and the westside of Samal island is busy with boat and ferry traffic. The narrowest  area (just over half a nautical mile wide) has a strong tidal current, mostly south-setting.  Sailing closer to the Samal side, the westside is lined with resorts and white sanded beaches.

Latitude:                7°11.94 N Longitude:         125°42.74 E

Radio Channel: Channel 68 Email or contact Marina prior to arrival is preferred.

Davao Tide Table link: http://www.mobilegeographics.com:81/locations/1502.html

B)    MARINA APPROACH

The marina is surrounded by a stone wall (breakwater).  Stay well clear of the breakwater until ready to approach. The 20 meter-wide entrance is on the NW corner, marked with red and green flags. Approach from the north and turn port into the marina. Caution: Breakwater walls are lined with rocks on the seabed.  Allow clearance. The entrance has a metal gate to prevent swells and debris from entering the marina. It is left opened when there is a vessel expected  to arrive or depart. Otherwise, it remains closed. It can easily be opened when a vessel is sighted approaching.

C)    CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) CLEARANCE

Check in or out service is provided by the Marina. A vehicle and staff will drive/assist you to the different offices for checking in or out. This is to expedite dealing with the CIQ officials. Alternate route for self check-in is to anchor on entry, at the quarantine area near Sta. Ana wharf, for CIQ boarding.

LOCAL INFORMATION:

A)    DAVAO

DAVAO CITY, being near the equatorial belt, is typhoon-free. The city enjoys a weather that remains balmy all year round. It is characterized by a uniform distribution of rainfall, temperature, humidity, and there are no wide fluctuations of the barometric air pressure. There are two seasons – the NE monsoons (October to March)  and the SW monsoon (April to September). The beginning and end of the seasons are normally transition periods. Northeasterly winds are predominant during the NE monsoon season and this will the best time for cruisers when the weather is pleasant and the chances of being caught in the path of typhoons are minimal. The SW monsoon is the rainy season. Winds are predominantly southerly, humid and warmer.

Davao City boasts of some of the finest beaches and mountain resorts in the country, and proximity to the Philippines’ most captivating diving spots as well as its highest peak, Mount Apo.   Metro Davao can also be dubbed as The City of Royalties or The Royal City, because of the presence of the kings and queens of the nature present in Davao. The Queen of Philippine Orchids which is Waling-waling, the King of Exotic Fruits, which is Durian, The King and Grandfather of Philippine mountains, Mt. Apo, the largest eagle in the world and the King of Philippine skies which is the Philippine Eagle.

B)    SAMAL

Nearby and only 10 minutes Samal-Davao ferry ride over, in the Gulf of Davao, is the ISLAND GARDEN CITY of SAMAL. True to its name, the island is a paradise surrounded by a natural garden of corals. The island has become a tourism hub for southern Philippines, boasting its pristine, white sandy beaches, natural wonders and attractions, yet it still remains unspoiled. This beautiful virgin island has been protected from commercialization to preserve ecotourism. The 116 kilometer stretch of coastline and crystal blue water is rich with underwater wildlife and the colors contrasts harmoniously from the green lush vegetation of coconut trees, to the white sandy beaches, to the dark blue color of the sea. From the hairy squat lobster to the Hawksbill Turtles to the Duggongs and a vast array of tropical fishes and corals, this island has become a diver’s haven. For the landlubbers, you have the mountains and lush forests for serious mountain-biking, camping and extreme sports. You can test your endurance as you trek and negotiate your way through caves of varying sizes.

Davao and Samal both boasts of very friendly people. Festivals or fiestas would be a good way to observe how happy and sharing the Dabaweños are. Fiestas are their way of showing their love of their homeland,  culture and traditions. Amidst the chaos, hostage taking, war and conflict happening in some parts of Mindanao, Davao is still at peace and order. This is evident during the KADAYAWAN festival, the ARAW NG DAVAO festivities and Samal’s HUGYAW Samal. One must not miss seeing and participating in these festivals. It is definitely a must-see event.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

C) GULF OF DAVAO

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present. There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

The Gulf of Davao is situated on the south coast of Mindanao Island and is approximately between latitude 6° 15' and 7° 20' East and longitude 125° 25' and 126° 10' East. It has a water area of 10,500 sq. km. and approximately 520 km. of coastline from Calian Point in Davao del Sur to Cape San Agustin in Davao Oriental. Within the Gulf are the islands of Samal and Talikud in Davao del Norte, Kopiat in Davao Oriental and Lunod in Compostela Valley. Samal Island is the largest of these islands, with 118 km. of coastline.

