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Nautical News
Mark: 11 August 2010
SWIFT INFLATABLES in Kuah has a new, fully equipped
MERCURY SERVICE CENTRE
for repairing MERCURY Outboard Motors, Sterndrives and Cummins diesel engines. They also repaire other makes of outboards such as Yamaha and Suzuki.
Most spare parts can be delivered within two days from order.
Today all modern marine engines, whether outboard or inboard, are fitted with Electronic Control Modules (ECM’s), also called Process Control Modules (PCM’S), which regulate the operation of the engine. To properly maintain and to service the engine it is essential to be able to monitor the ECM or PCM with a computer diagnostic system. Swift is equipped with a Mercury SPX Computer Diagnostic System (CDS) that enables them to check the functioning of all electronic modules and electrical circuits on a Mercury outboard motor or inboard engine.
Their new website is now up and contains a broad spectrum of Marine Equipment and Services.
Big Logs in the Water
Bob: 30 June 2010
WARNING from boat operator.
Local boat owner Tony Williams has kindly supplied details of large logs and old trees that have washed up on the beach recently. With the present high tides they can refloat and there are probably many more in the area which might reach the beach. These pose a serious threat to all boat owners. With a smooth sea you might see them but with a rough sea they are hidden and lurking just below the surface. - Care should also be taken when using the channel close to the Star Cruise jetty, between Kuah Harbour and all beaches on the west coast. Other boat operators reading this might like to assist by moving the trees and logs to above the high tide mark to reduce the risk and help clear any debris from the water.
Thanks to Tony for this information.
Some Problems with Jet Skis & Para-Sailing in Langkawi
Bob: 13 Feb. 2010
In the Trip Advisor Forum there is yet another complaint about an accident with a Para-Sailor damaging the instruments on the top of the mast of a sailing boat with an entangled rope (endangering the flier to fall down) and a further complaint of a Jet Ski scratching the Gel-Coat on another yacht.
It seems advisable for sailing boats not to cruise or anchor at the Pantai Cenang coast, if not necessary.
Read more: Some Problems with Jet Skis & Para-Sailing in Langkawi
New Service for Boat People in Kuah
Bob: 11 Feb. 2010
Boating people can now restock their liquid needs and other items inside the Jetty Pelancongan building (the ‘Blue’ Jetty).
The small shop lot run by Surin offers:
Soft Drinks, Water, Ice Cream, Beers (and take away cold beer), Wine (Cask and Bottle), Champagne, Sun Hats, Post Cards, Torch Lights, Fishing Lines, Lotions (Sun/Bath / Nivea Cream), Shaving Cream/ Blades, Batteries, Books in exchange, Charts (old and new), Ropes and different Boating Items.
Surin also provides free information if you need to know something in or around Langkawi and can give you travel advice around Malaysia. She also helps with transport & cargo.
Visit soon and see what's there.
Ray Roberts wins the 5th Langkawi Regatta
Source: Asian Yachting
All eyes were on the clash of the titans in the racing class of the Langkawi Regatta.
Ray Roberts put Evolution Racing into the box position at the start, and although neck and neck with Neil Pryde's Hi Fi up the first beat, they held a slight advantage at the windward mark.
Christmas with Somali pirate captors
Bob: 25 Dec 2009 
Original article by Tristan McConnell
from www.timesonline.co.uk
British couple, Paul & Rachel Chandler seized by pirates exactly two months ago face a Christmas with their Somali captors after it appeared that their call for the British Government to get them “out by Christmas”, had fallen on deaf ears.
Paul Chandler, 58, and his wife Rachel, 55, were captured by pirates who crept on board their yacht, the "Lynn Rival", close to the Seychelles in October.
IODA ASIAN CHAMPIONSHIP 2009
Mark: 22 Dec. 2009
But: WHO WON ??
Yesterday I got a phone call from Bob, asking me: "Did you hear anything about who won the Optimist Championship? I looked everywhere and can't find the results in any newspapers." - I answered him that this had probably only one explanation: that it was not a Malaysian who won .... - So we went and searched a bit and found it: And indeed - it was a 15 year old Thai girl, Noppako Poonpat.
For those interested: here is the table of the winners
Langkawi to host Asian sailing meet.
Bob: 15. Nov 2009 / Source: The Star
From the 12 to the 20 Dec. 2009 - the Kuah Harbour will act as the racing area and the National Sailing Centre as the shore venue for 140 sailors from 30 countries.
Organised under the authority of the International Optimist Dinghy Association (IODA), the Asian meet will feature the Optimist Individual events (boys and girls) and the Optimist Team Racing event.
Langkawi: Yachting Laws
Bob: 10 Nov. 2009
Confusion with some Yachting Laws
In recent weeks the Langkawi Gazette has been asked questions by readers, which would seem to indicate there is some confusion with laws for yachts.
With high season starting this month and hundreds of cruising yachts about to arrive
in Langkawi, now is a good time to address these questions which were clarified today by the head of Immigration Headquarters at Telaga Harbour.
Here are the points that were discussed:
Langkawi: Nautical Bits has a new Address
Mark: 31 Oct. 2009
Update of Marine Guide: Maintenance and Repairs
Nautical Bits Sdn Bhd has changed address and moved into the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, into the "Boatique" (ex Surin).
