Arriving in Indonesia
There were 40 boats in the Darwin-Kupang rally and everyone had a great time. The wind was abaft the beam most of the way, our welcome in Kupang was warm and we met a lot of great people.
dancers at welcome banquet in Kupang
one of the junior sailors tries on traditional clothing
Many of the rally boats then sailed over to the island of Alor for a festival. The boats took up a collection for a local children's home, Panti Asuhan Damian, and after the festival several of the boat crews went to see the group home run by Sister Gisela Borowka.
some of the 47 children at Panti Asuhan Damian welcome the sailors
Tess, friends from Quadra that we last seen in Samoa, arrived in Alor. They discovered their starter was damaged, but managed to find a mechanic who fixed the starter and tested the alternator.
testing the alternator
With Tess's engine back in order, we motored together most of the way to Maumere, a small town on Flores that was flattened by an earthquake and 20 m tidal wave in 1992. Along the way we shared the waves with traditional fishing craft.
Outrigger sailing into Kalibahi
vessel being built in Kalibahi, Alor
landtravel is by Barbie-adorned bemo, a shared taxi-van