We welcome our new visitors from Australia. She is a beautiful catamaran, 48 foot long and I believe 23 foot wide. They were on their way back to Australia via Indonesia when they got caught in the sustained southerly winds (thanks to the developing low pressure system that eventually became super typhoon "Morakot"). As I understand it, the headwinds were strong, but it wasn't the wind that bothered them, but the constant banging into the big swells. Because of this, they have some damage to their boat, major enough that they cannot continue on with their original plans. SV Lady Emma has suggested for them to come here to Samal to assess the damage. Here they are now and we will help them as much as we can.

Inside the Davao gulf, we do not feel the effects of a low pressure system outside other than some passing squally rain and wind. We do not see the building seas, the big swells, and the crashing waves. Instead, we complain of yet another hot, muggy and windless day. In the gulf, we are protected by the mountains and the land surrounding us. However, during the habagat season, the prevalent winds are from the south. Since the opening to the gulf is in the south, we do have swells coming in. This recent low pressure system deepened to Super Typhoon Morakot that destroyed the coastline of Taiwan. When it was developing, the seas started to build up outside and I have noticed the swells coming into the gulf. So much so that the bangkas (outriggers) and boats that normally anchor south of us moved over to this area where we are. As you can see from the picture, the area here is somewhat protected from the southerly swells.

Back to our Australian friends, Kjartan went to look over the damage. The original thought was to beach it somewhere in order to repair it. However, to do it right, it is best to haul out. The boatyard is not ready to haul out any other vessel while the ferry is there taking the whole area. With several brainpowers together, they came up with the idea of using a crane to haul the catamaran out. It is possible - and with the nods of everyone concerned, action is now implemented to start building the sling for the haulout. More articles will come from this, I am sure. For now, we are happy to just sit back, relax and socialize with our Australian friends. It is very nice to talk "cruising" talks again. As for our friends, they should just do the same - sit back and relax. Nothing can be done now anyway as everything has to take its course. It is easy to fret over so many problems that need fixing, but taking one thing at a time is the best attitude to take. I must say this was a very important attitude Kjartan taught me over the years and I thank him for that.

By the way, we now have 2 Australian catamarans tied to the moorings we dropped last year. Each have different needs and we will try to accomodate as much as we can.