Until entering the Java Sea, north of Java many of the anchorages are on narrow shelfs which drop off rapidly to 50 m or more. Several of the Sail Indonesia supported locations really do not have sufficient space safely to accomodate the rally fleet, or even half of it.

We added extra chain to our normal 60 m on several occasions in order to have sufficient scope to anchor in 25 m or so. We did this more times on this trip than we have in the last 7 years cruising put together.

One consequence of these depths is that some boats use insufficient scope and drag. Others anchor too close to boats already there and swing into them.

With the widespread use of flashing LED lights in lieu of proper anchor or navigation lights by both fishing boats and, regrettably, yachts, anchorages have become very confusing. It is no longer safe to assume that a flashing white light is a north cardinal, that a flashing red or green is a lateral marker or that a flashing blue is official. A flashing amber in this part of the world is a ferry, not an air-cushion vessel.

There appear to be very few places in Indonesia where yachts can come alongside to fuel, with the consequence that there is much ferrying of fuel in jerrycans. Apparently the local fishing boats use diesel cut with kerosene which may or may not be suitable for modern yacht engines. There is usually a local entrepreneur who will take you jerrycans to the service station , often on a motorbike. Sometimes he has access to a boat and will bring fuel out to the boat. Sometimes he has his own jerrycans, often without caps or with leaky ones so can get deliver a larger quantity thjan will fit inb your own cans. The fuel must be filtered. We used jerrycans throughout Indonesia, having only resorted to them once during the previous 7 years cruising.

Anchorage location: 10° 09'.44 S, 123° 34'.55 E, depth 10 m

Off the town

A pontoon dinghy dock had been constructed but it disintegrated in the swell.

Landing is on the beach. Onshore winds can make this positively dangerous

170 miles. We did it overnight

Some boats anchored off the coast of Timor

Significant west-going current for much of the trip

Need to get the tides right for the passage up Selat Pantar between Pantar and Alor Islands. The Southeast Asia Cruising Guide gives the calculation method, which requires the time of moon's meridian passage obtained from the nautical almanac or by using various software packages.

Anchorage location: 08° 13'.41 S, 124° 30'.82 E, depth 23 m

There is limited space on the shallow shelf off the town. Arriving after many of the other boats, we could not find sufficient space to anchor safely clear of others on the shelf, so we extended our chain to 90 m and anchored in deep water.

Anchorage is reasonably sheltered but subject to strongish breezes in the afternoon. Because of the lack of space boats tended to use insufficient scope and some dragged.

90 miles

2 day sails with overnight stop at Teluk Balaurin on Lembata

Anchorage location: 08° 14'.96 S, 123° 41'.79 E, depth 9 m. There are shallow patches, >5 m to the east of our anchorage position and also further to the west.

A well indented bay. Anchorage is at the south-east corner of the bay, south of the village harbour on a fairly narrow shelf. There are rocks close to the east of given anchorage location and also further to the west.

This anchorage was sheltered in the southerly conditions we had but would be exposed to anything from the north or northwest

The village harbour is reported to be very deep and obstructed by numerous fishing floats

Confusingly, the island of Lembata is also known as Kawula

Anchorage location: 08° 22'.01 S, 123° 24'.75 E, depth 10 m

Anchorage is inside a reef in a very large bay, there is plenty of room for the yachts to find space, avoiding the fishing nets laid in the anchorage.

A dinghy landing jetty had been constructed for Sail Indonesia to the SW of our anchoring position.

The reef would give some protection from the north

105 miles

3 day sails with overnight stops at Sagu Bay, Serbete Island, Teluk Hading

Anchorage location: 08° 14'.36 S, 123° 13'.53 E, depth 8 m

Anchorage is in a well-indented bay off a coconut plantation to the east of the village. Well sheltered from all locations except north

The shelf is reasonably wide. There are rocks close to the east of the given position. There are also bommies with less than 2 m well out into the bay (one at 08° 14?.180 S, 123° 13?.382 E) to be avoided on arrival and departure. Good light is recommended.

Anchorage location: 08° 09'.38 S, 123° 02'.07 E, 15 m

This anchorage is to the north of the reef to the east of the very small Serbete Island, lying NW of the strait between Adunara and Flores.

We approached from the north of the island and skirted the reef, expecting to find a shallow patch on which to anchor but the reef dropped away rapidly for most of its length. The location given is a sort of lagoon at the north end of a pass through the reef, which could possibly take a keelboat in good light.