The Gulf has a unique pattern of water movement. During flood tide, water mass south of Samal Island flows southwest. In the northern portion of the island, between Bassa Point and Gill Point, water mass flows northeast, then southward and swiftly veers east-northeast during the peak tide current. In addition, the more saline oceanic waters flow into the gulf through the deeper section of the Gulf pushing the existing water mass northward. Tide waves occurring ahead at the eastern section cause older water to wave towards the area of low elevation at the western side. Eddies and standing oscillations are present.

There are 33 rivers and creeks that empty into the Davao Gulf. Water exchange is mainly tidal with relatively good surface mixing during strong monsoon winds. The northern portion is generally estuarine in character due to the massive influx of freshwater from the flood plains especially during the rainy season. This is why there would be a lot of river debris such as tree branches and river bank debris, especially during highest tides and heavy rainfall.

HOLIDAY OCEANVIEW MARINA

The only marina for yachts in the whole of Mindanao, it is located at the northernmost point of Samal Island. It is now operational, with yachts coming in mainly for storage purposes whilst owners go back to their home country. The marina offers 24/7 security and Davao being typhoon free, it is a perfect area to leave your yachts in. Power and electricity is available. There is a slipway for haul-outs as well. For more information and booking of berths/haulouts, just click on my contacts link.

We just received an email from our friends, Walter and Ae. Their sailboat was hauled out here for maintenance and painting not too long ago. They are now on their way north of the Philippines. It will be interesting to follow their route and hear of their experiences.  I am sure a lot of cruisers who are planning to come here would be interested too. Below is their email to us, and a few pictures which they are so kind to share with all of us.

 "Hello Ellen & Kjartan Just a quick hello. Hope you are well. How is progress on the cat? We are still in the Gulf of Davao. A couple of days ago we stopped in a bay in front of a small village & had the most amazing welcome. The town Capitan, the Governors secretary, school teachers & most of the locals couldn’t welcome us enough. Out came the local coconut wine, Tuba, delicious! Even the neighbouring village send someone over to drag us away to their huts. Obviously a bit of local rivalry. Later the Governor sent his secretary back to invite us to the town hall for a formal welcome, with a request to sleep there. I declined & told him I would let him know the next day if we would attend a formal welcome at the Town Hall. Then he wanted to arrange for a police escort! So I asked if we were in danger, he said there won’t be any problems here, we are very welcome. So I told him we can’t see any reason for the police to watch over us. The next morning we sent him a text to advise we had to leave. This was just too much!

Our pos. was 06 deg 41.42 N, 126 05.33E (close to Gov. Generoso/Sigaboy).The next day I had to recover from a coconut wine headache, that’s a change! Thank you very much again for your help, Kjartan & Ellen. Still looking for the motor problem, must be sucking air intermittently. All is well here, just waiting for some favourable wind. Have fun, don’t work too hard, hello to Bill & Boboy, Ae & Walter "

Fair winds to you both, Walter and Ae.

Wiskun needed a good paint job. The last time we painted her was in New Zealand in 2006/2007. At that time, we did the roll and tip method, and not spray painted. This time, we decided to hire experienced auto painters to do the job.

We bought our paint from Vancouver, but these painters were not familiar with it. Kjartan gave in and followed their recommendations - a German made type of paint that was fairly expensive, but available locally in Davao.

There were at least 3 coats of primer paint. Filling and sanding in between. Then 5 coats of white and 5 coats of blue, plus 3 more coats of clear over the blue. For the finishing, they used rubbing compound and then wax. Polishing and buffing until it shined. Watch the slide show and tell me what you think.

title="Painting Yacht Wiskun in Samal">Painting Wiskun

Of course, Kjartan babysat the painting crew the whole time. Each morning, he walked around the boat with a marking pencil and made sure all imperfections were fixed before they proceeded to the next coat. Kjartan also had to correct some of their "bad habits and shortcuts". I think they are now ready to do more yachts. Kjartan is quite meticulous and I hope they have learned from him. All in all, we are happy with the work and have decided to get them to do the topside as well.

We welcome the Marina's very first sailing yacht - S/V Skokica, from Slovenia. Miran and his crew sailed from Lankawi to Davao via Zamboanga City where they officially checked into the Philippines. They had a set timeline.  They barely had time to pack up the sails, stow them away, before they left again to fly home to Slovenia. Wow! But at least, we had 2 days getting to know Miran. He is an Olympic silver medalist in Ski Jumping!! From the mountains down to the sea, sailing the world. I think it is quite remarkable. He is rushing back fairly quickly as part of the planning committee to the World Ski Jumping Championship in Norway this coming December.