We did this passage in 6 day sails, stopping overnight at Pulau Pisang, Pulau Besar, Port Dickson (several nights), Pulau Angsa and Pulau Pangkor.

There are numerous fishing buoys, structures and nets in the shallow waters inside the Malacca Straits traffic separation zone which indicate against sailing at night. We were also advised against anchoring alone overnight as there is significant traffic in illegal immigrants from Sumatra and the trafficers could see a lone yacht as easy pickings on their return.

Generally we stayed in the deeper water outside the inshore shoals and outside the TSS.

Off Port Klang (where we did not stop) we decided against Selat Che Mat Zin as it appeared too shallow in places - as confirmed by catamarans who used it. We went to the west of Pulau Pintu Gedong and Pulau Selat Kering up a deep channel.

90 M

From Lumut we went to Pulau Pangkor for a few days R&R, hull cleaning and repairs then day sail to anchorage inside Pulau Jerejak then under the bridge to Georgetown.

67 M

There was no rush for this trip so after a day sail from Penang to the south of the Langkawi island group we took it easy.

Again the passage was done in day sails, overnighting in Penang (several nights between Jerejak and Penang), Pangkor, Pulau Angsa, Port Dickson (several nights), Pulau Besar (Water Islands) and Pulau Pisang. The route was similar to the northbound passage. Weather was generally light, except for a strong "Sumatran" while we were in Port Dickson and a southerly squall (30+ knots) while approaching the Johor Strait.

Another day sail passage, with stops at Pulau Pisang, Pulau Besar, Tanjung Rhu (just north of Port Dickson), Pulau Tengah, Pulau Pangkor and Penang.  Weather generally light - lots of motoring.  Daily rain squalls south of Pangkor.

At the south end of the channel between Penang and the mainland, just south of Pulau Jerejak there are (February 2011) substantial works in progress - for the second bridge.  There are clusters of piles at less than 50 m spacing, extending into the buoyed channel.  There is a larger gap at one point, presumably where the ship passage will be.  It is not known whether the obstructions are lit at night.  In February 2011 it was possible to pass to the west of the last pile cluster, between it and the shallows, but they will presumably be extended to the Penang shore.

Anchorage position: 01° 27'.92 N 103° 43'.45 E, 4 m, mud Nov 2008

Our first attempt to anchor left us in 2.5 m with some tide still to fall. The given location is on the western edge of the channel which needs to be left clear for a large party boat. Landing by the first restaurant complex or further up river where the party boat docks.

Posh restaurants in the first complex - Italian and Chinese. Cheaper options further along. Shopping complex with ATM etc about 500 m.

We checked in to Malaysia here by special arrangement for the rally as Puteri Harbour Marina had not yet opened.

We had been asked to contact Puteri Harbour by VHF before passing under the Second Crossing Bridge (Tuas Bridge). We got an immediate response from Jurong Traffic Control who did not understand what we wanted! Never did hear from Puteri Harbour.

Danga Bay is being developed as a tourist attraction. The hype refers to the "pristine blue waters". The reality is a muddy river mouth with all sorts of rubbish floating down - including dead cats and huge quantities of plastic.

There is now (2010) a small marina, free of charge in early 2011 but Sea Bunny has not been there.

Position: 01° 25'.1 N 103° 39'.5 E. 22-25 May & 1 June 2010, 17 - 25 January 2011

VHF channel 18.  Marina asks you to call after passing the Tuas bridge.  However, we have not been able to contact by VHF until about 2 miles out.

New marina in the West Johor Strait. Tuas Bridge limits access to 25 m air draft.

Excellent shelter behind substantial rock wall. Well constructed pontoons. Water and electricity.

Marina will arrange clearances (RM 50). For immigration clearance if arriving or departing foreign (e.g Singapore) they will take you to immigration at the contaniner port.

No fuel dock but will take you to a petrol station for jerry-can fill or use their 200 l drums. Check drums for water/contamination before filling - we didn't and had to discard some fuel.  In 2011 a tank has been installed in the outer basin enabling alongside fuelling on a makeshift pontoon.  This is at commercial prices (RM2.50 / l) as opposed to subsidised petrol station prices (RM 1.80 / l + transport cost).

Free minibus to supermarket on Thursdays, to night market on Tuesdays and to local bus station on demand (3 hours notice). Chargeable transfers to Johor Bahru city or airport, Changi Airport etc.

Cafe, laundry, good toilets and showers. No swimming pool.

Situated in Nusa Jaya, a new city intended to replace JB as the main city of the state. Roads and infrastructure in place and state government offices already transferred.