Contact: Sheila and Paul: 012 555 8588 - Email: paullangkawi@myjaring.net
Simpson Marine in Langkawi have Closed
As from 2 October, 2009 Simpson Marine have closed
their office in Langkawi. If you need to contact them the
nearest Simpson office is Port Dickson Tel: 606-6476868
For sales enquiries or listings of sail and power boats,
in Langkawi, Penang or Phuket, contact the local brokerage company YBC - Yacht Broker & Charters (Langkawi) Sdn.Bhd on (6) 014-2535038 or go to the YBC website here. to obtain their email address.
It is still plain sailing in Langkawi !
September 21, 2009 / Source: The Star.
Despite the economy downturn, the Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) in 2010 will still go on as planned,
There had been fears that the annual regatta, which is part of the Asian Regatta calendar, might be shelved due to the economy.
But the regatta organisers Royal Langkawi Yacht Club (RLYC) allayed the fears by confirming in a press statement that they are calling for entries for the popular event scheduled for Jan 11-15 in Langkawi.
Classic Yacht Restoration in Thailand
Bob, 21 Sept. 2009
The story of the restoration of "EIGER",
by Gai and Mike.
A Classic Cornu plan built by Vandernotte,
Nantes, France in 1961.
Whilst continuing our cruising/working
holiday on SV Whimoway, and after 3 years
in Satun, southern Thailand whilst Mike
was Head Shipwright on the historical
restoration of the 113 year old gaff ketch
yacht Cariad, we now find ourselves
restoring another boat of our own, 'EIGER'.
Sailing: Malaysia is World's Best Team.
August 15, 2009 / BERNAMA NEWS:
Malaysia's sailing squad emerged as the best team in the IODA's 2009 World Sailing Championship in the Optimist class in Niteroi, Brazil which ended Saturday.
The win is a gift in conjunction with the Merdeka Day on Aug 31, said Mohd Afendy Abdullah, general manager of the Malaysian Yachting Association. (MYA)
Malaysia's First Submarine is Now in the Strait of Malacca
Shirley, 3 September 2009 / Source: Bernama
Guess what is coming our way?
"KD Tunku Abdul Rahman" (KD TAR), Malaysia's first Scorpene submarine is now in the Malacca Strait and sailing towards Port Klang for the official welcoming ceremony today.
Read more: Malaysia's First Submarine is Now in the Strait of Malacca
Langkawi’s first Solar Powered Tour Boat
Mark, 28 June 2009
No Noise, No Cost, No Pollution
JungleWalla Nature Tours has just gotten Langkawi’s first Solar Powered Boat.
“ It has been Irshad’s wish for quite a while to have an environmental friendly motor boat to reduce noise, fuel and exhaust pollutants. Early this year that dream came true when we met Philip Johnston, director of Power Eco Energy Solutions.”
Fighting Pirates
Bob: 02.06.09 New Straits Times.
Container ship joins navy to fight pirates.
A container ship has joined the navy as an auxiliary vessel on its anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden. MISC Bhd, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Navy and the National Security Council converted the MV Bunga Mas Lima to escort and protect its ships sailing through the pirate-infested gulf off the coast of Somalia.
DINGHY STOLEN in Kuah Harbour
15.05.2009/ by aejae: 14th May 09
Kuah Harbour, 20 May 2009
At 07.15 a yachtie spotted a partially submerged dinghy adrift in the north part of Kuah Harbor approximately 1 km off the shore in front of Bella Vista hotel.
As he prepared to investigate, a small longtail fishing boat with 2 fishermen aboard arrived at the dinghy and after investigating took it in tow.
Langkawi gets its sea ambulance
( Story & Photo from "The Nation")
The much-awaited sea ambulance has finally arrived in Langkawi. The sea ambulance is a ferry which has been equipped with the latest medical equipment. It also has a room for patients and a medical team to accompany them during the journey. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the ferry would be used to send patients to the mainland for treatment and for sea rescue. The people in Langkawi had been asking for such an ambulance and now the Government has fulfilled its promise to get one.
Emergency ship: Liow, Ong and Dr Mahathir viewing the sickbay of the sea ambulance ‘Suhail’ at Perdana Quay in Langkawi yesterday. With them are (from left) the director-general of the marine Department Datuk Kapt. Ahmad Othman, Hospital Langkawi director Dr Selahudden Abdul Aziz and Langkawi MP Datuk Abu Bakar Taib.
“Patients from Langkawi previously were transferred using the normal ferry or a chartered ferry,” he told reporters after jointly launching the sea ambulance with Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat at Telaga Harbour Park here yesterday.
Liow said the ministry spent about RM500,000 last year to charter ferries to send patients with chronic illnesses to the mainland, adding that with this sea ambulance, the ministry was able to reduce costs and dependency on such ferries.
“In 2007/ 2008, 154 and 142 patients respectively were sent to mainland hospitals using these ferries.” During the same press conference, Ong said the sea ambulance in Langkawi was among seven approved under the Eighth and Ninth Malaysia Plan. “The other six sea ambulances were placed in Port Klang, Mersing, Pulau Tioman, Pulau Pangkor, Kuala Terengganu and Labuan. The ambulances cost RM56mil.”
