Year End Cruising

Stella left berth number 63 of Jakarta's Pantai Mutiara Marina on the Christmas Day of 2008 to Saberro Marina in Carita with Imam as skipper and Yanto as deck hand. We joined at Carita on the 26Th of December 2008 to Pulau Peucang, Ujung Kulon National Park.

This time, I was accompanied by Amir, Chandra, Edo, James and Albert. The sea was very rough with strong westerly wind and easterly current. We reached Pulau Peucang after 7 hours instead of the usual 5 hours in a bumpy and unpleasant ride. Most of us got sea sick and emptied our stomach to the sea. We stayed 2 nights at the straits across the jetty of Pulau Peucang in a calm mirror-like water. What a wonderful stay. We did some walking to Karang Copong, but mostly having fun on the beach and swimming. Lots of rains. We had cold Japanese noodles (zaru soba) and tempura for lunch on one occasion, Korean noodles and fried rice for dinner on other days.

On the 29Th we cruised 5 hours to Muara Binuangeun. Bumpy ride to Karang Kereta but pleasant ride to Muara Binuangeun. We trolled the water on the way but caught nothing. Milky water and the fishes lost the appetite to bite our baits. We spent over night at Muara Binuangeun and had grilled and fried fish for lunch and lobsters and pasta for dinner from the fish market nearby.

The next day on the 30Th of December 2008 we cruised 10 hours from Muara Binuangeuen to Ujung Genteng and back to Pelabuhan Ratu around 5 pm that day. What a ride. We thought Ujung Genteng was near from Pelabuhan Ratu, so when we almost reached Pelabuhan Ratu we continued our journey to Ujung Genteng, where we thought already on sight. Ujung Genteng actually was 28 NM away. It took us 3 hours to go and another 3 hours to go back to Pelabuhan Ratu after worrying to get hit by severe southerly winds. Finally, we stayed 4 nights at Pelabuhan Ratu with local fishermen. Quite an experience.

We met our long time fishing guide, Herry and Wewen. Last time we met it was about 15 years ago. We were about to brought in a big marlin but after 6 hours fight by everybody on board, I mean everybody, we lost the fish and we had to rent a beaten minibus to Pelabuhan Ratu at a raining night, wet and cold. Not easy to forget that kind of experience.