Marina staff are friendly and helpful. No marine contractors at marina but staff can apparently organise (not tried by Sea Bunny).

Marina prices are good (around 1/3 those of Raffles). Would be good for leaving boat while travelling.

Anchorage position: 01° 27'.91 N 103° 16'.02 E, 2 m (@ CD) Nov 2008

Anchorage is to the SE of the main island. A reasonable passage anchorage. On leaving we did not try the passage between P Pisang and P Suah to its east.

Anchorage position: 01° 27'.7 N 103° 15'.0 E, 5.8m. Thick mud, 26 January 2011

This anchorage is further west, to get better shelter from the easterly wind.  We approached and left to the west.

Anchorage position: 01° 28'.45 N 103° 16'.03 E, 7 m. Very thick sticky mud. 21 May 2010

This anchorage is just to the north of the smaller island, P Suah to the east of P Pisang. This gave good shelter from the SSW 10 knots that was blowing when we arrived. To the west of this position and north of the pass between P Suah and P Pisang the depths increase to >25 m and, judjing from the fishing stakes along the shore of P Pisang, shallows fairly rapidly as the shore is approached. We did not attempt the pass but it is probably significantly deeper than the charted < 2 m.

It took us around half an hour to get the mud off the chain and anchor!

Anchorage position: 02° 06'.24 N 102° 19'.90 E, 6 m Nov 2008 and 20 May 2010

P Besar is one of the Water Islands SW of Melaka.

Our anchorage to the east of the island, clear of the shallows off the village. Depths drop off quite sharply to the south.

It is possible to get a ferry into Melaka from here (but we didn't).

Anchorage position: 02° 06'.44 N 102° 19'.37 E, 10 m 27 January 2011

Anchorage is in the bay to the west of the island.  Chart shows a rocky foreshore, rocks are showing through the water closer in and the bottom comes up fairly rapidly.  At anchorage position bottom was mud and shelter from the easterly wind was good.

There is a large resort in the north of the bay but we saw no signs of life there.

Note: Sea Bunny did not stay here

While we did not stay at the marina on Sea Bunny, we did visit and stay on board a friend's boat.

Access to the marina is shallow , requiring high tide access for keel boats and depths in the marina are variable as it is reported to be silting.

The marina is enclosed behind piled walls which, having gaps between the piles, do not provide effective attenuation of swell or surge which, in a strong westerly or northerly, can be significant. The rolling in the marina which such swell causes mean that even monohulls must take a double pen and berth in the middle. In a one-week period boats broke mooring lines and/or the marina cleats. The latter are fixed in aluminium channels on the pontoons and are not through-bolted, enabling them to be physically pulled out. We also saw some cleats that had fractured onder the load.

The marina is situated on reclaimed land a 15 minute walk out of town. Apart from immigration, toilets and showers there are no facilities at the marina.

Position: 02° 28'.56 N 101° 50'.76 E Nov 08 (northbound) & May 2010 (southbound)

Approach from the south by rounding Tanjung Tuan and following the channel round. From the north you can either follow the coast round inside the sandbars or stay outside and cut across.

The marina has seen better days and not all berths have electricity and/or water. These facilities are allocated on a first come, first served basis even if you have a booking. It may help to clearly state that these facilities are required when booking. We did manage to get a powered berth but only after Susan asked whether the resort had somewhere we could store the food from our freezer.  Note: we understand that some refurbishment was carried out in late 2010/early 2011 but have not visited to see the latest situation

WiFi facilities in the bar (but not to the berths), good pool, restaurant and bar meals. Good 3G/HSDPA signal (Celcom). Fuel dock (but relatively expensive). Cheapish restaurants and a 7-11 store on the main road, about 10 minutes walk. Taxi to Melaka MYR 100-120 (90 minutes).

Note: we understand that some refurbishment was carried out in late 2010/early 2011 but have not visited to see the latest situation

Anchorage position: 02° 37'.9 N 101° 37'.4 E, 7 m mud. 28 January 2011

We may have been unlucky but we CANNOT recommend this anchorage - see below

This was an open roadstead anchorage in the shallow bay north of Port Dickson.  Bottom shelves gradually.  There is a habitation and aclump of trees on the foreshore just north of the anchorage position.  When we arrived there were a couple of small fishing booats at anchor off the habitation.

