Midnight Sun out of Limbo - ultimately
On May 26, 2008
“Tom Ellis at the helm of his own yacht, Remington, during the Phang Nga Harbour Race ‘08″ Skipper Taylor © AsianYachting.com Last week we had story (6,000 Adventurous Km to Limbo) around what happens when the delivery turns to custard & the bureaucratic walls approach down. Fortunately, Tom Ellis & his crew are now out of the woods. Here’s the tale:
Limbo, day 5.
1000 hrs. Our lawyer has oral to the Thai Consul & the faxes are flying.
1800 hrs.
The lawyer states that the Frontier Police have given us two options:
1 have the sailboat surveyed & declared unsafe, or
2 haul the yacht out of the water (in which case as the crew can not stay aboard, they’ve no choice but to give the cook transit visa). These are the identical police that have twice confirmed an appointment at the sailboat with an English speaker in tow, but haven’t shown up.
1930 hrs.
The lawyer has establish surveyor to hand for the following afternoon.
2030 hrs.
The Skipper learns that two days earlier the cook had been stopped at the washroom block by the dockage based local police & told she shouldn’t be leaving the yacht. Additional distress for her.
2100 hrs.
Master sms’s that he’s had enough of waiting in Croatia & is going home to Sweden.
Limbo, day 6
1000 hrs. Lawyer produces the letter from Thai Consul formally requesting that the cook be given transit visa, & proceeds to Frontier Police.
1130 hrs. Lawyer states that Frontier Police still demand on letter from surveyor testifying to needy condition of sailboat. They (Frontier Police) & that say that the visa will be issued on receipt of survey. Surveyor coming late afternoon.
1800 hrs. Surveyor is shown fragmented inner stay, deceased autopilot & radios, damaged mainsheet blocks & jenny cars, & fridge compressor mount. he is told how the steering has failed once already. His report will be written & faxed to Frontier Police tonight.
1930 hrs. The lawyer calls to say that the Frontier Police will return cook’s passport, with 3-day transit visa, in the morning. Hooray!
2000 hrs. Lawyer is paid. He returns sailboat’s papers & confirms that Frontier Police will bring passport with transit visa in the morning.
2015 hrs. Frontier Police come at sailboat & question to see cook & her passport. Fortunately one of them speaks small English – it’s only mix-up - we start breathing again.
Limbo, day 7
0900 hrs. Frontier Police come… lacking passport. Evidently, it’s just call to say “hi”!
1000 hrs. Frontier Police (4) come WITH passport and transit visa! they will hand the documents over as before long as they’ve seen copy of the cook’s plane ticket (which, of course, couldn’t be purchased lacking the visa). The jovial mood is in sharp contrast to former encounters - to the point that due to Tom’s (very slight) resemblance to Chuck Norris they question if he was formerly Texas Ranger! (note: they hadn’t had cold, wet & costly week hoping to stay out of jail). Frontier Police accompany Philippe (the cook) to travel agent.
1130 hrs. Philippe returns with passport, visa & flight ticket. Stress gone!
1400 hrs. Philippe & Rattana leave by bus for Rome & airport. Tom & Emmy sail to Split in wet & rough conditions where they hand over the yacht to the master & depart for warmer & expectantly smoother boating
Whole cost to crew:
1 week in dockage 400 euros
Lawyer 400 euros
Surveyor’s letter 200 euros
Hair loss Substantial, but unspecified
A happy ending with lessons well-informed &, expectantly, not to be repeated!
by Tom Ellis