B&Q arrives in Terengganu, Malaysia

by Team Ellen on 8 May 2006 After leaving Hong Kong a week ago, B&Q has completed four legs via four countries, on it's 1300 mile route south via mainland China, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia. B&Q will now be docked in Malaysia until the 11/05/06 when they will then face the final leg on the circuit to Singapore.

Email from onboard this morning:

It has been the hottest day so far I think, the breeze is 7 knots, from the northwest - not sure how that direction can be true - as it's not really on the forecast list! Apparently as we get south and closer to the land we will see the sea breeze at around 15 knots - this should be a welcome change, as we will be generating good apparent wind to keep us cool. Right now we are matching the wind speed going away from it – so there is little draft across the deck. Down below there is one fan, it is used to cool either the sleeping person in the bunk, or someone sat at the chart table. If there is one of each, then the one at the chart table waits for the sleeper to fall asleep, then steals the artificial breeze, turning it down slowly so as not to wake them up!!

We are going to sail quite close to the island of Redang - looks big from 25nm away. We need to make sure that we don't fall into it's lee and loose the wind. As usual our ETA to Terengganu is almost impossible to call - the wind can do so many things, and we are not counting chickens till we are all tied up and sat by the pool with a cold one!

Terengganu is located in the north-eastern region of Malaysia and has a population of approximately 1 million. Terengganu consists of a string of coastal settlements, usually at the mouths of the area’s many rivers, the longest being the Terengganu. It is surrounded by high mountains, exceeding 7,000ft (2100m) in places, making inland settlement almost impossible. The region is linked by road and coastal shipping, although there is a small airfield at Kuala Terengganu. Fishing and rice farming provide the main employment plus a small number of rubber and coconut plantations. Whilst there B&Q will be berthed at Pulau Duyong.

The new development at Pulau Duyong, where the trimaran B&Q will be berthed in Malaysia, is a new resort island at the mouth of a river. This is where the Heritage Bay Club is located. The club is the premier stop-over point for international sailors, with comfortable first class accommodation. It is hoped that the overall journey from Hong Kong to Terengganu will be established as a regular event for Malaysia, with the possibility of Ellen returning in future years to repeat this passage.

The Chief Minister of Terengganu Dato’ Seri Idris Jusoh enthused: 'Dame Ellen is very welcome in Malaysia and we will show her how legendary our hospitality can be. Her visit to Kuala Terengganu demonstrates that we are becoming established on the world sailing map.'