On coming in to anchor we checked for the presence of any fishing nets or buoys - there were none.  During the evening a net drifted doen and wrapped itself around the anchor chain - we were alerted by one of the floats banging on the hull.  The fisherman came and removed the net. A couple of hours later, after we had gone to bed there was more knocking on the hull.  This time the net had come from the stern - the tide was turning and had caught on the skeg.  The fisherman returned but this time could not remove the net. In fact he compounded the problem by trying to take it forward and wrapped it round the anchor chain.  He cut it free,  Another two hours later he was back.  The net was once again caught on the skeg and could not be freed - again he cut it free - leaving it under the boat.

In the morning it was a matter of minutes to snorkel and free the net from the skeg.  However, R missed another line  and net fragment which proceeded to wrap itself around the propeller when we put the engine into gear.  This required full dive gear and half an hour with the bread knife to clear.

Anchorage position: 02° 59'.0 N 101° 14'.5 E mud. 29 January 2011

Depths seem greater than charted.  The anchorage position is well on the mud according to the chart.

Having been delayed by the fishing net we were late on our passage north, we entered the straits between the islands west of Klang and anchored just south of the first fish farm on the east of Pulau Tengah.  We reckoned that no nets would be laid here as they would drift on to the farm pontoons.

Most of the fish nets are on the shalllows on the east side of the strait.

Anchorage position: 03° 10'.94 N 101° 13'.04 E, 10 m Nov 2008

We had a couple of attempts to anchor to the east of P Selatan, other boats being anchored in the best places to the south of P Angsa. Depths drop off more sharply than the chart shows. There were several fishing boats at anchor on rope with very long scopes. Eventually we went to the west of P Selatan and had a comfortable night in reasonably shallow water. If wind is right there is plenty of space on this side.

Anchorage position: 03° 11'.03 N 101° 13'.20 E, 13 m 11 May 2010. Wind N 10 knots

On our southbound passage we anchored to the south of the fishing boats, who were again on long lines. There were several other yachts close by to the S and W of us. Most of these had an uncomfortable night as the tide and wind worked against each other and the boats got a bit too close to each other. It seems we chose the best position (quite by chance). The bottom drops off quite sharply to the east.

The fishing boats can be very smelly!

Anchorage position: 04° 12'.48 N 100° 34'.73 E, 8 m Nov 08

Anchorage is off a village at the SE end of P Pangkor. Plenty of room on the edge of the channel between piers used by ferries.  We arrived under tow at 0200 to be shown where to anchor by other ralliers who had waited up for us.

Anchorage position: 04° 12'.6 N 100° 33'.1 E, 5 m Sandy mud/broken shell 10 May 2010. Wind NW 10 knots, 30-31 January 2011, wind S-SW 10 knots

The anchorage is in the bay on the west of Pangkor sheltered from the west by the smaller island of Pangkor Laut. Shelter was good in light to moderate SW-NW winds. It is possible to tuck further in to the bay to get better protection. Tide runs strongly between the islands, creating wind over tide conditions.

There are shops resorts and restaurants ashore on Pangkor. Reports are that the upmarket resort on Pangkor Laut does not welcome yachties.

A Jabatan Laut marina was established a couple of years ago (2008 or 2009 we think) on the small island of Pulau Mentangor, just off the northern side of the next bay north. As can be seen from the picture (January 2011), this was not a great success!

A few days after this photo was taken we were told that some of the pontoons had broken loose and were drifting in the Malacca Strait.  Not a good thing to hit!

Anchorage position: 04° 14'.41 N 100° 38'.53 E, 5 m, mud. Nov 08

The anchorage is off the grandly named Lumut International Yacht Club. The club has a small marina where some berths may be available.

Space needs to be left off the club for the tugs and barges which use the side channel leading SE past the club. The main channel also has significant traffic as well as anchored ships.

The club has a pool and free WiFi if you don't plug into the power, otherwise RM5 per day. There is also a charge of RM5 per day for the use of the club facilities - pontoon and pool.

500 m walk to town either by road or pleasant riverside path.

Anchorage position: 04° 14'.27 N 100° 32'.56 E, 4 m, sand. Nov 08

A pleasant bay with better water clarity (at least 1 m!). Restaurants and souvenir stalls ashore. A tourist destination for Malaysians.

Anchorage position: 05° 18'.77 N 100° 18'.35 E, 11 m. Nov 08

We chose to anchor on the east side of the passage between Penang and Jerejak. Others went on the west side. Fish farms on P Jerejak. Landing at jetties on Penang SW of the anchorage. No easy way of getting to the large shopping complex to the NW.