It was slightly uncomfortable at the change of tide when the stern was into the 25 knot wind. It would be untenable in much mre or in a northerly. At least one other boat spent some time parked on this reef, so good light is essential on approach and departure. We attempted to leave due north from the anchorage in the morning and retreated on finding bommies with less than 4 m. We retraced our track and left as we had come in.

Other boats found anchorage to the south of the pass and also off the sandbank to the east.

Anchorage location: 08° 17'.81 S, 122° 49'.02 E, 7 m

The anchorage (11B in 101 Anchorages) is off a small village on the south side of the very large Teluk Hading. Exposed to the north.

Again there is a narrow shelf, which has substantial patches of coral severely limiting the available space.

We totally failed to find the gently shelving sandy bottom mentioned at this location in 101 Anchorages.

Anchorage location: 08° 38'.00 S, 122° 18'.56 E, 23 m Anchor in 23 m, boat in 32 m

Sea World is some 8 M to the east of the town of Maumere and also 8 M west of the coordinates given by Sail Indonesia for the location.

The anchorage is on a narrow shelf between reefs to the east and west. There is insufficient space for the fleet to anchor in comfortable depths. Arriving later than most of the fleet we took several attempts to find a very marginal spot and were effectively anchored on the drop-off with 90 m of chain.

It was fortunate that the boats inside us had left before the wind went onshore and all the boats swung, as these boats were anchored in about 8 m depth on much less chain.

The anchorage is totally exposed to anything from the north.

40 miles day-sail

Anchorage location: 08° 30'.46 S, 121° 47'.68 E, anchor in 14 m, boat in 7.5 m.

Teluk Mausambi was the designated Sail Indonesia stop-over titled Ende. This was very confusing as the town of Ende is actually on the south coast of Flores, the anchorage is on the north coast!

There are a number of bommies in the anchorage which need to be avoided, so good light is needed. Arriving after most of the fleet we anchored well to the east of the dinghy pontoon that had been constructed for the Sail Indonesia fleet. At most states of the tide this pontoon did not actually reach the dry beach and was subject to substantial swell, particularly in the evenings. There is another anchorage between reefs at the west of the bay which also offered a more protected dinghy landing at the expense of a walk along the beach.

Other boats anchored some 2 miles to the east in a reportedly more sheltered location

160 miles

6 day sails, one very short. Overnight stops in Teluk Ciendeh, Riung, 17 Islands NP, Teluk Lingeh, Gili Bodo

Anchorage location: 08° 36'.64 S, 121° 31'.10 E, 5 m

A very indented bay with a narrow entrance giving excellent shelter from all directions and shallow water. Plenty of room to anchor outside the fishing boats. Could easily accomodate the whole fleet.

Anchorage location: 08° 24'.61 S, 121° 01'.52 E, 14 m

Our anchorage was off the new concrete jetty close to the drying shallows that surround it.

Well sheltered by offshore islands

There is a wooden jetty to the east of the anchorage giving access to a stilted village and, after a 500 m walk, the more substantial main village.

:Anchorage location: 08° 23'.63 S, 121° 04'.71 E, anchor in 8 m, boat in 20 m.

We anchored off the fourth island east from Riung, in the national park. It probably does have a name but not on the chart!

We edged in towards the beach and anchored on a sandy patch close to the shore and then pulled the chain out over the drop-off, putting a stern anchor out to hold us off the beach.

Sheltered from the north, moderate fetch from the south but comfortable when we were there

Some reasonable coral.

Anchorage location: 08° 16'.50 S, 120° 35'.55 E, 10 m

There is a substantial reef stretching across the bay, much further than is shown on the mud map in 101 Anchorages or on the chart. A boat just ahead of us hit the reef trying to cross it and spent an uncomfortable 6 hours on her side.

We anchored outside the reef having tried to render assistance. It is possible to round the end of the reef and anchor off the village (101 Anchorages - 22). Good light is needed to see the extent of the reef

Our anchorage was exposed to the NW.

Anchorage location: 08° 22'.22 S, 120° 00'.87 E, 11 m

This anchorage (101 Anchorages - 23) is behind a reef on the west side of the island with a single entrance at the NW end. There is good shelter and room for about 20 boats. Bottom is mostly sand with coral patches.

The reef would protect from the west.

Reasonable snorkelling. Beach access over the reef at low water can be tricky.

