Cebu to Palau

We left Cebu on Tuesday, Apr 19 enroute to Palau.  We were leaving via the Surigao Straits.

Maasin, Leyte Island

The first night out we anchored at Maasin on Leyte Island.  There were 2 other yachts anchored and the couple from Free Spirit came over to say hi.

the village kids

We left on Wednesday and arrived at Melger Bay, midway up Dinagat Island.  Dinagat Island is the last island before we entered the Philippine Sea on our way to Palau.  We anchored in a little inlet by this bay and it was so peaceful and protected.  We had a visit the next morning from some of the village kids and they came onboard.  We stayed at Dinagat Island for 2 nights and on Friday, we made our way out and said goodbye to the Philippines.

We were heading east, southeast towards Palau.  Anyone wants to guess which direction the wind was coming from?  No kidding, east, southeast.  Directly from where we are heading.  We tried sailing but to no avail.  The wind was not strong but just on the nose.  So we motored with the main and stay sails all the way.  We arrived in Palau early Thursday morning, Apr 28, 2011.

This FAD is the size of a 20-foot container

During our trip over, we came across a FAD (fish attraction device).  The one we saw was the size of a huge 20-foot steel container.  The fishermen anchored these FADs everywhere over the ocean.  They attract small fish, which in turn attracts the large pelagic fish, which the fishermen hope to catch.  They do not have any lights or flags and they don’t show up on radar.  If you hit them in the dark, well, you hit them and pray you don’t sustain much damage.  We were fortunate that we didn’t encounter any at night and we only saw that one during that one day.

We also had lots of dolphins playing alongside.  We also had a pod of pilot whales alongside up close for several hours one day.

Palau is surrounded by a barrier reef.  To enter the port, we have to go through a passage in the reef.  It is daunting because you can’t see the reef and the wreck sitting high and dry by the passage did nothing to allay the fear of hitting the reef.

a wreck, sitting high and dry

The Friendship Bridge, joining the islands

One of the islands of Palau

Palau at sunrise, from the ocean

In any case, we got in, Pauline got us alongside the wharf (her first), and we had visits from officials from the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Transportation and Sanitation departments.  By noon, we were cleared, motored over to the yacht anchorage and anchored.

Now, we play!!