Anchorage position: 05° 19'.7 N 100° 18'.8 E, 12 m Mud. 4-9 May 2010, 1-6 February 2011

This anchorage, also on the Jerejak side of the passage gives easy dinghy access to a fishing boat jetty to the north of the Queensbay shopping mall. The jetty is about 10 minutes walk to the mall where buses and taxis are available (401E and 307 go to the ferry jetty and Komtar bus station). A road comes to the jetty so taxis can drop you off there and pick you up if pre-booked. There is a fish restaurant at the jetty which appears quite well patronised (we didn't try it) and a stall selling fish (also not tried).  Lots of rubbish on the bottom, so make sure anchor is well set.

Position: 05° 24'.83 N 100° 20'.64 E November 2008 and 7 - 23 February 2011

Marina is rolly, being close to the ferry dock and exposed to the east. Passing traffic creates wash.  Many boats use two berths with lines keeping them off the finger jetty.  We  broke 1n 18 mm nylon mooring line in the surge. Strong tides set through it so caution is needed on arrival and departure. Some berths are very shallow so specify draft on booking. Reports in 2009 are that it is getting even shallower.  Our 2011 visit confirmed that the silting up is progressing.  The rolliest pontoons closest to the ferries have been removed.  We were in berth C20, at the outer end of C pontoon and were on the mud at low tide.  The photo shows the inner berths at LW springs.

However, the marina  is very central, close to the city and Little India and walking distance to most of the city sights. The bus station at the ferry terminal is 100 m. There is a bus (usually not aircon) from there to the large Tesco supermarket.

There is an onsite restaurant.  Free washing machine (in lobby to the ladies' showers/toilets).

A very noisy disco operates Friday and Saturday nights on the pier to the north of the marina

Anchorage position: 06° 10'.64 N 99° 48'.07 E, 4 m sand. Nov 2008
Anchorage position: 06° 10'.87 N 99° 48'.05 E, 2 m (CD) soft mud. 17 March 2011

Very scenic in a bay on the south of the island.  Shallow quiite a long way out.  Nice sandy beach with monkeys. 

 In the small sandy bay on the east side of the main bay (06° 10'.75 N 99° 48'.28 E) there are tables, benches and an oil drum bar-b-que, presumably set up by one of the resorts. Being close to the trees, the BBQ could be a bit of a fire risk.

Anchorage position: 06° 11'.29 N 99° 43'.90 E, 7 m, sand Nov 2008

Another pleasant, peaceful bay with a couple of beaches.

Anchorage position: 06° 12'.1 N 99° 46'.8 E, 5 m. Mud. 24 February 2011

Bay is open to the west and southwest, sheltered from other directions.  Tour boat traffic to jetty for the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden in the NE of the bay. 

Lake is accessed by a steepish climb on steps.  Fairly commercialised with pontoons, swimming area, pedal boats, kayaks etc.

Anchorage position: 06° 10'.66 N 99° 46'.88 E, 9 m. Mud with rock patches. Calm. 3 May 2010

Anchor dragged on first attempt - felt like rock. Eventually set.

A scenic anchorage between the islands. Open to the SSE but protected from other directions.

Anchorage position: 06° 11'.19 N 99° 47'.24 E, 14 m. mud, boat swung into 10 m.  16 March 2011

Very sheltered anchorage in channel between P Gabang Durat and the main island of P Dayang Bunting.  Easy dinghy ride to Lake of the Pregnant Maiden.  Pleasant breeze channels through between the islands.  No serious insect life when we were there.  No phone (Maxis). Very weak Celcom.

Position: 06° 21'.98 N 99° 41'.13 E. Contact VHF 69 - will switch to 72

The marina was not taking bookings Nov-Dec 2008 so we expected to see several rally yachts anchored in the extensive sheltered area behind artificail islands outside. In the event we did not see any yachts we knew so we called the marina and got a berth.

Harbourmaster, immigration and customs on site. Harbourmaster closed Sundays and seems to take holidays at short notice in which case you have to go to Kuah. Customs are a sub-office of the airport and may be unpredictably closed if airport is busy. On check-in customs only want your previous clearance which can be handed in at leisure when you go to Kuah. Checkout requires customs clearance so you might have to go to Kuah.

Full service marina. Electricity and water to every berth. WiFi to the berth. Fuel dock. Arabic restaurant, KFC and convenience store, ATM and bank (don't rely on getting Thai baht here though - they may only have 100). Marina can arrange car hire (no papers, no questions therefore no insurance). Car hire with paperwork and insurance can be arranged through companies at the airport but their desks are airside in the arrivals hall.

Several other restaurants a short walk round the marina basin - tourist prices. Cheaper local restaurant at back of these.