Anchorage location: 08° 30'.93 S, 119° 51'.99 E, 10 m

The location for the Sail Indonesia activities was at Pantai Pade, between our anchorage point and the town of Labuan Bajo. Our anchorage was off the Eco Lodge resort, where most of the rally fleet anchored (101 Anchorages - 26). The shallow aea here extends well out from the beach.

It was also possible to anchor off the town (101 Anchorages - 24 and 25) or off Pantai Pade itself.

There are shallows with lots of fishing floats, some linked with ropes just below the surface off the point between the Eco Lodge and Pantai Pade. Take this very wide even in the dinghy.

258 M, 7 day sails with overnight stops at Rinca, Gili Lawa Laut, Teluk Wera, Tangung Pantjo, Kananga, Pulau Medang, Gili Lawang

Anchorage location: 08° 39'.06 S, 119° 42'.78 E, 22 m

Anchorage in an inlet leading to the National Park offices. Room for about 5 boats in shallower water further in. Fairly narrow with shallows on both sides. Good shelter. (101 Anchorages - 39). Guided tours to see the Komodo Dragons.

Anchorage location: 08° 26'.86 S, 119° 34'.16 E, anchor in 15 m, boat in 23 m.

A pleasant bay on the north of the island with fringing reefs to the east and west. Sandy beach. There were several boats already there preventing us getting into shallower water. Again a fairly steep drop off from about 3-4 m to 15+. There are 3 mooring buoys laid in the bay which are used by both yachts and cruise boats. (101 Anchorages - 40). Good beach, no habitation. Reasonable snorkelling, with mainly soft corals but the reef has suffered from dynamiting in the past. There were turtles though.

Anchorage location: 08° 17'.57 S, 118° 55'.82 E, 10 m

An open passage anchorage.

Anchorage location: 08° 15'.97 S, 118° 26'.76 E, anchor in 8 m, boat in 11-18 m.

Anchorage is to the south of a fairly extensive reef, giving improved shelter. Again it is possible to get closer in ifno-one is already there!

There is a small habitation ashore. There appear to be similar anchorages along the coast between Tangung Joeli and Kilo.

Anchorage location: 08° 08'.47 S, 117° 46'.01 E, anchor in 15 m, boat in 7 m.

Another narrow shelf off a village and opposite the island of Satonda. There are shallows to both sides.

Anchorage location: 08° 08'.47 S, 117° 22'.36 E, anchor in 14 m, boat in 8 m.

A pleasant stop. Extensive reefs off the beach make low water landing difficult. Seems to be a popular party spot for local boats although there is no village on this side of the island. (101 Anchorages - 52). Some fishermen's huts.

Anchorage location: 08° 17'.73 S, 116° 41'.40 E, 5 m

Anchorage in a gap between the reefs of the west side of the island. Good light needed to enter. Excellent shelter. We approached from the north. Room for 4-5 boats only. Other anchorages in the area. (101 Anchorages - 57). Water is cloudy.

The Sail Indonesia activities were close to a resort around the headland to the east of Gili Air. The waypoint given for the anchorage by Sail Indonesia was some 2 miles out at sea in deep water. With wind blowing fairly strong from the NE we did not close the coast and reefs to try to find the correct place. Boats coming later, in calmer or southerly conditions did find the anchorage, sheltered between two reefs.

We used two anchorages, one of them twice - Gili Air and Teluk Kombal..

Anchorage location (1): 08° 21'.93 S, 116° 05'.02 E, 18 m

Anchorage location (2): 08° 22'.03 S, 116° 04'.89 E, 23 m

OK when calm but wind gets up strongly from the south in the afternoon. There are moorings available for a small charge but several boats at anchor and on the moorings dragged. Lots of restaurants ashore as well as small shops. We had a day trip booked and did not feel secure leaving the boat, so left for Teluk Kombal. (101 Anchorages - 59)

We moved back when it was calmer and we were not planning to leave the boat. Again boats were dragging moorings. We anchored in deep water outside everyone and were OK. At this point wind and tide set boats in different directions so plenty of swinging room is needed.

Mooring location: 08° 24'.29 S, 116° 04'.53 E

There are a number of mooring buoys, freshly laid, in the bay. We picked up one and were quite secure. There are also several older buoys, intended for small boats only which are definitely not secure. There is a charge for the use of the moorings. (101 Anchorages - 58)

75 M, Two day sails, overnight stop at Saneh Bay.

Anchorage location: 08° 04'.87 S, 115° 14'.26 E, 6M, sand

A good wide bay with anchorage in reasonable depths off a village and apartments. Exposed to the north.

