Friday 6th Dec, day 7 and arrival into Kota Kinabalu, Borneo
We've successfully reached Kota Kinabalu, making landfall at Sutera Harbour Marina around 16:00 on Friday, June 6th. While we had initially hoped for an earlier arrival, perhaps in the pre-dawn hours, unforeseen challenges necessitated a significant reduction in our speed over the final two days. This was due to an unfortunate encounter with what can only be described as "hitchhikers" on both of our Granocean W60's prop shafts. Despite the slowdown, we're incredibly relieved to be here, having safely brought this impressive catamaran delivery to its first major waypoint.
Upon arrival, my immediate priority was to arrange for a diver to address the fouled shafts. What the diver brought up was truly astonishing – a tangled mass of what appeared to be several different fishing nets, identifiable by their multiple colors and varying mesh sizes. It became immediately clear why we were forced to throttle back to a mere 5 knots; the drag from this accumulation must have been immense. It took the diver nearly an hour to clear each side, even with professional dive gear, underscoring that this was not a task we could have managed with free diving alone. Such incidents, while unexpected, are a prime example of the unpredictable challenges that a yacht delivery skipper must be prepared to handle in the varied waters of Southeast Asia.
Beyond clearing the shafts, I've also scheduled the diver to return in a few days to perform a thorough hull clean. After the considerable time the Granocean W60 spent in the water in China and Hong Kong, the hulls are looking a bit "grubby." Ensuring a pristine hull is not just about aesthetics; it's a critical aspect of international yacht delivery, especially as we prepare for the next leg to Darwin, Australia. Australian officials are particularly stringent about vessel biofoul and prefer to see a clean bottom. Failing to comply can lead to mandatory and very expensive haul-outs for cleaning upon arrival, a situation we are keen to avoid, particularly with a wide catamaran like the W60, where hauling out can be more complex and costly. This proactive approach to maintenance is standard practice for Yacht Delivery Solutions, ensuring smooth customs and quarantine clearances.
Sutera Harbour Marina itself is a revelation – a truly "proper" marina in every sense. It's a welcome change from our previous berthing in Hong Kong, where we were tied alongside an old barge, incurring significant costs every time we needed to go ashore. Here, the facilities are top-notch, and the cost is approximately 25% of what we were paying. This excellent infrastructure makes it an ideal stopover for a catamaran delivery like ours.
While here, we have a few minor items to get fixed, tweaked, or repaired. Given our late Friday afternoon arrival, it's now clear we won't be departing on Monday as originally planned, but getting these small items addressed ensures the Granocean W60 is in prime condition for its onward journey.
On a side note, the team from the boat factory deserves immense credit for their dedication in getting the final few things sorted prior to our departure from Hong Kong. They made numerous trips, a 3-4 hour round trip each time, between the factory in China and the boat in Hong Kong, often working on the vessel until 10 pm to ensure everything was completed to their exacting standards.
Speaking of the Granocean W60 itself, as a yacht delivery skipper who has delivered several different Chinese-built boats over the years – some merely "OK," even a very expensive carbon performance sailing catamaran from a well-respected builder – this vessel is in an entirely different league. As a friend of mine in Hong Kong (who's project managing a 72ft boat from the same factory) aptly put it, these boats are built like "battle ships" and finished to an incredibly high standard. It's evident that the builders, with their background in constructing superyachts up to 40 meters, truly know their craft. The level of service provided by Scott, Eric, and their team has been nothing short of amazing. To further confirm the quality, an electronics engineer friend of mine here in Kota Kinabalu came aboard yesterday to review some jobs I wanted done, and he immediately commented on how professionally installed all the electronics and wiring appeared. All in all, this is a truly exceptional boat, especially the air conditioning – a vital feature for comfort during long passages in tropical climates like Southeast Asia!
Yacht Delivery Solutions are available for any sail or power boat delivery across Southeast Asia and all the way to New Zealand. Our professional yacht delivery skipper teams specialize in efficient and safe transit for vessels like the Granocean W60 and other catamaran delivery projects. Contact us to discuss your vessel's transport needs.
What was wrapped around our starboard shaft
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