"Vege man" visits on Fridays and sells, in addition to vegetables and fruit, frozen vacuum packed meat and fish, cheese and butter.

Sail Malaysia activities were supposed to be "in the vicinity of Telaga Harbour". Two were a 20 minute minibus ride away and the third a 5 minute taxi ride. We explained to the organisers that to a yachtie "in the vicinity of" means less than a 10 minute walk.

The extensive anchorage outside the marina is fairly sheltered but holding is apparently not good - a thin layer of sand over rock. We do not have first hand experience. The beaches on the artificial islands sheltering the anchorage are very popular with catamarans for scrubbing off.

Position: 06° 17'.74 N 99° 41'.90 E. Contact VHF 69 - will switch to 72. Several stays November 2008 - 2011

The entrance is not easily visible on the south side of Pulau Rebak. It is to the west of the ruined pier and marked by a green stake and a red mark on the shore. There is a sharp turn to starboard on entry. Resort ferries may be leaving at speed but marina will usually warn you about this if you call before entering.

Well sheltered marina with associated five star resort. Marina residents can use resort facilities (but may be asked to limit use of the excellent pool if the resort is exceptionally busy - this was not a problem when the resort was full at New Year).

Resort prices are high but they lay on special activities for the yachties at friendly prices. The Hard Dock cafe is specially for yachties and workers and has very reasonably priced meals and allows BYO wine and beer.

Extensive hardstanding, DIY allowed but limited on site contractors.On-site chandlery with stock of essentilal items can arrange West Marine at essentially catalogue prices. Free WiFi at at most berths.

Many yachts base here for the SW monsoon period.

Regular ferry to Langkawi, convenient for the airport but less so for anywhere else.

Vege man at the ferry dock on Fridays (see Telaga entry)

Anchorage position: 06° 27'.5 N 99° 49'.9 E, 4.8 m. Mud. 10- 12 March 2011

This anchorage should not be confused with Tanjung Rhu, north of Port Dickson.

The anchorage is totally enclosed, offering perfect shelter.  There are a few long-term residents working on their boats.

Enter keeping the headland close to port, pass close to the small island and the next headland, follow the coast round by the jetty serving the radar station and anchor in the centre of the pool.  Do not proceed far towards the jetty with numerous tour boats.On leaving on this route we saw a least depth of 2.7 m when HoT was 1.9 m, so most boats should not try it at low springs.

There are a couple of floating seafood restaurants/fish farms in the north of the anchorage - open until about 1800. Reasonable prices.  There are also some low-key eateries on the beach - either take the dinghy to the jetty and walk a couple of hundred metres, or take it round to the beach.  There are large rubbish bins near the road from the jetty.  There is also a large, upmarket resort on the beach with signs warning that the pool and sunloungers are for house guests only.  We were taking a walk along the beach and Susan was approached by a security guard to be told that she could not use the loungers - which she had no intention of doing.

Tour boats operate from the jetty up the inlet in the SW af the anchorage.  They dash around at speed, making some wash which makes it difficult if you are trying to clean the hull, as we were.  The main attractions are eagle feeding and trips through the mangroves to the Hole in the Wall. The eagle feeding is impressive, but probably ecologically bad as the population seems too large and is probably dependent on the feeding.

The channel in the south of the anchorage leads through to the Hole in the Wall - about 11 km one way.  Being slightly short of fuel for the outboard we did not try it.

Anchorage position: 06° 24'.97 N 99° 51'.95 E, 10 m. Mud.  13 March 2011

The entrance is just to the south of the large sign on the cliff saying "Kilim Geoforest Park".  On seeing it it is clear why it is called the "Hole in the Wall".  Entrance is deep - 16 - 20 m, hallowing to 5 or so for a while once inside, then deepening again.  It shallows rapidly just after the branch to the right with moorings.  Our anchorage was just before the junction.

Shelter is excellent, being totally enclosed.

There are many fore-and-aft moorings in the branch to the right with a large number of permanently moored boats.  These are apparently organised by the floating restaurant.

This branch is also the one that leads eventually to the Pantai Tanjung Rhu anchorage.

Tour boats operate from the end of the main creek; again eagle feeding is a major attraction as are visits to caves. Kayaking in the mangroves can also be arranged

The "Hole in the Wale" floating restaurant is good and serves beer! There are some seriously large fish in the fish farm if you are in a large group.

All in all we preferred the Pantai Tanjung Rhu anchorage and, when we go again, will ensure we have plenty of petrol to enable us to go through to the "Hole in the Wall".