Anchorage location: 08° 09'.69 S, 115° 01'.23 E, 6 m

Anchorage off the resort area of Lovina, plenty of room in reasonable depths. Reef to the east to avoid on entry. (101 Anchorages - 66). Large resort area with permanent restaurants and shops. WiFi available in the anchorage!

290 M. Day passage to overnight stop at Raas Island, overnight passage to Bawean, overnight there and then overnight passage to Karimun Jawa. Lots of fishing boat activity at night.

Anchorage location: 07° 07'.17 S, 114° 30'.30 E, 17 m

Anchor held at 2nd attempt (just as well as the windlass then failed!). Good shelter inside a large barrier reef. Good light desirable for entry through the wide pass and around the reef. Gets a lot shallower to the west of our anchorage location towards the village

Anchorage location: 05° 43'.81 S, 112° 40'.04 E, 9 m

A sheltered bay on the north coast of the island with plenty of room. Lots of fish traps. Offshore these are bamboo rafts with a vertical marker. Inshore the vertical marker has been dispensed with so they are just bamboo poles lying flat in the water. (101 Anchorages - 69)

Anchorage location: 05° 51'.496 S, 110° 25'.71 E, 10 m

The Sail Indonesia waypoint for this anchorage was right in the very shallow fishing harbour. A catamaran that attempted the entry had some difficulty extracting itself. Most boats anchored off the main village or in the area that had been designated for anchoring just to the north. Both these locations were in 15+ meters and subject to tidal streams. We chose to anchor in an inlet between the reefs somewhat to the north. Room for 4 or 5 boats in this inlet. This was very sheltered even though, as third boat there, we didn't have the best position. With two anchors down we felt confident in leaving Sea Bunny for 4 days. The local coastguard arranged patrols to keep an eye on the boats, and even provided a ferry service so we did not have to leave the dinghy ashore for 4 days (small charge).

We would have liked to have had more time to explore the islands.

210M, overnight passage

Anchorage location: 02° 44'.81 S, 111° 43'.74 E, anchor in 14 m, boat in 7.5 m.

Anchorage in the river opposite the town, about 2 hours from the river entrance. We were the southernmost of the rally yachts. With no windlass we wanted to be clear of everyone else! The action was based on Heri's Yacht Services on the west bank about ¼ M to the north. Good holding in mud, but strong tidal streams. (101 Anchorages - 71).

The river is shallow in places on the way up (3-4 m in places).

240 M, 2 night passages. Lots of barge traffic. While tugs are usually correctly lit their tows are generally not - they may have a dim stern light.

Anchorage location: 02° 33'.41 S, 107° 40'.63 E, 8 m.

Anchorage off the beach, where a “village” had been constructed for the rally and was effectively being dismantled as we left. Some permanent beach restaurants and ruins of a large resort hotel. Good holding on sand. Clearance out of Indonesia had been arranged here for the rally.

305 M, 2 night passage then overnight stops at Mesenak Island and Cuma Island.

Anchorage location: 00° 25'.82 N, 104° 31.49 E, 10 m

Back in the northern hemisphere!

Anchorage to the east of fishing platform, outside the reef. (101 Anchorages - 85)

Anchorage location: 01° 00'.26 N, 104° 08'.31 E, 9 m

Anchorage to the east of the small Cuma Island, which is to the west of the larger Nginang Island off the Riau Strait. Holding is good on mud. Tidal streams significant. Easy reach of Singapore or Sebana Cove.

Most Sail Indonesia rally participants had checked out from Indonesia in Belitung. Boats that had done so were refused entry to Nongsa Point Marina on Batam. (Seems reasonable to us but some were surprised/annoyed).

Berth location: 01° 17?.67 N, 103° 45?.67 E, Republic of Singapore Yacht Club Marina

Full marina facilities, very helpful staff, good value restaurant, fine dining restaurant, excellent swimming pool, WiFi to the boat, laundry and a FUEL DOCK!

Unfortunately the marina is severely affected by swell from the adjacent terminal from which boats servicing the ships at anchor operate, particularly during the day.

In 2008 customs and immigration clearance could be done at the marina but we understand this may be changing.