Now (November 2011) back in Rebak, Langkawi, Malaysia, we will probably go up to Phuket for or just after Christmas and then out to the Similans/Surins for a month or so before hauling out in Boat lagoon for a paint job.  Meanwhile we are planning land trips to Laos and northern Thailand and possib;y to  Lake Toba in Sumatra.

Sea Bunny will be getting a repaint in Phuket starting in early February so we will be on the hard in Boat Lagoon.

We are tending towards crossing the Indian Ocean in 2012 or 2013 and heading down to and round the Cape of Good Hope, rather than the route to and up the Red Sea which is now effectively closed to yachts by the Somali pirate issue.  With the effective closure of Chagos to yachts taking the route from Thailand and the Maldives the only route left goes back through Indonesia and across to Reunion or Mauritius. If we make the trip in 2012 we would aim to pass through the Sunda Strait at the beginning of September when the trade winds are, hopefully, easing.  If we go in 2013 it would be an earlier start in the year, allowing more time in the south Indian Ocean islands - Rodrigues, Mauritius and Réunion.

UK visit 2012 will probably be 6 weeks in March/April/May.  Still working on this as we need to fully assess the Boat Lagoon work schedule as we need to be there when the painting is going on.See also....